Our team of 6-8 math teachers participated in math professional development recently. The teachers worked as a team to learn more about the Iowa Core Mathematics, to review best math practices, and to evaluate math textbooks. As part of the professional development, the team also reviewed the acceleration process at Carroll Middle School.
Throughout our conversations it was evident we believe it is important to accelerate and provide differentiation opportunities for those students whose data qualify them for acceleration.
We identified several components that are important as we make decisions on whether or not students accelerate in the area of math:
- Make it data-driven.
- Work as a team when looking at the data so more conversations can take place when making these decisions.
- Add another layer of testing criteria that is more aligned to the Iowa Core (adding a benchmark test).
We agreed upon the following assessments along with the criteria that students will need to demonstrate to accelerate in the area of math.
*Students must meet all 3 indicators to determine acceleration.
Grade
|
Iowa Assessments (completed)
|
NWEA (use spring score); in progress
|
Benchmark Test (take in upcoming weeks)
|
5th
|
95% or higher
|
93% or higher
|
60% or higher
|
6th
|
95% or higher
|
93% or higher
|
60% or higher
|
7th
|
95% or higher
|
93% or higher
|
60% or higher
|
- All 5th graders take 6th grade Benchmark Test in May.
- All 6th graders take 7th grade Benchmark Test in May.
- 7th graders not taking Algebra this year would take 8th grade Benchmark Test in May to determine if they should take Algebra next year.
- Students who have been identified with a math goal through the Special Education program would not take the Math Benchmark Test unless parent wishes his/her child to do so--please contact us if you would like your child to take the Math Benchmark Test.
If students do not demonstrate the above criteria to accelerate for the start of the next school year, they have the opportunity to accelerate at some later point during the year if a teacher thinks s/he shows signs of possibly accelerating by performing well in NWEA Fall and Winter testing windows.
We believe our Math Professional Development allowed us to take steps to improve the acceleration process at Carroll Middle School, using a more detailed, thorough process which will benefit our students.
If you have any questions, concerns or comments, feel free to contact me by email at cheiman@carrolltigers.org or by phone at 712-792-8020.
