Accelerated Math in Ken-Ton Middle Schools

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Accelerated Math in Ken-Ton Middle Schools
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What does it mean to be in accelerated math?

• Accelerated math students will
• study the 8th grade NYS curriculum and the
  Integrated Algebra curriculum in one school year.
• require a strong foundation in algebraic skills
  as this is a rigorous Regents-level course.
• be required to take the 8th Grade NYS Assessment
  in May as well as the Integrated Algebra regents
  exam in June.

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What are the expectations?

• Due to the rigor of the program, accelerated
  students will be held to higher expectations.
• Students will need to be committed in order to be
  successful in 8th Grade Integrated Algebra.
  Parental support will be critical.

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What are the benefits of accelerated math?

• Students will have the opportunity to participate
  in more upper level math classes at the HS level.
  (ie, IB or AP math courses)
• Successful completion of the course provides
  students with 1 high school credit in
  mathematics. Course grade will be a part of the
  students permanent transcript.

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Who is a candidate for acceleration?

• Students who have
• Achieved a 3 or 4 on the NYS Grade 6 7 math
  assessment.
• Performed well on the district math readiness
  assessment (administered in the spring of 7th
  grade).
• Demonstrated classroom performance that supports
  participation in the program.

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Screening Rubric
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Why is it important to take advanced math
courses?

• Studying advanced math in high school has an
  enormous influence on whether or not a student
  subsequently enrolls in a four-year college and
  earns a bachelor's degree.

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• A U.S. Department of Education study (Adelman,
  1999) found that taking advanced math in high
  school, beyond Algebra 2, was more strongly
  associated with successful completion of college
  than any other factor, including high school
  grade point average and socioeconomic status.

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• Successful completion of college, in turn,
  correlates strongly with subsequent educational
  and employment opportunities (Murnane Levy,
  1996). In other words, studying advanced math in
  high school strongly correlates with future
  success.
• (Burris, Heubert, Levin, 2004, Improving
  Achievement in Math and Science)

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What can you do now?

• Demonstrate a strong work ethic.
• Create good study habits.
• Use your resources and be a problem solver.
• Practice your basic skills.
• Transition books
• Websites
• Think like a mathematician!