The main focus in our district is currently math, and improving math learning. They spent several years working on literacy, and our elementary schools now have anaward winning literacy program, so I'm hopeful that the same will be the case in math.

I can tell you what aspects of the program I'm familiar with. First, I know administration is adamant that middle and high school classes are only taught by teachers certified in that subject.

Because I have elementary school children, I really only know what's going on there. Our district uses a program called "Everday Math" from the University of Chicago. It's very different from the way we were taught math. Parents sometimes have a hard time with it because it's difficult to help our children with, since it's so foriegn to us. I'm taking part in a pilot program at our 3-5 school where parent volunteers are trained (about 4 hours of training)at understanding the methods of everyday math, and shown how kids learn math differently and how to help them. After training we will be assigned a classroom to assist, but continue to meet as a group to discuss issues or problems.

Our school also has a partnership with a local college where math majors come to the school to work with smal groups of children. These students work on slightly more advanced math topics with kids who need a challenge.

Our principals have instituted a weekly math challenge for each grade level. A question is handed out, and the first child with the correct answer has their picture posted on the bulletin board, along with their answers.

Our schools also have a parent involvement project that offers each grade a fun math/science opprtunity. Tomorrow night, for instance, is our 1st and 2nd grade event at a local supermarket. The supermarket allows us to set up math and science experiments and activities throughout the store, and children come with their parents to participate. They predict whether certain vegetables or fruits will sink or float, for instance, and then try out their hypothesis. For third grdaders, we have family math games nights, where parents and children play games from the "everyday math" program.

These are just a few of the initiatives that our school has taken, not just to improve math scores, but to raise everyone's comfort level with math. hope it helps.

I found a web site and thought of this post, I don't know how much it will help but you may get some ideas from it.

www.infoplease.com and it also has a link called familyeducation.com. It has info and tips on just about everything. It's now on my favorites list!

Math and science scores in my district (as well as thousands of others around the country) are below acceptable (to say the least) also. So I have been checking out how my unit can help advocate for a better curriculum, help recruit more experienced teachers specializing in math and science, and help provide volunteers for tutoring and classroom assistance (it is hard for one teacher to give adequate attention to one child when three or four others have their hands raised at the same time.)

I have been in constant contact with my superintendent, asking "how can we help?", and attending (yet more) advisory meetings, focus groups, and, because of vast changes in my state taking place as a result of legislation passed last year, taking part in a steering committee to devise my county's 5 year Master Plan....marked Math and Science improvements are a part of that plan.

Best thing to do is start with the teachers and ask them what your group can do to help them; which children are struggling most and what role can you play in their improvement. Then go to your superintendent; find out what is being done to improve the scores district-wide - are there any initiatives in place or planned to address this problem and again how can your group help?

Above all, attend your Board of Ed meetings; they are the best way to stay informed of what is going on in your district and give you an opportunity to advocate and publicly address any concerns you and your group have.

For additional info, check out your state's Dept. of Ed. website, and USDE .

Good luck to you...I'll keep you posted on our progress here.

I went to a meeting (I know another meeting!) and learned of somethign amazing our school is doing to help our students. A few retired teachers have been brought in to interveiw our middle school and high school students to see how we can better help them help themselves. The interview sheet has a place for goals for the student to list, how they can achieve that goal and how can the school help them. I need to look at it again for more specifics but I was really impressed with this. The teachers are then taking this informaton and sharing it with the teaching group for that grade level and I believe then classes will be set according. One English teacher learned she had several students struggling with sentence structure SO she refocused her lesson plan on this concern from the kids! My daughter's class (sixth grade) is not being moved around some as some kids are not being challenged while others are falling behind!
Every spring the kids take a placement test just to see how they are doing and when they will be best suited next year. For example I will use my kid [img]smile.gif[/img] - KLM is in sixth grade but in the 67 Math and Advanced Reading as she tested ready for 7th grade Math and she is at a 10th Grade reading level. We are now seeing the Advanced Reading class is a little more than she was reading for (not used to taking notes and the teaching style of the instructor) SO she will be placed in a new group.
What has also worked is study buddies. In a nutshell, kids helping kids. KLM has been helping a friend (with a teacher in the room after school) with her math that KLM took last year. Both girls are having a great time and have become really good friends. Maybe this is something you can set up with your volunteers to supervise if the kids can help each other. It might help to have a group just for multiply, one for division, you get the jist. Without singling out anyone though it would make it easier to have groups. Serve a light dinner or snacks if not after school but keep it fun!

Oh gosh MO2 I did it again!! I hope you found something useful in all that! I am willing to admit I need a spelling class or two!lol Nothing is harder than watching a child struggle with school work. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ 02-15-2003: Message edited by: mykidsmom ]</p>

Our math scores have been struggling the last couple years. We are not a Title 1 school and therefore we do not receive "extra" funding. What can we do as parents and volunteers to help support math in our school? We have wonderful teachers, parent involvement, and the highest volunteer hours in the district. How can we tap into our strenghts?