Approaching the finish line.

This summer I volunteered to teach an RTI course to help prepare incoming 9th graders for Algebra 1.  I spent a lot of time planning what I wanted to teach and how I wanted to run my 2 hour class.  As the start of the course approached I was very nervous about how all my activities would be received by these students, after all, they were the kids who had no reservations about telling me how much they hated math.  The first few days most of them entered the room with very glum expressions.  It was very clear to me that they didn't want to be here.

Most of my lessons centered around problem solving.  I wanted them to integrate skills while solving "difficult" problems.  I used 3 act lessons, Scholastic articles, hands on manipulatives and everything I could think of to make math "fun".  After the first 2 days I was exhausted... this was going to be a long 4 weeks.  I practically was pulling words out of them with sheer force.

By about the 4th day something happened, they realized that I wasn't going to give up, and I wasn't going to let anyone hide in the corner (a strategy most of them had perfected by now).  The first week was fractions, EVERYONE"s favorite topic, HA!  Well we survived and 80% of my students passed a fraction test. (For those of you who dont teach math, in a typical class where fractions are taught I have a 50% pass rate with all students).  80% of students who HATE math passed a test on Fractions!  YES!

On Monday I was greeted by one of the most touching emails I have ever received.  It was from one of my students parents, her daughter had struggled last year in math and received an F after putting in a lot of effort.  The gist of the email was that she was so grateful that I had broken down the wall her daughter had in regards to math.  She even quoted her daughter to say: "The class is actually fun!... well as fun as a math class can be."  The mother even Cc'd the district office administrator who asked me to do the class.  I felt empowered!  Even though the first week had been "rough" for me, I had made a difference with at least ONE student!

As the weeks went on, my students started to come out of their shells.  Most of them were talking, participating and doing the Math.  Many of them were even excited to solve each task.  They would compete over who could solve a problem or get the "right" answer.  Just yesterday we were working on equations.  Every day there is about 20 minutes of skill practice, boring but necessary.  After 20 minutes I told them to take a break.  As I prepared to take one also, I saw several kids move across the room with their papers, and sit down with friends to compare work.  I was thrilled, on their own, Math Haters were voluntarily doing math together!  Success!

Today they took their test on the 3rd topic, and I conferenced with each students about their progress and effort.  Almost all of my 45 students are passing.  As I showed them their scores and discussed their growth I was greeted by smile after smile.  Many of them admitted they had never passed anything in math EVER!

My goal this session has been to focus on effort and growth.  We focus very little on grades, more on trying and meeting a goal.  Most students are surpassing each goal.  I've also made a big a point that after we get an answer we need to revisit it and look for mistakes.  I have given all tests with a first edit (I check them and show them problems to revisit).  They then go revise and turn back in for a final grade.  Most of these students are use to immediately throwing away every test they take, now they go back and usually fix most of their mistakes. They are taking pictures of their tests and texting them to their parents.

Overall this had been so much fun, and I think we all have learned a lot!