District Administration - May 2008 - (Page 34)

CURRICULUM ALGEBRA: Changing the Equation Support programs decrease math anxiety and help students succeed. BY CARL VOGEL W 34 May 2008 WHEN U.S. SECRETARY OF EDU cation Margaret Spelling announced in March the ﬁnal report of the National Mathematics Advisory Panel, created by President Bush two years ago to address concerns that many students lack essential skills to become engineers and scientists, she highlighted the importance of algebra. “The panel’s research showed that if students do well in algebra, then they are more likely to succeed in college and be ready for better career opportunities in the global economy of the 21st century,” Spellings stated. The panel advised that all school districts provide access to algebra for all prepared students—including more as early as eighth grade. As most administrators know, algebra opens the door to all high school math, says Cathy Seeley, a senior fellow at the U.S. Education Secretary Margaret Spellings discusses ﬁndings of the national math panel. University of Texas at Austin’s Charles A. Dana Center, which supports K12 education with a focus on mathematics and science. “It’s a basic college entrance requirement, so any student who is even possibly going to do postsecondary education needs to pass to keep their options open,” she adds. For many students, Algebra 1 is the ﬁrst math class that requires abstract thinking and problem solving, skills that are invaluable even if a student never uses algebraic standards like the quadratic equation at work. Unfortunately, algebra is also a key part of the panel’s focus and recommendations because it derails many students. “For far too many kids, algebra becomes their ﬁrst mathematics stumbling block,” says Francis “Skip” Fennell, a member of the math panel and outgoing president of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. “There’s a diﬀerence between struggling and frustration. Struggle with a subject and it might take a little time, but there’s a level of completion and satisfaction. District Administration

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of District Administration - May 2008

District Administration - May 2008
Contents
Editor’s Letter
Letters
News Update
Security Update
Curriculum Update
Inside the Law
District Profile
Administrator Profile
Book Excerpt
Addressing Food Allergies
Algebra: Changing the Equation
Stopping MRSA
Resources to Support Disabled Learners
Web Tools: The Second Generation
How Well Does This Web Site Work?
New Products
Speaking Out
Supervisor’s Opinion
Professional Opinion
Leadership Books
Research Center
Calendar of Events
Products Showcase
Understanding the Times

District Administration - May 2008

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