My students need one Accelerated Math Start-up Kit: a computer program that differentiates student learning and tracks student progress toward achieving goals.
Each morning I greet a group of students who come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences. Many of my students are struggling to cope with the multifaceted dilemmas of living in extreme poverty. Some of my students have experienced more than I can imagine in their short 12 years. Nearly all of my students are several years behind in math and science, failing to meet state standards. Yet, these students have so much to offer our classroom community. From the student that consistently strives for excellence in spite of his different learning abilities to the student that is able to make us all laugh, each of these students has unique qualities that I hope to develop in the coming year. It’s these students that motivate me to go to work each morning, compelling me with their stories and capturing my heart with their willingness to persevere amongst rampant injustices.
I teach in a sixth grade special education inclusion classroom at a school with a very low teacher retention rate. Many of my students have had a first year teacher for the majority of their elementary experiences and there are significant gaps in my students' understanding of mathematical concepts. In addition, my students' modes of learning are particularly diverse and some students need more practice than others. The current mathematical performance levels of my students span at least 6 grade levels. Amidst a high level of learning diversity, it is particularly challenging for me to meet the learning needs of each student.
Accelerated math is a software program that enables teachers to provide students with individualized practice. The Accelerated Math program allows teachers to track student progress and meet individualized students' needs in a highly efficient manner. With 40 individual learners each needing different instruction, Accelerated Math would enable me to help my students grasp previously elusive mathematical concepts. Ultimately, Accelerated Math would enable me to help my students be as prepared as they can be when they graduate from the sixth grade.
In our classroom we are working hard to "beat the numbers!" "What numbers?" you might ask. We are working hard to beat the daunting statistics that our students face. Nine-year-olds growing up in low-income communities are already three grade levels behind their peers in high-income communities. Half of them won't graduate from high school by the time they're 18. I invite you to join us in this struggle, to help give these 40 students growing up in a small town in Hawai`i a fighting chance at success. I invite you to help empower these 35 amazing students to achieve their potential and "beat the numbers!"
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