Calculators for College Prep (Low Income Students)

My Students: These students come to tutoring before & after school, in the evening, & on weekends; voluntarily. Most are low income or at-risk with developing dreams. Some who never thou...

My Project: These kids need that extra tool - the graphing calculator - to embrace math and technology to prepare for college and change their emerging dreams to initial steps toward coll... more»

My Students: These students come to tutoring before & after school, in the evening, & on weekends; voluntarily. Most are low income or at-risk with developing dreams. Some who never thought of themselves as being good in math are now bragging about their math skills and wearing their "Get High on Pi" t-shirts.

40% are economically disadvantaged. However, at our school those students do as well on standardized tests as other students - which is very rare. 90% to 100% have passed the state math test (TAKS) over the last 4 years. Some have transitioned from other schools where they were in resource to regular classes at our school to making A's in Algebra and Geometry. We are a small school of 300 students (grades 7-12)in a mixed rural/suburban area. Very mixed - kids of professionals, migrants, farmers, ranchers, etc.

My Project: These kids need that extra tool - the graphing calculator - to embrace math and technology to prepare for college and change their emerging dreams to initial steps toward college. Most would be the first in their families to go to college. Right now they voluntarily do all that is asked of them.

The graphing calculators make it possible for the student to do upper level math inside and outside of class. Since they will have a graphing calculator available on an on-going basis, it will reward their effort with convenience.

Also, in math terms, it will change the trajectory of their lives. hide»