Self Study Report on Mathematics
Overall Curriculum The Levine Academy math curriculumhas undergone a full evolution over the past six years. There were two main contributing factors in re-assessing the math program in 2014/2015. First, the school’s Strategic Plan, adopted in January of 2015, sought to assess and upgrade all of its core K8 academic programs; and Second, the school conducted a comprehensive Parent Satisfaction Survey in the fall of 2014, and the results of that survey indicated that only 24% of our parents rated math as “exemplary,” which was the lowest “exemplary” score among all subjects taught in the sc hool. What ensued was a full assessment and, ultimately, an overhaul of our math program. In Kindergarten thru 5 th Grade - the school adopted the Everyday Math curriculum, in addition to the online IXL personalized math practice software (and variously grades will use Prodigy, Splash Learn or Kahn Academy), and the Mentoring Minds ( Motivation Math ) series to enhance critical thinking skills and to offer supplemental material for highly capable children. The learning support teacher will also use Focus Math with some of our students in the lower school. Instructional approaches have broadened in recent years to make use of more tangible manipulatives, game playing, and interactive programs. In order to adjust curricula to individual student needs, the academic leadership team enhanced the frequency of conducting student assessments, so that for the first time in the year 2020/2021, the MAP tests (Measure of Academic Progress) was administered three times for each of the grade levels, K thru 6 th Grade. These results were analyzed closely, providing teachers with valuable information about what skills students need to work on, and who is ready to move to the next level of math skills. In the spring of 2021, the school acquired the MAP Accelerator software and established accounts for each student in grades 3 thru 6. This program takes the data from each student’ s individual scores and issues math tutorials and problems that center on the particular skills each student is ready to learn. In short, this new software offers personalized learning for all math students, at whatever level they happen to be. In the Middle School, the math curriculumcontinues with Everyday Math series for Grades 5 and then transitions to the McGraw Hill’s Glencoe M ath series beginning in Grade 6. There are also supplemental materials, including Mentoring Minds, Zaccaro, and Khan Academy. One of the highlights in the math program at Levine begins for all students in the 5 th grade, as the math classroom dedicated to 5 th and 6 th grade math was selected to be fully transformed into a bright, colorful, multi -sensoral, and flexible seating classroom designed by the modernist/ergonomic furniture company NorvaNivel. This brand new classroom has been transformational for both the teacher and the students, as students discover ways to remain alert, engaged, refreshed, and energized throughout the math period. With multiple table heights, numerous seating options, and dry-erasable table surfaces, students find the experience fun while keeping them focused on the math in front of them. The high-resolution flat screen TV monitor, which the teacher uses constantly, also makes for a brilliant classroom tone. The school made a commitment to supply thirty classrooms, before the end of the 2020/2021 school year,
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