Assessing “Upper Level” Math Students on Algebra I



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10 responses to “Assessing “Upper Level” Math Students on Algebra I

  • vijay

    Which grade are these students?

    Here, they offer it in middle school, eighth grade, or in the HS freshman year, such that most kids forget Algebra II and trigonometry by the time they are juniors. Hence, we have the issue of people doing AP stat/AP Calc, but struggling in some SAT questions.

    • educationrealist

      A2/Trig is generally sophomores and juniors. Precalc is usually juniors and seniors.

      I don’t see how “forgetting algebra” is anything other than a serious fail. Algebra is the damn mother ship.

      • Vijat

        Oh my god! You should come and teach freshmen and sophomores in our great universities. They ask questions like how to solve quadratic equations after reducing the problem to a quadratic. Actual questions asked in my class include how do you know air is oxygen+nitrogen. What is the value of gravity, and what is a nonlinear equation, and why are you using equations and chemistry in thermodynamics.

      • Sideways

        ER: I wouldn’t say I “forgot” algebra, but the kind of math you do on the SAT is just not what you’ve been doing for years by the time you take the SAT on the advanced path.

        I can’t prove I would have gotten a perfect score instead of near perfect if I’d taken it years earlier, but I do remember finding the Math 2c test easier.

        Also, your post has me embarrassed by just how rusty my algebra is.

  • Hattie

    OT, but I’m not on Twitter: You mention that, unless someone is writing Richard Sherman’s column for him, he can construct coherent sentences. Fact is, most practising athletes who write columns would have journalists ghost writing for them, at least here in the British Isles. (Maybe it’s different in the US, but I can’t think of a single reason that it would be.)

    Doesn’t make them stupid; it just means that it’s very difficult to be able to both play to a professional standard and write a regular column to anything approaching a professional standard. Personally, I’d be astonished if any current athlete, regardless of race or SES, wrote his own columns. There just aren’t enough hours in the day.

    Personally, I think both that Sherman is a very bright man and that he behaved like a thug. The two aren’t mutually exclusive. But I get the horrible feeling, listening to people rhapsodise about how bright he is, that it’s a bit like Dr Johnson talking about female preachers. That is, they’re so surprised to see a halfway bright black man with street cred that they put an already impressive guy to a standard that he can’t meet and shouldn’t have to. Can’t he just be a fairly intelligent dude with seemingly great leadership skills? We have to pretend he’s a genius and above reproach?

  • Tort


    I’m not surprised to see you rapidly ascending to the top and I’m sure the admin recognizes your analytic skills as a teacher. Teaching is becoming more scientific and those who can analyze data, make observations, tactical adjustments, etc., will be more successful than those who don’t. I learned that my planning focus must also be on what “they” will be doing as much as what I am to do.

    Are you a relatively new member of the department? How are some of the other teachers handling your rise and your apparent good standing with the admin?

    • educationrealist

      Relatively new, yes. As for the second, I started to answer fully and decided better of it. I get along with all the members of the math department, and some of them are really interested in my work and talking to me about it.

      As for not being surprised, thanks, but the last school I was at–despite being the teacher with the lowest fail rate and solid test scores–the district wanted younger teachers and made it clear I wasn’t welcome. So I take any good will of admins happily, but I never forget that it could all change.

      Thanks for the good words, though!

  • Tort

    Reformers have picked up the “young is better theme.” What bs. Younger teachers might have more energy, but not the same wisdom or experience as older teachers. So, I am befuddled as to why they think youth is more desirable (I am typing while my students are doing a warm up). Younger teachers are certainly cheaper and won’t be able to point out the inherent flaws in the educational system–flaws that existed long before any of us started teaching. It is uncanny that so many people who wield power and influence lack so little real information about what actually occurs in the classroom.

    They will keep making mistakes in the name of reform, and will not set things straight until they finally realize that ultimately the parents and students are responsible for improved learning outcomes. I often see good teachers not getting all their students to learn due to the gaps in their overall understanding. You seem to be able to fill those gaps, if I am not mistaken, thus helping the students to learn and pass their subjects.

    Too bad the other school discriminated against you and let you go.
    Oh, when do the reformers reform the administrative side? A typical conservative reformer will believe that empowering management is all that is needed in education. We’ll see.

  • Jim

    I’m sure your students are in good hands.

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