The 9th grader I was tutoring in algebra this semester graduated today...as valedictorian of her junior high class. I'd like to take credit for her placement, of course, but as I only worked with her a few days a week I think my taking credit would be inappropriate.
She graduated from a public junior high, and while her transcript will reflect an A in algebra, the class was without a teacher for a good chunk of the year. This was the class with the "smart kids," the ones that radiate potential and who were eager to learn. Unfortunately, without a teacher, the class was adrift, and the substitute was instructed (instructed!) not to teach algebra but instead to teach to the pending Stanford 9 standardized tests. Over and over again, the tutors asked about the classroom instruction, asked why these kids were getting the assignments they were getting, and we finally ended up teaching them algebra ourselves, albeit haphazardly.
Now, though, we know that these kids are going to get to high school as sophmores without a solid basis in algebra. We decided to teach our own summer program for algebra students--sort of high-intensity tutoring, for kids who have already taken an algebra class but who don't actually know algebra. Three days a week for over two hours a day. We'll only have a few kids in the class, but I really hope they benefit. I know "my" student will be there--she is actually excited about it. (I am so inspired by her commitment; she's already planning to be valedictorian of her high school class...she's attending a charter school for math, science and technology.)
I'll be away from the blog and from e-mail for the next week, but if anyone out there has any recommendations or teaching "tricks," things that really inspire and challenge kids, I'd love to hear about them, either via e-mail (see the envelope icon to the left) or in the comments here. Exercises, methods for explaining concepts so that students really understand them, fun practical examples...anything would be appreciated. I'll respond next week.
