Friday, November 20, 2009 I Welcome Visitor

How poverty-stricken is Rice County?
How poverty-stricken is Rice County?
Poverty in Rice County is an issue. As the economy rebounds, statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau show poverty in 2008 at 9.2 percent for Rice County compared to 9.6 statewide and 13.2 nationwide. Read about the poverty level in Saturday's Faribault Daily News.
Corey Butler Jr.

Math teachers laud new curriculum
By: Corey Butler Jr.
Posted: Monday, November 2, 2009 10:29 pm
Email Print
FARIBAULT — The excitement in Tammy Lessman’s voice was palpable as she pointed to the screen and discussed, of all things, math.

The Faribault High School math teacher was one of several teachers from the district on hand at Monday night’s school board work session to discuss the first two months of the district-wide overhaul of its math curriculum to better align with state standards.

“I really love this about it,” Lessman said, pointing to the screen, which displayed online options for students to help reinforce what they learned in the classroom.

“It has a lot of resources,” she told board members.

Not only to get in line with state standards and in an effort to help improve student scores on state standardized tests, the new curriculum for the middle school and high school also includes a technological upgrade.

Math isn’t just learned out of books and in the classroom any more.

Students have the option to go online and browse a Web site created to pair with the student’s specific book and adds to what is learned in the classroom, Lessman said. There, students can take practice tests, get homework help and watch videos to better understand the information in front of them.




And for students who don’t have Internet access at home, but have access to a computer, CDs or DVDs containing the same information are also available, said middle school math teacher Terry Schultz.

“It’s been a huge undertaking,” said Liz Keenan, district director of curriculum and instruction.

Along with new books came a chance for better communication between teachers, Keenan said.

Teachers within the same elementary school are now more in line with each other with what they should be teaching and when. It has also transcended each school’s walls as teachers from the three elementary schools are working with each other.

That, and fifth-grade teachers are working with the sixth-grade instructors to help bridge the gap, Schultz said, and in turn the eighth-grade teachers are working with the ninth-grade teachers.

Meeting with each other more regularly also allows the teachers to see what’s working for them and may not be working for other teachers, Keenan said, as well as lets them track student success more regularly, instead of basing it only off an annual state exam.

“We understand the urgency of it,” said Jefferson Elementary kindergarten teacher Kristin Wilker, who also presented to board members. “(Students) need to be ready for the next level.”



— Staff writer Corey Butler Jr. may be reached at 333-3135.
Share: 
Guidelines: Welcome to the Faribault Daily News community. Please keep your comments civil. Don't attack other readers personally and keep your language decent. If you would like to report abuse click here to notify us.
  
Member Opinions:
By: secretsquirrel on 11/3/09
Terrific job you guys! Congratulations all around!
Sounds like the makings of something really great.

By: Fbodutchman on 11/3/09
She's a math teacher now? I had her for American Literature. But that was 22 years ago. LOL!

 
Login and voice your opinion!  


Video

Photo Galleries

BA volleyball state tourney
(Bryan Horwath/Daily News)
18 images / created on Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at 12:33 am

View all galleries>>
Buy photo reprints>>

I35 Marketplace Home

Featured Business:
Top Jobs | Top Homes | Top Cars 
Top Jobs
Community Action Aide
General Do you have a passion for children and familie...
Cedar House
Healthcare Part-time Opening in Faribault, MN to work w...
Family Development Specalist
Education Three Rivers Community Action, Inc. is seeking ...
Assistant Teacher
Education Do you have a passion for children and famili...
New Media Sales Specialist
Sales New Media Sales Specialist I-35 Target Media, ...
 
Copyright © 2009 Faribault Daily News
 
Phone: (507) 333-3100 • Fax: (507) 333-3102
514 Central Avenue P.O. Box 249 • Faribault, MN 55021
Copyright Statement | Privacy Statement | Terms of Service
Expect More from Bondware's Website Design Tools
Email Marketing & Web Design  |  eCommerce, HOA, Publishing, Non-Profit, Intranet, Real Estate & Association Websites