How can middle school math be more engaging? Authentic business partnerships
Do you remember your 8th grade math class? Was learning math easy for you, or did you struggle? Did that class prepare you for high school math? How did your parents and teachers make you feel about math? For too many adults, both the middle school years and math class evoke painful memories. Unfortunately, these challenges persist with today’s children – just 45% of metro Atlanta students demonstrate proficiency in math by the end of 8th grade, with unconscionable gaps across racial and socioeconomic groups.
In search of strategies to support math learning across our region, L4L’s 8th Grade Math Network engaged in a rigorous process of data and factor analysis to identify “Bright Spots,” that are proving it’s possible to ensure all kids reach their potential. To understand what the best schools are doing, L4L’s Network visited middle schools with high percentages of economically disadvantaged students scoring proficiently in 8th grade math. One Bright Spot that emerged is the Georgia Department of Education’s process for a school to become STEM/STEAM certified.