Double penalty? Are students being penalized for one subject
because of a weakness in another? With the performance standards written as
they are, all students are required to be literate in language in order to be
proficient in mathematics.
As data continues to reveal, readers scoring below the basic achievement level have
been shown to perform at a basic level
on the mathematics section of the state assessment. However, struggling readers fail to ever
demonstrate proficiency or advanced proficiency due to this weakness.
The 2015, NEAP reports
reveal that only 67 percent of fourth-grade students were basic or above in
reading while 82 percent of the same population of fourth-grade students were basic
or above in math.
For
more than 15 years, the difference between basic
level reading and math scores has
been on average 14 percentage points. Yet, the same report reveals that only 36
percent of readers are proficient,
while 40 percent are proficient in
mathematics. When dissecting the reading
test scores for individual students, it becomes obvious that more than 95% of
the readers at proficient levels are also among the proficient in mathematics.
Standardized tests require elementary students to think
strategically through the use of logic and reasoning to address real-world
problems as an assessment for proficiency.
Studies show that most elementary-aged learners have not yet developed
the cognitive skills to comprehend certain abstract concepts embedded in the
real-world context of a problem. Generally, students begin to develop true
abstract thinking abilities between ages 11 and 14. Yet again, the underlined literacy skills are
a requirement for proficient on the state assessments at ages 9 through 11.
Many of us remember a time when learning math included a
series of problems that we practiced repeatedly, with the word problems as
extra credit towards the end of the assignment.
During this time, you were truly assessed on mathematical abilities; you
followed a series of memorized steps. As a result, you either got the correct
or incorrect answer. In today’s world, this
is now classified as a basic level of
achievement. According to item
specifications, students must now be able to convert a word problem into a
mathematical equation, solve, analyze, and provide proof to support their
logic. In order to meet the educational
goals of such specifications, frustrated and overwhelmed teachers must master-mind
methods to accelerate cognitive development in the learners of their classrooms.
J
& J Educational Bootcamp has formulated a solution to this problem that
involves game play and journaling strategies. The solution is Math Bootcamp
Intervention (MBC). It provides products to help students interpret the
language of mathematics. MBC combines the foundational development of
mathematics (basic concepts, skills, and key words) with MBC Journaling
Strategies and practice activities to ensure that our struggling readers are
afforded the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of mathematics and
score at proficient levels.