Project: Blueprint for Success

Site: Prairie Schools

Sheet Number: 9

Math Initiatives

Elementary teachers provide a solid math education foundation through instruction of the following components:

• Problem solving,
• Operations and numeration,
• Geometry,
• Data collection and analysis, and
• Measurement pattern, rules, and functions.

In addition, Basic Skills Strategists offer specialized expertise to assist students and teachers on these educational components.

Students in the secondary buildings continue to add to their basic math skills and many students choose more rigorous studies in high-level classes or PSEO classes. Secondary math education includes:

• Integrated math,
• Algebra,
• Geometry, and
• Pre-calculus.

A simple walk by a construction site exhibits the everyday necessity of basic and advanced math skills. A passerby would notice a journeyman bricklayer figuring the exact number of bricks needed to complete a wall or an architect using high-level math skills to calculate the roof support system. These same types of activities can be observed in classes attended by Prairie students.

As the charts below indicate 62.2% of our 4th grade students, 75.2% of our 8th grade students, and 72% of 11th grade students are proficient in math. Our 1999-2000 Annual Improvement Goal was to increase the percentage of students in the intermediate and high performance levels by 5% on the ITBS. While progress was made in all three levels, the 5% goal was not met so the district will continue to explore new avenues for increased student learning in math.

Previous Page - Next Page - Front Page