Math Matters

This year teachers of grades K-8 and I are working with Dr. Robinson, our Administrator and Director of Curriculum, to review math resources and programs to determine which will be recommended to the board of education in winter/spring to be implemented in the 2018-2019 school year. 

Currently we are using a math program published by Pearson called enVision Math. This program has been used at ACA for the past 6 years. Through the use of this material, children have been able to become more capable as mathematicians to solve problems using a variety of strategies. The student achievement at ACA has increased in the area of math as noted on the ACA Iowa Assessment Tests when we transferred from our former math publisher to enVision. 

Second quarter and into second semester we will be looking over various math materials and textbooks from five publishers. We will view some of these products online while others are available to look at in hard copy located in the school's meeting room. Feel free to ask your child's teacher or me about questions you may have regarding math program materials. 

The math materials from the publishers below are being evaluated and rated for use at ACA:

1. ABeka

2. Association of Christian Schools International 

3. Bob Jones University Press (BJU)

4. enVision Math by Pearson

5. Go Math! by Houghton Mifflin 

Last Spring in the area of Math using Iowa Assessments taken by ACA students in February I was encouraged by our students who were proficient or advanced. 

See the information below that was shared last week at our School Improvement Advisory Council (SIAC) Meeting: 

Grade 3: 

86% of ACA students were proficient or advanced in math 

79% students were proficient or advanced math in schools located in Heartland Area Education Association (AEA 11)

78% of students in the state of Iowa were proficient or advanced in math 

Grade 4: 

86% of ACA students were proficient or advanced in math 

81% students were proficient or advanced math in schools located in Heartland Area Education Association (AEA 11)

78% of students in the state of Iowa were proficient or advanced in math 

Grade 5:

90% of ACA students were proficient or advanced in math 

78% students were proficient or advanced math in schools located in Heartland Area Education Association (AEA 11)

75% of students in the state of Iowa were proficient or advanced in math 

Grade 6:

85% of ACA students were proficient or advanced in math 

79% students were proficient or advanced math in schools located in Heartland Area Education Association (AEA 11)

76% of students in the state of Iowa were proficient or advanced in math 

Mandated by Iowa legislation this summer, ALL Iowa schools that choose to take Iowa Assessments will be required to test children in April.  Please note that our week for assessments will be April 9-13, 2017. I look forward to how our children will show what they know in the area of math when tested this year.