Abstract
Math Requirements for Admissions to Elite Colleges
A recent survey indicates that 93% of college counselors working in competitive admissions report that calculus gives students an “edge” in the college application process and makes students more competitive (Schwartz, 2022). For students to take calculus in high school, students generally need to take their first high school math course—Algebra 1—in eighth grade. Critics suggest that taking calculus may have negative effects on accelerating students before they are ready and tracking students into higher and lower tracks in middle school, which may disadvantage students of color and low-income students. Educators also wonder about the intrinsic value of calculus—wouldn’t statistics or data analysis be a better gateway course and provide a foundation for multiple majors? While these concerns exist, elite or prestigious higher education institutions continue to have a disproportionate impact on admissions with required course expectations trickling down throughout the system.
The Campaign for College Opportunity recommends these policies to universities to increase equity in higher education (Burdman & Baker, 2023): • Eliminate arbitrary requirements. Rigorous options might be aligned with various fields of study. • Be transparent with high schools, students, and families about new or existing requirements so that students know what is expected. • Evaluate students’ math course taking in context. Students’ applications should be evaluated holistically so that those whose high schools do not offer specific courses are not penalized. • Exercise caution about bonus points for high school calculus and assigning extra weight for AP courses.
Developing a Diverse Pipeline of Students Prepared to do Higher Levels of Academic Work
The Thomas B. Fordham Institute (2023) launched the National Working Group on Advanced Education in 2022 to identify a set of recommendations for school districts, charter networks, and state leaders to use in better developing the talents of high-ability students, with special attention devoted to students from racially underrepresented groups and low-income backgrounds. Some of their recommendations are included below: • Provide accessible front-loading programming starting in pre-K or kindergarten. • Adopt universal screening to identify students with potential for high achievement. • Use local, school-based norms. • Accelerate students in grades K-12 using a variety of approaches. • Frequently and equitably evaluate all students for achievement grouping in grades K-5. • Make programs culturally relevant to all students. • Provide high-quality professional learning opportunities about evidence-based advanced learning strategies. • Provide educators with high-quality instructional materials. • In accountability systems, place significant weight on student-level progress over time.
The complete report may be found at https://fordhaminstitute.org/national/research/building-wider-more-diverse-pipeline-advanced-learners
Positive Effects of Parental Involvement in Education
Over the past 20 years, researchers have reported the positive effects of parent involvement in schools on student achievement. Stanford (2023) summarizes the important points of this research in Education Week: 1. More parental involvement improved academic outcomes. Involvement activities include supporting their child’s math and reading activities, attending events at school, volunteering in the classroom, building social networks that provide useful information, connecting to school personnel, and learning about strategies for enhancing children’s achievement. 2. Parental involvement led to a positive impact on students’ social and emotional skills. Students appear to have more fun, enjoy school, have higher self-esteem, and perceive school as a satisfying experience. Parents are also able to provide information about challenges at home, which provide educators with tools needed to improve their teaching. 3. Different levels and types of parent involvement led to varying student outcomes. School-based involvement such as parent-teacher conferences, open houses, and other school events, had a positive impact on academics. However, parents helping students with homework had a small negative impact. 4. Parent involvement in schools led to better outcomes regardless of a family’s ethnic background or socioeconomic status. This effect was similar internationally with children outside the US. 5. Schools can encourage parent involvement. In addition to parent-teacher conferences, schools can create a culture that welcomes families (e.g., creating gathering spaces in school buildings, scheduling parent engagement meetings, including parents in more decision making, giving parents resources to support learning at home, and equipping teachers with tools to engage and connect with parents).
On the Web
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This website contains templates of paper models in PDF form, which are available for download. You can pick from a list of 3D models that can be printed, cut out, and folded. You can create a Formula One race car, circus big top, a space shuttle, or an electric vehicle. You can also make a DeLorean, the Nativity Scene, or even Jimi Hendrix’s guitar. Models of famous landmarks such as Mount Rushmore, the Empire State Building, or Wrigley Field can also be constructed. If you are interested in famous places around the world, you could make the Taj Mahal, the Sydney Opera House, or the Great Wall of China.
Math Trainer
https://www.mathsisfun.com/numbers/math-trainer-multiply.html
Do you need to practice your multiplication skills? Are you just starting out with addition and subtraction problems? Use this site to set up practice problems. You can choose your difficulty level and time limit. You can select addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division questions. The question set is adaptive.
Ben’s Guide to the United States Government
Have you ever wondered how our government works? This website introduces children to the United States Constitution, the election process, historical documents, how laws are made, the branches of government, citizenship, and more. Children can take fun quizzes or complete crosswords and word searches on the United States government and geography. There are resources for children ages 4–8, 9–13, and 14+ years of age, and includes a separate section for parents and educators.
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