DGS has rolled out a new policy aiming to help students struggling in math two and math three classes. The policy, introduced at the start of the school year, automatically places students into a program called Math Lab if they get a failing grade on a test.
This initiative was put into place by Assistant Associate Principal Jacob Giblin and math department chair Phill Cucasi. The program is run by four teachers who provide targeted support and instruction to struggling students. Math Lab takes place during either the first or second half of a student’s scheduled lunch and students are required to attend math lab during their resource period on block days.
The intended outcome for the program is already manifesting, as test scores have shown improvement following the first round of Math Lab. Beth Larson, one of the four teachers running the program explains the impact that the lab has had on students.
“We’ve already had one round and we’ve had test scores go up by an average of 10 points,” Larson said.
Larson believes that in time Math Lab will prove itself as a powerful resource and will benefit even more students. Because this is Math Lab’s pilot year, the decision to expand the program will depend on several factors; staff and student feedback, evidence of improved test scores and
Larson believes that in time, should this resource prove successful, it could benefit more students. As this is the pilot year, the decision to expand the program will depend on two main factors: staff and student feedback, along with improved test scores which will both play a pivotal role in determining its future.
“If we have more sections of Math Lab so that we can put more students in there it’s possible that it could affect the more students… as a pilot year so far it’s going well but we’ll see how we get feedback from students and from teachers,” Larson said.
Larson believes that the program is a true benefit to students as they are given one-on-one attention to their math needs and can get the help they need.
“It’s a lot more one-on-one so I think that’s the main difference like relearning instead of learning for the first time,”Larson said.
As the program is in its pilot year, many students are not aware of the program’s existance. Senior Karla Perez believes that without more knowledge being spread by the school on the program students will be unaware of its importance as a resource.
“The students are not going to be talking about it in their free time… I feel like they should like including the announcements maybe or even sometimes have teachers advocate for it,” Perez said.
Perez has struggled in math during previous years and believes the program could have been of great help to her. Perez wishes the program had existed last year so she could have had help with what she struggled with and be able to progress more easily.
“I feel that for starters it would have given me a boost and also knowing that oh I’m going to a specific assigned teacher at an assigned time to get extra help in math so I feel like it would have most definitely given me a better chance,” Perez said.
Math Lab has proven to be a useful resource for students so far, and the policy of requiring struggling students to be placed in it has proven fruitful. The future of the program will be seen as the year progresses and more rounds are done to see if it will continue on in the future and expand.
