SPASD Taking Away Extended Math
January 19, 2022
There is an underlying problem that most students might be oblivious to. SPASD taking away extended math classes. Extended classes, if you aren’t sure what that is, are classes that are taught twice the time of a regular class. Even though there are a lot of students that are in regular math classes and passing, there are still a large number of students that aren’t that good at certain parts of math and need longer to learn.
How Students and Teachers Feel About the Removal or Extended Math
When asked how she felt about the removal of extended classes Mrs Bowling, a SPASH math teacher said, “I support the decision to remove extended classes. Academic research has shown that multi ability grouping in the mathematics classroom is the best for all students.” Along with this she also provided research as to how this is proven (“Opening Our Ideas”: How a detracked mathematics approach promoted respect, responsibility, and high achievement. Jo Boaler, Stanford University In Theory into Practice, Winter 2006, Vol. 45, No. 1). When asked if she had a personal choice of keeping extended math her response was, “I support the removal of the extended classes. Academic research shows that mixed ability math classrooms have the greatest impact on student achievement for all students.” After this question she was asked if AIM would be taken away as well, she explained how AIM is not being taken away but extended to geometry as well.
Kylie Wiza, a SPASH geometry student on the other hand said, “I think it’s unfair those classes were put there for a reason. My sister is in an extended class and i just don’t think its fair that after every school year when we come back and teachers try to teach us and tell us that we should know the things that they are teaching us, and the e-learning that happened just made kids fall behind even more and made the GPA for math worse.” After answering this question she was asked the same question as Mrs. Bowling and she stated that the school district is thinking from an adult point of view and not a students.
Lastly was Brixton Evans, a SPASH extended geometry student who commented, “I do not like that district is taking extended classes away at all. Since they are taking the classes away there should at least be an alternative for the future students. I struggle with math and I know I’m not alone so future students should have the same help and opportunities I got.” Brixton is just one of hundreds of students in the SPASD, he might have a better understanding than a lot of students, even with help there are some students that struggle at math.
How Extended Classes have Helped Students
Kylie Wiza, a SPASH geometry student, was asked how extended classes helped her or someone she knows. Her response was, “My sister is in extended algebra and the class has allowed my sister to get the help that she needs in math and understand the curriculum and get a deeper understanding of the subject.” Even though she isn’t in an extended math class she still noticed how it has helped her sister thrive.
Mrs. Bowling, SPASH math teacher answered with, “The extended classes have allowed students to learn the content from the core classes, but twice the time.” Sure it might take longer to learn the topic but it really is about helping students get the needed knowledge and credit to graduate.
Brixton has a bit more of a deeper understanding as to how this has and will impact students’ first hand experience of being one of the students this change will affect. “The classes have affected me in a positive way, I failed my first semester of math my sophomore year and the extended math classes helped me get back on track.” During Brixton’s sophomore year the extended classes were taken away due to COVID and e-learning. With them being taken away the average test scores for math went down. This is most likely due to most students e-learning and not being motivated to do any of their homework, having to quarantine due to close contact or from actually getting COVID or just because some student can’t learn at as fast of a pace as the majority can.
Yee • Jan 20, 2022 at 7:28 PM
Belle, this article really dragged me in! The title was a real eye-catcher because I had no idea about this problem that is going on at SPASH. Your article was really well thoroughly written and answered a lot of the questions that I had.
Libby • Jan 20, 2022 at 4:33 PM
Your article is very interesting. I have heard about SPASD taking extended math classes away from my sister and wondered why is that. I love how your article explains how extended math classes help students who struggled with math. Another thing I think you also did well is that you also provided a teacher who supports the idea of removing the class, a teacher who doesn’t, and also a student who is in an extended math class as well. We get to see their point of view on the problem and you showed great evidence and support for that. Good Job on your article.
Areil • Jan 20, 2022 at 12:15 PM
i loved reading this article and it actually helped me being someone in extended math. really well written and loved the interviews and getting the different points of view.
Madi • Jan 20, 2022 at 8:05 AM
Belle, your story was so well written and interesting to read. I had no idea that they were getting rid of extended math and I felt emotion through your article as I know extended math has helped so many people. A lot of people have had positive experiences with extended math and you mentioned that in your article which I love. Thank you for sharing this and I thought your article was good.
adviser • Jan 19, 2022 at 1:40 PM
Belle, thanks for writing about Extended Math classes being taken away for next year. This is the kind of journalism we need at SPASH. Many students were unaware of this change and feel that Extended Math helps them. You brought this story to light. I also like how your image is a clear depiction of what the story is about.