What happens when high schools require two years of math for graduation and colleges expect three or four to be successful? It is called a "gap" in math.

Poor Planning

Many high school students do not plan their futures well and are undecided long after graduation. Those that think they will probably not attend college complete minimum high school graduation requirements. Many students decide to attend college right before they graduate. It is now too late to take more math. Unfortunately, high school graduation requirements often fall short of what is necessary for college success. Many learn this the hard way.

Math Is A Weak Link

High schools require two years of math but do not usually state specific classes. This is often done to allow students with lower ability to graduate with peers. Not everyone is capable of Geometry. Schools are also under pressure to graduate more students and lower drop out rates. Math is often a problem area for students that struggle in school.

Misunderstanding Advanced Math

Students that plan on attending a two-year college instead of a four-year college don't realize they still need good math skills. When a high school student takes Algebra as a freshman and Geometry as a sophomore, he or she often take no more math prior to college. This results in not doing well on college placement tests.

Play Catch-Up

How do students improve skills when they fall behind? Unfortunately, this is often done in college with remedial math classes. This throws the college student out of sequence and college bills rise. Students could also take college math the summer prior to entering college to raise scores.

Refresher Classes

Another option would be for high schools to offer refresher courses in the senior year. Many students do well in math but forget what they learned over two years. If high schools offered pre-college refresher courses, students could regain skills and score better on math assessments. If students reviewed major concepts before or after school for 3 weeks, the results would probably be amazing.

How Is Math Taught?

Many educators are looking into making math more interesting or more easily understood. The abstract concept can be confusing for students and bringing concrete examples into the classroom with manipulatives has been shown to help. Algebra8 is a supplemental math program that is becoming popular with students. It helps students visualize the abstract with concrete objects. Right-brained students are often more confused by abstract math than left-brained.

High school classrooms are often filled with more students than a teacher can effectively teach. Checking for understanding when you have 24 students in Geometry is not possible. Math classes should be smaller and high schools, in general, are found to be more effective when smaller. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is funding smaller schools in New York City.

Obsolete Sequence?

It has been traditional for high schools to offer Algebra I first, then Geometry and finally Algebra II. Some high schools are finding that students forget less material if they take math in a different sequence: Algebra I, Algebra II, then Geometry.

Three Math Credits

High schools are beginning to require three instead of two math credits. However, many are concerned that drop out rates will increase. Some high schools are teaching Algebra I over a longer period of time allowing struggling students to absorb the material. The pace is a mastery level and not moving on to new material when the students are still confused.

Math Opens Doors

Math can open doors or close them. Students find that careers in hydraulics, welding, heavy equipment, wind energy and other technical fields require math skills. The only way to be successful is to close the gap in math. College is not the best time to do this. The optimal time to take these classes is in high school. The challenge to teachers will be to successfully teach math to students that have convinced themselves that they are not good in math.

Copyright article 2006. Barbara Pytel. All Rights Reserved.

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