Effort targets math scores

Only 21 percent of southeastern Indiana students are passing Core 40 Algebra 1 mathematics requirements. 

That's why schools in Jackson County have partnered with Indiana University and Economic Opportunities 2015 to develop a program known as Math Matters in Southeastern Indiana.

Math teachers from Crothersville and Seymour high schools are participating in the program's workshops, which start Monday.

The goal of the program is simple - to help increase the number of students who are successful in learning math concepts defined by Indiana Core Standards through designing innovative approaches to teaching. The program specifically deals with learning mathematics through the project-based learning workshops in Columbus.

Stephanie Weber, the EcO15 communications and outreach coordinator, said new methods of teaching must be used.

"We're taking a look in the past and saying, ‘what we've done in the past as far as mathematics is not working.' Students aren't understanding," she said.

"We do a lot of research into the type of environment for learning, what (teachers and students') day-to-day activities are. With projects, teachers can go from working the same textbook every day to applying math to everyday life."

Based on how the program has worked in other areas of the state, Weber is confident of the program's potential in Jackson County.

"The ultimate goal at the end of this is for everyone to develop their own projects, pull them together and take them back to their students," she said. "There's a Web site you can go to where all of these projects will be like a virtual library."

Participating teachers can earn up to four hours of graduation credit or 60 Continuing Education Credits.

Workshops for the program start Monday and run through June 26. Two more days are scheduled for July 22 and July 23. The workshops will take place at the Columbus Signature Academy at New Tech High School, 2205 25th St.

Ashley Waskom, a mathematics teacher at Crothersville High School, is anticipating the start of the workshops.

"Anytime where we can show our math students how mathematics works in the real world, we can show them how it works and why they need to learn this," Waskom said.

During the workshops, teachers will contact people in the community, plan lessons and curricula and work on various academic projects, Waskom said. Every teacher must complete at least one project for the 2009-2010 school year.

"With our projects, the driving question should be what our outcomes will be, how we will assess the projects," Waskom said. "This all ties into the state standards. Everything we do is linked to the Indiana state academic standards for math."

The project also involves learning to work with local companies and organizations in Jackson County, Weber said.

Jenni Hunnicut, a mathematics teacher at Seymour High School, thinks the program will be a success.

"I think it will be a success," she said. "It's a great program. It helps us find ways to real-world solutions. It's a real reason for kids to learn."

At a glance

What: Math Matters in Southeastern Indiana, a workshop for math teachers

Who: Teachers in Jackson County schools

When: June 22 through June 26 and July 22-23

Where: Columbus Signature Academy at New Tech High School, 2205 25th St., Columbus.

Who's participating locally: Ashley Waskom and Kevin Kasting of Crothersville High School and Jamie Armes, Jenni Hunnicut,  Shawn Mahoney and Susan Edwards of Seymour High School

Counties in the program: Bartholomew, Brown, Dearborn, Decatur, Jackson, Jefferson, Monroe, Ohio, Ripley, Shelby and Switzerland