Overview EXECUTIVE SUMMARY onramp to Algebra is designed to ensure that at-risk students are successful in Algebra, a problem prominent in most of our country s larger school districts. onramp to Algebra is a full year, 45-minute class. It is an intensive intervention program designed to build and solidify foundational skills and conceptual understanding necessary to be successful in Algebra. onramp to Algebra is ideally implemented the year prior to Algebra. WORKSHOP MODEL The onramp to Algebra Instructional Design is deliberately structured to lead students to become independent in the mathematical world by doing, talking, reading, and writing about math. Opening 0 minutes Closing 0 minutes Cost of Tomatoes Weight (pounds) w 2 3 4 Cost (dollars) c 0.80.60 2.40 3.20 Unit price of tomatoes is. Unit ratio of cost : weight is. Work Time 25 minutes
INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN Because the at-risk students are oftentimes disengaged from mathematics, onramp to Algebra utilizes a classroom Workshop Model, designed to ) ensure that students are constantly active, and engaged, participants in the 45-minute class period, 2) provide students a much deeper conceptual understanding of mathematical concepts, and 3) develop strong problem solving skills. Opening begins with a bell-ringer 5 second front-of-class animation, followed by 0-minutes of direct instruction. The Opening part of the daily lesson involves student participation, designed to immediately engage the students, and to segue them into the day s lesson. Work Time (25 minutes), where they work both independently and collaboratively, discussing problems and concepts with partners or in small groups. Closing encourages students, at the direction of the teacher, to share solutions and strategies with the entire class. FLEXIBLE IMPEMENTATION MODEL onramp to Algebra is a blend of print and digital components, but is designed for flexible implementation to accommodate all classrooms. The program can be fully implemented. using just the print materials found in the Student and Teacher Editions. 2. with the use of a teacher computer, the digital presentation screens can be projected front-of-class to facilitate class discussion, and/or 3. with student access to the internet where homework can be done online, utilizing built-in learning aids for scaffolded support. onramp to Algebra can be used immediately by all classrooms, but the implementation options above allow the program to grow with the technology plans of each school. Furthermore, the program is optimized to be used in parallel with the school s core middle grades math curriculum, either in lieu of an elective, or in an extended-day model. The program can also be implemented as either a Summer school model (by eliminating or 2 of the 6 Units), or as a replacement core math curriculum. However onramp to Algebra is designed to focus exclusively on preparing students to be successful in Algebra. Therefore, strands such as Statistics and Geometry are not covered. 2
TEACHER SUPPORTS The program is also designed to ensure that all teachers are successful in preparing their students for Algebra success. onramp to Algebra utilizes pointof-use Coach supports throughout the Teacher Edition, along with a Program Overview and online Unit introduction PD videos (0-minutes each), designed to introduce teachers to the goals of the program, and of each of the 6 Units. Onsite Professional Development ( to 2 days) is also offered which trains the teacher on the effective implementation of the program, as well as how to optimize small group collaboration. PRODUCT ARRAY Teacher Materials included with the program: onramp to Algebra: Teacher Materials Teacher Edition Curriculum Units Teacher Editions describe the mathematics of each unit and help teachers prepare their lessons. Each unit includes: mini pages of the Student Edition pages Coach supports in the margins The TE also has quizzes and unit test, as well as any handouts needed for the unit. Unit : Foundations of Algebra Unit 2: Operations with Fractions Unit 3: Positive and Negative Numbers Unit 4: Ratio and Proportionality Unit 5: Showing with Graphs Unit 6: Expressions, Equations, & Exponents Teacher Program Overview Guide The Program Overview explains the instructional design of the program and implementation suggestions. It also includes BLMs of Assessments: Course Pretest, Course Posttest Formative Progress Assessments (which allow for monthly check of students progress in understanding full course content) These Multiple-choice tests are also available via the Teacher online license - with auto grading and reports Bundle of 6 TEs Teacher Online License Online license (6 year) gives teacher access to: Lesson Opener 0-Second Animations Presentation Screens (for front of class projection) Homework & Auto-graded reports Interactive Math Tools Student & Teacher Edition etext Online Concept Book Teacher Program Overview PD Unit Videos. Presentation Screens DVD Backup DVD (in case of no online access), allows projection of lesson opener screens (via laptop and projector) that the teacher writes on during the Lesson opening. Also includes the Lesson Opener 0-Second Animations. 3
PRODUCT ARRAY Student Materials included with the program: onramp to Algebra: Student Materials Student Edition Curriculum Units Softcover, 4-color, non-consumable, books (6/student). Includes: daily lessons (with Examples, Work Time, Homework) Putting it Together lessons (s, Unit Reviews) Putting Mathematics to Work lessons, and s Unit : Foundations of Algebra Unit 2: Operations with Fractions Unit 3: Positive and Negative Numbers Unit 4: Ratio and Proportionality Unit 5: Showing with Graphs Unit 6: Expressions, Equations, & Exponents Bundle of 6 SEs / Student SUMMARY onramp to Algebra gives struggling students explicit instruction in math skills, problem solving, and key concepts. The program is specifically designed to make students successful in Algebra. A powerful set of classroom routines and rituals, as part of the Workshop Model, helps students become motivated and successful. Professional Development is built into the program via the Program Overview Guide, the point-of-use differentiated instruction support within the Teacher Edition, and Unit Videos. Extra Practice Workbook Consumable workbook. 2 pp a day. Uses include: second day on a lesson Work Time or Homework replacement and/or extra practice for students / Student Student Online License Online license ( year) gives student access to: Student Edition etext Homework with Interactive Learning Aids (for scaffolded support) Interactive Math Tools Online Concept Book (which can be used for student, parent, and/or tutor reference) / Student 4
Foundations of Algebra. Reasoning with Diagrams 2. Reasoning with Numbers 3. Reasoning with Variables 4. Conventions for Using Numbers and Variables 5. Conventions for Using Parentheses 6. The Number Properties 7. PUTTING IT TOGETHER: Conventions and the Number Properties 8. Using Variables in Formulas 9. The Distributive Property 0. PUTTING MATHEMATICS TO WORK: Applying the Distributive Property. The Inverses of Addition and Multiplication 2. PUTTING IT TOGETHER: 3. between Quantities 4. Using Graphs to Represent 5. Understanding the Problem Situations 6. Representing Problem Situations 7. Writing Formulas to Answer Questions 8. PUTTING IT TOGETHER: 2 Operations With Fractions. Adding and Subtracting Fractions 2. Adding with Different Denominators 3. Multiplying by a Whole Number 4. Multiplying Fractions 5. PUTTING IT TOGETHER: 6. Finding Differences 7. Addition and Subtraction as Inverses 8. PUTTING MATHEMATICS TO WORK: Shortest Distance 9. Dividing Fractions 0. Mixed Operations. PUTTING IT TOGETHER: 2. PUTTING MATHEMATICS TO WORK: Shortest Time 3. PUTTING IT TOGETHER: 3 Positive and Negative Numbers. Extending the Number Line 2. Putting Numbers in Order 3. Adding with Negative Numbers 4. Subtracting with Negative Numbers 5. Adding and Subtracting 6. PUTTING MATHEMATICS TO WORK: Balloon Model 7. PUTTING IT TOGETHER: Reviewing Addition and Subtraction 8. Multiplying and Dividing 9. Order of Operations 0. Mixed Operations. Number Properties 2. PUTTING IT TOGETHER: 3. Absolute Value 4. PUTTING MATHEMATICS TO WORK: It s Cold Up There 5. Word Problems 6. PUTTING IT TOGETHER: 4 Ratio and Proportionality. Comparing Quantities 2. Representing Ratios 3. Unit Ratios and Equal Ratios 4. Ratio Tables 5. PUTTING MATHEMATICS TO WORK: Solving Proportion Problems with Ratio Tables 6. More About Solving Proportion Problems 7. Introducing Rates 8. PUTTING IT TOGETHER: Reviewing Ratio and Arithmetic 5
9. Enlarging and Reducing 0. Scale Factor and Ratio. Unit Price 2. Unit Conversion 3. Unit Analysis 4. Representing Proportional 5. Identifying Proportional 6. Graphing Proportional 7. Formulas and Proportional 8. Introducing Functions 9. Inversely Proportional 20. PUTTING MATHEMATICS TO WORK: Distance, Ratio, and Proportionality 2. PUTTING MATHEMATICS TO WORK: Geometry, Ratio, and Proportionality 22. PUTTING MATHEMATICS TO WORK: Mountain Trip 23. PUTTING IT TOGETHER: 5 Showing with Graphs. Building the Coordinate Plane 2. Constant Ratios and Graphing 3. How Steep Is the Line? 4. Introducing Slope 5. Graphing Negative Values 6. Without a Constant Ratio 7. PUTTING MATHEMATICS TO WORK: Graphs Showing Speed 8. Graphing Geometric 9. Graphing Discrete and Continuous Data 0. PUTTING IT TOGETHER:. Linear Graphs 2. Focus on Slope 3. Parallel and Perpendicular Lines 4. PUTTING MATHEMATICS TO WORK: The Water Tank Problem 5. The Algebra of the Water Tank Problem 6. Solving Systems by Graphing 7. PUTTING MATHEMATICS TO WORK: Interpreting Graphs 8. PUTTING IT TOGETHER: 6 Expressions, Equations, and Exponents. Representing Quantities with Expressions 2. Evaluating Expressions 3. Exponents 4. Operations with Exponents 5. Expressions and Area Models 6. Combining Like Terms 7. PUTTING MATHEMATICS TO WORK: Combining Quantities 8. Adding and Subtracting Expressions 9. Parentheses and Exponents 0. Negative Exponents. Scientific Notation 2. Estimating Square Roots 3. The Pythagorean Theorem 4. PUTTING MATHEMATICS TO WORK: Applying the Pythagorean Theorem 5. PUTTING IT TOGETHER: 6. Writing Equivalent Expressions 7. Using Expressions in Geometry 8. Writing Equations 9. The Addition Property of Equality 20. The Multiplication Property of Equality 2. Combining the Properties of Equality 22. Solving Equations Requiring Simplification 23. Inequalities 24. PUTTING IT TOGETHER: 6