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Algebra I project - linear data ideas needed

by Andrea

Jan 14, 2009

Ok... I teach one section of Algebra I at my school that is technically the "SPED" section.... Out of 21 students 16 have IEPs and the rest really should have....this just means that most of them have mild to moderate learning disabliities or IQs in the range of 70-80. Not to mention that most of them are also diagnosed as emotional or behavioral disorder kids (a few that have actually thrown punches at teachers) I have a Spec Ed teacher who collaborates with me in this class and she is WONDERFUL...and lives two blocks down from me. We get along like peas and carrots...and not to mention after the first week of adjustment these kids have on the whole been SUPER this year. They have committed completely and all have experienced huge success on their level, a few are even doing A and B level work on a consistant basis with little or no modification. Overall I'm highly impressed.

Here's the thing. Recently we have covered graphing of real life linear data and writing equations b...See MoreOk... I teach one section of Algebra I at my school that is technically the "SPED" section.... Out of 21 students 16 have IEPs and the rest really should have....this just means that most of them have mild to moderate learning disabliities or IQs in the range of 70-80. Not to mention that most of them are also diagnosed as emotional or behavioral disorder kids (a few that have actually thrown punches at teachers) I have a Spec Ed teacher who collaborates with me in this class and she is WONDERFUL...and lives two blocks down from me. We get along like peas and carrots...and not to mention after the first week of adjustment these kids have on the whole been SUPER this year. They have committed completely and all have experienced huge success on their level, a few are even doing A and B level work on a consistant basis with little or no modification. Overall I'm highly impressed.

Here's the thing. Recently we have covered graphing of real life linear data and writing equations based on those patterns. Well, this is something that all students struggle to really "get" and its ten times more abstract for this group of kids due to their circumstances already. Plus many of them have horrible home lives that honestly I think are the only factors that do keep them from dropping out (at least at school they get fed and no one beats them)...so they have no real world experience outside a disfunctional home to relate to anyway. Well I'm looking for a project to design for them that will give them some real life linear data that relates to animals/dogs/rescues...something like that. I want them to connect emotionally with the data for two reasons 1) to help them really want to understand the work 2) to give them experience with a positive emotional connection. What can we investigate in rescues I was thinking number of spays/neuters performed compared to shelter intake numbers? or could you guys think of anything we can investigate I would like to pair it up with a "food drive" activity for all of my classes where they can bring in a food item or toy/leash/collar, etc to earn a free HW pass or something...and when the kids present their data they can donate the stuff to the shelter...what do you think?

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Dan Andrea, When you say "They have committed completely and all have experienced huge success on their level, a few are even doing A and B level work on a consistant basis with little or no modification. " I have a couple of questions: 1) are these students actually able to keep up with the general ed curriculum and pacing? 2) Do you happen to know ho...See MoreAndrea, When you say "They have committed completely and all have experienced huge success on their level, a few are even doing A and B level work on a consistant basis with little or no modification. " I have a couple of questions: 1) are these students actually able to keep up with the general ed curriculum and pacing? 2) Do you happen to know how well they test on the state standards testing? 3) Are these true mild moderate students, or are they RSP students? 4)How would you say the average student in this class does in terms of comparison to a general ed student? Any help is gresatly appreciated.

On 1/14/09, Andrea wrote: > Ok... I teach one section of Algebra I at my school that > is technically the "SPED" section.... Out of 21 students > 16 have IEPs and the rest really should have....this just > means that most of them have mild to moderate learning > disabliities or IQs in the range of 70-80. Not to mention > that most of them are also diagnosed as emotional or > behavioral disorder kids (a few that have actually thrown > punches at teachers) I have a Spec Ed teacher who > collaborates with me in this class and she is > WONDERFUL...and lives two blocks down from me. We get > along like peas and carrots...and not to mention after the > first week of adjustment these kids have on the whole been > SUPER this year. They have committed completely and all > have experienced huge success on their level, a few are > even doing A and B level work on a consistant basis with > little or no modification. Overall I'm highly impressed. > > Here's the thing. Recently we have covered graphing of > real life linear data and writing equations based on those > patterns. Well, this is something that all students > struggle to really "get" and its ten times more abstract > for this group of kids due to their circumstances already. > Plus many of them have horrible home lives that honestly I > think are the only factors that do keep them from dropping > out (at least at school they get fed and no one beats > them)...so they have no real world experience outside a > disfunctional home to relate to anyway. Well I'm looking > for a project to design for them that will give them some > real life linear data that relates to > animals/dogs/rescues...something like that. I want them to > connect emotionally with the data for two reasons 1) to > help them really want to understand the work 2) to give > them experience with a positive emotional connection. What > can we investigate in rescues I was thinking number of > spays/neuters performed compared to shelter intake > numbers? or could you guys think of anything we can > investigate I would like to pair it up with a "food drive" > activity for all of my classes where they can bring in a > food item or toy/leash/collar, etc to earn a free HW pass > or something...and when the kids present their data they > can donate the stuff to the shelter...what do you think?

Jan 3, 2010

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