The Prescriptive Approach

Abstract

A key component of the Reaching Algebra Readiness program is its prescriptive approach. Middle school is a critical period. It is during the middle-school years that we (math educators, parents who home school) must assess students’ mathematics abilities and skills, and close all gaps that exist between their currents levels and the skills needed to be algebra ready. For students who are ready at the beginning of the school year, we should make every effort to make sure that they are placed appropriately. For students who are not quite algebra-ready, we must accurately determine their skill deficiencies, provide them with necessary remediation and skill enhancements, evaluate and track their progress as recommended by the NMAP’s final report, and provide them with the necessary supports (supplements, parent involvement, tutoring) that will ready them for success. This process must be individualized to the extent possible, given the current challenges and demands placed on middle school math teachers. A major problem in the past has been the “one size fits all approach” for improving students’ computational skills. As a result, students who have acquired certain skills were often disengaged, while students who need the most help received not enough intervention.