Junior Mary Frances Jones took the accelerated geometry course last year, but struggled with how fast the pace was. “When I was in ninth grade it wasn’t that much of a struggle, but when I got to 10th grade it was a lot harder,” Jones said. “I dropped down because accelerated classes go at a really fast pace, and with that fast of a speed I just couldn’t grasp the knowledge.” Photo by Tiernan O’Niell
By EMMA RAMSAY – Staff Writer
Clarke Central math department coach Summer Smith, talks about the difficulty of 10th grade accelerated math and with this being the last week to drop out/drop down classes, many students are faced with the decision: should I level down?
Emma Ramsay: What do you think is so challenging about this course?
Summer Smith: I think that the pace (of the class) is really fast. Some of the geometry concepts are completely new and a lot of what (students) learn in coordinate algebra repeats what you learned in eighth grade.
ER: What are teachers doing to help students?
SS: Well, Mr. McCullough, the 10th grade accelerated math teacher, is always available for people to come in before school. Not after school because he coaches (cross country) right now. But before school to answer questions, and I know that if students show the willingness to work in do what they are supposed to do, which is another reason why it’s hard because students don’t always do their homework, he is willing to work with them. You can also retake your test which can help too.
ER: What would you change about the course?
SS: I wouldn’t (change the course), I think it’s good that, you know, you’re in accelerated, so it is going to be a challenge. And then there’s not much you can change, unfortunately.
ER: What do you think students can do to better prepare themselves?
SS: Do their homework everyday and make sure that they’re taking good notes, paying attention in class asking good questions and really trying to make sure they understand and not just breeze by because a lot of kids have been just breezing by up until this point, and so when it gets hard they kinda give up.
ER: Do you think this is a struggle throughout the state or just in Athens?
SS: No, I think accelerated (math) is hard throughout the state, and the fact that geometry is fairly new (for the students) and not to mention that you only do three units of geometry. The bulk of the class is advanced algebra, which is the hardest class out of coordinate algebra, analytic geometry and advanced algebra, like your doing half of geometry plus all of advanced algebra, which is a lot, which confuses a lot of the kids. So I do think it is a problem everywhere.
ER: Do you know the dropdown rate for the class is?
SS: No, we do usually have a handful, but I don’t have any numbers on how many. But every year there seems to be a core group that drop out. Some of the kids need to, because some of the kids might not have ever had to be on the accelerated track, but some kids drop down because their scared of getting a low grade, which I think is silly. I think they should work harder and stick with it.
