MAPS

Math Achievement Pathway To Success

4/23/09BSI Workshop

Presenter: Linda RetterathMission College, Santa Clara

Student Profile

• MAPS is designed for students who struggle in math and would benefit from extended instruction time, a classroom community and improved study skills

Mission College MAPS Program Description

• Focusing on Elementary and Intermediate Algebra– courses with a traditional success rate of 40-60% - now at 79-92% for these sections

• Class meeting time increased to 8 hours/week• Only one section of MAPS class offered each

semester (Elementary Algebra in the Fall and Intermediate Algebra in the Spring)

• Classroom size limited, so students can get more personalized attention.

(continued)• Group work incorporated into class• MAPS dedicated tutors available several hours

throughout the week in the Math Learning Center and sometimes inside of class

• A cohort established and classroom community fostered throughout the year (students commit to taking Elementary Algebra in the Fall and Intermediate Algebra in the Spring in the MAPS program)

• Creation of a safe environment, in which students do not feel vulnerable and engage in learning by asking questions and receiving help

For the last 3 years we have had the following (but some of these will be discontinued this Fall):

• Half-time counselor working with the program• Counselor in class 3 hours/week• Student training on study skills and test-taking• Counseling on individual learning styles, math

anxiety and self-defeating attitudes• The counselor provides students with personal,

career and academic counseling• Counselor and instructor meet weekly to talk

about students and their progress

How can we have some of the aspects of a counselor working with the program,

if we don’t have one??

•Work with the counseling department and have “guest speakers” give talks on study skills, transfer information, etc.

•Give extra credit to students who get an educational plan done with a counselor

•Use a book like Paul Nolting’s Winning At Math to help students strengthen their study skills

Our Process1) Student turns in an application for the MAPS

class. The application can be found on the MAPS website and the counseling department also has it.

2) Students are interviewed by the Math Division Chair to make sure they understand the time commitment, the work that is going to be involved and have the necessary prerequisites for the class.

3) The student registers for the class.

Our Process (cont.)4) Before school begins there is an orientation, at

which time students sign a contract, take a learning style inventory, textbooks are handed out (the publisher has given Mission College a classroom set) and students are shown the Math Learning Center.

5) At the end of the school year there is a recognition ceremony where students’ work is celebrated.

For more information:

• Go to: http://www.missioncollege.org/depts/math/MAPS/index.html

• Contact:

Linda Retterath

linda_retterath@wvm.edu

(408)855-5328