Older Students Help Younger Students Succeed in a Dual Credit Math Class
This is a technique that we used in a dual credit math class that had 4 eighth grade students. It was used to ensure that the underclassmen enrolled in this Dual credit College Algebra class would succeed. Each eighth grader was assigned to an upperclassman to assure success in the class.
This was the first high school class taken by these eighth graders and they are intimidated and awed by being in the presence of the students that are in the class (juniors and seniors). The class is the most regimented and difficult class they have been in thus far. They are now not the smartest and brightest in the class, but are in a class of students with equal or superior abilities in mathematics. They are working harder that than they have ever had to work and are being extremely successful. If left in the classroom with their peers, they would never have been challenged at this point.
Challenges or Obstacles:
- The major challenge is to match personalities of the eighth grade students with that of the upperclassmen without either group feeling overwhelmed and/or condescending. A happy medium had to be met that would allow each group to excel in spite of the age and/or grade differences.
- All of the eighth graders are female and had to overcome that little girl big brother feeling when matched with a high school male.
- Competing for top grade and not achieving it was another obstacle the eighth graders had to face. Always getting the best grade was no longer a certainty and was rarely a possibility.
- Challenges came from parents who had to decide if this is best academically for my child or is a grade most important.
Benefits and Successes:
- Students provide a support system to each other. Each student is given the opportunity to ask the teacher and Study Buddy how to solve various problems with two different perspectives.
- The eighth graders are soon viewed as just students in the classroom and not considered special and the “Little Smart Kids”.
- Watching academic growth of the eighth graders, it was decided that they should take the ACT and see how well this experiment has worked out. The ACT Composite Score for first time test takers (eighth grade) range was 21-25; average ACT Composite Score was 23. It was the regimentation of being with the upperclassmen and taking on their attitude about setting goals and work ethic in the classroom allowed them to achieve this milestone.
Submitted by: Olivia Hanley, Rock Creek Community Academy