Laying a Strong Foundation:

Middle School Math Placement at Falk

Mathematics instruction at Falk centers on inquiry and exploration. At the Middle School level it encompasses pre-algebra, algebra, and geometry concepts. A critical goal of Middle School math is to provide all students with a strong algebraic function that they can continue to build upon as they move on to high school. 

Mathematics is a content area where it is critical for students to master certain skills before moving on. This is especially important when laying the groundwork for building algebraic skills and understanding, says Middle School director Dr. Joanna Newlin. 

For that reason, it is important not to accelerate students too quickly—advice that Dr. Newlin and others at Falk, such as counselor Sarah Faulx, have received from the high schools attended by Falk graduates. In a recent meeting with a high school attended by many Falk graduates, the head of the math department shared his experience of working with students who had been accelerated too quickly through algebra.

“They just hit a wall in high school," he said.  

To best position all students for success, Middle School students are placed according to a set of criteria that includes their own level of interest in advanced mathematics instruction. 

Informed by Research, Experience, and Student Input 

The math placement process at Falk is informed by research and the experiences of teachers and administrators, and is driven by the students themselves. 

During the 2022-23 school year, a group of Middle School students approached math teachers Michael Yalch and Christina Graham with their desire for more advanced math instruction. 

After meetings between teachers and administrators, an additional math class was created in which students proceeded at a faster pace and included both algebra and geometry concepts.

It’s a perfect of example of what Falk's director, Dr. Jill Sarada, describes as devising a solution with students instead of a decision being handed down to them. 

This year, a group including Middle School math teachers, Dr. Newlin, and Dr. Sarada, have elected to keep the advanced options requested by the students as a possibility for current seventh- and eighth-graders. 

The arrangement is working well, says Dr. Newlin. Teachers are better able to meet the needs of all the students, which is so important when establishing a strong algebraic foundation. 

To ensure that students take the class that best serves them and their future mathematical careers, they’ve devised a clear set of placement criteria to use in making placements. 

How Falk Middle School Places Students 

Placement takes place only before seventh grade, Dr. Newlin points out. Sixth-grade classes are all heterogeneous: students of differing readiness levels are included in a single math class, with differentiation occurring within the classroom. 

In both seventh and eighth grade, two math classes are offered. 

For seventh-graders: 

• Integrated Mathematics 1 covers the components of a traditional pre-algebra class, while 
• Integrated Mathematics 2 offers an intensive, fast-paced course that covers pre-algebra and algebra. 

For eighth-graders: 

• Integrated Mathematics 2 covers the components of a traditional year-long algebra class, while 
• Integrated Mathematics 2 is an intensive, fast-paced course that covers geometry components. 

At both grade levels, the criteria for placement into the accelerated math classes include assignment completion and curriculum-based assessment of 90% or above in the prior year’s math class.  

Additionally, attribute charts, filled out by the student’s teacher, must indicate that the student consistently demonstrates qualities such as the ability to incorporate new information quickly, retention and application of concepts, and engagement in class, among others. 

And students themselves complete an interest survey where they can indicate their own level of interest in a faster-paced, intensive mathematics class. 

Dr. Newlin pointed out that the majority of students in both seventh and eighth grade were placed in the traditional course. The accelerated course is designed for those students who are truly ready to embrace a faster-paced class.  Additionally, there is no set number of students placed in the accelerated course. If it is only appropriate for a very small number of students, she says, then it will just be a very small class that year.