Grade 10 Math. Why so tough?

High School Math continues to be a growing struggle for all parties. For some students, it is a maturity piece where they simply need to be an active member of their learning. For others, it becomes a focus on skills. Below are the key reasons for lack of success in Grade 10 math at the present.

FAILURE TO SUCCESS

Students can fail a course and still “succeed” in continuing on to the next level of difficulty (grade). Any gaps in their learning are now compounded with more complex concepts and tricks (like cross-multiplying) which create a dangerous footing to walk. If a student hasn’t mastered a concept in grade 7, how do we expect them to succeed in grade 8 or 9, let alone during high school?

To see students getting 30-40% throughout junior high and then attempt Math 10C, a course hosting the grade’s future valedictorian, seems reaching. They are optimistic, though, because things always worked out before in “succeeding” at that grade and moving on.

There is value is failure.

CALCULATORS

Add ½ + ½ and of course, students will confidently answer with 2/4….CONFIDENTLY!

Ask a student to evaluate (-4)² is of course, -16. Students know that (-#)(-#)= +#, so why are they so confident in the incorrect?

Processes are more straight-forward in junior high and it is “safer” to type basic operations into a calculator, like "8 x 3". The lack of thought going into some processes becomes a risk as concepts/operations become more complex. Even more dangerous is the transition into variable math:

Ask a student to add 2/x + x/3 and they shut down. 

“Where is the ‘x’ button?”, they might say.

If a student cannot tell me all the factors of 24 within 10 seconds, they are likely to struggle at factoring in grade 10. It is convenient that Alberta Education added “recall” back into the K-9 program because, otherwise, a 1 step problem becomes 2.

PACE & PARTICIPATION

I am told by my grade 10 students that they can miss a week of grade 9 math and still catch up without much stress. My students miss a day, and they are behind.  “I wasn't there that day” is a common statement when they don’t know how to complete a task. Students continue to be coached throughout high school that learning takes place, even when they are on a 2-week vacation in early December.

Eventually they learn to take learning into their hands, but it takes time. The sooner they become an active participant in the classroom, the more ready they are to succeed.

I look at my grade twelves, who if I ask to spend 10 hours over their Christmas break on a specific task, would. They trust me and know what is required for success. In grade 10, though, some are simply sitting back and waiting for grade 11 to get here.