View a selection of implementation strategies from educators who are successfully using ALEKS to achieve dramatic learning outcomes.
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Crocker Highlands Elementary School, Oakland Unified School District
Grade(s): K - 5
Scenario: Computer Lab
Purpose: Intervention, After-School, Improve State Test Scores, At-Risk Students
ALEKS Portion of Curriculum: 0%
Time Spent in ALEKS: 2 hours per week; 35 hours per term
ALEKS Course: Mathematics - LV 3 (with QuickTables), Mathematics - LV 5 (with QuickTables)
Marie-Claude Provencher, PTA President
We are very pleased with the outcome of our usage.
What challenges did the class or school face in math prior to using ALEKS?
Kids that were behind were not able to follow along in class because they had not mastered some of material from previous grades.
How many days per week is class time dedicated to ALEKS?
2 days per week.
What is the average length of a class period when ALEKS is used?
Do you cover ALEKS concepts in a particular order?
No, I let the kids control what they learn.
How do you structure your class period with ALEKS?
Twice per week, students come to the computer lab for one hour after school. This includes all non-proficient students in grades 3-5. They spend the first 45 minutes with review; they then look at the card I give them to find out how many topics I expect them to finish that day. If they meet the goal, they get one star. After five stars, they get a free 15 minute period to play at the end of the day. Everyone else completes 15 minutes of QuickTables.
How often are students required or encouraged to work on ALEKS at home?
I encourage students to do so every week.
How do you cultivate parental involvement and support for ALEKS?
I call parents when kids do well. I pay special attention to call parents who don't get a lot of "positive" calls.
Is ALEKS assigned to your students as all or part of their homework responsibilities? If so, what part of the total homework load is it?
Some teachers have assigned QuickTables as homework.
Do you require students to make regular amounts of progress in ALEKS?
Yes, I give them a goal specifying the amount of topics they need to work on for each session. They get a star if they attain their goal.
Since using ALEKS, please describe the learning outcomes or progress you have seen.
Students have improved by an average of 13 percent on their district math assessments.
Are there any best practices you would like to share with other teachers implementing ALEKS?
The star system seems to work, as well as the positive phone calls to parents. Next year, we will do an intense, six-week ALEKS period for each group instead of doing it twice per week over the year, just to see if students respond better.