“I thought I was a horrible math student until you all started tutoring us...Now, it's my second favorite class next to lunch."
- - 8th grade Math student
Program overview
Math Coaching helps students build a strong foundation in middle school math, putting students on track to succeed in high school. National research points to the importance of math success as indicator for high school graduation and college entrance.
As a Math Classroom Coach, you will....
-
Provide consistent, positive support as a mentor/tutor for 2-3 middle school students in math
-
Apply interactive learning tools to engage students in building critical thinking skills
-
Support teachers by providing differentiated, individualized instruction
-
Build a strong foundation for math success, reducing drop-out risk
-
Model cooperative behavior to strengthen individual and group skills
-
Show students you care about their academic success
-
Celebrate student successes
-
Experience the reward of knowing you helped another person
How it works
Middle School Math Classroom Coaching is offered predominantly to 8th grade students. Each week, a team of volunteers spends 45 minutes in their assigned classroom, working in small groups to build math skills.
Volunteers receive
-
A curriculum notebook with exercises for group and individual math problem solving and critical reasoning
-
Initial and ongoing training
-
Weekly support from a dedicated coordinator
-
Guidance from teachers and coordinators on applying the tools
-
Interaction and shared learnings with other volunteers
Our IBM Volunteers
Andrew Holle from IBM began volunteering individually. The next year, several co-workers joined him. Now, about 50 IBM employees volunteer in Math Classroom Coaching programs, and more plan to join this year in Math and Reading.
Read IBM employee Andrew Holle's story in our Volunteer Spotlight.
APIE thanks Hal Chase at IBM for his work helping to spread the word about the Classroom Coaching opportunity!
Learn more about the volunteer experience by visiting our YouTube channel.
Download a program flier for Middle School Math Coaching.
View which schools participate in Middle School Math Classroom Coaching.
Volunteer and see how much fun learning can be:
With questions please contact: 512.637.0900 or apie@austinpartners.org
-
Learn more about our Classroom Coaching Model.
-
Read about our program Successes.
This program is funded by:
Andy Roddick Foundation
Anonymous Foundation
KDK-Harman Foundation
Meyer Foundation
Michael & Susan Dell Foundation
United Way Capital Area
And our founders
Austin ISD and
The Austin Chamber of Commerce
The Difference Math Success Makes
High school mathematics is widely regarded as the “gatekeeper” to college.
It is also the subject students in U.S. public schools fail most often.
Students who failed Algebra were four times more likely to drop out of high school than those who passed the course.
83% of students who are successful in Algebra I and Geometry go on to college.
_________________
SOURCE
Central Tensions, A Critical Framework for Examining High School Mathematics and Mathematics Education, Katrine Gram Jacobsen, 1999
Algebra, Changing the Equation, Carl Vogel, 2008
National Educational Longitudinal Study, 1998
