Closing the Gap for 6th Grade Math Students in Oklahoma

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Closing the Gap for 6th Grade Math Students
Today, schools in Oklahoma are being graded largely on their students’ achievement levels in four core curriculum subject areas (Oklahoma State Department, 2014). If a student fails to gain the knowledge needed in only one content area each year, then by the end of 5th grade he or she could possibly be behind in six content areas or be six years behind in one area. A number of students come into (6th grade) middle school math classes without the necessary math skills to begin the state core curriculum for their grade level (O’Byrne, Securro, Jones, Cadle, 2006 ). Oklahoma’s 6th grade math curriculum has definite expectations that must be met before a student can begin the curriculum and expect to have any success. Students entering 6th grade are expected to be proficient in operations with fractions and decimals (Oklahoma Academic Standards, 2014). During sixth grade students will learn to evaluate expressions and solve equations that contain fractions and decimals (Oklahoma Academic Standards, 2014). A need exists to find the best method to identify the students with deficiencies and address those deficiencies by adjusting instructional strategies at the beginning of the school year in order to give those students an opportunity to be successful in class and to score at the proficient level on state tests.
Definition of Terms
Oklahoma Core Curriculum Tests (OCCT) are administered in various subjects in grades 3 through 8.
Oklahoma Academic Standards adopted in 2010 are the Common Core State Standards (CCSS).
An Integrated Learning System (ILS) is a software package that delivers computer based instructional content that tracks student mastery of defined skills and based on studen...

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...ia Consulting, LLC.
Mendicino, M., Razzaq, L., & Heffernan, N. (2009). A Comparison of Traditional Homework to Computer-Supported Homework. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 331-359.
O'Byrne, B., Securro, S., Jones, J., & Cadle, C. (2006). Making the cut: the impact of an itegrated learning system on low achieving middle school students. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 218-228.
Oklahoma State Department of Education. (2014, February). A-F Grading System. Retrieved from Oklahoma State Deptartment of Education: http://ok.gov/sde/f-grading-system
Walsh, J. (2012). Co-Teaching as a School System Strategy for Continuous Improvement. Preventing School Failure, 29-36.
Watts, J. (2008). Case Studies Research Summeries of Study Island. Liousa: Magnolia Consulting.
Watts, J. (2008). Study Island Scientific Research Base. Louisa: Magnolia Consulting, LLC.

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