The California Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) Test results have been posted. The Combo classes at Foothill High School have raised the achievement bar once again. Statewide in California at the freshman level, 2% of students taking the STAR test in Algebra 1 score at the Advanced Level.
Three years ago 52% of FHS 9th grade Combo students scored Advanced.
Two years ago 70% of FHS 9th grade Combo students scored Advanced.
Last year 83% of my FHS 9th grade Combo students scored Advanced.
Congratulations, students, for doing such an excellent job. Credit is also due to your parents and your former teachers as well.
People ask frequently at workshops how to achieve such high scores. Here’s what I tell them:
1- Start early – this allows you to use conceptual layering to its maximum benefit. Students benefit from a highly structured, integrated, and conceptually sequenced set of lessons.
2- The STAR test is composed of 25 Algebra 1 Standards. In Mr. L’s class students begin preparing for the STAR test as soon as school begins in August. Since there are about roughly 150 teaching days before the STAR Test, this allows about six days per Standard.
3- Some Standards take more time than others to successfully cover, and many Standards can be taught at the same time. I begin the year with Standards 6, 7, 8, and 9 which cover linear equations. These form a Cluster and can be taught concurrently, thus taking less time than if taught separately. I find that Standards 1 – 5 can be taught throughout the course as we progress through the Algebra 1 curriculum.
4- Rule of 3: Most concepts/skills/algorithms take at least three exposures for students to master. Students need repetition to successfully retain the content. Some algorithms take longer to master, such as the Derivation of the Quadratic Formula. We normally take seven class days to achieve mastery of this skill.
5- Accountability: My students are given frequent short quizzes designed to exhibit total mastery of a skill/concept. This type of skills assessment leads to automaticity – I want students to KNOW how to do things, not just for the short term, but for the long term. They are given the same/similar quizzes throughout the year to maintain their skills.
6- I make STAR prep part of the daily routine with warmups, quizzes, homework, PowerPoint presentations, E-Z writes, and projects.
This high level of performance is due to commitment by Mr. L, parents, students, and former teachers. Students need to:
- Commit to time and effort
- Commit to Mr. L and their parents
- Commit to themselves to do their very best
Any teacher can improve the STAR test scores of students with attention to details. The items above work for my students, and I’m sure they will help your students as well. Best wishes as you work with your students!
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