THE ACADEMIC CORNER
ELT targets mathematics instruction

Each day students at Washington- Wilkes Middle School participate in Extended Learning Time (ELT). This thirty-minute period of time is intended to help students with skills they need to be successful in their academic classes. In previous years, students remained in their homeroom classes for this block of time and worked on reading and mathematics skills. Because the range of abilities was wide, it was difficultfor each student to get help in specific areas.

Based on information from standardized test scores and classroom performance, the W-WMS Better Seeking Team decided that the focus of school improvement efforts needed to be in the area of mathematics. The new Georgia Performance Standards have increased the level of mathematics required by students and leave little time for teachers to remediate basic skills. Many of these skills are needed to complete the more advanced concepts. Because additional instructional time was needed, the Better Seeking Team made the decision to reorganize ELT.

ELT now has a completely new look. The Better Seeking Team understood it was essential to keep classes sizes small and called upon every teacher to help. Currently every teacher is providing mathematics instruction during ELT. By increasing the number of teachers, students are able to receive small group instruction. Another change is the method in which students are placed into groups. The mathematics teachers at each grade level worked to identify the area of weakness for each student. Based on these needs, teacher grouped students into a group with similar needs. These groups range from basic facts remediation to more advanced skills such as algebra and geometry.

Every student at W-WMS is receiving targeted mathematics instruction in ELT. During this time, teachers are able to spend an extra time on areas of weakness for individual students. Many times teachers are unable to do this during the regular mathematics class because the concepts are not covered in the curriculum. This time has also given students time to dig deeper into concepts covered in the mathematics classroom. In addition, the new ELT has provided time to accelerate students who have mastered the curriculum and are ready to move on.

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