This is a shining example.  Our students advance on average more than 2 grade levels in math after using our curriculum.  We are seeking help purchasing print cartridges and paper to continue our I Can Do Math curriculum.  I Can Do Math has proven to help hundreds of students plug holes in their basic understanding of math and allow them to complete their graduation requirements for math.  

I Can Do Math (ICDM) was developed as a better way to teach mathematics to students who are below grade-level and unprepared for the challenges of math in middle school and beyond. Students coming into our five seventh grade math classes are tested using a battery of standardized assessments to determine their grade level equivalencies and national percentile ranks, as well as their proficiency in performing basic math operations.  The testing instruments allow the teacher to determine where the students’ weaknesses lie, and to address each individual student’s needs.

Students are tested and assigned sequential concepts in ICDM, each of which builds on prior concepts.  The student works out problems at three levels of comprehension for each concept and is tested on each concept.  A score of 90% or higher is required to demonstrate mastery of each concept.  While the student does all work with pencil and paper, the student then enters his/her answers into a keypad that transmits them to a computer.  The computer instantly scores the work; tells the student whether s/he has passed the concept or needs further instruction; and if the student has passed, generates the student’s next assignment.  The student who needs a lesson is directed to a teacher for one-on-one instruction and is later retested.

The grant funding requested for Capshaw Middle School to help the ICDM program is to support the printer and paper needs of the program, which are substantial.  It is not uncommon to use a ream of paper in a single class period, even though the students routinely recycle old tests as scrap paper on which to do their workings for problems!  Math is a paper intensive activity; but we do recycle three times over: we use recycled papers; we reuse the paper as scrap paper; and we recycle the scrap paper in our school-wide recycling program.  Our other BIG expense is toner, though we print in economy mode and use toner sparingly.  Students are accustomed to gray print, rather than strong black!