This Project in Relation to the "Original" Bridges Program for Math/English
The recent Building a Bridge to Achieve Student Success program at WCSU (2003-2006, project/grant to be renewed), whereby WCSU math and English faculty have worked with area high school teachers in these areas to improve student preparation for college-level work, has resulted in improved student preparation. Abby Zink of English and Paula Maida of Math Dept. led this effort. Note that as per a conversation with Paul Maida 1/9/07, the program is now being expanded to look at PreS??-16 issues re: math and English preparation and performance. She noted that she will not be involved in this second phase. It would be worthwhile to meet with Abby to find out what's planned. Paula said she'd be happy to sit down with us to talk about strategies they used to ensure a successful project. See the November/December 2006 CSUS Universe article on the project here.
WCSU Librarians have observed that many students come to WCSU with insufficient information literacy/library research skills. Programs/curricula needed to improve students preparation. This collaboration can be an instrument for such improvement. Dr. Rinker envisions our effort as a logical extension or supplement to the existing Bridges program for math and English.
News-Times articles & other Information
Bethel expands alliance with WestConn?
By Heather Barr THE NEWS-TIMES
Bethel Middle School students who have the top projects at the school's science fair in April will have their work displayed in Western Connecticut State University's new science building. This plan expands an already successful alliance between the university and the Bethel school district.
"We are trying to give our kids ideas of what a high academic achievement setting should be and what a university is like," said Bethel Superintendent Gary Chesley. "It gives them something to shoot for academically."
Bethel High School principal Patricia Cosentino said, "We're very excited about it. It's a great opportunity for students to get the college experience. It's a win-win."
At Thursday night's Board of Education meeting, Chesley talked about new projects he and WestConn? officials discussed this week and about forming a state commission to help other high schools develop alliances with universities in the state system.
- This fall 40 WestConn? education students spent two weeks in Bethel schools to observe, deliver lessons and tutor students
- giving them a "preview of what a career in teaching is like," said Chesley.
"We had students before practice-teaching, and it is real active learning to see what it is like," said WestConn? President James Schmotter. "It is like a pre-internship. It is very successful."
In March, fifth-graders at Bethel Middle School will get to see what a university is like when WestConn? holds a series of days for students to spend on campus, touring the buildings, talking with professors and students, and learning about WestConn?.
"We are looking to encourage more students to come here," Schmotter said.
The partnership between WestConn? and the Bethel school district began about three years ago, and "we keep expanding it," said Chesley.
Through the Bridges Program, WestConn?'s math and English faculty collaborated with Danbury and Bethel high schools' math and English faculties. They gave both schools' students university placement tests.
About 60 percent of the Bethel students who took the test would have to take a remedial English course if they enrolled at WestConn?. The faculties worked together to change Bethel's curriculum, and in a few years were able to "reverse the trend," said Chesley.
Now only 15 percent of those who take the test need to take a remedial English course. This saves college students money because they have to pay for the remedial class even though it doesn't count as credit toward graduation.
Bethel schools plan to expand the relationship with WestConn? to include science and give science placement tests, too. Professors will hopefully critique the middle school science fair projects that are displayed on campus. "They can get a different perspective," Chesley said.
Another idea that has been approved pairs Bethel schools and WestConn?'s music department. Chesley said district officials are thinking of having some students who play in the band or play a stringed instrument attend a seminar with WestConn? students and professors to see what it is like to play with experts and professionals.
Most music teachers in the Bethel school system graduated from WestConn?, so "this is completing the circle," said Chesley.
Bethel school district has been recognized as having one of the 100 best music programs in the country, he noted. WestConn?'s music program is also highly regarded.
Making math add up Bethel High students prepare for college with WestConn? class
By Marietta Homayonpour THE NEWS-TIMES
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The News-Times/David W. Harple Bethel High School students, from left, Heather Gebert, Leanne Merritt, Sam Verboven and Nikki King work on math problems for their college-prep math class. BETHEL – Heather Gebert is honest about her abilities. "I'm really bad at math," says the 17-year-old Bethel High School senior.
But Gebert plans to attend college next year at Western Connecticut State University or Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, and she wants to be ready to take college-level math.
That's why Gebert is in a new math prep class at Bethel High that will, she hopes, help her do well on math placement tests taken by incoming college students.
"Hopefully, this class will help me so I don't have to take remedial math courses in college," said Gebert.
The Bethel High prep class "is a way for kids to reinforce their skills so that hopefully they will pass the placement tests," said math department chairman, Pamela Strout.
Three-hour classes are offered twice a week at the high school – one after school and one in the evening. Both are made possible by WestConn?, which is paying for the instructors.
Classes, which began in late October, are taught by Bethel High math teachers and students earn half a credit toward their high school diploma for the 20-session course.
"It's been going well," math teacher Michele Bradshaw said about the computer-driven class. Students use a program called ALEKS, which is the same math skills program used in WestConn?'s remedial courses.
Students also can log onto ALEKS at home. The program monitors their work, showing teachers how much they've done and how far their math skills have come. The program, said Bradshaw, "keeps track of what the students need to work on and they can monitor their own progress."
Gebert, who says she's bad at math, has "learned a lot" since taking the class.
"I have to do problems to get something right and then five more problems after that," said Gebert who praised the software program. "It doesn't let you just get out."
But in one class, it was obvious students also needed Bradshaw's help.
"I've been having trouble with this my whole life," one girl said about a problem on her computer screen involving the dimensions of a rectangle.
"You have to remember your formulas," said Bradshaw who reminded the student that multiplying "length times width" gives the area of the rectangle.
The math prep classes are part of a program called Building Bridges, a partnership between WestConn? and Bethel and Danbury high schools. The goal is to prepare students to come to college better prepared to do well in math and English.
Seventeen students are in Bethel's afternoon math prep class and nine in the night class. All are seniors. Many learned they needed help with their math skills as juniors and were allowed to take WestConn?'s math placement test.
Of the 824 freshmen admitted to WestConn? in 2003, more than 60 percent needed to take remedial elementary algebra. WestConn? hopes the Building Bridges program will help lower that percentage.
"We believe it's important to have strong math ability," said Linda Vaden-Goad, dean of WestConn?'s School of Arts and Science. "Students can use math in whatever career they want to have."