Area teachers focus on improving math, science

STEUBENVILLE - Local science and mathematics instructors joined some intervention specialists this week as part of a course to help improve students' performances on state testing.

Steubenville High School was the site for the Mathematics and Science Coordination Teams that gathered to share information on what areas students need improvement and what techniques are working.

Robert Klein, assistant professor of mathematics at Ohio University, explained the lessons practiced come from the Ohio Resource Center and the funding for the program was obtained through an Ohio Board of Regents' Improving Teacher Quality Programs grant.

Approximately 14 teachers from middle and high schools attended the session, including teachers from Jefferson, Tuscarawas, Carroll and Muskingum counties. Jefferson County school district teachers who completed the course were from Steubenville and Toronto city schools and Edison and Buckeye Local schools.

Third- through eighth-grade pupils are required to take the Ohio Achievement Test annually, while sophomores must take the Ohio Graduation Test. Those not passing the OGT in 10th grade must retake the test until it is passed.

The areas of science and math are often difficult for students, according to officials, and those taking part in the M.A.S.C.O.T. program this week focused on seventh through 10th grades to analyze and improve areas of poor student performance.

Danielle Dani, assistant professor of science at Ohio University, explained the course objectives entail identifying benchmarks and grade level indicators from Ohio's Academic Content Standards where students perform poorly; using the Web platform of iDiscovery to support and link teachers through the school year to overcome obstacles; and to enhance teachers' content knowledge, understanding and skill in using assessments and differentiated instruction.

Klein said using the M.A.S.C.O.T. program "helps target content areas where help is needed."

He said the purpose is to improve test scores and help teachers find resources to support them in those areas for their classrooms.

"We are very lucky here in Ohio to have the Ohio Resource Center as a resource," Klein commented.

Debra Straka and Dave Ziarko are science teachers at Steubenville High School who attended the course. Straka said the class was a great resource and will allow her students to perform inexpensive experiments in class that are not complicated.

"Every student can become involved," she said, adding "it is nice to be able to work with other area teachers and obtain ideas from what they use in their classrooms."

Harding Middle School math teacher Anthony DeFrances agreed, saying he learned that science, math and intervention specialists can now work together to coordinate lessons and combine the two subjects by using the Ohio Resource Center.

Other university-based instructors taking part in the session included Terry McCollum from Miami University and Dianne Gut, associate professor of special education at Ohio University.

(Ghrist can be contacted at jstenger@heraldstaronline.com.)