Los Altos Program 2000

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=160 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="12ca0643.jpg"> <div> <B>M</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#555555" FACE="BernhardMod BT" ><B>ountain </B></FONT><B>V</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#555555" FACE="BernhardMod BT" ><B>iew </B></FONT><B>A</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#555555" FACE="BernhardMod BT" ><B>chievement</B></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mountain View Achievement"><U><B><IMG SRC="0c22d410.gif" border=0 width="45" height="65" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mountain View Achievement"><U><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dcff000000.gif" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">MVA Home</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id120.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Perspective"><U><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dcff000000.gif" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Perspective</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id11.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Community"><U><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dcff000000.gif" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Community</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id8.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Our Goals"><U><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dcff000000.gif" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Our Goals</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id10.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Test Scores"><U><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dcff000000.gif" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Test Scores</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id42.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Standards"><U><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dcff000000.gif" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Standards</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id45.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Text Books"><U><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dcff000000.gif" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Text Books</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id49.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Los Altos and Mtn View K8 Comparison"><U><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dcff000000.gif" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Los Altos and Mtn View K-8 Comparison</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id67.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Racial Implications"><U><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dcff000000.gif" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Racial Implications</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id52.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Other Schools Succeed"><U><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dcff000000.gif" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Other Schools Succeed</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id37.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Resources"><U><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dcff000000.gif" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Resources</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id128.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Who We Are"><U><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dcff000000.gif" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Who We Are</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id150.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="New Developments"><U><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dcff000000.gif" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">New Developments</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id29.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Us"><U><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dcff000000.gif" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Contact Us</U></A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="12b64643.jpg"> <div> <B>Los Altos Program 2000</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> September 1, 2000</div> <bR> <div> Richard Liewer</div> <div> Asst. Superintendent</div> <div> Los Altos Elementary School District</div> <div> Los Altos, CA</div> <bR> <div> Dear Mr. Liewer:</div> <bR> <div>      We want to thank you very much for spending time with us last year, and for taking the time now to give us an update on the Los Altos K-8 School District math program.  The purpose of this letter is to confirm what we learned from you about math education in Los Altos.</div> <bR> <div>      The Los Altos School Board has set a policy that each child will continually progress in math.  This is carried out at the elementary school level by having math taught at the same time at each day.  Beginning in grades two, three or four, depending on the elementary school, students attend the math class at their mastery level.<B>  </B> In this way, children at the same ability levels can progress, and there is a blurring of the grades.  Some schools have math in the mornings, some after recess, and one in the afternoon.  The district is able to provide additional math classes by having a math teacher rotate through the schools.  In the earlier grades, where children do not leave their classrooms for math, teachers are able to differentiate instruction.</div> <bR> <div>      As a result of this approach, fifteen to twenty-five percent of the fifth graders have finished sixth grade math by the end of the fifth grade.  These children will continue their accelerated progress in the sixth grade and at junior high.  They have the opportunity to participate in the Math Olympiad in the sixth grade.  By the middle of the seventh grade, they will begin Addison Wesley’s Algebra 1 series which is a particularly demanding series.  They will continue it through the eighth grade, where it is used for honors Algebra.  They are then ready for honors geometry at the high school level.  The very few, extraordinarily advanced students will have individualized programs. </div> <bR> <div>      Other students, also strong but not at the very accelerated level, will complete the traditional sixth grade program plus work in other accelerated texts.  In the seventh grade they will use the Gateways series, and then go on to Algebra in the eighth grade using University of Chicago Algebra.</div> <bR> <div>      Grade level sixth graders will complete the SRA math program in grade six, and then use the Gateways program and other texts in grade seven and eight.  These children will be ready for Algebra in the ninth grade.  There are remedial programs, both classes and instructional aides to help students reach grade level.</div> <bR> <div>      Los Altos has adopted the State Math Content Standards to prepare its children to do well on the SAT-9 test and the augmented state questions. </div> <bR> <div>      In May of 2000, the Board of Trustees adopted SRA’s Math Explorations and Applications as Los Altos’ basic text for grade one through six.  This new text, coupled with <U>MathCoach</U> and Creative Publications’ <U>Problem Solver</U> form the heart of the Los Altos’ one through six grade level program (with the exception of accelerated students as described above.)</div> <bR> <div>      You were also kind enough to show us <U>MathCoach</U>, supplementary materials that are used in the Los Altos schools.  <U>MathCoach</U> provides the teachers with detailed worksheets and lessons that correlate directly to the State Math Content Standards, SAT-9 and the augmented questions.  It is a good assessment tool, teaching tool and student practice tool to help insure student achievement and mastery of the Standards and materials tested on the SAT-9.</div> <bR> <div>      Los Altos provides teachers with the tools to actually teach the material covered in California’s Math Content Standards and SAT-9.  As another example of this commitment, you provided us with a copy of the “Math: What We Teach. . .”  booklet for each grade level, authored by the Math Committee of the Los Altos School District.  This lengthy resource links what is taught in the classroom to the Math Content Standards and the SAT-9 exams.  It references math textbook chapters to the Math Content Standards or to the SAT-9.  It also suggests or includes examples of additional teaching tools to insure that the material is taught and practiced.</div> <bR> <div>      Thank you for taking so much time to meet with us and provide us with this information.  As parents, our information usually comes from other parents.  By meeting with you, we have been able to verify Los Altos’ approach to math education.</div> <bR> <div>                               Sincerely,</div> <bR> <div>                               Vicki Hobel Schultz</div> <div>                               Tina Maltbaek</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>