ARI :: Curriculum Companion

A compilation of lessons to use for tutoring in the Algebra Readiness Initiative

Introduction

The Algebra Readiness Curriculum Companion is a compilation of lessons for use by tutors in the Algebra Readiness Initiative (ARI). ARI provides small group intervention to students in grades 6 – 9 who need to strengthen their mathematical backgrounds to be successful in Algebra I.

The Algebra Readiness Diagnostic Test (ARDT) can be used as a pre-test to identify the areas of mathematical weakness for students in the ARI. Once the online test is administered, ARI tutors can consult the results of the pre-test for each student. The results are displayed in a matrix of student strengths and weaknesses identified by the corresponding Standard of Learning (SOL).

The Algebra Readiness Curriculum Companion was designed for use in conjunction with the ARDT results. Once a weakness is diagnosed, the ARI tutor can click on the corresponding standard in the table of contents of the Curriculum Companion. This will deliver a set of lesson plans that the tutor can use. The initial lesson plan is followed by subsequent lessons to lead the students through related standards that progress in complexity and related content for grades 5-8.

Note that there is usually only one lesson plan per standard. The Curriculum Companion is not a curriculum for ARI. It is simply a compilation of lessons that are starting points for a particular concept or skill, arranged by standard. A tutor, while implementing a lesson, will need to informally assess the students’ knowledge to determine the follow-up needed, whether that be additional skill practice or concept development. Once the tutor deems that a standard has been mastered, the tutor may move on to another lesson in the companion document.

The ARI seeks to employ techniques, lessons, and activities that are new to the students, or to present the concepts and skills in a way the students have not seen. Therefore, these lessons should only be used in ARI. These lessons do not replace the Curriculum Framework or Enhanced Scope and Sequence published by the Virginia Department of Education. This lesson compilation is a companion to those documents.

It is not mandatory that an ARI tutor use these lessons. Tutors may use all or just a few of these lessons. Some tutors may want to supplement the lessons they already use. The deciding factor on what lessons to use with ARI students is what works for the students in addressing their weaknesses.

Table of Contents
(Click on the topic below that contains the Standard of Learning to be addressed. All documents are in PDF format. To obtain a free version of Acrobat Reader click here. )

• Acknowledgments
• 2-D Measurement: 5.8, 5.10, 6.10, 6.11, 7.7, 7.8, 8.7, 8.10
• 3-D Geometry: 5.10, 5.16, 6.10, 6.17, 7.8, 8.7, 8.9
• Circles: 5.9, 6.12
• Classifying Angles: 5.13, 5.14, 6.13, 6.15, 6.16, 8.6
• Comparing and Ordering: 5.1, 5.2, 6.1, 6.4, 7.1, 8.1
• Decimals: 5.1, 5.4, 5.6, 6.6, 6.7, 6.8, 7.4, 8.3
• Fractions: 5.7, 6.3, 6.6, 6.7, 6.8, 7.4, 8.3
• Integers: 6.5, 7.5, 8.2
• Order of Operations and Properties: 7.2, 7.3, 8.1, 8.4
• Patterns, Functions, and Algebra: 5.20, 5.21, 5.22, 6.3, 6.21, 6.22, 6.23, 7.12, 7.19, 7.20, 7.22, 8.4, 8.5, 8.14, 8.15, 8.16, 8.17, 8.18
• Polygons: 5.15, 6.14, 6.15, 7.9, 7.10, 7.11, 7.13, 8.8
• Probability: 5.17, 6.20, 7.14, 7.15, 8.11
• Ratio/Proportion: 6.2, 7.6, 8.3, 8.17
• Statistics: 5.18, 5.19, 6.18, 6.19, 7.16, 7.17, 7.18, 8.12, 8.13
• Whole Numbers: 5.3, 5.5, 6.7
• Working with Units: 5.11, 5.12, 6.9, 6.10

Below is a list of phone numbers and personnel contact information for providing help with various issues pertaining to the Algebra Readiness Initiative and the ARDT system: