Comments on: Don’t call them nerds! Geometry prowess at an Oakland middle school

By: Kim

Kim — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 01:58:00 +0000

ha ha ha, so many comments, and im SO late. ha ha
i love the picture

WE ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By: Rose

Rose — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 00:09:59 +0000

So starting next year there will be no opportunity for acceleration or in-depth learning in math for the high performing kids in our middle schools (this is an across the board change in OUSD middle schools) until they get to 8th grade, at which point they can take geometry as an elective. To do this they will have to give give up the chance to take another elective such as music.

We had the same accelerated math program at my son’s middle school. The reason/”evidence” given for the change was that our geometry students didn’t test as well as those from a different school that uses the geometry elective. Now I find out that Urban Promise with accelerated math scored even higher, demonstrating the complete disingenuousness of the NEXO.

This is why good students leave OUSD.

By: Geometry Teacher

Geometry Teacher — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 04:00:15 +0000

In this group, when they were 6th graders a bunch of them were very advanced after a year of 6th grade math. We pushed them into algebra in 7th grade and then in 8th grade gave them geometry.

Next year however, geometry will be an elective that 8th graders can take concurrently with algebra. There are about 23 rising 8th graders who are interested in the challenge. It’s great to see!

By: Rose

Rose — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 03:55:50 +0000

Great job!
I am curious about the math classes at this school. How do the students get into this advanced class? I assume they took algebra in 7th grade. What do they take in 6th?

By: Geometry Teacher

Geometry Teacher — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 20:10:27 +0000

One of the things I am proudest about in this class is that it’s an equal number of girls and boys at this top level. Whoo hoo!

By: Geometry Teacher

Geometry Teacher — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 20:09:28 +0000

Thanks. I’ll tell Vy. If you knew her you’d think it was funny too! She’s Very um… Effervescent!

By: Katy Murphy

Katy Murphy — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 06:12:01 +0000

No problem! I just added Vy’s name to the list.

By: abby paske

abby paske — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 02:33:15 +0000

Vy Truong’s name got left off the list! ACK! How could anyone NOT remember Vy?! She is super duper too!

By: cranky teacher

cranky teacher — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 18:42:53 +0000

11 kids. This looks like anecdotal evidence for small class size…

By: Katy Murphy

Katy Murphy — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 18:06:32 +0000

About 81 percent of UPA’s 287 students are Latino, according to 2008-09 enrollment stats from the state department of education. About 8 percent are African-American, 6 percent are Asian, 2.4 percent are white and 2 percent are Filipino.