Elements
AIM FOR ALGEBRA IS BASED ON THE LATEST COGNITIVE SCIENCE AND LEARNING SCIENCES RESEARCH ON HOW PEOPLE LEARN.
AIM for Algebra's content is thoughtfully and purposefully structured, in accordance with the research on how people learn in order to optimize understanding and retention. AIM for Algebra includes these elements, essential for successful intervention programs:
REFLECTS CONNECTIONS TO ALGEBRA WITH TARGETED CURRICULUM
- Creates connections between prerequisite concepts and algebra, so students recognize what they will know and be able to do as they master the concepts and skills.
- Focuses on specifically chosen traditional barriers to success in algebra.
- Uses algebraic expressions and models, and carefully deconstructs the ideas to aid students in their mathematical comprehension.
ESTABLISHES CONCEPTUALLY BASED FOUNDATIONS FOR LEARNING
- Uses links from prior knowledge of arithmetic operations to assist students in understanding algebraic procedures with a conceptual foundation.
- Uses varied contexts to encourage application of ideas, not merely a set of worksheets, increasing accessibility due to gender, language, and geography.
EMBEDS INSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPS ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS
- Designs instruction to be interactive to help students stay focused and engaged in on-going instruction.
- Uses icons, labeled examples, and less text to encourage self-direction.
- Provides guidance for organizing, displaying, and explaining the mathematics through key questions and models.
SEQUENCES AND SCAFFOLDS IDEAS PURPOSEFULLY
- Uses careful scaffolding of essential ideas to increase access, encourage incremental learning, and diminish the reinforcement of wrong ideas.
- Provides sequencing of established, quality tasks that is essential to the program’s proven success with students, rather than isolated exercises.
USES MATHEMATICALLY PRECISE LANGUAGE AND CONCRETE MODELS
- Uses appropriate, precise mathematical vocabulary and terminology, helping students make connections to core texts and mandated tests.
- Uses multiple representations of math ideas and asks students to provide multiple responses to deepen mathematical understanding.
- Encourages use of manipulatives to create models and written responses.
EMBEDS FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT
- Uses multiple checks for understanding through guided practice.
- Encourages self-checking while doing mathematics by substitution and error analysis.
- Includes pre- and post assessments with items from mandated tests.
- Provides detailed lesson plans for facilitators that indicate higher-order thinking questions, assessments, and homework.
SUPPORTS DIFFERENTIATED LEARNING
- Allows for flexible implementation due to modular format.
- Uses Universal Access Strategies to ensure student understanding — applicable for diverse student populations.