Mastering Math for Success: A Structured Approach to Building HSE Readiness Through Concrete Foundations and Repetition

By Lindsay Steelman

Having a bachelor’s degree and teaching license in both Elementary Education and Special Education, as well as a third license in High School Math, allows me to understand how concepts should be able to flow from one another and how students can understand and comprehend the flowing. I took the HiSet breakdown and what I learned at the IAACE conference and put together lessons to optimize education for our students.  Basic math-Algebra- graphing algebraically- ratios, proportions, and percents- Geometry. Much of what we hear about the HSE tests are application-based but from an educational standpoint it is better to start at concrete using the Concrete to Abstract Theory.

 I rotate lessons about every 5-6 weeks. Lesson 1 is optional for me. I look at the students’ scores and consider their knowledge to see if I have to take them back to basics. From there, I give them the packet and I use it as a guide. I do not go over every page and I do not use every problem on each page. I make them take their own notes, so they do get the notes pages blank.  Once the 5-6 weeks are complete, I start over again with the same worksheets in the same packets. Yes, the students do complain that we have already done them, but the theory is, if they have not graduated yet then they did not learn it the first time. In education, it is repetition, repetition, repetition. If I do need to supplement or change things up, my go to is mathaids.com. I do pull from many other sources based on the HiSet and GED tests, but Math Aids generates just about any problem and concept I need with the answer key provided and a wide range of ability levels.