2024 Summer Math Academies Report Increase in Student and Teacher Engagement
Data indicates the program's positive impact on student attitudes toward mathematics and on teacher professional development.
Summer 2024
Executive Summary
Math for America San Diego held four Summer Math Academies for students and teachers from schools throughout San Diego County. Ninety-four (94) incoming sixth, eighth, and ninth graders attended four Summer Math Academies. Additionally, 50 secondary math teachers participated in professional development programs. The programs were held in three of San Diego’s largest school districts and at San Diego State University.
This marks the 11th year Math for America San Diego (MfA SD) has provided the San Diego region with its Summer Math Academy professional development programs designed specifically for mathematics teachers and teacher-student enrichment. In these programs, both students and teachers learn from each other. MfA SD has implemented various versions of the Summer Math Academy model throughout the county to address the needs of students, families, teachers, and school districts. The 2024 Summer Math Academies were funded by annual support from the Mara W. Breech Family Foundation.
The 2024 Summer Math Academies saw increased teacher and student participation. Over the years, we have come to appreciate the value of the SMAs for both groups. With more significant support and a higher number of participants, we were able to measure the impact of the SMAs to some extent. The effects have been quite notable.
“Professional development support in mathematics education has always been a high priority for school districts, especially now, as teachers continue to address the impacts of the pandemic on students’ learning,” said Teresa Collis, MfA SD board president. “With an influx of additional public and private funding, MfA SD was able to sustain and scale up its PD offerings for teachers and Summer Math Academies for students to help with these challenges.”
This marks the 11th year Math for America San Diego (MfA SD) has provided the San Diego region with its Summer Math Academy professional development programs designed specifically for mathematics teachers and teacher-student enrichment. In these programs, both students and teachers learn from each other. MfA SD has implemented various versions of the Summer Math Academy model throughout the county to address the needs of students, families, teachers, and school districts. The 2024 Summer Math Academies were funded by annual support from the Mara W. Breech Family Foundation.
The 2024 Summer Math Academies saw increased teacher and student participation. Over the years, we have come to appreciate the value of the SMAs for both groups. With more significant support and a higher number of participants, we were able to measure the impact of the SMAs to some extent. The effects have been quite notable.
“Professional development support in mathematics education has always been a high priority for school districts, especially now, as teachers continue to address the impacts of the pandemic on students’ learning,” said Teresa Collis, MfA SD board president. “With an influx of additional public and private funding, MfA SD was able to sustain and scale up its PD offerings for teachers and Summer Math Academies for students to help with these challenges.”
The Summer Math Academies, developed by Math for America San Diego, aim to enhance the understanding of mathematics for incoming middle and high school students. They provide teachers with a collaborative and robust learning environment to improve and transform classroom instruction. This symbiotic relationship between student and teacher learning sets Summer Math Academies apart from other forms of summer math programming.
2024 Teacher Leaders
Sustained MfA SD efforts and philanthropic investments have led to
the development of an exemplary Teacher-Leader corps.
the development of an exemplary Teacher-Leader corps.
Outstanding teacher leadership shaped the 2024 Summer Math Academies and professional development programs. Much professional learning occurs at the Summer Academies as teachers plan, reflect, teach, and coach each other. Without these dedicated teachers, the success of MfA SD’s Summer Math Academy programs would not be possible.
In Oceanside Unified School District, Gregory Guayante and Frederick Griesbach, MfA SD Master Teaching Fellowship alums, led the Summer Math Academy at Oceanside High School. Trang Vu, a San Diego Unified School District mathematics teacher and MfA SD Master Teaching Fellowship alumna, led the OUSD Summer Math Academy at Lincoln Middle School.
Trang Vu is currently the co-director of the Discrete Math Project Collaborative (DMPC) and collaborated as a co-instructor with Anne Marie Almaraz, a mathematics teacher from the Sweetwater Union High School District and current MfA SD Discrete Math Fellow for the 2024 DMPC eight-day professional development program at San Diego State University.
In the Sweetwater Union High School District, Melody Morris, a mathematics teacher and current MfA SD Discrete Math Fellow; Genevieve Esmende, a mathematics teacher at Wangenheim Middle School in the San Diego Unified School District and MfA SD Master Teaching Fellowship alumna; and Chris Ray, a mathematics teacher at City Heights Preparatory Charter School, led the Summer Math Academy at Montgomery Middle School.
Co-facilitating the two-week Morse High School Summer Math Academy for incoming sixth through ninth graders (l to r): Angela Torres, Professional Learning Coordinator and Aurmon Harchegani, a Mathematics Content Specialist and coach from San Diego Unified and a Math for America San Diego Fellowship alumnus. Brittany Harper, a Math Improvement Specialist, and Dr. Curtis Taylor, Director and Improvement Coach, are teachers from High Tech High’s Graduate School of Education.
2024 Summer Math Academy Key Teacher and Student Survey Findings
Given the significant number of teacher participants (50) and student participants (90) this summer, we administered surveys to both populations. The specific findings below confirmed our beliefs about the efficacy of the Summer Math Academies for teachers and students.
Teacher Results: The teacher survey confirmed the positive impact of the Summer Math Academies on teachers' content knowledge, teaching practices, and appreciation for collaborative professional learning:
We ascertained these findings by administering the MAPS as a pre-and post-survey, asking students for their level of agreement with the following statements (Strongly Agree, Agree, Disagree, Strongly Disagree):
Specifically, some notable outcomes in student affect toward and perception of mathematics. Some notable outcomes in student affect toward and perception of mathematics:
Teacher Results: The teacher survey confirmed the positive impact of the Summer Math Academies on teachers' content knowledge, teaching practices, and appreciation for collaborative professional learning:
- 89% felt they improved their math content knowledge
- 96% believed it would influence their teaching practice
- 96% would recommend the experience to colleagues
- 100% planned to pursue more collaborative professional learning opportunities|
We ascertained these findings by administering the MAPS as a pre-and post-survey, asking students for their level of agreement with the following statements (Strongly Agree, Agree, Disagree, Strongly Disagree):
- There is usually only one correct approach to solving a math problem
- Math ability is something about a person that cannot be changed very much.
- I feel I am successful at solving problems.
- I feel satisfied when I solve a math problem.
Specifically, some notable outcomes in student affect toward and perception of mathematics. Some notable outcomes in student affect toward and perception of mathematics:
- About an 11% increase in students who value multiple problem-solving approaches
- About an 11% increase in students strongly believing mathematical ability is pliable
- 20% increase in students feeling successful in solving math problems
- About a 5% decrease in students who strongly felt no satisfaction when solving math problems if they didn't also understand how the problem works
- About a 6% increase in student satisfaction when solving a math problem.
About the Summer Programs
The Math for America San Diego Summer Mathematics Institutes and Academies serve teachers and students by engaging them in deep content knowledge through puzzles and intriguing math problems. Students gain confidence and improved understanding of key mathematical concepts and feel better prepared as they enter school in the fall.
MfA SD Teaching Fellows work with secondary mathematics departments and teachers who benefit from these collaborations. The academies provide the math teachers with a safe context to try out innovative teaching strategies, something that is hard to do during the traditional school calendar with the rush to “cover” material and prepare students for standardized tests.
Summer Mathematics Academy students:
MfA SD Teaching Fellows work with secondary mathematics departments and teachers who benefit from these collaborations. The academies provide the math teachers with a safe context to try out innovative teaching strategies, something that is hard to do during the traditional school calendar with the rush to “cover” material and prepare students for standardized tests.
Summer Mathematics Academy students:
- Strengthen their mathematical content knowledge
- Learn new ways to solve math problems
- Learn to communicate their thinking with others
- Receive individual attention from excellent instructors
- Develop confidence for next year's math class
For more information about MfA SD's Summer Math Academies and Professional Development programs, contact us: [email protected].