MATH

The Chandler School District accepted and implemented the new subject, honors brief calculus, for the first time this year. This subject offers a broader perspective for math-based students that gives real business scenarios. This real-world interpretation may have a larger impact on students than initially thought.     The idea and benefits of honors brief calculus were conducted by the PHS Math Department, and introduced to the district. Thomas Rothery states,

“It was our school decision.” Leading to the conclusion of why the district has yet to introduce it to other schools such as Hamilton.

Dual Enrollment partakes in this course, so students may take this class for college credits, giving them the opportunity to take this college course in high school.This allows a better opportunity to take more advanced classes for an enhanced curriculum for the Puma Nation.

    With its introduction, brought on unfamiliarity with the teachers in this new curriculum. Teachers were waiting for a textbook which came a short time after their first chapter; Math Teacher Julie Chesley said,

“When they came in, it was hard to follow where the textbook was leading.” She said it is a new curriculum, and may be found as misleading in the arrangement and order the textbook was moving towards.

    Overall the small struggles of a first-year class are common to a new introduction in learning; however, the benefits resulting from this are phenomenal. Students gain knowledge that is not yet implemented until calculus bc, which allows students to skip a full year of calculus ab to take a much more prestigious mathematical course.

Brief calculus uses real business applications allowing real-world connections into the business ideology. This is an innovation that pertains to the student body’s futures and a revolution in the math curriculum.

ENGLISH

Arizona students know the struggles of the AIMS tests first hand. Four tests on just about everything that they have learned in their whole school career, plus the knowledge that they have to pass these tests just to graduate, puts a lot of pressure on students. However, some of the most unexciting activities that students do in the classroom may have helped them pass some of these tests.

Based on the 2011- 2012 AIMS reading and writing scores, annotating literature and writing on demand  have helped students pass the exams. These activities promote strong reading comprehenship, writing skills, and are done in every Perry English class.
Annotating literature in the classroom makes students ponder the content extensively. Additionally, timed writing on demands help students practice writing more efficiently and to the point.

“When you ask a student to slow down and take their time,” Cindy Pino, Perry English teacher and head of the English department at Perry, stated, “they will achieve a deeper understanding.”