The Case Of Maya Thomas  ———

.: Case Context :.

  Ruth Ann Ponten, the 7th grade pre-algebra instructor to at-risk, low-level students e-mailed Maya Thomas, the staff development and instructional consultant for the Middle City school district, because she had difficulty with the class the last time she taught it.

   Maya Thomas accepts the task of helping Ruth Ann and proceeds to gather some data by interviewing the Assistant Principal for curriculum, a cross section of the students who took pre-algebra last year and sixth grade students who would be taking pre-algebra next year. She also interviewed each of the teachers about the curriculum and their perceptions regarding students’ performances.

   The last part of her data gathering was combing through the state and national math standards and the pre-algebra textbook.

   Maya and Ruth Ann then sit down and discuss some ideas. After their discussion, there is no firm commitment to a new approach.