Posted on: Thursday, September 9, 2004

Education snapshot — Makakilo Elementary School

By Treena Shapiro
Advertiser Education Writer

Makakilo Elementary School teachers and administrators were thrilled to see their Hawaii State Assessment results this year, particularly in third-grade math, where 43 percent of students met proficiency and 11 percent exceeded it.

Both are up from 2003, when 19.1 percent met proficiency and no students exceeded it.

"That was phenomenal for the third grade," said math facilitator Todi Otsuka. "We were excited."

What made the difference: In 2002, the school hired five part-time tutors to assist math teachers in the classroom at all grade levels, as well as to work with students after school. At the same time, the school introduced a new math program, Everyday Mathematics, which constantly reviews math concepts and builds on them at each grade level.

How they did it: The tutors were paid for out of a $50,000 federal Comprehensive School Reform grant, which is in its third and final year.

Other factors: Teachers also made their classes more interactive and less dependent on textbooks. For example, students now play games to learn math, in addition to putting pencils to paper.