Challenges
Students struggling with Algebra 1 skills
Low test scores
Implementation
Math Nation Mississippi Algebra 1
Results
Improved state test scores in Algebra 1
Increased student engagement and confidence
Increased teacher collaboration and data-driven decision making
In 2016, teacher Wendy Grafton moved from teaching seventh grade to teaching Algebra at West Jones High School (WJHS), a rural, high-poverty school in southeast Mississippi. That same year, the Mississippi Department of Education introduced the Mississippi College- and Career-Readiness Standards for Mathematics.
“My Algebra 1 students struggled with the rigor the new standards required, and our state test scores were not good,” said Grafton.
To help schools address the standards, the Mississippi Legislature funded a supplemental program called Math Nation Mississippi Algebra 1, and made it available to all Mississippi public schools. Working with the Jones County School District math coordinator, WJHS implemented Math Nation in its Algebra 1 classrooms.
“We just jumped in,” said Grafton. “I had never seen so many resources readily available at my fingertips. Math Nation provided us with lesson videos facilitated by qualified math experts, guided lesson notes, practice, activities, and assessments that aligned with the new standards.”
In a statewide study from 2017 to 2018, schools with high usage of Math Nation had an 8.6% higher pass rate than the state average on the Mississippi Academic Assessment Program (MAAP) Algebra 1 assessment. In addition, high-usage schools had 22.5% more students performing at the proficient and advanced levels than the state average.
At WJHS, the percentage of students performing at the proficient and advanced levels in Algebra 1 rose from 37% to 59%.
|
Year |
Level 1 |
Level 2 |
Level 3 |
Level 4 |
Level 5 |
|
2017 |
0.4% |
21.1% |
41.5% |
32.1% |
4.9% |
|
2018 |
1.1% |
8.7% |
31.1% |
52.5% |
6.6% |
Grafton’s results with her Algebra 1 students were even more dramatic. “The numbers proved what we had anticipated; my proficient numbers jumped from 38% to 66% in the first year. This data provided the evidence to continue using Math Nation and to encourage all of our Algebra teachers to invest in it,” she said.
Since then, middle and high school students that use Math Nation have continued to achieve higher math proficiency and math growth scores than students in schools that do not use it. In a third-party study conducted by Mississippi State University, schools that utilized Math Nation during the 2021-22 school year demonstrated 13% higher math proficiency and math growth on the MAAP, compared to their non-Math Nation peers. In addition, for students who scored in the lowest 25% on the previous year’s MAAP, math growth was significantly higher for students in Math Nation schools.
WJHS students’ scores have also continued to climb. In 2023, 63% of students performed at or above the proficient level in Algebra 1, surpassing scores in the district’s other two high schools.
In Grafton’s Algebra 1 classes, 75% of students performed at or above the proficient level on the MAAP in 2023.
“Other schools in our district see our test scores going up and ask, ‘What are y’all doing?’ The answer is we started using Math Nation and stuck with it,” said Grafton.
WJHS Supervising Principal Cooper Pope agrees. “I attribute much of the growth in our Algebra 1 scores to Math Nation,” he said. “It’s not the only thing we do, but it’s the most important resource we have.”
At WJHS, Algebra 1 teachers and students use Math Nation every day.
“I’ve never taught math as deeply as I have with Math Nation,” said Grafton. “It does a great job connecting the standards to the lessons, and it’s very user-friendly.”
“What’s so helpful is that it spirals and builds,” said Melissa Bryant, who also teaches Algebra 1 at WJHS. “So, if students don’t score as well as we’d hoped on a standard, we can look in Math Nation and see all the places where the standard is covered and pull resources.”
Within Math Nation, dynamic content videos cover everything students need to know. Students can choose between multiple, diverse virtual co-teachers — called Study Experts — who teach the same material in different ways and at different paces. In addition, a mobile app allows students to download and watch the videos offline when they don’t have internet access.
“Students enjoy being able to review new math skills by watching the videos. Our Spanish-speaking students are also able to tune into a Study Expert who utilizes Spanish, which helps a lot,” said Grafton.
“If students are absent, we can also ask them to watch the videos at home so they’ll be caught up when they come back to school,” said Bryant.
“Having the videos available frees me up to do other things since I no longer have to stay after school to help students with makeup work,” said Grafton. “The videos also allow me to see different ways to teach. Each Study Expert has a different teaching style, so I can find ways to relate to my students who learn in different ways.”
“The Study Experts are like rock stars to our students,” said Pope. “When some of the Study Experts visited our campus a few years ago, you would’ve thought that Elvis Presley had entered the building. The kids feel connected to them, and they make math instruction fun.”
With Math Nation, WJHS teachers can individualize instruction to meet students’ unique learning needs. Practice tools at the end of each lesson and unit also let students test their knowledge and receive instant feedback and resources that target gaps in their understanding.
“When students arrive in our classrooms, some aren’t quite ready for Algebra 1, but we keep pushing them because we know they can do the work,” said Bryant.
“The On-Ramp Personalized Learning Tool really helps,” said Grafton. “The tools are individualized so students can go back and build the foundational skills they need."
Students can also access Math Nation’s content through interactive digital workbooks or printed workbooks. The workbooks complement the Study Expert videos and can be used for additional practice. In addition, with Math Nation’s interactive Student Tutoring Walls, students can reinforce their skills and get extra help from Study Experts, teachers, and peers.
“We use every component of Math Nation. There’s not a component that we don’t love,” said Bryant.
“With Math Nation, student success has increased in a rigorous class,” said Grafton. “It nurtures student relationships, too. Students initiate class discussions and even volunteer to tutor their peers.”
“I had one student who said she hated math. She started using Math Nation and ended up winning an iPad in a ‘Test Yourself’ challenge,” said Bryant. “After that, her mom said she was on Math Nation every night. It boosted her confidence. Her grades improved. She’s now in college and is a chemistry major. It turned her life around.”
Teacher collaboration has been important to the school’s success as well. After implementing Math Nation, Grafton set up a weekly Algebra 1 professional learning community (PLC) meeting on Thursdays. Their PLC was soon referred to as “The A Team.” Today, she continues to facilitate the group, encouraging participants to grow their teaching skills and find new ways to engage students.
“We share teaching strategies, activities, and any ideas that will help reach our overall goal of growing students into confident mathematicians,” said Grafton. “The support that Math Nation gives our teachers and students is outstanding. We’ve created teachers who are well prepared, knowledgeable of the content, and diverse in teaching methods.”
Outside of the weekly PLC meetings, The A Team talks almost daily. “We may eat lunch together or meet in the hall,” said Bryant. “We’ll say, ‘What’s going on in your class?’ or ‘What are your kids struggling with?’ or ‘You scored better on this. What did you do?’ These conversations are important because every group of kids is different. You have to change what you’re doing every year for the group that’s coming through.”
“The A Team and Math Nation have changed my teaching,” said Grafton. “When I was teaching seventh grade, I felt like I was on an island by myself. Now, I have seen my dream come to life as The A Team works collaboratively to improve student experiences and build a community that’s excited about education.”
“I'm thankful to the state of Mississippi and the Mississippi Legislature for funding Math Nation for us,” said Pope. “I would not even want to imagine what it would be like not to have it. We use Math Nation all the time. We rely on it, and it’s a big part of who we are.”
