Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/2864
Kajitani Continued from page 23 Available at our 20 campuses throughout California* The competitive edge to excel Chapman University College has a distinguished reputation for educating teachers who are making a real difference in the classroom and their communities. Small classes, large vision The low student-to-faculty ratio and small classes help nurture a dynamic, rewarding relationship between instructors and students. The focus is on you as an individual, encouraging your full potential as an educator. Schedule courses to fit your lifestyle We know you have commitments outside of the classroom. Our classes are held at convenient times to accommodate your busy schedule. “I’ve made math culturally rel- evant to students; rap music is such a big part of their culture. It’s a way of making connections with the students, engaging them and giv- ing them tools to make math con- cepts easier to remember. And it’s fun, too.” His students agree and feel lucky when the Rappin’ Mathema- tician pays them a visit. “It’s pretty cool,” says Anna Lil- ia. “It makes it fun and easier. The words get stuck in my head so I re- member them.” “He teaches us things that were confusing last year, and this year they are much less confusing,” says Brandon Gonzalez. “I didn’t know how to do my Our Programs 1/2 page vertical ad • California Education Credentials – Multiple Subject – Preliminary Admin. Services - Tier I – Professional Admin. Services - Tier II – Single Subject • Ed.S. School Psychology/PPS Credential • MA School Counseling/PPS Credential • MA Education – Curriculum & Instruction – Educational Leadership & Instruction – Instructional Technology – Professional Learning Community – Professional Teaching Standards – Reading • MA Teaching – Elementary Education – Secondary Education – Special Education • Special Education – MA Special Education – Special Education: Professional Learning Community – Education Specialist Credentials: Levels I & II • K-12 Extended Education – Professional Development Courses *Not all programs available at all locations. math homework before, but once I started listening to him rap, I really could,” says Analisa Manzo. “He makes it really fun.” He makes learning fun, but the Publication: 08/06/08 Client: Contact: Job # Size: teacher also has a serious side when it comes to the state-mandat- Insertion Dates: Sept ‘08 Algebra Continued from page 29 School for Algebra 1 in high school. CTA contends that in order to Education degree and credential programs are available at Chapman campuses throughout California. 866-CHAPMAN www.chapman.edu/cuc K–12 Extended Education: www.chapman.edu/exed/k-12 Chapman University is accredited by and is a member of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Teacher training and credential programs are accredited by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. teach Algebra 1 successfully in all eighth-grade classrooms, the state would have had to immediately hire about 3,000 teachers and prop- erly train about 1,000 more who are either underprepared or teaching in other subject areas — all of this at a time when schools are facing bil- lions of dollars in unprecedented cuts. The State Board of Education’s action to mandate that all eighth- graders take an Algebra 1 assess- ment test whether or not they have taken an algebra course was anoth- 38 California Educator | february 2009 ed algebra test for eighth-graders — an idea now blocked by a Sacra- mento Superior Court judge’s rul- ing. If that were to pass, it would eliminate the class he now teaches, which prepares students for alge- bra by teaching them the funda- mentals. “In my opinion, forcing stu- dents to take algebra when they are not ready for it — and testing them — will only widen the achievement gap and set them back,” he says. “Algebra needs to be based on stu- dents’ having a strong mathemati- cal foundation.” Kajitani has released two CDs of Rappin’ Math that are available on his website, www.mathraps. com. He no longer worries about being laughed at. “Now I realize they were laugh- PASKILL STAPLETON & LORD Date: Chapman University Kristin Higgins 2008600 3.6” x 9.7”/Vertical ad/Black & White California Educator ing because they enjoyed it. Being cool is just being yourself and com- fortable with who you are. That’s what I tell kids all the time. So I let the wacky humor flow because I am comfortable with who I am. And that’s how I want students to feel about themselves.” sherry Posnick-GooDWin er one-size-fits-all approach that would punish students and public schools, says President Sanchez. “It is another example of No Child Left Behind and the federal government dictating to California how to teach our students. It is never fair to force students to be tested on informa- tion they have not been taught.” CTA strongly supports academ- ic standards and achievement for all students, says Sanchez. “We also believe that both standards and as- sessments must be appropriate for students at each grade level and in each subject, and that students must have appropriately trained teachers and the necessary text- books and instructional materials to help them learn.” Mike Myslinski