Blazing New Trails - Connexions

Increasing Student Success in Rigorous Courses 175
Research Question 2: What were the lessons learned in meeting identified challenges?
GEAR UP councils reported challenges of some students not being motivated to take
advanced level classes or participate in GEAR UP activities, of students’ difficulties in
meeting the challenges of the advanced level classes, of engaging all parents in students’
preparation for college, and of meeting the needs of all students in a large class.
Student motivation. GEAR UP coordinators emphasized that providing
encouragement to students to take the advanced classes was important in that not all
recognized the benefits. Teachers explained:
For some students, there’s a reluctance to sign up for the harder classes. For some,
there’s a lack of confidence or a social stigma.
Some students are apathetic about education. For the classes on Saturday to prepare
for the SAT and ACT, some students have said that they don’t want to give up their
Saturday for this.
Teachers, counselors, GEAR UP coordinators, and administrators all stressed that personal
outreach was important in meeting the challenge of lack of motivation. As a teacher stressed,
“We’ve put in individual interventions with students one-on-one. The principals talk with
students to try to increase their goals.” Another teacher commented further, “I feel the
renewed focus on the individual has really helped students see opportunities that they never
would have dreamed of in the past.” Some of the partner schools are testing sites for the ACT
and SAT making the test more accessible for students. Other partner schools require all
students to take the ACCUPLACER, an entrance test required for participation in the dual
credit courses. As a teacher commented, “Some students score better than they thought they
would, and it boosts their self-esteem.” Principals also emphasized that they celebrate success,
although they were each quick to stress that they do not look at the percentage taking the AP
tests versus the percentage passing as the indicator of the Advanced Placement program’s
success. As another principal stressed, “We celebrate our 5’s, but we also celebrate our 2’s,
and 3’s and 4’s. We know students are better off for having taken the advanced classes.”
Student preparation. As increased numbers of students accessed the advanced level
classes, the level of difficulty of the class posed a challenge for some students. Teachers
shared:
The advanced classes are much more difficult than the regular classes.
Balancing student work schedules and the demands of the rigorous classes was
difficult for some students.
Tutoring, mentoring, AVID class, and curriculum alignment were all ways that the East Texas
GEAR UP Project provided support to students in the advanced level classes. For example, a
teacher stressed that linking the more advanced students who have already passed the class
with students currently struggling was very successful. The university tutors provided
assistance in AP and Pre-AP classes. The AVID class served as a support for students, and
curriculum alignment activities helped to strengthen the preparation for the classes. Teaching