Teaching Strategies for Algebra for All

Educators and policymakers alike recognize that algebra is an important gatekeeper course, not only for college preparation but also for preparation for the world of work. To prepare students for future success, many school districts and state legislatures now make algebra a graduation requirement for all high school students. Of course, the burden for preparing all students in algebra falls on the shoulders of the classroom teacher. Whether an algebrafor-all initiative is school-, district-, or state-based, a teacher faces the difficult challenge of teaching a high-standards course to a classroom of students whose beginning knowledge may range from far below to far above the course prerequisites.