America's Choice | Implementation

See Ramp-Up in Action

Over the years, Ramp-Up has been implemented in scores of classrooms across the country and has helped thousands of students. No amount of written material can adequately describe a Ramp-Up classroom. View a Ramp-Up Mathemtics workshop in Carthage, Mississippi. as William Gray and his 9th grade class work through a lesson on ratio and proportionality.

Ramp-Up Is Easy to Implement

Whether you’re considering implementation districtwide or in one or two classrooms in a single middle school, America’s Choice has the materials, support, and knowledge base to back you up. Ramp-Up includes extensive online resources for teachers, math coaches, and administrators. In addition, a separate resource called the Supervisor’s Guide includes planning calendars, training materials, and leadership guidance for those responsible for Ramp-Up implementation. Special implementation options are available for districts and states.

A New Beginning with Ramp-Up

The Ramp-Up Mathematics course is teacher-friendly and implementation is seamless. The format and focus of Ramp-Up is unique, and teachers often want to learn about its basic structure and time requirements before anything else. Another important consideration is initial testing and scheduling. Ramp-Up includes a pre-test to identify student needs and uses a double class period. The Getting Started Resource with CD is a comprehensive resource for teachers who are preparing to implement Ramp-Up Mathematics—it contains everything they get started.

Ramp-Up’s professional development offers teachers unparalleled instruction, modeling, and support in implementing the course and in the mathematics approaches is uses. In this training, teachers learn how to

Build a community of learners who read, write, and talk mathematics
Differentiate for the success of all students.
Administer and use assessments (summative and formative, formal and informal)
Evaluate student work

Format and Focus

Ramp-Up is designed to fit the particular needs of striving students in grades 6–11. Because research shows that students need time for longer periods of sustained mathematics work, the lessons are delivered in 90-minute daily workshops.

Testing and Scheduling

One of the first steps in implementing Ramp-Up is to administer the pre-test and determine which students need the intervention program (if there is any doubt) and to establish a baseline of knowledge and skills. If students are currently on a regular 50-minute class schedule, we strongly recommend that the master schedule be adjusted to provide the required 90 minutes for the extended mathematics workshop. Finally, teachers will need extra time to discuss their work with one another, to share successes and challenges, and to build a professional learning community. Classroom setup is also important. The Getting Started resource provides information about the physical arrangements and needed materials.

Getting Started Resource with CD

Teachers should review carefully the Getting Started Resource and CD materials before classes begin. They are informative and fun—real Ramp-Up teachers talk about their experiences; expert mathematics educator Phil Daro discusses each unit in depth; and authentic video of Ramp-Up classrooms in action bring the program to life. Everything teachers need to know about the routines and rituals associated with the delivery of the intervention can be found on Getting Started. Teachers can also access training through the America’s Choice Community of Learners website.