Rayhan’s article is among a series of news stories that were recently written in Ms. MacMillan’s journalism class.
T.I. sessions focused on SAT math prep will begin in November, giving juniors a chance to strengthen their foundations using College Board resources and a Canvas practice page.With the Oct. 8 PSAT scores released four weeks ago, the months leading up to the March SAT are key for students to assess previous test scores and build on weaker sections.
“My impression in the past couple of years is that for the PSAT, most juniors don’t do a whole lot of preparation on their own outside of class,” Algebra teacher Amanda Howard said. “So, I think between now and March is when we start to see them willing to put in time outside of class to prepare for the SAT.”
Howard explained that the T.I.’s in the LGI will be structured around College Board-approved questions, with targeted practice in specific math domains. Students can participate at their own pace and with the flexibility they prefer, based on their PSAT performance and preferred practice sections.
“I push everything out through Desmos to get you all familiar with the graphing calculator,” Howard said. “You’ll know up front, ‘On Monday, January 11, it’s gonna be a focus on problem solving and data analysis.’ You could decide, maybe you want to opt into certain domains and not others.”
Junior Arin Haq said having SAT prep built into the school day helps students balance after-school activities and other coursework.
“Nowadays, especially for juniors, they’re more focused on extracurriculars,” Haq said. “With the T.I. sessions, it’ll definitely lessen their stress because it would give them more time to prepare for the SAT in four months.”
Reflecting on her own PSAT performances, Haq emphasized the importance of continued practice in areas that need improvement and getting familiar with the SAT’s testing environment.
“Even though I’ve met both benchmarks, I should definitely practice more in the math section so I can be successful on the SAT,” Haq said.
As students juggle academics and SAT prep, these T.I. sessions prove crucial in the long-term preparation and college and career readiness.
“It’s exciting to be working with juniors at this time, where you guys are finally starting to think about what you’re doing after high school,” Howard said. “If this help that we offer in T.I. improves your score and helps you achieve your dreams, then to me, it’s all worth it.”
