Back to School Trends

Summer break is nearly over and it’s time to think about back to school shopping. Trips to the mall are planned to check out the latest back to school clothing trends. Whether you prefer layers of ruffles and sparkly shoes or casual denim with high-top sneakers and leggings, you’re sure to find something that’s just right on the overstocked store racks. Exhausted parents wait while their elementary students choose and re-choose the perfect character backpack from princesses, ponies, and pets to planes, cars, and warriors. The high school and college crowd embark on a search for an expandable tote that can hold a load large enough to cripple a pack animal. Then there’s the ever-expanding list of “School Supplies.” The paper, pencils and crayons of elementary school graduate to tablets, laptops and recording devices as students expand their education to high school and beyond.  

Academic Back to School Trends

Sadly, when it comes to back to school trends, academic achievement doesn’t seem to generate the same excitement as clothing and supplies. In fact, US students tend to score poorly in worldwide math and science rankings. In one comprehensive multi-year study, the proficiency of approximately 5,000 students from diverse educational systems worldwide was assessed. Students were initially tested in 4^th grade and again in 8^th grade to determine trends in student performance.  

The results of 9 testing periods (4 at the 4^th grade level and 5 at the 8^th grade level), found math scores for US students in the top ten only twice.  Both were at the 8^th grade level and, in both, US students placed 9^th behind students from the Far East, Eastern Europe and Scandinavia.

In science, US students began with a promising 3^rd place in the baseline 4^th grade testing. Although US students placed in the top 10 three more times at the 4^th grade level, their ranking had dropped out of the top five and were exhibiting a notable downward trend. By 8^th grade, this downward trend had become so significant that US students placed in the top 10 only twice, both times at the bottom of the list. Similar results in comparable studies demonstrate the importance of establishing back to school programs designed to improve US test scores in the worldwide academic arena.

Improving Academic Back to School Trends

Reversing this disturbing downward trend is imperative. Knowledgeable educators believe that deductive reasoning should be an important part of the daily curriculum at every class level. Encouraging students to question how math and science solutions are determined enables them to visualize the often abstract concepts. As students become adept at explaining how deductions are reached, they can begin to successfully analyze and solve problems using clearly defined mathematical or scientific strategies.

At the elementary level, learning to create picture problems and use a simple calculator will help students build a strong problem solving foundation. The introduction of algebra, geometry and chemistry in middle school and high school presents a more complex variety of problems.  At this level, development of statistical reasoning (the ability to make sense of variations in data) and a good graphing calculator are a must. Strong analytical skills and a versatile calculator will enable college students to systematically visualize and effectively solve math and science problems, no matter how complex.

If improving math and science skills are a priority in your back to school agenda, sellyourcalculators.com can help. We buy and sell new and used brand name calculators, including Casio, HP, and Texas Instruments, at competitive prices. We want to be the one-stop destination for all your graphing, financial and scientific calculator needs. Contact us today for more information.