This year, AHS introduced a new math curriculum called Savvas. This new curriculum was created to improve learning and switch to a more up-to-date program. For some background, Savvas, formerly known as Pearson K12 Learning, carries a “longstanding tradition of innovation and leadership by providing content spanning all K-12 grade levels and disciplines.” The school board spent all of last year looking for different curriculums, and they decided to switch to Savvas in April 2022. It was then enforced in July. This new curriculum has caused significant changes in AHS classrooms for the math teachers and students taking math. 

The math teachers–Lisa Sonntag, Sheila Hayden, and Megan Anderson–had to make some adjustments, not only with the new curriculum but also with the switch of subjects some teachers taught. Sonntag previously taught Geometry but now teaches Algebra 1 and Algebra 2 Honors. Anderson is a new teacher at AHS and teaches Geometry. There are also new touchscreen televisions in classrooms instead of whiteboards with projectors. It has been a hectic beginning of the year for teachers with all the changes. 

“The first month had challenges. It felt like drowning because it felt like they were always behind. Lots of unanswered questions. All three of us are adapting,” Sonntag said. As for adaptation to the curriculum, Hayden said, “It’s been clunky for them; hard for them to find the online textbook. We found different ways to get to assignments. It’s just been an experience.” Anderson said, “I don’t have a lot of experience, but I subbed for the last few years. It feels like it jumps and is more rigorous than past curriculums. [There’s a] learning curve. Benefits and negatives about it.”

The majority of students this year have quite a pessimistic view of the new curriculum, though there are some positive responses. In response to a poll regarding Savvas, students said, “The Savvas curriculum has skipped over many lessons that weren’t taught to my class in the past, so we are having to go back and find worksheets that fit what we were supposed to be learning.” Another student said, “One thing that I do like is the fact that if you get a question wrong, you can just try again to get a new one.” One said, “When you open Savvas, it takes you to a screen that makes you wait 10 seconds until it goes to the website. There’s a button that takes you there now, though it doesn’t work. What is the point of that screen? Why not just, oh, I don’t know, TAKE ME THERE NOW?” 

The new Savvas curriculum has brought many complex changes to both students and teachers, but as Anderson said, “It will be interesting to see what the future looks like with this more advanced curriculum.” Time will pass, and the Savvas expectations, no matter how rigorous they seem now, will become the norm. However challenging the adjustment is now, remember to “Never give up, and keep plugging the numbers away,” as Hayden and Sonntag said.