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  Changing the World One Backpack at a Time: The Story of Micah's Backpack and Community Engagement

  Jennie Hodge and Nancy K. Franz

  It started with one backpack, or rather, one backpack program. Micah’s Backpack was an initiative launched in Blacksburg, Virginia. The group, organized by members of St. Michael Lutheran Church, initially started by distributing backpacks full of food to five children from low-resource families. Now, the outreach has grown to feed nearly three hundred children. In addition to Micah’s Backpack, new programs have flourished under the Micah’s Caring Initiative: Micah’s Mobile Backpack, Micah’s Garden, Micah’s Soup for Seniors, and Micah’s Closet. All provide vital services to the community.

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  Teaching Strategies for Improving Algebra Knowledge in Middle and High School Students

  Jon R. Star, Pia Caronongan, Anne M. Foegen, Joshua Furgeson, Betsy Keating, Matthew R. Larson, Julia Lyskawa, William G. McCallum, Jane Porath, and Rose Mary Zbiek

  This practice guide provides three recommendations for teaching algebra to students in middle school and high school. Each recommendation includes implementation steps and solutions for common roadblocks. The recommendations also summarize and rate supporting evidence. This guide is geared toward teachers, administrators, and other educators who want to improve their students’ algebra knowledge.

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  Assisting Students Struggling with Mathematics: Response to Intervention (RtI) for Elementary and Middle Schools

  Russell Gersten, Sybilla Beckmann, Benjamin Clarke, Anne Foegen, Laurel Marsh, Jon R. Star, and Bradley Witzel

  Students struggling with mathematics may benefit from early interventions aimed at improving their mathematics ability and ultimately preventing subsequent failure. This guide provides eight specific recommendations intended to help teachers, principals, and school administrators use Response to Intervention (RtI) to identify students who need assistance in mathematics and to address the needs of these students through focused interventions. The guide provides suggestions on how to carry out each recommendation and explains how educators can overcome potential roadblocks to implementing the recommendations.