Saturday, September 19, 2015
Standing HW assignment
Teach an adult what you learned today, then bring their questions to class tomorrow. You know you know it when you can teach it. If you cannot answer the questions, you're not there yet.
A key resource for Algebra vocabulary, properties, and fundamentals; useful for self-study
A1:
Algebra 1 scholars should go to this link from the VDOE. Each vocabulary card provides good basic information that needs to be internalized by each scholar. These cards would be excellent tools for home study with supportive adults.
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/mathematics/resources/vocab_cards/math_vocab_cards_algebra1.pdf
A2:
Algebra 2 scholars should go to this link from the VDOE. Each vocabulary card provides good basic information that needs to be internalized by each scholar. These cards would be excellent tools for home study with supportive adults.
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/mathematics/resources/vocab_cards/math_vocab_cards_algebra2.pdf
Algebra 1 scholars should go to this link from the VDOE. Each vocabulary card provides good basic information that needs to be internalized by each scholar. These cards would be excellent tools for home study with supportive adults.
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/mathematics/resources/vocab_cards/math_vocab_cards_algebra1.pdf
A2:
Algebra 2 scholars should go to this link from the VDOE. Each vocabulary card provides good basic information that needs to be internalized by each scholar. These cards would be excellent tools for home study with supportive adults.
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/mathematics/resources/vocab_cards/math_vocab_cards_algebra2.pdf
Link to Pacing Guides and note taking recommendations
The Algebra 1 and Algebra 2 (full year course) monthly pacing guides can be found at the following link:
https://sites.google.com/a/wps.k12.va.us/wpsmathematics/math-courses
These monthly pacing guides provide a recommended road map through the courses insuring that all VDOE standards and essential questions/skills are met. We will not follow the guides precisely day by day as they are meant to be used in that manner. Student needs for differentiation, re-teaching, spiraling of content, and state documented results from previous years indicating common problematic areas all need to be considered when designing weekly and daily plans.
As we have done in recent weeks, daily updates on what topics are being introduced and practiced will be available here for scholars and parents. Whenever possible, pages and items from the text meant to extend independent practice will be noted. Scholars are encouraged daily to take notes not only on the line by line solutions in guided practice, but also the process steps involved and narrative notes regarding what is going on in the solution. A good practice we have discussed in class is to crease the note page vertically, keeping the solutions steps to the left of the crease and the narrative of what is happening or what is key to each line of the solution steps written to the right of the crease. Useful note taking is a life-learner skill that takes practice and grit. We will continue to encourage note taking and note use throughout the year. These notes should form the foundation of scholar to adult discussions at home nightly. When scholars make their thinking and learning visible to themselves and supportive adults they are more likely to ask for clarification in class and embed their learning more deeply.
https://sites.google.com/a/wps.k12.va.us/wpsmathematics/math-courses
These monthly pacing guides provide a recommended road map through the courses insuring that all VDOE standards and essential questions/skills are met. We will not follow the guides precisely day by day as they are meant to be used in that manner. Student needs for differentiation, re-teaching, spiraling of content, and state documented results from previous years indicating common problematic areas all need to be considered when designing weekly and daily plans.
As we have done in recent weeks, daily updates on what topics are being introduced and practiced will be available here for scholars and parents. Whenever possible, pages and items from the text meant to extend independent practice will be noted. Scholars are encouraged daily to take notes not only on the line by line solutions in guided practice, but also the process steps involved and narrative notes regarding what is going on in the solution. A good practice we have discussed in class is to crease the note page vertically, keeping the solutions steps to the left of the crease and the narrative of what is happening or what is key to each line of the solution steps written to the right of the crease. Useful note taking is a life-learner skill that takes practice and grit. We will continue to encourage note taking and note use throughout the year. These notes should form the foundation of scholar to adult discussions at home nightly. When scholars make their thinking and learning visible to themselves and supportive adults they are more likely to ask for clarification in class and embed their learning more deeply.
Friday, September 18, 2015
Where are you a week before the assessment?
At this point, Friday, September 18, scholars have been provided instruction, guided practice, and independent practice on all elements of the assessment. Each element has been reviewed in class, with recommended note taking for each question. Independent and small group practice will continue until the assessment on September 29.
The assessment is rigorous and comprehensive. It will be open book and open notes this quarter. Students should be preparing the notes carefully and thoroughly so that they are not only useful for the assessment, but also reinforcing good habits and learning.
The assessment is rigorous and comprehensive. It will be open book and open notes this quarter. Students should be preparing the notes carefully and thoroughly so that they are not only useful for the assessment, but also reinforcing good habits and learning.
Thursday, September 17, 2015
The power of good habits and routines
This link provides great information on developing good habits as a scholar and why they are a key to learning.
http://ajjuliani.com/habit-stacking-in-the-classroom-10-smart-ways-to-boost-learning/
http://ajjuliani.com/habit-stacking-in-the-classroom-10-smart-ways-to-boost-learning/
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
Consider watching this short video on sharing information
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jRkACywckE
A video on sharing information that has application to peer to peer scholarship.
A video on sharing information that has application to peer to peer scholarship.
Saturday, September 5, 2015
Student Note Taking and Adult teaching process - - Suggestions for both student and adult as student at home
A key expectation of Grade 8 Algebra students is student note taking and teaching an adult what is learned daily. This cycle of note taking, student class room practice and student as teacher for an adult is designed to make learning visible and also make learning gaps visible. When the student knows what he or she knows or doesn't know, the student can take steps toward mastery. Visible learning gaps are the foundation blocks of building mastery.
In our first month, we have discovered that note taking and student as teacher can both improve. The objective of this post is to provide some constructive suggestions for note taking that can in turn help to structure the student-adult teaching interaction. We will continue to highlight and reinforce good note taking in class, mirroring the steps here.
1. Each classroom lesson has at least one big idea, or key point. A good example is the two day lesson in Algebra 1 on polynomial division. The first big idea was that the divisor determines the process we use in division. If the divisor is a monomial, looks like (3x), we use a fraction method. If the divisor is a binomial, looks like (x - 3), we use long division.
2. Beneath the big idea of the lesson there are process steps to follow in an orderly, methodical way. The process steps often have a key first step and also pitfalls to avoid. In the case of the fraction method noted above, we simplify the integers first, then the variables. A pitfall to avoid is forgetting to use the integer 1 when simplifying or canceling variables. In the case of long division, terms in the dividend must appear in order from greatest power to least and all powers must be represented. If a power is missing in the stated problem, we insert zero times that power when we set up the long division. For example, if the x term is missing, we include (+0x) in the dividend. A key step in long division is duplicating the first term on the subtraction line. Another key step is remembering to subtract, or distribute the negative, over both terms on the subtraction line.
3. Adults can help students with note taking by beginning the at home student as teacher lesson by asking the student to show the adult the notes and where the big idea and process steps appear in the notes.
A typical student as teacher lesson at home might begin this way:
a) Here are my notes from today.
b) We worked on polynomial division. The big idea is that the divisor determines the method. Let me show you the kinds of divisors we see. They look like (3x) or like (x - 3) for example. We use a fraction method for (3x) and a long division method for (x -3).
c) The fraction method was easier since we just simplify the fractions we create by making the divisor the denominator of fractions with the terms of the polynomial as the numerators.
The class lessons follow this general pattern of big idea, process steps, common pitfalls to avoid and guided practice that allows students to use their notes with sample problems. As the first few students complete their work on the guided practice problems, we begin doing the problem on the board to prompt the rest of the class through the problem. These prompting steps help students stay on track, overcome bumps that have them stuck, confirm good processes, and allow for additional note taking.
Another area where adults can help at home is showing the student where their gaps have become visible. For example, if the student is solid on the fraction method above, but is struggling to set up the long division process that specific topic needs to be a question posed by the student in class the next day. A good suggestion would be to say to your student, "Here is a long division problem I am unable to complete as the adult student. Please take this problem to Mr. Hawkins tomorrow so he can help everyone with it. If I am stuck, someone else probably is, too."
In our first month, we have discovered that note taking and student as teacher can both improve. The objective of this post is to provide some constructive suggestions for note taking that can in turn help to structure the student-adult teaching interaction. We will continue to highlight and reinforce good note taking in class, mirroring the steps here.
1. Each classroom lesson has at least one big idea, or key point. A good example is the two day lesson in Algebra 1 on polynomial division. The first big idea was that the divisor determines the process we use in division. If the divisor is a monomial, looks like (3x), we use a fraction method. If the divisor is a binomial, looks like (x - 3), we use long division.
2. Beneath the big idea of the lesson there are process steps to follow in an orderly, methodical way. The process steps often have a key first step and also pitfalls to avoid. In the case of the fraction method noted above, we simplify the integers first, then the variables. A pitfall to avoid is forgetting to use the integer 1 when simplifying or canceling variables. In the case of long division, terms in the dividend must appear in order from greatest power to least and all powers must be represented. If a power is missing in the stated problem, we insert zero times that power when we set up the long division. For example, if the x term is missing, we include (+0x) in the dividend. A key step in long division is duplicating the first term on the subtraction line. Another key step is remembering to subtract, or distribute the negative, over both terms on the subtraction line.
3. Adults can help students with note taking by beginning the at home student as teacher lesson by asking the student to show the adult the notes and where the big idea and process steps appear in the notes.
A typical student as teacher lesson at home might begin this way:
a) Here are my notes from today.
b) We worked on polynomial division. The big idea is that the divisor determines the method. Let me show you the kinds of divisors we see. They look like (3x) or like (x - 3) for example. We use a fraction method for (3x) and a long division method for (x -3).
c) The fraction method was easier since we just simplify the fractions we create by making the divisor the denominator of fractions with the terms of the polynomial as the numerators.
The class lessons follow this general pattern of big idea, process steps, common pitfalls to avoid and guided practice that allows students to use their notes with sample problems. As the first few students complete their work on the guided practice problems, we begin doing the problem on the board to prompt the rest of the class through the problem. These prompting steps help students stay on track, overcome bumps that have them stuck, confirm good processes, and allow for additional note taking.
Another area where adults can help at home is showing the student where their gaps have become visible. For example, if the student is solid on the fraction method above, but is struggling to set up the long division process that specific topic needs to be a question posed by the student in class the next day. A good suggestion would be to say to your student, "Here is a long division problem I am unable to complete as the adult student. Please take this problem to Mr. Hawkins tomorrow so he can help everyone with it. If I am stuck, someone else probably is, too."
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