Core 1: Math 6A:
All math continuums have been updated, so check them out! Any areas of yellow indicate “approaching proficiency”, which means your 6th grader should be making plans to re-learn those areas during FLEX or Connect times. Core 1 has started the Geometry unit which will cover both 2-D and 3-D shapes. Their summative assessment is a performance assessment where they will design and create a package for an item they choose! We are approaching the 75% mark of the school year, so make sure your 6th grader is at/near 75% on their ALEKS pie; their subscription does run through the summer in case they are not completed by the end of the school year. Thanks so much for all who contributed to the last Math Auctions, they were a huge success again! We will have one more near the end of the school year!
Cores 2 and 4: Math 6:
All math continuums have been updated, so check them out! Any areas of yellow indicate “approaching proficiency”, which means your 6th grader should be making plans to re-learn those areas during FLEX or Connect times. Cores 2 and 4 have started the Inequalities unit which will move fast, as they have most of the skills already! We are also getting ready to check their proficiency on multiplying and dividing whole numbers, decimals, and fractions using the standard algorithm; practicing those skills at home would really help them! We are approaching the 75% mark of the school year, so make sure your 6th grader is at/near 75% on their ALEKS pie; their subscription does run through the summer in case they are not completed by the end of the school year. Thanks so much for all who contributed to the last Math Auctions, they were a huge success again! We will have one more near the end of the school year!
Grosskopf:
Core 1: Our learners are nearing the end of Math 7 and 8 concepts. Only 8 more weeks left of school, and so much to cover! It’s at this point of the year we call crunch time! Please make sure your learner is finding time to work on their concepts at home, especially if they’ve been conferring with me about their goals of getting into Algebra 1 in the fall. I had all the kids email me on their thoughts for Algebra 1 next year. Have them open up their emails and read our email exchange; this conversation was very insightful and created an opportunity for our learners to set a goal and finish the year strong. They should be at 75% completion of their Aleks pie at this point of the year. If they’re not, please help them find time outside of school to work on these topics.
Core 2: Our learners have been working on ratios, proportions, and percents the last month or so. We have been working on making our thinking visible and solving problems related to tax, tip, simple interest, and unit rates. They should be at 75% of their Aleks pie if they’ve been working on it weekly. Some students have switched to new pies this year, so that may be different.
Core 4: We just finished the Ch. 8 Summative Assessment and starting Chapter 9, Quadratic Functions. It’s important that the students know how to factor and simplify polynomials to be successful in Chapter 9. If your student is Approaching Proficient in Chapter 8 (based on the score in FAR) please encourage them to find the retake schedule for Chapter 8 on our slideshow, and set a calendar date to attend the retake sessions throughout Connect and FLEX. We have two Chapters left until we start preparing for the second semester exams. Our students should be nearing 80% completion of their Algebra 1 ALEKS pie. So please check in with your student to make sure they’re staying on pace.
Hemphill:
Core 1: Math 6A/7A
It’s nearing the homestretch! Students have been working hard on mastering both 7th and 8th grade skills, with a heavy focus on 8th grade skills as of late. Prior to the end of the year, students will dive deeper into linear functions and 2D/3D geometry. At this point, the 7th grade ALEKS pie should be entirely completed and 325 topics should be done on the 8th grade pie. Please have your student share their progress with you. In addition, check out For All Rubrics for an overview of student work and the math continuum to check on progress of learning targets.
Core 2: 7th Grade Math
Tax, tip, and discounts! Students just wrapped up their unit on solving multi-step percent problems by doing lots of “shopping” and “eating” in math class as we explored various menus from restaurants, found dream items on Amazon, and used percents to calculate final prices. Talk about real-life application! As we enter this final stretch of the year, students are going to be tackling proportional relationships using tables, graphs, and equations as well as explore 2D and 3D Geometry. Students should be at about 382 topics on ALEKS - ask your child to show you their progress. In addition, check out For All Rubrics for evidence of work in units and the math continuum to see progress on learning targets. Retakes have been offered for nearly all targets that students have been assessed on at this point in the year.
Core 4: Algebra I
WRAY:
Math 8 (Core 1 and Core 2):
We’ve done a lot in Math 8 in the past few months. After Functions and Linear Equations, we spend a week on Volume, then we moved to Systems of Equations. Systems was a tough unit for many students because it requires a multi-step process and complex thinking for most of the problems. But, there are a lot of real-life applications. It’s a big step up in rigor compared to many of our earlier Math 8 concepts. For the past few weeks, we have been analyzing Bivariate Data, which means data comparing two variables. This includes scatter plots and two-way frequency tables. These, too, are complex units with multi-step processes and oftentimes difficult problems to understand. But, the students are working hard and learning a lot, even if they are struggling a bit to fully comprehend. After this unit, we have two more Geometry units left, and then students will have a week or two to go back to previous units to re-learn and demonstrate proficiency on any incomplete 8th grade standards. As always, students should continue making progress on Aleks to build their math skills with continued practice. The goal for every student by the end of the year is to get to 90% on the Math 8 Aleks pie completed. Please check For All Rubrics to see if your student has any missing work and what they can be working on at home to get caught-up, or give them a big high-five if they don’t have any missing work. Students are encouraged to come to Connect regularly to get help, check-in missing work, or finish incomplete assessments.
Geometry (Core 4):
Second Semester Geometry hs been underway for a few months now. We have covered Similarity, Trigonometry, Circle Properties, Perimeter & Area, and this week we will be finishing Surface Area & Volume. There have been a lot of new theorems and formulas to learn, but the students are thriving. The applications for these units have been pretty cool too: Indirect measurement outside of the school to measure something, designing an original sketch to calculate area, and others too. Our last two units of the year are Transformations and Statistics & Probability. In addition, students are still working on Aleks. The goal for every student by the end of the year is to get to 100% on the Geometry Aleks pie completed. Please check For All Rubrics to see if your student has any missing work and what they can be working on at home to get caught-up, or give them a big high-five if they don’t have any missing work. Students are encouraged to come to Connect regularly to get help, check-in missing work, or finish incomplete assessments.
Independent Geometry, Algebra 2, and Pre-Calc (Core 4): Students in the Independent Geometry, Algebra 2, and Pre-Calc group continue to set personalized goals on Google Classroom as well as on For All Rubrics. Each month, students who are working independently will reflect on their progress and set new goals for the next month with guidance and support from Mr. Wray. Check For All Rubrics to see how your student is doing with meeting the goals and expectations set personally for them. We have a number of students who are on-track to complete their 2nd high school math class this year. Pretty Amazing!