Happy January!
We hope that you all had a relaxing winter break and are fully recharged! Please see our messages from the Math Team. Mrs. Hemphill and Ms. Grosskopf would like to introduce their student teachers from Carroll University, Ms. Maggie Locke and Mr. Nick Moroder. Ms. Locke will be with us until late March and Mr. Moroder will be with us until the end of the year. We have sent emails to all of the parents who have Ms. Grosskopf and Mrs. Hemphill with letters introducing these two wonderful student teachers. We’re excited to have them!
Math 6A/7A - Core 1 - Burton & Hemphill:
Burton
The 6th graders in Math 6A just wrapped up their unit on Algebraic Equations, and they did a very good job of showing proficiency the first time on the summative assessment! Remember, if your 6th grader is not proficient, they need to advocate for themself and set up a time during connect/FLEX to re-learn and re-assess that skill. The next unit is on Geometric Equations/Angles. ALEKS pies totals should be 50% or higher to stay on pace to finish by the end of the school year; otherwise, subscriptions run through the summer, and the expectation would be to finish before coming back to school in September.
Hemphill
The 6th graders in Math 7A recently finished their unit on setting up and solving algebraic equations to find measures of unknown angles. Currently, students are working to learn the 8th grade targets revolving around solving equations that involve variables on both sides of the equation as well as equations with no solution or infinite solutions. Many are commenting on how FUN it is to solve equations - ask them about it :) As mentioned above, if there is a learning target that your student has yet to demonstrate proficiency on, they need to advocate for themself and set up a time during Connect/Flex to practice and re-assess the skill. At this point in the year, students should be finishing up their 7th grade ALEKS pie and begin working on their 8th grade pie.
Math 8A - Core 1 - Grosskopf
The 7th graders have been working really hard with geometry these last couple of months. We have students constructing triangles by hand, working with different angle relationships, transforming objects on coordinate grids, and computer programming! Some students are choosing to apply their learning at the end of the unit instead of taking the traditional paper-pencil assessment. It’s really neat to see some kids computer program a ball to trace angles on the floor! Ask your student if they have seen or worked with the “sphero.” Our next unit of study will be inequalities, and then we will be heading into functions!
Math 8 - Core 1 & Core 2- Wray
With the turn of the calendar year, we began our biggest and most important unit of the year in Math 8. This unit which we will working on for a total about about 7 weeks and wrapping-up in a couple weeks covers all of the Function and Linear Equation standards. Not only is it a major portion of the 8th grade curriculum, it also incorporates a variety of real-life applications. Sketching Graphs, Linear Models, Rate of Change, Slope, and so much more. At this point in the year, it is time for students to make sure they are taking ownership of their learning. On For All Rubrics, you can see how your student is doing at the halfway point in the year. Do they have any units that they still need to finish? Are there any standards that they need to re-visit and re-take? If you have any questions about what you see on F.A.R, just send me an email. The next few months will go fast and then it’s off to high school. Our ultimate goal in Math 8 is to make sure that all students are ready for High School Algebra 1 next year. One area that will help every student in this area is Aleks. In addition to our learning activities, portfolios, and summatives, Aleks can build an even stronger foundation, it can strengthen skills that may be weaker, and it can even provide an enrichment to students (some students have already began the Algebra 1 Aleks pie). At this point in the year, Math 8 students should have at least 65% of their Aleks pie completed.
Math 6 - Core 2 & Core 4 - Burton
The 6th graders in Math 6 just wrapped up their unit on Rational Numbers, and they did a very good job of showing proficiency the first time on the summative assessment! Remember, if your 6th grader is not proficient, they need to advocate for themself and set up a time during connect/FLEX to re-learn and re-assess that skill. The next unit is on Expressions/Equations and will run through March 2nd. ALEKS pies totals should be 50% or higher to stay on pace to finish by the end of the school year; otherwise, subscriptions run through the summer, and the expectation would be to finish before coming back to school in September.
Math 7 - Core 2 - Grosskopf/Hemphill
We have been diving into the world of equations! Our students have been working very hard with solving one-step and two-step equations, and how they relate to geometry! We have worked on the different angle relationships, justifying our process, and incorporating equation solving. Many have commented on how FUN solving equations is - ask them about it :)
As a reminder, if there is a learning target that your student has yet to demonstrate proficiency on, they need to advocate for themself and set up a time during Connect/Flex to practice and re-assess the skill. Please refer to the math continuum that can be found on FAR. Ask your student to show you this! At this point in the year, students should be at 204 topics on their ALEKS pie in order to stay on pace to finish by the end of the school year.
Algebra 1 - Core 4 - Grosskopf/Hemphill
Is that restaurant that you are about to visit for dinner considered “fit” or “fat”?! Students in Algebra explored this very question upon returning from winter break. They analyzed calories from fat vs. calories not from fat for entree items found at many popular restaurants and learned about interpolation, extrapolation, correlation, and finding trend lines. By comparing data from all of the restaurants, students ranked restaurants from “fittest” to “fattest.” Talk about a thought-provoking activity for students!
One semester of Algebra is in the books! The first semester built on 8th grade learning targets that students had been exposed to in the past. As we progress into the second half of the year, students will be diving into brand new concepts that they have not yet seen in their schooling career. For many that will mean that utilizing their class time, Connect, and Flex to ask questions and get necessary practice will become more important than ever. Please encourage your student to take advantage of these opportunities. As a reminder, ALEKS pies should be at 242 topics in order to stay on pace to complete them by the end of the year.
Geometry - Core 2 and Core 4 - Wray
We are officially into 2nd Semester Geometry. Our first chapter of the new semester is Similarity and similar shapes. Some new theorems, but a lot of similar concepts (pun intended). Make sure you check out For All Rubrics to see how your student did on the first 6 Chapters of Geometry. My Favorite activity so far this year was in Chapter 6. The properties of special quadrilaterals (Square, Rectangle, Rhombus, Kite, Trapezoid) aren’t all that exciting, but to help remember them, each group had to create something to help them remember each one better. Creativity is always encouraged and one group chose to re-write the lyrics to some Holiday Themed songs. Entertaining and memorable for sure. I’m also excited for our next unit...Trig! A scary topics for some, but the applications are endless once you learn Trig, so that’s the best part. Finally, as always...don’t forget about Aleks; students in Geometry should have over 70% of their Aleks pie completed.
INDEPENDENT Geometry, Algebra 2, Pre-Calc, Calculus - Core 2 and 4 - Wray
With so many STEM students working on High School Math Classes at an Independent pace, it would be impossible to outline all of the amazing learning that they are doing in this newsletter. If this is the learning path that your student is on, then check out For All Rubrics to see what they have done this year. Each month, these students are reflecting on their progress, uploading artifacts to showcase their learning, and setting goals. Check F.A.R. in early February to see your student’s progress from January and their goals moving forward.
We hope that you all had a relaxing winter break and are fully recharged! Please see our messages from the Math Team. Mrs. Hemphill and Ms. Grosskopf would like to introduce their student teachers from Carroll University, Ms. Maggie Locke and Mr. Nick Moroder. Ms. Locke will be with us until late March and Mr. Moroder will be with us until the end of the year. We have sent emails to all of the parents who have Ms. Grosskopf and Mrs. Hemphill with letters introducing these two wonderful student teachers. We’re excited to have them!
Math 6A/7A - Core 1 - Burton & Hemphill:
Burton
The 6th graders in Math 6A just wrapped up their unit on Algebraic Equations, and they did a very good job of showing proficiency the first time on the summative assessment! Remember, if your 6th grader is not proficient, they need to advocate for themself and set up a time during connect/FLEX to re-learn and re-assess that skill. The next unit is on Geometric Equations/Angles. ALEKS pies totals should be 50% or higher to stay on pace to finish by the end of the school year; otherwise, subscriptions run through the summer, and the expectation would be to finish before coming back to school in September.
Hemphill
The 6th graders in Math 7A recently finished their unit on setting up and solving algebraic equations to find measures of unknown angles. Currently, students are working to learn the 8th grade targets revolving around solving equations that involve variables on both sides of the equation as well as equations with no solution or infinite solutions. Many are commenting on how FUN it is to solve equations - ask them about it :) As mentioned above, if there is a learning target that your student has yet to demonstrate proficiency on, they need to advocate for themself and set up a time during Connect/Flex to practice and re-assess the skill. At this point in the year, students should be finishing up their 7th grade ALEKS pie and begin working on their 8th grade pie.
Math 8A - Core 1 - Grosskopf
The 7th graders have been working really hard with geometry these last couple of months. We have students constructing triangles by hand, working with different angle relationships, transforming objects on coordinate grids, and computer programming! Some students are choosing to apply their learning at the end of the unit instead of taking the traditional paper-pencil assessment. It’s really neat to see some kids computer program a ball to trace angles on the floor! Ask your student if they have seen or worked with the “sphero.” Our next unit of study will be inequalities, and then we will be heading into functions!
Math 8 - Core 1 & Core 2- Wray
With the turn of the calendar year, we began our biggest and most important unit of the year in Math 8. This unit which we will working on for a total about about 7 weeks and wrapping-up in a couple weeks covers all of the Function and Linear Equation standards. Not only is it a major portion of the 8th grade curriculum, it also incorporates a variety of real-life applications. Sketching Graphs, Linear Models, Rate of Change, Slope, and so much more. At this point in the year, it is time for students to make sure they are taking ownership of their learning. On For All Rubrics, you can see how your student is doing at the halfway point in the year. Do they have any units that they still need to finish? Are there any standards that they need to re-visit and re-take? If you have any questions about what you see on F.A.R, just send me an email. The next few months will go fast and then it’s off to high school. Our ultimate goal in Math 8 is to make sure that all students are ready for High School Algebra 1 next year. One area that will help every student in this area is Aleks. In addition to our learning activities, portfolios, and summatives, Aleks can build an even stronger foundation, it can strengthen skills that may be weaker, and it can even provide an enrichment to students (some students have already began the Algebra 1 Aleks pie). At this point in the year, Math 8 students should have at least 65% of their Aleks pie completed.
Math 6 - Core 2 & Core 4 - Burton
The 6th graders in Math 6 just wrapped up their unit on Rational Numbers, and they did a very good job of showing proficiency the first time on the summative assessment! Remember, if your 6th grader is not proficient, they need to advocate for themself and set up a time during connect/FLEX to re-learn and re-assess that skill. The next unit is on Expressions/Equations and will run through March 2nd. ALEKS pies totals should be 50% or higher to stay on pace to finish by the end of the school year; otherwise, subscriptions run through the summer, and the expectation would be to finish before coming back to school in September.
Math 7 - Core 2 - Grosskopf/Hemphill
We have been diving into the world of equations! Our students have been working very hard with solving one-step and two-step equations, and how they relate to geometry! We have worked on the different angle relationships, justifying our process, and incorporating equation solving. Many have commented on how FUN solving equations is - ask them about it :)
As a reminder, if there is a learning target that your student has yet to demonstrate proficiency on, they need to advocate for themself and set up a time during Connect/Flex to practice and re-assess the skill. Please refer to the math continuum that can be found on FAR. Ask your student to show you this! At this point in the year, students should be at 204 topics on their ALEKS pie in order to stay on pace to finish by the end of the school year.
Algebra 1 - Core 4 - Grosskopf/Hemphill
Is that restaurant that you are about to visit for dinner considered “fit” or “fat”?! Students in Algebra explored this very question upon returning from winter break. They analyzed calories from fat vs. calories not from fat for entree items found at many popular restaurants and learned about interpolation, extrapolation, correlation, and finding trend lines. By comparing data from all of the restaurants, students ranked restaurants from “fittest” to “fattest.” Talk about a thought-provoking activity for students!
One semester of Algebra is in the books! The first semester built on 8th grade learning targets that students had been exposed to in the past. As we progress into the second half of the year, students will be diving into brand new concepts that they have not yet seen in their schooling career. For many that will mean that utilizing their class time, Connect, and Flex to ask questions and get necessary practice will become more important than ever. Please encourage your student to take advantage of these opportunities. As a reminder, ALEKS pies should be at 242 topics in order to stay on pace to complete them by the end of the year.
Geometry - Core 2 and Core 4 - Wray
We are officially into 2nd Semester Geometry. Our first chapter of the new semester is Similarity and similar shapes. Some new theorems, but a lot of similar concepts (pun intended). Make sure you check out For All Rubrics to see how your student did on the first 6 Chapters of Geometry. My Favorite activity so far this year was in Chapter 6. The properties of special quadrilaterals (Square, Rectangle, Rhombus, Kite, Trapezoid) aren’t all that exciting, but to help remember them, each group had to create something to help them remember each one better. Creativity is always encouraged and one group chose to re-write the lyrics to some Holiday Themed songs. Entertaining and memorable for sure. I’m also excited for our next unit...Trig! A scary topics for some, but the applications are endless once you learn Trig, so that’s the best part. Finally, as always...don’t forget about Aleks; students in Geometry should have over 70% of their Aleks pie completed.
INDEPENDENT Geometry, Algebra 2, Pre-Calc, Calculus - Core 2 and 4 - Wray
With so many STEM students working on High School Math Classes at an Independent pace, it would be impossible to outline all of the amazing learning that they are doing in this newsletter. If this is the learning path that your student is on, then check out For All Rubrics to see what they have done this year. Each month, these students are reflecting on their progress, uploading artifacts to showcase their learning, and setting goals. Check F.A.R. in early February to see your student’s progress from January and their goals moving forward.