The Next Five Student Tips

6) Be prepared for class

• Class begins when the bell rings. It is expected that you are seated, have your notebook open and calculator out when the bell rings.
• Students need to keep a separate dedicated math notebook: recommended is a spiral notebook and a folder or a 3-ring binder.
• Students are also required to purchase their own TI-84 or TI-84+ graphing calculator. It does not need to be a color screen. This calculator is allowed on the PSAT, SAT and ACT.

7) Use Study Hall Effectively

Students often overlook the opportunity to use study hall as an effective means of accessing help and getting work done during the day. It is easy to go to socialize or engage in activities on their cell phones, devices...etc, rather than engage in studying. Encourage your child to use this time during the day to work without distraction.

Students who do not have classes during a particular period are scheduled for Commons, which is located in the cafeteria. Students assigned to Commons also have the option of going to the Library Learning Commons, Math Center, Writing Center, Counseling Center, or the Career Center. Students are to go to the area of their choice at the beginning of the period and sign in.

8) Unit tests

• There will typically be two or three tests during each quarter at the end of each unit.
• Each test is equally weighted.
• Tests are designed to be taken and completed within one 48-minute class period.
• A list of topics that will be on the unit test is usually given at least one week in advance of the test in class and is also posted on Google Classroom.
• If absent for a test, the student must schedule a make-up time with their teacher.
• Usually new material is not covered the day before a unit test, therefore being absent the day before a test should not preclude a student from taking the test on the announced date. If new material is covered the day before a test and a student is absent, the student should still expect to take the test on the announced date and the teacher can omit any problems on the test that deal with the missed material.

Preparing for a Unit Test

“Studying is a big thing because I didn't study in middle school and got good grades but this year I had to STUDY!!!!!!”--Previous Student

“A good way to study for upcoming tests is to write out problems that you've already done and redo them. I used to think that there was no way to study for math tests and quizzes but I've found that this strategy is very useful for me.”--Previous Student

• The best way to prepare for a test is by redoing problems. Students may use in-class problems, homework problems, and problems from previous quizzes.
• Extra help is encourage during a unit; Attending extra help ONLY the day prior to the test is not recommended.

Test-Taking Strategies

• Pace yourself. It is expected that you complete the test in 48 minutes.
• Do NOT get stuck. It is O.K. to skip a question. In fact, later questions will often help you with early questions.
• Tackle problems that are the “easier” ones for you first then the “harder” ones (or visa versa based on your preference).
• Use/ask for scrap paper to have more room for trial and error when stuck.
• If time, check your answer.

After taking the test?

When test is returned, keep it with your notebook or a folder for future reference and studying, such as for the January and June exams. Most times, tests are reviewed in class upon their return, to some extent. Students that are concerned about their test grade should make an effort to meet with the teacher during extra help to review the test for individual insight into what areas they can improve upon. Correcting mistakes on tests is a very good way to further cement understanding of the material and is very beneficial as the course progresses. Retakes or corrections for recovery points on tests are not offered in Algebra 1.

9) Classroom/Teacher Communication

Students should proactively:

• Check er9 gmail accounts for email blasts for reminders and add the gmail app (if you don’t already have it.) We also recommend that you change your setting to have your er9 account with notification turned on.
• Check teacher’s Google Classroom for daily postings such as answer keys,

Teachers appreciate proactive communication from students either via email or in person. If a student emails a teacher, they should be sure to check for a reply. This may include seeking to schedule extra help or arranging quiz/test make ups.

10) How do I make the best use of Google Classroom?

Google classroom is an awesome resource. All Algebra 1 teachers post class notes and the homework assignment to Google classroom daily. In addition, the answers to the homework are usually posted.

Without an er9 email address, you will not have full access to our classroom pages, but you can have your child log in and show you what is being posted. We recommend doing this from time to time, especially in the beginning of the year.

A fun activity is to have your child show you their notes from today and compare them to the teacher notes. Not everyone has perfect handwriting, but are your child’s notes legible, organized and complete?

Click here for some examples of student notes versus teacher notes.

If your child’s notes are not legible or complete, they should recopy them. Recopying notes after a lesson is also a tried and true learning technique.