Homework Checking Procedures

Math practice at AMS is built upon two premises:

* Practice is essential for learning/mastery.

* Practice is most effective when it is accompanied by immediate feedback.

"Review and Preview" consist of 5-6 mixed practice problems for each lesson. The mixed practice problems give students an opportunity to figure out the context for each problem, and then apply mathematical concepts that students have learned throughout the year to solve the problem. Full answer keys are provided online as a way to support learning. After completing the practice, students have an opportunity to see the fully completed problems and compare it to their own work. If the answer keys are used appropriately, the practice experience should be a rich, powerful, meaningful, and fruitful experience.

After completing/attempting all practice using a pencil, students are to follow this "check" procedure in pen or colored pencil (any color except for black or blue):

1) Check answers for correctness. Put an "X" through incorrect answers (don't erase anything) and use the answer key to help you understand the problem. Then fix or redo your problem in pen.

2) Even if your answer is correct, you should add to your work to make it more complete. If there is an idea, formula, method, or anything else on the answer key that you think would enhance your answer, use pen to add it to your work.

3) If there is a problem that you don't understand, find that problem on the answer key, read through the steps, figure out the concept, and then copy down the work in ink (to show that you got the solution from the online key). Don't copy an entire problem from the website in pencil and pass it off as your own work.

4) Don’t make mistakes on purpose just so you have a “correction” to show to the teacher. The goal is for students to produce a clear and thorough response to each problem. The same standard is expected on tests as well, so scrutinizing your homework to find ways to enhance your answer is great preparation for individual tests. When you get in the routine of showing all steps and justifying your work during non-test situations, this habit will carry over into testing situations. It is not reasonable for you to regularly do mediocre practice and then expect to produce high quality responses in testing situations. How you practice is typically closely related to how you perform under pressure. For example, if you are not routinely showing all your steps and justifying your work when you practice, you likely will not do so when you are working under pressure during a test.

5) After you have completed the correction process, draw the Secret Symbol in pen on the front of your paper. Here are some samples of what properly executed student practice should look like. The answer keys can be found here.

Here's how homework is scored: