Math
Welcome to math on the Falcon Team!
My math philosophy: All students can learn math and do well in math! With practice and effort, everyone can make great strides with their math skills.
Interested in ways to help your child with math at home? Check out this article by Stanford University Mathematics Education Professor, Jo Boaler.
Guiding Question:
How can I use MATH to inform my decisions?
Long Term Learning Targets
LTLT: I can use expressions, equations, and inequalities to represent real-world situations.
LTLT: I can use rate and ratio concepts to solve problems.
LTLT: I can use multiplication and division to solve real-world situations involving fractions.
LTLT: I can fluently apply operations with decimals to solve real-world situations.
LTLT: I can solve problems involving factors and multiples.
LTLT: I can multiply and divide multi-digit whole numbers.
Math Grades
My goal is to provide a grading system that enables students to approach math with a growth mindset.
Math grades reflect students learning and meeting of the learning target/standard. In Infinite Campus (IC) you will find grades/assignments nestled under long-term learning targets (standards). Formative Assessments will be graded out of 10 points (quick assessments and learning tasks that show progress toward the unit's learning targets thus far) and Summative Assessments will be graded out of 100 points per target (larger assessments or projects that measure students' understanding of the long term learning target or unit standard). There are sometimes Formative Checks that are entered in the grade book, but not a part of the calculated grade. These Formative Checks are still useful in understanding students' development toward meeting the learning target/standard.
The scores follow this scale:
4 (90-100%)= above and beyond evidence of meeting the learning targets 3 (80-89)= meeting the learning targets 2 (70-79%)= partially meeting the learning targets 1 (60-69)= beginning to meet the learning targets 0 (50%)= no evidence of meeting the learning targetsAssessment Retake Policy & Raising Your Grade
Since grades should reflect learning, I do allow students to retake or redo assessments. However, students have to earn that opportunity to retake or redo. They can do this by showing me they have completed all original class work, put in extra work to learn the material and are ready to show what they now know. Some of the extra work may include online practice and additional practice, which I can help provide. Once a student demonstrates the extra review they have done, then he or she can schedule a time with me to retake or redo an assessment.
Homework
Math students may be assigned homework practice several nights a week, but often they may not have homework at all. Homework is an extension or continuation of work we have been doing in class. I try not to give homework on Fridays to allow families time together. However, if a student has been absent, they may need to use the weekend to get caught up. Homework is not assigned as a punishment or time-filler, but to reinforce and practice concepts we have recently learned in class, or to review skills as needed. Late work is discouraged, but I am interested in students doing their work even if it is late so they have more opportunities to work toward mastery on the learning targets. Homework is non-graded, but tracked by students and entered in Infinite Campus for communication and evidence toward mastery of targets. Non-graded assignments will be entered in IC with a score of 0-4.