This testing regimen has sure eaten up the better part of a month. For humanitarian reasons, I just cannot bring myself to assign homework when the kids are testing and schedules are weird. So for the last month, homework has been fairly sporadic: I've been sneaking it in when there isn't testing, but generally there has been some kind of testing.
So now that the testing barrage is behind us, for the next two weeks there will only be homework for items that students get wrong on their daily math reviews. What does that mean? Everyday when the kids come in, they have 4 math problems to do on the board. They have 10-15 minutes to complete them and then we go over the answers. Any that students get correct, they place a star on. Any that are incorrect they place a big H on it -- which means that problem is now a homework problem.
And so for this week and next, those will be the only homework problems students have from me. So keep an eye out daily! MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, your child should bring home a piece of notebook paper with four math problems on it and they should be marked with stars or with H's.
EXCEPTIONS TO THE SCHEDULE:
On Tuesday and Thursday the green group has music during their math time, so they will not have math reviews then. On Wednesdays and Fridays, the red group has PE during their math time, so they will not have math reviews then.
I will not be checking these homeworks in, myself. They are an expectation and an opportunity for practice and I hope that you will encourage your child to be diligent in practicing their math.
5.24.2011
Sixth Grade PRoficiency Assessment: Thursday 5/26/2011 9:45 AM.
The middle school sixth grade proficiency assessment will be administered to Larrabee students on Thursday 5/26/2011 starting at 9:45 AM.
The test comes in two 1-hour parts: multiple choice, and short answer/completion.
Calculators are not allowed.
Students taking the assessment need to be on time to school that day. Attendance will be taken in their normal first class of the day and they will be excused to a testing location within the school.
The test comes in two 1-hour parts: multiple choice, and short answer/completion.
Calculators are not allowed.
Students taking the assessment need to be on time to school that day. Attendance will be taken in their normal first class of the day and they will be excused to a testing location within the school.
LarrabeeSchool.Org and KhanAcademy.Org and Math and Literacy... oh my!?
I just wanted to let you know what we're up to this week in math. Testing is not yet done (though we are through with most of it), so we launched a few experiments this week.
LarrabeeSchool.Org
Before leaving, Eric Paige gave us the okay to experiment with Google Apps for Education, Google's suite of productivity tools free and branded with your school district. Because of district email policies, we have disabled Gmail, but students have a docs account, a sites account, and a calendar account. So we are experimenting with using these online tools and this online storage system. It's very exciting and the kids have started experimenting on their own with some of these tools!
KhanAcademy.Org
The KhanAcademy is a site that I've shared about this year before as a collection of hosted videos of "how to do math." Self-admittedly, Sal Khan (the creator) learned in a very traditional and algorithm-based method of mathemtatics which is what he imparts to students in his videos. I believe that these videos are a poor substitute for a proper introduction to the concepts behind the math, but they serve as great reviews and reminders of how to do the formalized abstract representational stuff on paper.
The innovative thing about the Khan Academy is that now we can log in with our larrabeeschool.org accounts. Students have added me as their coach (they can add you, too, if you have a Google or a Facebook username) and I can see what they have been up to and where they are struggling. For their part, students collect points and badges -- kind of like in a video game -- as they work through the lessons and practices at their own pace. It's a very cool resource and so we are trying it out this week.
I think next Monday sees the end of our testing windows (MSP is done, MAP is in progress for reading, and DRP is open until Monday) and we can get back to a more normal schedule by then. Until then, my plan is to get students up to where they are currently comfortable on the Khan Academy so that I can see how it helps me identify needs and differentiate for students.
LarrabeeSchool.Org
Before leaving, Eric Paige gave us the okay to experiment with Google Apps for Education, Google's suite of productivity tools free and branded with your school district. Because of district email policies, we have disabled Gmail, but students have a docs account, a sites account, and a calendar account. So we are experimenting with using these online tools and this online storage system. It's very exciting and the kids have started experimenting on their own with some of these tools!
KhanAcademy.Org
The KhanAcademy is a site that I've shared about this year before as a collection of hosted videos of "how to do math." Self-admittedly, Sal Khan (the creator) learned in a very traditional and algorithm-based method of mathemtatics which is what he imparts to students in his videos. I believe that these videos are a poor substitute for a proper introduction to the concepts behind the math, but they serve as great reviews and reminders of how to do the formalized abstract representational stuff on paper.
The innovative thing about the Khan Academy is that now we can log in with our larrabeeschool.org accounts. Students have added me as their coach (they can add you, too, if you have a Google or a Facebook username) and I can see what they have been up to and where they are struggling. For their part, students collect points and badges -- kind of like in a video game -- as they work through the lessons and practices at their own pace. It's a very cool resource and so we are trying it out this week.
I think next Monday sees the end of our testing windows (MSP is done, MAP is in progress for reading, and DRP is open until Monday) and we can get back to a more normal schedule by then. Until then, my plan is to get students up to where they are currently comfortable on the Khan Academy so that I can see how it helps me identify needs and differentiate for students.
5.19.2011
Grade 6 Math Proficiency Assessment Thursday 5/26/2011
Do you believe that your child is ready to skip 6th grade math and go right into 7th grade pre-algebra? If so, please contact Anne Flinn at Larrabee ASAP to let her know that you want to nominate your child for the assessment to demonstrate mastery of grade 6 mathematics. The assessment will be administered here at Larrabee (the time is not yet established, nor do we know who is proctoring it) and calculators are not allowed.
Again, please contact Anne Flinn at Larrabee to nominate your child for testing.
Cheers,
Brian
Again, please contact Anne Flinn at Larrabee to nominate your child for testing.
Cheers,
Brian
5.18.2011
5.17.2011
MAP Testing this week...
This week we are administering the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) computer-adaptive assessment to our students. The MAP is administered three times yearly.
The Red group tests Tuesday 5/17 at 9:30 AM.
The Green group tests Wednesday 5/18 at 1:00 PM.
The Red group tests Tuesday 5/17 at 9:30 AM.
The Green group tests Wednesday 5/18 at 1:00 PM.
5.15.2011
Yes, taking 6th grade math CAN lead to 12th grade AP Calculus!
Please be aware that a false rumour is being spread amongst parents from Larrabee, Lowell, and Happy Valley (and probably other elementary schools). The rumour is that students who take 6th Grade math cannot make it to calculus during their high school career. Some fact checking and inquiry at the middle school yielded this document from our curriculum department that outlines the various secondary mathematics sequences in the Bellingham School District. Please download and read this document:
This document clearly delineates that in our district:
REGULAR 6th grade math leads to
REGULAR 7th grade pre-algebra leads to
REGULAR 8th grade algebra 1 leads to
REGULAR 9th grade geometry leads to
REGULAR 10th grade algebra 2 leads to
REGULAR 11th grade pre-calculus leads to
REGULAR 12th grade calculus 1 OR AP Calculus (AB/BC)
Thank you so much for all you do to support your child's education.
This document clearly delineates that in our district:
REGULAR 6th grade math leads to
REGULAR 7th grade pre-algebra leads to
REGULAR 8th grade algebra 1 leads to
REGULAR 9th grade geometry leads to
REGULAR 10th grade algebra 2 leads to
REGULAR 11th grade pre-calculus leads to
REGULAR 12th grade calculus 1 OR AP Calculus (AB/BC)
I implore all parents to share these facts instead of the
rumour that has caused anxiety and panic amongst
parents and -- certainly -- amongst students.
rumour that has caused anxiety and panic amongst
parents and -- certainly -- amongst students.
Thank you so much for all you do to support your child's education.
5.10.2011
6th Grade Placement Test and Math Acceleration
About Grade 6 Math Acceleration
First of all, please be aware that there is no such thing as "accelerated 6th grade math" in the Bellingham School District. Our middle schools offers these math classes:- Grade 6 Math
- Grade 7 Math (Pre-Algebra)
- Grade 8 Math (Algebra)
- Grade 9 Math (Geometry, but taught at FMS)
Students entering Bellingham Middle Schools who are identified to have mastered 6th grade math concepts and topics are eligible skip 6th grade math and enter Grade 7 Math.
Identifying Students for Acceleration
There is a process in-place to allow for this kind of personalization.
- Students who meet the following criteria will be automatically invited to take the Grade 6 Proficiency Assessment.
A Level 4 on the Grade 4 Math MSP
orA 239+ on the MAP test
These students will be eligible to take Grade 7 Math if they score 75% or higher on the proficiency assessment. - Students may be invited to take the Grade 6 Proficiency Assessment if their teacher recommends them for Grade 7 math.
- Students may be invited to take the Grade 6 Proficiency Assessment if their parents nominate them for testing (contact your building principal).
When is the Grade 6 Proficiency Assessment administered?
- The assessment takes place on May 26, 2011. (Time TBD).
- Assessments will be administered here at Larrabee and the materials will then be forwarded to the middle school staff for evaluation and placement discernment.
- Results of the assessment along with student recommendations will be completed by June 3rd, 2011.
5.09.2011
Math homework this week...
This is yet another state testing week for our students at Larrabee!
Because I want them to have lots of energy, I want students to take the 20-30 minutes that they would normally have as homework and instead go to bed 20-30 minutes earlier... or read 20-30 minutes more... or spend 20-30 minutes more talking with their parents or playing card or board games with their parents and siblings as a family.
Take the time to destress the home and help your child be well rested.
Cheers!
Grade 6 Math Matriculation... information coming soon... I hope.
Just an update to the Fairhaven math matriculation post [link]:
Well, the updated mathematics matriculation was slated to be sent to principals (not to teachers) and that is roughly when Eric left for Carl Cozier. I have sent a request to the Fairhaven principal for that information and should have it posted here soon.
In the mean time, if you have information for me that is not in my blog, please let me know so I can share it with the community!
Cheers!
Well, the updated mathematics matriculation was slated to be sent to principals (not to teachers) and that is roughly when Eric left for Carl Cozier. I have sent a request to the Fairhaven principal for that information and should have it posted here soon.
In the mean time, if you have information for me that is not in my blog, please let me know so I can share it with the community!
Cheers!
5.05.2011
No homework during testing window...
Okay... MSP season is upon us and I wish I'd remembered to post this earlier. Sorry for any miscommunications.
On Monday my students had a graphing homework assignment [link]. But what about for the rest of this week and next week?
Nothing from me. I won't assign homework during the testing window because I want students to take that time out from math homework and use it to go to bed a little earlier... or eat a little healthier... or relax and read with their family.
So no math homework from me until Monday 5/16/2011.
5.02.2011
5/2/2011 Tonight's Homework
I forgot to hand out planners this morning. So I'm going to post the homework assignment here.
Today in class the students collected data comparing two things (like right hand length vs. left hand length). They collected this data for each kid in the class.Their homework tonight is:
Today in class the students collected data comparing two things (like right hand length vs. left hand length). They collected this data for each kid in the class.Their homework tonight is:
- Graph your data [centimeter paper].
- Describe your data:
For each half of your graph (top and bottom) calculate the range, find the mode, and find the median [math dictionary]. - Analyze your data:
Does your graph say the two things are different, or does the graph say the two things are the same? Give details about the range, the median, the mode, or the shape of the data to explain why you think they way you do.
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