curriculum night welcome to mrs. rife’s algebra/geometry block class

Curriculum Night

Welcome to Mrs. Rife’s

Algebra/Geom

etry Block Class

College prep program

All honors classesStudent responsibilityStudent self-motivationExtra parental help as neededFaster paceMastery of the district curriculum Extra challenge to prepare for success

at the next levelsNo Rescue Policy!

Grading Policy

Standard for ACP • Homework is corrected, but not graded

• Homework quizzes are taken directly from the homework

• Grades are based on mastery of the curriculum75% Tests and Quizzes15% Homework Quizzes10% Warm Up/Projects

No retakes of tests or quizzes (summative) Students may retake one homework quiz in

each half quarter – about 2 weeks for this class. Must get additional help and bring the signed form.

Semester Grades

There will be a final exam each semester for all students at the end of each quarter!

Semester grades are weighted as follows:– 40% quarter 1 grade– 40% quarter 2 grade– 20% final exam grade

Geometry

Not linear thinkingNo assumptions, information must

be labeled, given or proven!Helps develop logical reasoningMost will feel frustration, but be

patient. It will get easier!Proofs

Typical Day

Warm up Go over homework Lesson

– Groups given a task– Teacher circulates, working with groups, offering

tips, suggestions, hints– Whole class discussions when needed– Closure – wrap up the learning– Quick break– Repeat for second lesson, or continue with part 2

Warm Up

Review 8th grade skills (foundations for algebra 1 and fills any gaps)

AIMS review“Gimme” points

– The only extra points available– Should never earn less than 5 points– Get help!

Progress checks

Formative (informal)Ticket out the doorHomework quizObservation Skill Mastery Scale

Summative (formal)Chapter tests and quizzesMid-quarter and end-of-quarter examsFinal exam each semester

What students can do if they don’t understand

Ask questions Look over notes and examplesAsk for help at homeCall a friendGo online

– Support links on CPM.org– You tube– classzone.com or other math sites

Don’t give up!

What else can parents do?

The new text series has excellent student and parent resources. Go to CPM.org and find the parent/student links on the left

Homework helpExamples with work shownAnswers to some homeworkParents can even purchase an

e-book license (1 year) for $10 – order forms on back table

Contact Mrs. Rife right away if you have concerns!

Mrs. Rife’s Supports

Mrs. Rife’s scheduled tutoring days are Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday at 7:15 am and Tuesday after school by appointment

Students can stop in and get help or get their questions answered any time

Not able to provide individual tutoring, but happy to answer questions!!!

Weekly e-mails – will recap the current week and give a heads up for next week.

Helpful Tips

Students should keep all notes, examples, homework assignments, quizzes, etc for the current chapter in their binder!

After the chapter test, students can remove all of these from their binder, but need to keep them until the end of the semester!

Students will need them for mid-quarter and end-of-quarter exams as well as final exams!– Extra binder– Accordion folder– Box– ?

Absences

Attendance is particularly important in this class – every day is 2 learning days!

Difficult to make up missed lesson and discussion

Students are responsible for the learning that was done!

Quizzes and Tests made up before or after school

I can’t meet individually with every absent student

In Closing

Giving Tree

Curriculum Night Handouts

I love the new text series!

Have a specific question?- Send me an e-mail and I will get back to

you ASAP!