Week 10

Math Survey

Math Department Goal
This year, one of the our department's overarching goals is to conform student mindsets about math.  As teachers, we believe that "intelligence" is malleable and that success in math is not fixed (so we are not born or naturally good at math).  The mindset that we are trying to convince students to discard is that they are either "good at math" or "bad at math" and instead embrace the idea that "I am good at match because I work hard" and "I can get better at math."  These ideas are important for all students because for those who believe that they are good at math because they born that way, the day will come (and it may be in Algebra 1, or Trigonometry, or Calculus) when math becomes difficult and if students believe that they used to be good at math because they were born that way without hard work, then when they face a challenge, they will give up.  For students who see themselves right now as "bad at math because they are born this way," there is no hope that things can get better.  We want to equip all of our students with the attitudes that will set them up for success.

This idea is the whole reason for our simplified in grading categories (Assessments + Effort) and why we allow students to retake assessments.  The message we are broadcasting is that maybe you didn't understand a concept at the time of the original quiz, but it's never too late to master it because WE BELIEVE YOU CAN.  We also want to reward students for making an effort, so all classwork/homework/warm ups etc. are graded only by completion.

You as parents can help us change the minds and attitudes of our students.  Below are some helpful things that you can use to encourage your child:

• "Great job!  I can tell your studying paid off!"
• "Amateurs practice until they get it right.  Professionals practice until they never get it wrong.  By practicing, you are becoming a professional student!"
• "It looks like you did well on Topic X, but not on Topic Y.  Why don't you talk to Mrs. Tamura about getting better at Topic Y?  I know that you can do it."
• "I wasn't always good at Skill A.  But I got here because I work hard and spent many hours honing that skill."

Please avoid remarks like the following:

• "I was never good at math," or "I don't like math, either."
• "Math is not your strong suit."

We'll be monitoring how students feel about math 3 times during the school year (this week, in January, and in May) to see how they perceive themselves and compare that with their grades/assessment scores.

Math Center
This week's Math Center topic on Monday and Wednesday is simplifying fractions.  There will be a special Math Center on Thursday on the 8th Grade topic of Rate of Change (a.k.a. slope).  Math Center is in room 802 from 3pm-4pm and all students are welcome to attend.

6th Accelerated (https://sjusd.app.box.com/s/4da00xgz3wfsxk92o874)
This week, we will continue our study comparing Greatest Common Factor and Least Common Multiple while spiraling review of fraction division with both pictures and the algorithm.  We will also begin our study of dividing decimals (specifically why moving the decimal allows us to still get the same answer).

7th Grade (https://sjusd.box.com/s/fvpzcxpzao0bdhrp86pg)
This week, we will be using manipulatives to solve equations and inequalities.