The slide presentation that accompanied our fall parent meeting.

1. Ensuring Your Student’s Success in Algebra

2. Academic
Considerations This Is High School – What does that mean?
Lesson Process How We Teach Your Student
Ensuring Success What It Takes for a Successful Year
Q&A Your Questions

3. • Middle school math was essentially 50% review and 50% new
• Algebra is 10% review and 90% new material
• Part of your student’s permanent transcript.
• Everything is to a higher standard

4. • Algebra is abstract concepts
• Algebra requires critical thinking skills

5. • Algebra is a high school credit course
• Algebra students are held to a higher standard
• Pre-AP students are held to an even higher standard
• Algebra grades are included in their G.P.A.

6. •There is NO math gene!
•It takes time, effort, and practice to do math well.

7. • Algebraic thinking & symbolic reasoning
• Function concepts
• Relationships between equations & functions
• Tools for algebraic thinking
• Underlying mathematical processes

9. • We will watch every student closely the first
marking period.
• We do not want any student to have a grade of
less than 80.

10. • At Second Progress…
• A grade below 75 will result in an immediate move to 8th Grade G-T Math
• At The First Marking Period…
• Any student with under an 80 average will be placed in 8th Grade G-T Math.

12. Read & Notes
Every lesson begins with a reading
assignment.
Students will read and take notes
over one or two sections of the text.
This prepares the students for the
next day’s lesson.

13. Class Lesson
The day’s lesson is based on what
students read the previous evening.
They already have begun their notes
and only need to fill in the blanks
when taking class notes.

14. Home Practice
Daily practice assignments are
based on the day’s lesson.
It will generally take about 45 to 60
minutes.
We encourage students use a 20
minute rule when doing their
practice.

15. Review
At the beginning of class we review
and discuss selected problems with
which students have had some
difficulties.

17. • There are 3 levels of problems
• Level A – Learn the concept; practice speed
• Level B – What everyone should be able to do
• Level C – Higher level – stretch the skills
• Students choose which problems to do, BUT
they must do some from each level.

18. • Assessment Every Friday
• Quiz, Quiz, Test
• You should have a graded paper every Monday. Ask for it!
• Quick-Quizzes Anytime

19. • An end-of-course exam that covers the
Texas-mandated curriculum
• The test will be timed
• 15% of final course grade
• No need to take a grade level assessment

20. • Graphing calculators will be used extensively in class
• We have a class set of TI-84+ graphing calculators
• Your student will need one at home

21. • Weekly Update
• Calendar
• Practice Sets
• Forms, Instruction sets, Graph paper, Information packets, etc.
• Other good stuff
• http://qvamath.net

23. Parents Student Teachers

24. Success!

25. When the gates are down and the lights are flashing;
And the whistle is blowing in vain;
If you sit on the tracks, ignoring the facts;
Then you can’t blame the wreck on the train.
Don McLean

26. Don’t Blame the Train

28. Kathy.Jeffers@fortbendisd.com
Don.Simmons@fortbendisd.com