Algebra+I

Vertical Math Team Second Meeting Wednesday Dec. 9, 2009  Patti brought skill requirements for Algebra 1 -- gaps have been noticed in the following areas: Graphing, fractions, factoring  Disagreement on calculator use & need for further research. Most agree they should not be used in the lower grades as a substitute for knowing math facts, but they should be used in upper level maths & students often don't know how to use them. When & to what extent should give calculator instruction? Give exposure to graphing on calculators in 7th & 8th? Currently they are not used at all in Middle School. Need to see what other schools are doing.  Extensive discussion on the teaching of fractions--need for more detailed descriptions of when & how to teach them.  Flo brought a list of all math vocabulary terms used in 4th grade. This is seen as useful--extensive discussion of how these terms are continually used at all levels. Idea of a math vocab notebook which could follow students pre-K through 12, adding content changes for each level and/or course.  Kevin explained that the Holt curriculum already has such resources--so many that we hardly know what they all are. Since 4th is using a program compatible with Holt this year, need to decide if the entire Holt series could be used from K on.  Rob and Steve stressed that we need to identify minimal competencies for K-8 rather than letting a text or program dictate teaching strategies. These competencies will lead to the development of grade/course standards, & these standards should be developed while considering minimal competencies, ERB content, and national standards.  <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">NEXT STEPS <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Beth will email Lower School skill requirements. <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Lisa will set up a Wiki where we can put all of this material for everyone to see and edit. <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Undecided who will begin examining the Holt curriculum, but need to do that. <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">DP will study other schools' use of calculators <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Meet again in J