November 2015
Math Department by Dr. Brian McCorkle
As the first nine weeks comes to a close, the Mathematics Department has been busy. Reviewing last year’s course material has been a priority as new classes begin to work on current course work. Also, reviewing Keystone results from last year has been important to form IPeriod groups. With the winter round of Keystone Tests approaching fast, incorporating key concepts into the lessons has been a top priority. Using collected data from Keystone and CDT results, both classrooms and iPeriods have been able to delve into misunderstood concepts and review material as needed. With the new organizational structure of IPeriod, an enrichment activity has been added to the Math Department. This round’s topic is Probability and critical analysis of real world situations. During our Math PLC meetings, the focus has been on aligning curriculum with the Common Core and analyzing test results in an attempt to find areas of need and to determine if the curriculum needs to be restructured and refocused. With the preliminary data showing students who miss scoring “proficient” on the Keystone by miniscule point totals, the Math sequence and curriculum appears to provide a strong foundation. However, it is safe to say that more data is needed in order to arrive at any conclusive decisions.
Mathematics Department
Submitted by Mr. Doud (06/01/2015)
With CDT, PSSA, and Keystone testing complete, our students have given their mathematics teachers a lot of effort this school year. Thanks to the students for this strong effort. We hope you are rewarded with excellent scores.
As a department, we are preparing for the transfer of 7th and 8th grade classes to Mrs. LaBarron in the Northern Potter Middle School. These students have historically been shared among three or four members of the department. Materials are being prepared for storage, disposal, and transfer to new instructional environments.
The summer brings all teachers time to prepare for the new classes they have been scheduled to teach.
May 2015
Mathematics Department
Submitted by Dr. McCorkle (05/01/2015)
As the school year draws to a close, the mathematics department has been busy. The spring round of Keystone tests is upon us and preparation continues to help students ready themselves to pass these tests. Continued work in classes and iPeriods are working to review key concepts. Using collected data from the winter round of testing and CDT results, both classrooms and iPeriods have been able to delve into misunderstood concepts and review material as needed. In addition to Mr. Doud, Mrs. LaBarron, and Dr. McCorkle, cooperative efforts from Mrs. Bailey, Mrs. Woolgar, and Miss Gorrell have been invaluable.
Upon completing courses from the Math Design Collaboration at the IU, the math department has been using these teaching/review/data collection techniques to help students better understand key concepts. Through varying lessons, formative assessments, and more descriptive feedback, the teachers discovered new ways to address students and provide assessment to material. These techniques focus on student engagement, critical thinking skills, and overall success in the classroom. The possible activities have a wide range of uses and cover various levels of mathematics while stressing collaboration between students. Upper level materials are available, but most activities center on subject areas like general math, algebra (both pre-algebra and Algebra I), and geometry.
In anticipation of the new middle school concept and restructuring of the department, room 132 was inspected and a new home for various math books and supplies has been discussed. This room was added in 1991-1992 when building renovations were done. It was used as a computer lab and mathematics room.
Also, the calculus class just completed a personal financial course offered through First Citizens Bank.
April 2015
Mathematics Department
Submitted by Mrs. LaBarron (04/07/2015)
With PSSA and Keystone testing right around the corner, the math department is working hard to ensure our students are prepared. The Math 7 classes are finishing up a unit on geometry. They are finding area, surface area, and volume. This week they will be starting the final PSSA preparation unit on data analysis and probability. From there, we will finish out the rest of the year preparing for Algebra 1 or Algebra 1A next year. Algebra 1B students are finishing up a unit on simplifying radical expressions. This unit prepares them for both Keystone assessments and further course work in geometry. Next, we will be learning how to simplify rational expressions. This will review several concepts taught earlier in the year and help form connections within the algebra 1 content. Algebra 1B will also be completing a unit on data analysis and probability prior to taking the Keystone exams in May.
Calculus students are not only working on their dual enrollment calculus class, but also working on earning a certificate in financial literacy through Everfi.com (partnered with First Citizens National Bank). In this course, students are learning about banking, credit cards, paying for college, and everything in between.
Pi Day 2015 was fantastic! Students brought in pie to help celebrate the special occasion. This year was especially significant because it is the only time in this century that the date will carry five consecutive digits (3.1415) of the mathematical constant, pi. Students ate pie, listened to pi songs and stories, learned about the origins of pi and other random facts, and also explored measuring circles to approximate pi. Overall this was a great day. The students had fun while learning about math! (See pictures in the Photo Gallery)
March 2015
Mathematics Department
Submitted by Mr. Doud (03/02/2015)
Members of the tested subject area professional learning community (PLC 1) recently completed the February round of CDT testing. This task had many obstacles presented including weather. The group met to review the data and make changes to students’ iPeriod assignments. The group did a great job completing this task in an effective manner.
Students in PreCalculus have started into the Trigonometry portion of the course. They have been receiving instruction on the six basic trigonometric functions developed from a unit circle and a right triangle perspective. Algebra I students are in a heavily tested area of writing linear equations. They have learned how to write linear equations in three different forms. Algebra 1A students are currently focusing on geometry topics of volume and surface area in order to best prepare the eighth graders for their PSSA testing. Pre-Algebra students are working hard to master fraction concepts.
Dr. McCorkle's Probability and Statistics class is currently working on a qualitative research project. The class is working on a literature review examining previous research before conducting their own data collection. Topics include dream analysis, the positive effects of band and chorus, athletic participation, and the effects of media on student engagement. The students will conduct data collection through interviews and observations and summarize their findings into a mini research paper. Students are also learning APA citations, which are heavily used in all fields in college. Each student will conduct an "oral defense" of their topic and findings by presenting their research to the class during the last week of March.
February 2015
Mathematics Department
Submitted by Dr. McCorkle (02/03/2015)
The mathematics department has been busy this month. With the first round of Keystone Tests in the rear view mirror, Mr. Doud, Mrs. LaBarron, and Dr. McCorkle refocused their efforts in both the classroom and iPeriods. The new direction includes figuring out how to improve on the Keystones, but also delving back into the regular classroom routine and introducing new topics necessary for future success in mathematics. During iPeriod, with help from Mrs. Bailey, Mrs. Woolgar, and Ms. Gorrell, continued efforts have been made to reaffirm PSSA and Keystone topics as the spring round of testing will soon be upon us.
Recently, the math department also participated in the Math Design Collaboration at the IU. This was an interesting way to look at what other schools have been doing in their classrooms to not only improve standardized test scores, but also to improve student engagement, critical thinking skills, and success in the classroom. Through varying lessons, formative assessments, and more descriptive feedback, the teachers discovered new ways to address students and provide assessment to material. The possible activities have a wide range of uses and cover various levels of mathematics while stressing collaboration between students. Upper level materials are available, but most activities center on subject areas like general math, algebra (both pre-algebra and Algebra I), and geometry.
January 2015
In the math department, we continue to use CDT data and Study Island to prepare students for Keystone and PSSA testing in the spring. The math teachers have reorganized the iPeriod student groups. Mrs. LaBarron has the students needing remediation in her Algebra 1B course, Mr. Doud has students from Algebra 1A, and Dr. McCorkle has students that will be re-taking the Algebra 1 Keystone. Mrs. Woolgar is working with Math 7 students, and Mrs. Bailey is remediating Math 8 students. We are all using the data collected from CDT testing to plan and implement remediation activities relevant to the student’s greatest areas of need.
In the Math 7 classes students have been applying their prior knowledge of factors and multiples to simplifying algebraic expressions involving exponents. We will soon start studying proportions and ratios. In this unit, students will study scale models, blue prints, and many other applications.
In Algebra 1B, students are solving systems of equations. They are exploring real-world applications and learning how to write a system of equations in order to solve the problems. Next, we will be studying exponents and exponential functions. In this unit, students will learn about exponential growth and decay. For example, we will discuss compound interest and bacterial growth.
Calculus just finished a unit on applications of differentiation. The final lesson of the unit was on optimization. Students studied how to maximize the area of a pasture given a specific amount of fencing. They also maximized the volume of a cardboard shipping box and the profit for a business. They applied this knowledge, along with some creativity, to construct a gingerbread house of maximum volume. The only stipulation was that they could only use nine graham crackers in their construction. This project was a lot of fun and allowed the students to apply what they are learning in class.
As always, our goal is to provide students with skills that can be utilized to solve problems in their lives outside of school.
December 2014
Mathematics Department
Submitted by Mr. Doud (12/09/2014)
Algebra 1A students have begun working with probability and data analysis topics. Skills practiced include making and analyzing different types of graphs and simple and compound probability of events.
Algebra 1 students have started in to one of the “big ticket” topics for Keystone testing. They are studying linear equations. They are graphing lines and finding the slopes, x-intercepts, and y-intercepts.
PreCalculus students have been introduced to logarithms and logarithmic equations. Students applied several properties to solve these equations. Most recently, students have explored different regression equations to analyze data sets.
Pre-Algebra students are working on Statistics, Data Analysis, and Probability topics as well. Mr. Doud and Mrs. Bailey implemented a lesson using mid-level formative assessment from the Math Design Collaborative training that the math teachers attended in October at Seneca Highlands IU 9.
Math Enrichment 8 students have completed instruction in unit conversion and data analysis. They will be studying areas in geometry next.
November 2014
Between the regularly scheduled mathematics classes and the updated iPeriod, there is plenty going on in the Math Department. Let us start with IPeriod. Mr. Doud, Mrs. LaBarron, Mrs. Bailey, and Mrs. Woolgar are busy helping the Algebra students by providing extra practice to improve on identified areas of need. Dr. McCorkle and Ms. Gorrell have the seventh and eighth grade students for iPeriod. Their focus has been on PSSA test scores, in addition to tutoring of regular classroom materials. All groups are trying to meet a fairly tight deadline to improve as the first round of Keystone testing is approaching rapidly.
In the classroom, all math teachers are working feverishly to cover material to prepare students for the rest of the year and beyond. Dr. McCorkle’s Algebra II classes have entered “the Matrix” and will be focusing on using graphing calculators to solve matrices for the next few weeks. Matrices are used in Pre-Calculus, but are also used heavily in computer programming. Mrs. LaBarron has been taking the opportunity to vacation during class. Her use of Study Island has provided valuable supplemental material for her students in varying course subjects. Mr. Doud has started his students on the road to the “Keystone” state, by focusing Algebra students on a deeper understanding of concepts needed for Geometry and Algebra II, while providing instruction for the state tests.
October 2014
The Classroom Diagnostic Tool (CDT) baseline testing is complete. Students in algebra iPeriod have analyzed their CDT results. Now they are using this data to prioritize their areas of need to prepare for the Keystone testing in December. We are using the Study Island program to practice these concepts. Each day when students enter the classroom they pick up their Samsung Galaxy 2 tablets and log in to Study Island. Mrs. LaBarron then provides a mini lesson on a needed topic and students begin practicing the concept in Study Island. Once they have “earned a ribbon,” they begin working on other areas of need. At this time, Mrs. LaBarron and Mrs. Woolgar provide individualized support to students.
This school year is off to a great start! Math 7 students just finished a unit on integers and algebraic expressions. Next, we will begin working on ratios and proportional reasoning. The college in high school calculus class just started the differentiation unit. In this unit, they are learning how a derivative can be used to find rates of change. We will soon begin using Mathematica software to complete labs that will allow students to make connections and solve complex problems. Algebra 1B students just finished a review unit on graphing linear functions. They are now working on writing linear equations to solve real-world problems. As usual, the math department is working hard to prepare our students for PSSAs, Keystones, and future course work.
September 2014
Students have started their journey into this year’s courses. I will be teaching two new courses this year: Pre-Algebra 8 and Math Enrichment 8. Pre-Algebra 8 was reintroduced for a small group of 8th grade students. This class will be co-taught with Mrs. Bailey. We look forward to challenging the students to reach the goal of proficient or advanced on the 8th grade PSSA test. Math Enrichment 8, previously taught by Dr. McCorkle, moved two doors down the hallway to my room. This class will focus on preparing students for their PSSA test as well. Various materials and Study Island will be used to help students achieve. Mrs. Solis is assigned to this class for instructional help.
Fourteen students are currently enrolled in Pre-Calculus. These students can dual enroll with the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford course and earn 4 college credits for $70.
May 2014
With the Math PSSA test behind us, the 7th graders have begun preparing for Algebra 1 next year with a unit on writing and solving algebraic expressions and equations. We just received a classroom set of Samsung Galaxy 2 tablets. We are getting very excited to try out a few Algebra apps!
The Algebra 1A students are nearing the half-way point of their Algebra 1 journey. They will not be required to take the Algebra 1 Keystone until the conclusion of Algebra 1B in 2015. According to the Classroom Diagnostic Tools (CDT) test, four students are already projected to be proficient on the Algebra 1 Keystone. These students are Delena Howell, Alex Knauer, Alex Hand, and Levi Kio. They have been working especially hard this year. Several other students are projected to be proficient prior to the end of Algebra 1B.
The Math PLC has shifted its focus to planning and preparation for iPeriod. We discussed placement of students and activities that would best meet their needs. The 8th grade students and the Algebra 1 group, who are taking the Keystone this year, will be preparing for that. The 7th grade students and the Algebra 1A students are reviewing skills they have learned this year in preparation for final exams. With the end of the school year in sight, the math department is working hard to prepare our students for the courses they will be taking in the 2014-2015 school year.
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April News
The third marking period group of seventh graders in calculator use demonstrated an average increase of 25 percent in topics mastered using the Aleks.com enrichment program. This is an increase of about 5 percent over other classes of students who have taken
this course in the recent past. The third marking period group includes Lynn Bartas, Keisha Button, Tristan Byron, Holden Cowburn, Amanda Ford, AJ Hurlburt, and Ethan Russell. These students deserve recognition for
their extra hard work just before PSSA testing. Well done students!
Algebra I students are beginning to study systems of linearequations. Algebra 1A students recently finished a unit on probability and data analysis. Geometry students have studied properties on quadrilaterals and are now
focusing on similar figures.The math remediation professional learning community (PLC) held
its first meeting. The task given was to review student data to see if any students qualified to move out of remediation. The math and science
PLC continues to write course curriculum alignments and peer review them.
March News
The third nine weeks is half way done and the math department is gearing up for another round of Keystones for students who have taken Algebra I. Seventh and eighth grade students are also preparing for the PSSAs. The introduction of the new iPeriod is helping prepare students for these tests. This added period gives students the opportunity to work with content-specific teachers as they prepare to take these valuable tests. Using ALEKS and the CDT evaluation systems, the math department is able to monitor the growth and progress of students and lend aid to individuals in the areas in which their scores are not up to a “proficient” level.
Mr. Doud and Dr. McCorkle are continuing their use of ALEKS in Calculator Use (7th grade) and Math Enrichment (8th grade). This data is available to the entire department to help guide instruction related to the Common Core. Mr. Doud and Mrs. LaBarron are using the CDT to evaluate students in their Algebra courses. In preparation for PSSA testing, Mrs. LaBarron's 7th grade students just started a unit on Geometry and Measurement and her 8th grade students are completing a unit on Probability and Data Analysis. In Probability and Statistics, Dr. McCorkle is discussing Qualitative research methodologies and the students are conducting research studies on a topic of their choosing. These studies include a review of related literature and data collection in the form of interviews and observations. Discussion of confidentiality and validity has been stressed to keep participants 100% anonymous. These studies will cover a wide range of topics including but not limited to: athletics (in both high school and college), gender conflict (male vs. female), and the social drawbacks of technology.
February News
On January 21st, the math/science professional learning community (PLC) met to work on curriculum mapping. During this meeting, we discussed cross-curricular areas of need. For example, students struggle with metric and customary conversions in both math and science. Therefore, we plan to use a future PLC meeting to design units of instruction to better meet the needs of our students. These units will then be taught during the iPeriod. Overall, this time was very productive.
In the classroom, Math 7 has been reviewing and practicing operations with fractions and proportions. Algebra 1A students are beginning a unit on graphing linear equations and inequalities. These students will be graphing their algebra probe data in order to monitor their growth throughout the school year. All students in Math 7 and Algebra 1A just completed their first round of CDT tests. The data from this round will be used to place students into iPeriod groups based on their individual needs. Students in calculus recently finished a unit on applications of derivatives. The unit concluded with a project in which students used differentiation and optimization to maximize the volume of a gingerbread house using only one sleeve of graham crackers and frosting as the mortar. A photo of their finished products follows this article. This class is now beginning a unit on integration (finding area under a curve).
January News
Derivations from the Mathematics Department
On December 3, the Math/Science professional learning community (PLC) met to plan enrichment activities for December 4 and 5 and then December 10 and 11. The team reviewed data from our PSSA scores, Keystone scores, CDT tests, and ALEKS to develop projects, video instruction, direct instruction, and guided practice problems. Our students should be commended for the attention and hard work that they displayed during these scheduled times. Students taking the December Algebra Keystone Exam reported the review helped them with the tests on December 10th and December 11th. Special thanks should be given to Mrs. LaBarron for the extra work and preparation. Student project examples are included in the attached photos.
In the classroom, Math 7 has focused on topics of exponents, factors, multiples, scientific notation, ratios, and proportions. Algebra I students have graphed linear equations and inequalities. Geometry students have been learning properties of triangles and reviewing algebra topics. Algebra II students learned various methods to solve and graph quadratic equations. Precalculus students solved exponential and logarithmic equations and systems of linear equations using matrices. Applications of differentiation have been applied in calculus.
A course in probability and statistics will be reintroduced into the schedule beginning in the second semester. Dr. McCorkle will be teaching the course. When asked about the course, he said, “Prob and Stats will be a research-based course focusing on statistical analysis stemming from collected data. It will discuss both qualitative and quantitative research methodology and how to conduct research using both methods. Statistical analysis will be conducted to determine the correlation between data sets. Students will conduct actual research data on topics of their choosing.” Students heading to college in research-based fields are encouraged to take this course.
December News
The high school math department has a lot going on this month. With the first round of Algebra I Keystone exams set for early December, the department has been in overdrive preparing.
Mrs. LaBarron has been busy using ALEKS, an assessment and tutoring tool, to baseline her classes. From there, the improvement data can easily be monitored throughout the year leading to the second round of testing in the spring. Mr. Doud and Dr. McCorkle have been utilizing ALEKS in their calculator use (7th grade) and math enrichment (8th grade) courses respectively to complement students’ regular classroom instruction and learning. Calculator use is focused on the PSSA for 7th grade students. Math enrichment students will take the PSSA, and those taking Algebra I will also take the Keystone. ALEKS is able to accommodate all students by aligning to their specific mathematics needs. In addition, Mr. Doud is using a classroom diagnostic tool (CDT) to assess the students’ readiness to take the Keystones. With this shift in technology use, calculators have been regularly used in Algebra II, trigonometry, and calculus. As more graphing calculators become available, the math department will begin to use them in Algebra I and geometry. The math department has continued work on the high school math curriculum focusing on the Common Core standards and better alignment of the classroom content with these standards. Further study of the recent course changes is underway using ALEKS and the CDT data for future adjustments or changes to each course offered.
October/November News
The math department recently completed training to use the Classroom Diagnostic Tool (CDT). This is an online tool that will assess students according to the PSSA and Keystone standards and then provide teachers with a report about each student’s strengths and weaknesses. This information will help us plan remediation for students. The first CDT assessment will take place in November.
The teachers in the mathematics department have been using the Aleks software to assess and remediate seventh and eighth grade students during their nine week rotation. Each seventh and eighth grade student will complete one nine week rotation of math enrichment using the Aleks program. The seventh grade students who had math enrichment during marking period one started the year with an average baseline score of 14 percent. In Aleks, a baseline score of 15 percent shows that a student is ready to begin the course. Throughout the marking period, they gained an average of 24 percent, raising the average score at the end of the marking period to 38 percent. Like the baseline goal score of 15 percent, Aleks also says that a student is ready to move on to the next course when they reach 85 percent course mastery. To obtain this goal, students need to make an average of 17.5 percent growth each marking period. These students exceeded that goal!
The Math 7 inclusion class just competed in the Mini-Metric Olympics. Five different events were set up that required students to estimate and measure in metric units. The first three events were paper plate discus, straw javelin throwing, and cotton ball shot put. Students had to throw the object and estimate the distance of each throw before using a measuring tape to find the actual distance. The forth event was right-handed marble grab. Students grabbed a fistful of marbles, estimated their weight in grams, and then measured them using a digital scale. The final event was left-handed sponge squeeze. Students squeezed a soaking sponge into a separate container and then estimated how many milliliters of water they squeezed out. The student who had the closest estimate won the event.
Math Department by Dr. Brian McCorkle
As the first nine weeks comes to a close, the Mathematics Department has been busy. Reviewing last year’s course material has been a priority as new classes begin to work on current course work. Also, reviewing Keystone results from last year has been important to form IPeriod groups. With the winter round of Keystone Tests approaching fast, incorporating key concepts into the lessons has been a top priority. Using collected data from Keystone and CDT results, both classrooms and iPeriods have been able to delve into misunderstood concepts and review material as needed. With the new organizational structure of IPeriod, an enrichment activity has been added to the Math Department. This round’s topic is Probability and critical analysis of real world situations. During our Math PLC meetings, the focus has been on aligning curriculum with the Common Core and analyzing test results in an attempt to find areas of need and to determine if the curriculum needs to be restructured and refocused. With the preliminary data showing students who miss scoring “proficient” on the Keystone by miniscule point totals, the Math sequence and curriculum appears to provide a strong foundation. However, it is safe to say that more data is needed in order to arrive at any conclusive decisions.
Mathematics Department
Submitted by Mr. Doud (06/01/2015)
With CDT, PSSA, and Keystone testing complete, our students have given their mathematics teachers a lot of effort this school year. Thanks to the students for this strong effort. We hope you are rewarded with excellent scores.
As a department, we are preparing for the transfer of 7th and 8th grade classes to Mrs. LaBarron in the Northern Potter Middle School. These students have historically been shared among three or four members of the department. Materials are being prepared for storage, disposal, and transfer to new instructional environments.
The summer brings all teachers time to prepare for the new classes they have been scheduled to teach.
May 2015
Mathematics Department
Submitted by Dr. McCorkle (05/01/2015)
As the school year draws to a close, the mathematics department has been busy. The spring round of Keystone tests is upon us and preparation continues to help students ready themselves to pass these tests. Continued work in classes and iPeriods are working to review key concepts. Using collected data from the winter round of testing and CDT results, both classrooms and iPeriods have been able to delve into misunderstood concepts and review material as needed. In addition to Mr. Doud, Mrs. LaBarron, and Dr. McCorkle, cooperative efforts from Mrs. Bailey, Mrs. Woolgar, and Miss Gorrell have been invaluable.
Upon completing courses from the Math Design Collaboration at the IU, the math department has been using these teaching/review/data collection techniques to help students better understand key concepts. Through varying lessons, formative assessments, and more descriptive feedback, the teachers discovered new ways to address students and provide assessment to material. These techniques focus on student engagement, critical thinking skills, and overall success in the classroom. The possible activities have a wide range of uses and cover various levels of mathematics while stressing collaboration between students. Upper level materials are available, but most activities center on subject areas like general math, algebra (both pre-algebra and Algebra I), and geometry.
In anticipation of the new middle school concept and restructuring of the department, room 132 was inspected and a new home for various math books and supplies has been discussed. This room was added in 1991-1992 when building renovations were done. It was used as a computer lab and mathematics room.
Also, the calculus class just completed a personal financial course offered through First Citizens Bank.
April 2015
Mathematics Department
Submitted by Mrs. LaBarron (04/07/2015)
With PSSA and Keystone testing right around the corner, the math department is working hard to ensure our students are prepared. The Math 7 classes are finishing up a unit on geometry. They are finding area, surface area, and volume. This week they will be starting the final PSSA preparation unit on data analysis and probability. From there, we will finish out the rest of the year preparing for Algebra 1 or Algebra 1A next year. Algebra 1B students are finishing up a unit on simplifying radical expressions. This unit prepares them for both Keystone assessments and further course work in geometry. Next, we will be learning how to simplify rational expressions. This will review several concepts taught earlier in the year and help form connections within the algebra 1 content. Algebra 1B will also be completing a unit on data analysis and probability prior to taking the Keystone exams in May.
Calculus students are not only working on their dual enrollment calculus class, but also working on earning a certificate in financial literacy through Everfi.com (partnered with First Citizens National Bank). In this course, students are learning about banking, credit cards, paying for college, and everything in between.
Pi Day 2015 was fantastic! Students brought in pie to help celebrate the special occasion. This year was especially significant because it is the only time in this century that the date will carry five consecutive digits (3.1415) of the mathematical constant, pi. Students ate pie, listened to pi songs and stories, learned about the origins of pi and other random facts, and also explored measuring circles to approximate pi. Overall this was a great day. The students had fun while learning about math! (See pictures in the Photo Gallery)
March 2015
Mathematics Department
Submitted by Mr. Doud (03/02/2015)
Members of the tested subject area professional learning community (PLC 1) recently completed the February round of CDT testing. This task had many obstacles presented including weather. The group met to review the data and make changes to students’ iPeriod assignments. The group did a great job completing this task in an effective manner.
Students in PreCalculus have started into the Trigonometry portion of the course. They have been receiving instruction on the six basic trigonometric functions developed from a unit circle and a right triangle perspective. Algebra I students are in a heavily tested area of writing linear equations. They have learned how to write linear equations in three different forms. Algebra 1A students are currently focusing on geometry topics of volume and surface area in order to best prepare the eighth graders for their PSSA testing. Pre-Algebra students are working hard to master fraction concepts.
Dr. McCorkle's Probability and Statistics class is currently working on a qualitative research project. The class is working on a literature review examining previous research before conducting their own data collection. Topics include dream analysis, the positive effects of band and chorus, athletic participation, and the effects of media on student engagement. The students will conduct data collection through interviews and observations and summarize their findings into a mini research paper. Students are also learning APA citations, which are heavily used in all fields in college. Each student will conduct an "oral defense" of their topic and findings by presenting their research to the class during the last week of March.
February 2015
Mathematics Department
Submitted by Dr. McCorkle (02/03/2015)
The mathematics department has been busy this month. With the first round of Keystone Tests in the rear view mirror, Mr. Doud, Mrs. LaBarron, and Dr. McCorkle refocused their efforts in both the classroom and iPeriods. The new direction includes figuring out how to improve on the Keystones, but also delving back into the regular classroom routine and introducing new topics necessary for future success in mathematics. During iPeriod, with help from Mrs. Bailey, Mrs. Woolgar, and Ms. Gorrell, continued efforts have been made to reaffirm PSSA and Keystone topics as the spring round of testing will soon be upon us.
Recently, the math department also participated in the Math Design Collaboration at the IU. This was an interesting way to look at what other schools have been doing in their classrooms to not only improve standardized test scores, but also to improve student engagement, critical thinking skills, and success in the classroom. Through varying lessons, formative assessments, and more descriptive feedback, the teachers discovered new ways to address students and provide assessment to material. The possible activities have a wide range of uses and cover various levels of mathematics while stressing collaboration between students. Upper level materials are available, but most activities center on subject areas like general math, algebra (both pre-algebra and Algebra I), and geometry.
January 2015
In the math department, we continue to use CDT data and Study Island to prepare students for Keystone and PSSA testing in the spring. The math teachers have reorganized the iPeriod student groups. Mrs. LaBarron has the students needing remediation in her Algebra 1B course, Mr. Doud has students from Algebra 1A, and Dr. McCorkle has students that will be re-taking the Algebra 1 Keystone. Mrs. Woolgar is working with Math 7 students, and Mrs. Bailey is remediating Math 8 students. We are all using the data collected from CDT testing to plan and implement remediation activities relevant to the student’s greatest areas of need.
In the Math 7 classes students have been applying their prior knowledge of factors and multiples to simplifying algebraic expressions involving exponents. We will soon start studying proportions and ratios. In this unit, students will study scale models, blue prints, and many other applications.
In Algebra 1B, students are solving systems of equations. They are exploring real-world applications and learning how to write a system of equations in order to solve the problems. Next, we will be studying exponents and exponential functions. In this unit, students will learn about exponential growth and decay. For example, we will discuss compound interest and bacterial growth.
Calculus just finished a unit on applications of differentiation. The final lesson of the unit was on optimization. Students studied how to maximize the area of a pasture given a specific amount of fencing. They also maximized the volume of a cardboard shipping box and the profit for a business. They applied this knowledge, along with some creativity, to construct a gingerbread house of maximum volume. The only stipulation was that they could only use nine graham crackers in their construction. This project was a lot of fun and allowed the students to apply what they are learning in class.
As always, our goal is to provide students with skills that can be utilized to solve problems in their lives outside of school.
December 2014
Mathematics Department
Submitted by Mr. Doud (12/09/2014)
Algebra 1A students have begun working with probability and data analysis topics. Skills practiced include making and analyzing different types of graphs and simple and compound probability of events.
Algebra 1 students have started in to one of the “big ticket” topics for Keystone testing. They are studying linear equations. They are graphing lines and finding the slopes, x-intercepts, and y-intercepts.
PreCalculus students have been introduced to logarithms and logarithmic equations. Students applied several properties to solve these equations. Most recently, students have explored different regression equations to analyze data sets.
Pre-Algebra students are working on Statistics, Data Analysis, and Probability topics as well. Mr. Doud and Mrs. Bailey implemented a lesson using mid-level formative assessment from the Math Design Collaborative training that the math teachers attended in October at Seneca Highlands IU 9.
Math Enrichment 8 students have completed instruction in unit conversion and data analysis. They will be studying areas in geometry next.
November 2014
Between the regularly scheduled mathematics classes and the updated iPeriod, there is plenty going on in the Math Department. Let us start with IPeriod. Mr. Doud, Mrs. LaBarron, Mrs. Bailey, and Mrs. Woolgar are busy helping the Algebra students by providing extra practice to improve on identified areas of need. Dr. McCorkle and Ms. Gorrell have the seventh and eighth grade students for iPeriod. Their focus has been on PSSA test scores, in addition to tutoring of regular classroom materials. All groups are trying to meet a fairly tight deadline to improve as the first round of Keystone testing is approaching rapidly.
In the classroom, all math teachers are working feverishly to cover material to prepare students for the rest of the year and beyond. Dr. McCorkle’s Algebra II classes have entered “the Matrix” and will be focusing on using graphing calculators to solve matrices for the next few weeks. Matrices are used in Pre-Calculus, but are also used heavily in computer programming. Mrs. LaBarron has been taking the opportunity to vacation during class. Her use of Study Island has provided valuable supplemental material for her students in varying course subjects. Mr. Doud has started his students on the road to the “Keystone” state, by focusing Algebra students on a deeper understanding of concepts needed for Geometry and Algebra II, while providing instruction for the state tests.
October 2014
The Classroom Diagnostic Tool (CDT) baseline testing is complete. Students in algebra iPeriod have analyzed their CDT results. Now they are using this data to prioritize their areas of need to prepare for the Keystone testing in December. We are using the Study Island program to practice these concepts. Each day when students enter the classroom they pick up their Samsung Galaxy 2 tablets and log in to Study Island. Mrs. LaBarron then provides a mini lesson on a needed topic and students begin practicing the concept in Study Island. Once they have “earned a ribbon,” they begin working on other areas of need. At this time, Mrs. LaBarron and Mrs. Woolgar provide individualized support to students.
This school year is off to a great start! Math 7 students just finished a unit on integers and algebraic expressions. Next, we will begin working on ratios and proportional reasoning. The college in high school calculus class just started the differentiation unit. In this unit, they are learning how a derivative can be used to find rates of change. We will soon begin using Mathematica software to complete labs that will allow students to make connections and solve complex problems. Algebra 1B students just finished a review unit on graphing linear functions. They are now working on writing linear equations to solve real-world problems. As usual, the math department is working hard to prepare our students for PSSAs, Keystones, and future course work.
September 2014
Students have started their journey into this year’s courses. I will be teaching two new courses this year: Pre-Algebra 8 and Math Enrichment 8. Pre-Algebra 8 was reintroduced for a small group of 8th grade students. This class will be co-taught with Mrs. Bailey. We look forward to challenging the students to reach the goal of proficient or advanced on the 8th grade PSSA test. Math Enrichment 8, previously taught by Dr. McCorkle, moved two doors down the hallway to my room. This class will focus on preparing students for their PSSA test as well. Various materials and Study Island will be used to help students achieve. Mrs. Solis is assigned to this class for instructional help.
Fourteen students are currently enrolled in Pre-Calculus. These students can dual enroll with the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford course and earn 4 college credits for $70.
May 2014
With the Math PSSA test behind us, the 7th graders have begun preparing for Algebra 1 next year with a unit on writing and solving algebraic expressions and equations. We just received a classroom set of Samsung Galaxy 2 tablets. We are getting very excited to try out a few Algebra apps!
The Algebra 1A students are nearing the half-way point of their Algebra 1 journey. They will not be required to take the Algebra 1 Keystone until the conclusion of Algebra 1B in 2015. According to the Classroom Diagnostic Tools (CDT) test, four students are already projected to be proficient on the Algebra 1 Keystone. These students are Delena Howell, Alex Knauer, Alex Hand, and Levi Kio. They have been working especially hard this year. Several other students are projected to be proficient prior to the end of Algebra 1B.
The Math PLC has shifted its focus to planning and preparation for iPeriod. We discussed placement of students and activities that would best meet their needs. The 8th grade students and the Algebra 1 group, who are taking the Keystone this year, will be preparing for that. The 7th grade students and the Algebra 1A students are reviewing skills they have learned this year in preparation for final exams. With the end of the school year in sight, the math department is working hard to prepare our students for the courses they will be taking in the 2014-2015 school year.
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April News
The third marking period group of seventh graders in calculator use demonstrated an average increase of 25 percent in topics mastered using the Aleks.com enrichment program. This is an increase of about 5 percent over other classes of students who have taken
this course in the recent past. The third marking period group includes Lynn Bartas, Keisha Button, Tristan Byron, Holden Cowburn, Amanda Ford, AJ Hurlburt, and Ethan Russell. These students deserve recognition for
their extra hard work just before PSSA testing. Well done students!
Algebra I students are beginning to study systems of linearequations. Algebra 1A students recently finished a unit on probability and data analysis. Geometry students have studied properties on quadrilaterals and are now
focusing on similar figures.The math remediation professional learning community (PLC) held
its first meeting. The task given was to review student data to see if any students qualified to move out of remediation. The math and science
PLC continues to write course curriculum alignments and peer review them.
March News
The third nine weeks is half way done and the math department is gearing up for another round of Keystones for students who have taken Algebra I. Seventh and eighth grade students are also preparing for the PSSAs. The introduction of the new iPeriod is helping prepare students for these tests. This added period gives students the opportunity to work with content-specific teachers as they prepare to take these valuable tests. Using ALEKS and the CDT evaluation systems, the math department is able to monitor the growth and progress of students and lend aid to individuals in the areas in which their scores are not up to a “proficient” level.
Mr. Doud and Dr. McCorkle are continuing their use of ALEKS in Calculator Use (7th grade) and Math Enrichment (8th grade). This data is available to the entire department to help guide instruction related to the Common Core. Mr. Doud and Mrs. LaBarron are using the CDT to evaluate students in their Algebra courses. In preparation for PSSA testing, Mrs. LaBarron's 7th grade students just started a unit on Geometry and Measurement and her 8th grade students are completing a unit on Probability and Data Analysis. In Probability and Statistics, Dr. McCorkle is discussing Qualitative research methodologies and the students are conducting research studies on a topic of their choosing. These studies include a review of related literature and data collection in the form of interviews and observations. Discussion of confidentiality and validity has been stressed to keep participants 100% anonymous. These studies will cover a wide range of topics including but not limited to: athletics (in both high school and college), gender conflict (male vs. female), and the social drawbacks of technology.
February News
On January 21st, the math/science professional learning community (PLC) met to work on curriculum mapping. During this meeting, we discussed cross-curricular areas of need. For example, students struggle with metric and customary conversions in both math and science. Therefore, we plan to use a future PLC meeting to design units of instruction to better meet the needs of our students. These units will then be taught during the iPeriod. Overall, this time was very productive.
In the classroom, Math 7 has been reviewing and practicing operations with fractions and proportions. Algebra 1A students are beginning a unit on graphing linear equations and inequalities. These students will be graphing their algebra probe data in order to monitor their growth throughout the school year. All students in Math 7 and Algebra 1A just completed their first round of CDT tests. The data from this round will be used to place students into iPeriod groups based on their individual needs. Students in calculus recently finished a unit on applications of derivatives. The unit concluded with a project in which students used differentiation and optimization to maximize the volume of a gingerbread house using only one sleeve of graham crackers and frosting as the mortar. A photo of their finished products follows this article. This class is now beginning a unit on integration (finding area under a curve).
January News
Derivations from the Mathematics Department
On December 3, the Math/Science professional learning community (PLC) met to plan enrichment activities for December 4 and 5 and then December 10 and 11. The team reviewed data from our PSSA scores, Keystone scores, CDT tests, and ALEKS to develop projects, video instruction, direct instruction, and guided practice problems. Our students should be commended for the attention and hard work that they displayed during these scheduled times. Students taking the December Algebra Keystone Exam reported the review helped them with the tests on December 10th and December 11th. Special thanks should be given to Mrs. LaBarron for the extra work and preparation. Student project examples are included in the attached photos.
In the classroom, Math 7 has focused on topics of exponents, factors, multiples, scientific notation, ratios, and proportions. Algebra I students have graphed linear equations and inequalities. Geometry students have been learning properties of triangles and reviewing algebra topics. Algebra II students learned various methods to solve and graph quadratic equations. Precalculus students solved exponential and logarithmic equations and systems of linear equations using matrices. Applications of differentiation have been applied in calculus.
A course in probability and statistics will be reintroduced into the schedule beginning in the second semester. Dr. McCorkle will be teaching the course. When asked about the course, he said, “Prob and Stats will be a research-based course focusing on statistical analysis stemming from collected data. It will discuss both qualitative and quantitative research methodology and how to conduct research using both methods. Statistical analysis will be conducted to determine the correlation between data sets. Students will conduct actual research data on topics of their choosing.” Students heading to college in research-based fields are encouraged to take this course.
December News
The high school math department has a lot going on this month. With the first round of Algebra I Keystone exams set for early December, the department has been in overdrive preparing.
Mrs. LaBarron has been busy using ALEKS, an assessment and tutoring tool, to baseline her classes. From there, the improvement data can easily be monitored throughout the year leading to the second round of testing in the spring. Mr. Doud and Dr. McCorkle have been utilizing ALEKS in their calculator use (7th grade) and math enrichment (8th grade) courses respectively to complement students’ regular classroom instruction and learning. Calculator use is focused on the PSSA for 7th grade students. Math enrichment students will take the PSSA, and those taking Algebra I will also take the Keystone. ALEKS is able to accommodate all students by aligning to their specific mathematics needs. In addition, Mr. Doud is using a classroom diagnostic tool (CDT) to assess the students’ readiness to take the Keystones. With this shift in technology use, calculators have been regularly used in Algebra II, trigonometry, and calculus. As more graphing calculators become available, the math department will begin to use them in Algebra I and geometry. The math department has continued work on the high school math curriculum focusing on the Common Core standards and better alignment of the classroom content with these standards. Further study of the recent course changes is underway using ALEKS and the CDT data for future adjustments or changes to each course offered.
October/November News
The math department recently completed training to use the Classroom Diagnostic Tool (CDT). This is an online tool that will assess students according to the PSSA and Keystone standards and then provide teachers with a report about each student’s strengths and weaknesses. This information will help us plan remediation for students. The first CDT assessment will take place in November.
The teachers in the mathematics department have been using the Aleks software to assess and remediate seventh and eighth grade students during their nine week rotation. Each seventh and eighth grade student will complete one nine week rotation of math enrichment using the Aleks program. The seventh grade students who had math enrichment during marking period one started the year with an average baseline score of 14 percent. In Aleks, a baseline score of 15 percent shows that a student is ready to begin the course. Throughout the marking period, they gained an average of 24 percent, raising the average score at the end of the marking period to 38 percent. Like the baseline goal score of 15 percent, Aleks also says that a student is ready to move on to the next course when they reach 85 percent course mastery. To obtain this goal, students need to make an average of 17.5 percent growth each marking period. These students exceeded that goal!
The Math 7 inclusion class just competed in the Mini-Metric Olympics. Five different events were set up that required students to estimate and measure in metric units. The first three events were paper plate discus, straw javelin throwing, and cotton ball shot put. Students had to throw the object and estimate the distance of each throw before using a measuring tape to find the actual distance. The forth event was right-handed marble grab. Students grabbed a fistful of marbles, estimated their weight in grams, and then measured them using a digital scale. The final event was left-handed sponge squeeze. Students squeezed a soaking sponge into a separate container and then estimated how many milliliters of water they squeezed out. The student who had the closest estimate won the event.