Parents

To see this page in different languages, use Google Translate.

It is incredibly important for parents to feel involved in their child's education. Here are some great resources about how to get more involved:

From Edutopia:

A Parent's Guide to 21st Century Learning (Also available in Spanish!)

Home-to-School Connections Guide

Parent Leadership in Education: Resource Roundup

En Español - Guías Gratuitas de Clase

Terry Heick at Edutopia also has a list of 19 meaningful questions you should ask your teacher. I've pasted the list below along with my answers in green: (in progress)

• What academic standards do you use, and what do I need to know about them?

For my math classes I am using the New York State Common Core Learning Standards which are based on the Common Core State Standards adopted by 45 states. In Math these standards are designed for greater focus and coherence in education. We also are working to prepare students for the International Baccalaureate program.

• How will you respond if or when my child struggles in class?

I strive to create a safe-space where all students feel comfortable asking questions if there is a concept they do not understand. I monitor student learning daily through classwork and homework and have frequent quizzes. The goal is to catch any struggles early so that we don't get to December and realize everyone is lost.

Students are encouraged to come to after-school tutoring on Mondays in my room. In addition, they should feel free to ask for additional tutoring time during the week, either during lunch or after school.

• What are the most important and complex (content-related) ideas my child needs to understand by the end of the year?

The focus of the Algebra/Geometry course is to give students a strong foundation in Algebra and Geometry so that they will be ready for Algebra 2 sophomore year. Many students have not yet mastered all of the skills from Algebra 1, so they take Algebra for the first semester with a focus on problem solving. They then take an accelerated Geometry class in order to prepare for the Regents exams. Both of these courses are accelerated and as a result to not cover all content that is on the Regents, so it's important that your child understands that they will definitely pass if they study and work hard, but there will be things on the exams they are unfamiliar with.

The focus of Algebra II is on functions and how different kinds of functions (quadratic, exponential, logarithmic, and more) are all related. We will also work on Trigonometry and Statistics later in the year.

• Do you focus on strengths or weaknesses?

I differentiate instruction to focus on the strengths and weaknesses of all of my students. Everyone in my class should feel challenged, but not defeated, so I try to tailor activities in such a way that students will be able to approach the material, but will not be bored. I also spend time daily reviewing old skills that students need to maintain as well as targeting class-wide weaknesses. For example, I spend a lot of time reviewing addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of negative numbers as this is an area that many students have a great deal of difficulty in.

• How are creativity and innovative thinking used on a daily basis in your classroom?

My teaching has a great deal of projects that require students to determine a method on their own. Rather than give the students a set method to follow, I encourage them to think outside the box and create their own way of approaching and solving problems. They are then asked to explain their method to me and to their classmates. Novel ideas are put on posters and hung around the room for other students to see and take inspiration from.

• How is critical thinking used on a daily basis in your classroom?

We focus on a lot of student-led learning, so students are working in small groups to approach problems and draw conclusions. Many activities are designed so that students first notice and wonder about what is happening, and then try to find ways to explain the problem mathematically.

• How are assessments designed to promote learning rather than simple measurement?

After every assessment, I will examine the results and evaluate how well students have learned the material. Afterward, I will find ways to address any gaps or lagging in skills, either through one-on-one tutoring during office hours, or through additional lessons for the whole class. Remediation will depend on how many students struggled on assessments, and to what degree.

• What can I do to support literacy in my home?

Encourage reading! We are teaching a great deal of literacy skills in our Literacy block at Global Commerce, but these skills need to be practiced, and the best way to practice is through reading. NPR has a list of reader-selected 100 Best-Ever Teen novels which will appeal to anyone's interest.

• What kinds of questions do you suggest that I ask my children on a daily basis about your class?

* What did you learn today?

* What homework do you have? (If they say "none" then something is wrong)

* When is your next project due? What is your plan to finish it on time?

* When is your next test? How confident do you feel about the material?

• How exactly is learning personalized in your classroom? In the school?

While the assessments and lessons are designed for the whole class, we as teachers are aware of the strengths and struggles of all of our students, and we will work tirelessly to address both on a daily basis. This can range from asking a student about a particular test they were worried about to asking a student to come to office hours for further tutoring.

• How do you measure academic progress?

Not every student will get an A in my class, and I don't think judging progress by a grade is effective. It's important that students try to reflect regularly about what they are doing in class and what they have learned. I think progress is shown when a student who has struggled with a particular skill for weeks suddenly gets it. I also think progress is shown in less tangible ways, through students making smarter decisions.

• What are the most common instructional or literacy strategies you will use this year?

We will be using a great deal of student-led learning, so that students can work with each other to develop problem-solving and organizational skills. Students will be given many problems and asked to work through them on their own to find solutions. In an ideal world, the teacher would merely be an observer and facilitator, helping students that get stuck and encouraging groups to keep working.

• What learning models do you use (e.g., project-based learning, mobile learning, game-based learning, etc.), and what do you see as the primary benefits of that approach?

I use primarily project-based learning with some direct instruction to help facilitate the process. I think this encourages students to be innovative and to feel comfortable tackling new problems. I think it also helps to teach students valuable teamwork skills that they will use throughout their lives.

• What are the best school or district resources for students and/or families that no one uses?

Parents should always email the teacher if they have a question about learning. Also being a member of the PTA helps families to be informed about what is happening in the school.

• Is there technology you'd recommend that can help support my child in self-directed learning?

I encourage students to use the TI-84 plus or the TI-83 plus, but any graphing calculator should work. It's important to make sure, however, that the calculator can be used on tests. Some calculators, such as the TI-Inspire or TI-89, are not permitted on things like the SAT.

A number of mobile learning resources can be found at Edutopia. These include Smart Phone apps as well as discussions on the best way to use these materials.

• What are the most common barriers you see to academic progress in your classroom?

In my class, students that want to learn and want to be challenged will always find assistance. But this means that students should be dedicated learners. The most common barriers I see are ambivalence and a low threshold for frustration. Either students don't make an effort because they don't see value in the work, or make an effort but give up too quickly. It is important to remind students over and over again that they need to try.

• How is education changing?

There is a much better understanding of student needs than there was before, helping all students to succeed more often. In addition, there is a greater understanding that all subjects are interconnected in different ways, and teachers are working to incorporate interdisciplinary activities into the classroom.

• How do you see the role of the teacher in the learning process?

As I mentioned above, a teacher should be a cheerleader and a facilitator. While it is sometimes necessary, I believe that lecture-style learning should be balanced with inquiry-style learning. My biggest goal is to help encourage students to keep learning and keep trying and to feel good about themselves, while still challenging them to change and grow.

• What am I not asking but should be?

* What is one thing my child is doing well?

* How do you see my child maturing outside of math class?