Welcome To Team T

Welcome to the 2015-2016 school year! My name is Miss Hanes and I am excited to be your child’s math teacher this year.  This will be my 8^th year here at Central York Middle School.  I am looking forward to another great year!

Since students will be receiving an iPad this year, math class will go beyond the textbook.  Students will be using the CPM Making Connections: Foundations for Algebra, Course 2 book, their iPad, which will include a vast array of resources.  Students will be using Schoology and screencasting apps on a daily basis.

Math class this year may be different than in years past, because I have developed a “Flipped Classroom Environment”.
What does it mean to learn in a flipped classroom? The lecture is watched for homework and should be paused, rewound, re-watched and forwarded through as needed.  Students should also take notes and write down questions they have. Then, class time is spent doing what ordinarily may have been assigned as homework. Class time may also be spent doing exercises, projects, discussions, or other interactive activities that illustrate the concept.

What is the purpose you might ask?  Typically students leave class feeling confident that they understood what was taught, but when it comes time to do their homework they get frustrated and loose confidence. Flipping also allows the teacher to have more one-on-one time to help students and explain difficult concepts. If problems are difficult for a student to work through, the teacher is right there to help and explain. If students have questions about the video or online presentation, they can use class time to get questions answered. Recorded lectures work well for students who miss class because of illness, sports, and family vacations.

How can you (parents) get involved?  For families, the flipped lesson model provides 24/7 access to content delivered directly from the teacher. This helps parent’s support their child in a way that is consistent with the way the teacher is teaching it in school. Encourage your child to rewind and re-watch the video as needed. Encourage your learner to take notes on things that are unclear. Those questions can be answered during class time. If possible, watch the assigned videos with your child. Doing so will help you understand more about what (and how) your child is learning. Provide feedback to your child's teacher and school about how flipped learning is working for your child and your family. Your insights will be invaluable as one way to evaluate how this new model is working within the school.

So, how exactly will it work? Your son or daughter will take a pre-test at the beginning of each unit and then based on the pre-test your students and I will build a chapter outline based on what they showed they mastered and need more instruction in.  They will then work on the skills they need, and only move onto the next when they have shown mastery.

Class Expectations:

• Daily Procedures: As students enter the classroom they will be expected to get out their notes from the night before lesson and the questions they wrote.
• Electronic Devices: iPads are permitted to be used for school purposes only, phones and other devices should not be out during class time.
• Collaboration: You can and will work in groups throughout the year, just be RESPECTFUL.

• What should you do when you are absent? You should continue to work on your chapter outline, check schoology and email me if you are not sure what to do.You should always have something to work on.
• Grading: Grades will be based on screencasting check-ins, quizzes, unit tests, homework, classwork, projects and study island.Grades will be calculated as weighted averages, see the breakdown below. Grades will be posted online, as they are updated.It is your responsibility to check your grade weekly online, to know what your math grade is and to know if you owe any work.

Weighted Average Grade Breakdown:

60%- Unit Tests

35%- Quizzes/Classwork /Projects/Study Island

5%-Homework

The standard scale will be used:

90% and up = A

80% - 89%  = B

70% - 79%  = C

65% - 69%  = D

Recommended Supplies: 3-ring binder (3 inch), pencils, pen, highlighter, a spiral notebook, headphones, and a scientific calculator (recommend TI-30X)

Furthermore, I encourage you to take a few minutes to do the following:

• Send me an email to introduce yourself, your child, and/or to ask questions

• Establish a routine with your child for checking planners and reviewing assignments

• Designate a place in your home for your child to place important school papers that need to be signed and returned

• Check out the class web page daily for important announcements

From all this, I hope that you can see that I take my job seriously.  I look forward to getting to know your child and to meet you personally during our back-to-school open house, parent visitation day, or parent-teacher conferences.  I am confident that this year will be a memorable one.  Thank you for sharing your child with me this year!
 
Sincerely,
Miss Hanes

ehanes@cysd.k12.pa.us
846-6789 ext:1581

HOMEWORK

Students should have their chapter outlines and be checking schoology when they are out sick. If you are not sure what to do then email me at: ehanes@cysd.k12.pa.us

Study Island

www.studyisland.com

Study Island is a great tool for the students to use in the classroom and at home.  We will be working on topics at least three times a month throughtout the school year.  Study Island is completely Web based; students can use it at school or home.  Study Island's lessons and practice tests are based solely on the Assessment Anchors and are specifically designed to prepare students for the PSSA. Study Island covers each and every Anchor that will be tested on the PSSA.  Unlike workbooks, Study Island enables students to interact with thousands of questions, then automatically and instantly grades and records all student work. The question style on Study Island is similar to the style on the actual PSSA. This allows students to get comfortable with the testing style; therefore, test-taking mistakes will be reduced and scores will improve. Every student learns at a different pace. Study Island allows the student to learn at their own pace. Teachers have access to a private page where they can view usage statistics and results for each student and the school as a whole. Real-time reports (including graphs) help teachers measure progress and identify deficiencies as they relate to the specific Anchor. Teachers and administrators can use these statistics to see how their students compare to other students in Pennsylvania.