McGraw-Hill Math Pilot

Our team of 6-8 math teachers has been participating in math professional development since last February.  They have been working as a team to learn more about the Iowa Core Mathematics and to review best math practices.  As part of the professional development, the team is looking at new curriculum materials that are more closely aligned to the Iowa Core Mathematics, allowing for greater opportunity for students to think at higher levels.

Our math team of teachers is currently looking at new math materials for next year.  The 6-8 math teachers will participate in our second math pilot in which they will implement the math curriculum materials McGraw-Hill for a short time.  The purpose of the pilot is for our teachers to familiarize themselves with the variety of resources within the math series, to determine the curriculum materials’ impact on student learning, and to see how the students respond to the materials.

The math team has come up with a few guidelines during the implementation of the McGraw-Hill pilot:

1. Teachers will pilot the materials after Thanksgiving break up until Winter break and possibly into the first week in January.
2. Students will have access to the textbook online.
3. Students may be sent home materials such as workbooks/handouts from the new materials.
4. Homework will consist of basic math assignments of concepts from the materials.
5. Grades collected during this time will consist of work completion grades (students putting forth best effort on assigned tasks), certain assignments and assessments from new materials, and IXL assignments.

We are anxious to get the pilot underway with the hopes of introducing materials to the teachers and students that will increase the depth of learning for our students.

We ask students to do their best with the new materials as the materials may ask students to think about math in new ways.  

We appreciate your understanding and patience during this time.  If you have any questions, concerns or comments, contact me by email at cheiman@carrolltigers.org or by phone at 712-792-8020.    

Big Ideas Math Pilot

6-8 Parent/Guardian(s):

Our team of 6-8 math teachers has been participating in math professional development since last February. They have been working as a team to learn more about the Iowa Core Mathematics and to review best math practices.  As part of the professional development, the team is looking at new curriculum materials that are more closely aligned to the Iowa Core Mathematics, allowing for greater opportunity for students to think at higher levels.

The 6-8 math teachers will participate in a math pilot in which they will implement the math curriculum materials Big Ideas Math for a short time.  The purpose of the pilot is for our teachers to familiarize themselves with the variety of resources within the math series, to determine the curriculum materials’ impact on student learning, and to see how the students respond to the materials.

The math team has come up with a few guidelines during the implementation of the Big Ideas Math pilot:

1. Teachers will pilot the materials from October 26 - November 20.
2. Textbooks will stay here at school during the pilot--will not be sent home with students.
3. Students may be sent home materials such as handouts from the new materials.
4. Students will have online access to the textbook during the pilot.
5. Homework will consist of basic math assignments of concepts from the materials.
6. Grades collected during this time will consist of work completion grades (students putting forth best effort on assigned tasks), certain assignments and assessments from new materials, and IXL assignments.

We are anxious to get the pilot underway with the hopes of introducing materials to the teachers and students that will increase the depth of learning for our students.

We appreciate your understanding and patience during this time.  If you have any questions, concerns or comments, contact me by email at cheiman@carrolltigers.org or by phone at 712-792-8020.    

Infinite Campus App

Guardian/Parent(s):

Did you know you can keep up-to-date on your child's progress, track his/her attendance, view his/her account balance, and be notified when teachers enter grades or assignments from your smartphone? 

Download the Infinite Campus app, enter the District ID: XPLDCS and your username and password.

http://media.infinitecampus.com/public/html/mobile/

15-16 CMS Student Council Video

6th, 7th, and 8th Students:

 Please watch the video regarding information about this year's student council.  We will send reminders as the dates draw nearer.  Thanks.

 

Summer Activities

Parent(s):

Check out the website of the Iowa State University Extension Office in Carroll County for possible summer activities for your child.  The camps look like they have a lot of fun, engaging, and hands-on learning activities.

http://www.extension.iastate.edu/carroll/news/summer-camps-be-held-carroll-county-youth-grades-1-6

Math Curriculum @ CMS

The Carroll Middle School Math Curriculum Team (teachers from grades 6-8), made up of four core math teachers (Renee Friedrichsen, Renee Rowedder, Todd Tidgren, and Kaitlynn Kaufman) and three special education math teachers (Cinnamon Wulf, Jesse Strong, and Ashlee Pudenz), have met several times and will continue to meet this school year to address the math curriculum at CMS.

This work is part of CMS updating its curriculum cycle to address specific subject areas so that teachers have an opportunity to collaborate with co-workers to address resources and instruction, including looking at new math strategies to implement and digging deeper into the Iowa Core.  Over the next five years, each content area will be reviewed.

   

One of the content areas CMS is currently addressing is the content area of math.  Math has experienced some shifts, which have been addressed in the Iowa Core in the last several years.  These shifts include Focus, Coherence, and Rigor.  

1. Focus:  Rather than covering topics a mile-wide, inch deep, there is a focus to significantly narrow and deepen teaching; Focus on the major work of each grade
2. Coherence:  Build upon learning from grade to grade so students make connections from previous grades; link the major topics within grades
3. Rigor:  Emphasize conceptual understanding of key concepts; acquire procedural skills and fluency; flexibly apply knowledge in problem-solving contexts

How math is taught in today’s classrooms looks different from how it was taught five to ten years ago and beyond.  Many math classrooms have taken steps to include more effective questioning as to the “Why” behind the answer rather than “What” is the answer.  The process in finding an answer is just as important, and perhaps more important, as to coming up with the correct answer.  There is also more emphasis to connecting math to other math topics and content areas and not teaching math topics in isolation.  

Diane Royer, Heartland Area Education Agency Math Consultant, is assisting CMS in this process, providing professional development to the math team along the way.  

Areas of focus during the curriculum work:

1.  Address the Iowa Core

2.  Discuss the Standards for Mathematical Practices

3.  Learn and implement new math strategies

4.  Look at what we are teaching within each grade level and across grade levels

5.  Review new curriculum materials with the possibility of purchasing for the 2016-17 school year

The math team is in the early stages in the math curriculum review process as this work will continue.  Teachers will continue to meet next year, as well, on a monthly basis to work on math curriculum and instruction.  

This process will prove valuable as CMS continues to meet students’ math needs, provide more opportunity for students to think at high levels, and increase math student achievement.