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:
- Teachers will pilot the materials from October 26 - November 20.
- Textbooks will stay here at school during the pilot--will not be sent home with students.
- Students may be sent home materials such as handouts from the new materials.
- Students will have online access to the textbook during the pilot.
- Homework will consist of basic math assignments of concepts from the materials.
- 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.
