Honors Algebra 1
A rigorous algebra class preparing students for high school geometry or integrated Math I Honors or Math II Honors.
Overview of Algebra 1
NOTE to PCA Families: Students do NOT have to follow the prescribed PCA algebra outline if the course they are taking is from an A-G approved textbook (it is). You may need to point out this section of the PCA Algebra curriculum outline instructions to your HST.
“SUGGESTED ORDER OF COURSE UNITS BY SEMESTER: This is a year-long course. ● Semester 1 - Units 1 - 4 ● Semester 2 - Units 5 - 8 with summative assessment and End of Course Reflection Units do not have to be completed in order, but they do build upon each other in skills and knowledge.”
You may need to remind your PCA HST of this fact and if needed contact the curriculum director. PCA likes to insist that its students take only their algebra course or follow their outline exactly, but their own policy states that units to do not have to be completed in order. Be ready to advocate for your student, or switch to Dimensions Charter School, which is much friendlier toward and supportive of students on advanced math tracks. DCS readily supports middle schoolers taking algebra and has many HST/EFs who are comfortable reviewing high school math work samples. DCS students have no problem simply submitting work samples and tests for full credit.
Nearly 60% of Algebra will be a review from our rigorous Honors Pre-Algebra + Math 8 course.
Therefore, for these review concepts we will take this approach:
Review
Quick Quiz
Homework only if needed
For material students mastered last year, we’ll quickly review it, then they’ll take a quick no-grade assessment to see if they still have mastery of those concepts. If so, they skip the majority of the HW for that material and we move on to the next concept. If not, I’ll help them re-learn the concepts and they’ll do the week’s HW to refresh their memory and/or deepen their understanding of the material, then re-take the assessment.
40% New Material
For the remaining 40% of material that is new, we will preview with games and occasional videos, learn together in class with direct modeling of sample problems, practice with homework, then take quizzes and chapter tests.
Demonstrating Mastery
Students may use their quick assessments as well as chapter tests as work samples proving mastery to their charter schools as needed. See drop down menu for clarification about PCA. See more on that below.
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Since Algebra 1 is a high school class, in order for it to be listed as an elective on a student’s master agreement in middle school, students must demonstrate mastery of all the course material. Students in our Farm School Honors Algebra 1 class have quizzes and chapter tests which demonstrate mastery for all the CA state standards for Algebra 1, in addition to all their rigorous homework.
Keeping track of what to submit: In addition to sending home a monthly traditional grade printout, I will give students a week-by-week syllabus which lists all the concepts we are covering. This syllabus helps families track a student’s concept mastery and what they’ve submitted to their charter school.
NOTE: NOTE to PCA Families: Students do NOT have to follow the prescribed PCA algebra outline if the course they are taking is from an A-G approved textbook (it is). You may need to point out this section of the PCA Algebra curriculum outline instructions to your HST.
“SUGGESTED ORDER OF COURSE UNITS BY SEMESTER: This is a year-long course. ● Semester 1 - Units 1 - 4 ● Semester 2 - Units 5 - 8 with summative assessment and End of Course Reflection Units do not have to be completed in order, but they do build upon each other in skills and knowledge.”
You may need to remind your PCA HST of this fact and if needed contact the curriculum director. PCA likes to insist that its students take only their algebra course or follow their outline exactly, but their own policy states that units to do not have to be completed in order. Be ready to advocate for your student, or switch to Dimensions Charter School, which is much friendlier toward and supportive of students on advanced math tracks. DCS readily supports middle schoolers taking algebra and has many HST/EFs who are comfortable reviewing high school math work samples. DCS students have no problem simply submitting work samples and tests for full credit.
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Students need to have completed a pre-algebra class or a rigorous Math 7 common core class. Math 8 is highly recommended.
Students of any age are welcome to take the class as long as they have
completed the prerequisites,
are mature enough to complete the weekly homework
have the writing fluency to take notes in class
In August before class starts, students have the option of doing pre-algebra review problems to refresh their math memories prior to the start of class in at the end of August. Many students also enjoy using the app Kahoots Algebra by DragonBox to review and deepen their equation solving skills.
More detailed info on prerequisites on concepts covered in algebra here.
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A week’s worth of homework is assigned at once, typically about 40 problems, much less for review chapters and more for brand new material.
Time to complete homework varies by student but well-prepared students should anticipate spending about three hours per week on math homework in total. Students can test out of material they already know.
Homework is assigned out of Prentice Hall Algebra 1 textbook.
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Students who complete all the homework, including the bonus SQUARE homework will be ready for Honors Geometry or Honors Integrated Math II.
Students who choose to do the basic level (not the additional SQUARE homework) will be ready for Geometry (possibly honors) or Integrated Math I (possibly honors.)
Previous students in this course have gone on to be extremely successful in Honors Geometry and Honors Integrated Math II courses.
How is Math Taught at Farm School?
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Warm up puzzles reviewing challenging homework problems as a group
Math games & direct instruction to work on foundational concepts: modeling with tiles, note taking, classwork problems
Brief recess
Quick quiz to enhance recall and see if students need to do HW problems on material or can move on.
Discussion and practice of smart studying techniques
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Students build expressions using x, y, x², y², manipulatives and base-ten blocks called algebra tiles.
This hands-on and visual-geometric foundation enables students to make the leap from concrete to abstract thinking which is at the heart of algebra thus facilitating a deeper conceptual understanding rather than simply a rote memorization of algorithms.
Students learn to factor quadratic expressions using blocks, simplify complicated looking expressions, even multiply and divide polynomials.
After modeling problems, we then apply these skills to traditional pencil and paper problems. Student comprehension increases significantly when students can model problems with algebra tiles first.
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Games make learning fun!
Some math concepts need time to sink in so we often play math games to introduce new concepts.
Games help students become familiar with math vocabulary and to lay a foundation for more complicated problems. Then when we delve into the hard topics they feel familiar and students have the tools to handle them.
We also use games to review old material, pique curiosity, and for the sheer joy of solving a good math puzzle.
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Review Problems
Students do review problems with most homework sets to help them remember what they’ve already learned.
Class time to practice tricky problems
After I introduce a new concept, students have time to practice those types of problems. Student can also volunteer to show their peers how they approached a problem. This helps solidify their understanding as they develop the vocabulary (and confidence) to teach concepts!
Curated Video Library
I have a curated library of online videos for at home reinforcement covering most topics. Students may watch demonstrations of how to solve similar problems once they get home if they need more reinforcement or they need to watch a slightly different explanation of how to tackle a problem.
Parents students aren’t stuck sifting through dozens of mediocre or partially relevant videos while looking for a good one! I’ve already found the best videos pertaining to our homework sets to save time.
Weekly Homework
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Homework is assigned once per week out of our textbook.
Students commit to work on about 50 homework problems a week, over 3 to 4 days throughout the week. Procrastination, i.e. doing all the HW on one day will result in frustration and less than optimal learning.
Students can test out of HW if it’s review material and they already know how to do it! For brand new material, we might have more than 40 problems that week.
HW is typically from Prentice Hall Mathematics Algebra 1 2004 edition, ISBN 0133659461. I have copies for students to borrow.
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Most homework assignments have two levels. A basic level and advanced level.
How does that work?
Every student does the basic homework problems (unless they tested out of them.) Additionally, I offer challenge problems called SQUARE OR PENTAGON PROBLEMS for students who want to try their hand at more difficult problems.
Students get one bonus point in the homework category for tackling these bonus problems.
Grading
Students have ample work samples, including tests and homeworks, to show charter school liasons mastery of high school algebra standards. Grades are weighted by category as follows and grade print-outs are available monthly.
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Tests and Quizzes a
Tests are usually 100 points.
Quizzes are usually 10 points.
Typically we have one test per chapter with shorter low-points quizzes in between.
Research shows that low stakes quizzes helps student recall information better than simply re-reading it. Quizzes also help students figure out what they need to restudy and tell the teach what needs to revisited.
Students will learn how to take different types of math tests: closed book, open book, multiple choice, extended response, some with partial credit for work shown, while others, are simply right or wrong with no partial credit.
On some tests, students submit test corrections. It is in the figuring out one’s errors that the most learning happens!
Most tests are take-home tests so we can use our class time for direct instruction, working lots of problems, and review games.
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We are learning math AND learning how to be excellent math students.
I will check student’s notebooks and binders occasionally to help them stay orgazed.
Students have time in class to practice concepts they are learning. They’ll get completion credit for working diligently on their classwork.
We learn how to keep a table of contents, store notes, homework and tests. This vital organizational skill sets them up for success. I provide time in class for students to stay organized.
As a parent of students with executive functioning challenges and a middle school/HS teacher since 1996, I understand both the challenges of staying organized for students with ADHD and the value of learning coping strategies so one CAN stay organized.
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Students who diligently do the HW master the material. It’s that simple.
Students will self-assess their own homework. I provide answers to all problems so they can check their work!
Students will keep track of their own homework completion on a HW Tracker Form.
Required Supplies
Textbook: Prentice Hall Mathematics 2004 edition
I have copies of this textbook for students to borrow.
If you student is particularly hard on textbooks or loses things easily, you may want to buy your own copy. They are readily available online for $15-30.
Homework is assigned out of this textbook.
Three-ring binder with a pocket and four tabs labelled as follows:
Handouts
Tests/quizzes
Pocket is for ready-to-turn-in work
Paper: lined and graph
Spiral Notebook to keep all HW (plus in-class notes, IMPS - important math principles, bingo boards)
Lined paper & graph paper
Calculator that handles exponents and grouping symbols Casio fx-300ESPLS2 or TI-30xIIS are good models for under $15. Or for an additional $10 student may want to purchase a used TI-83, 84 or 85. This is the calculator they’ll use in the rest of their math classes.
Good pencils & erasers - HW must be done in pencil.
Colored pens or pencils for annotating our notes and correcting our work.
Protractor, drawing compass, & ruler
Recommended App: Kahoots Algebra by DragonBox (formerly DragonBox 5). This is a fun way to practice solving equations of increasing complexity for x. It’s a game format and very well done.