improving success in developmental mathematics tom carson franklin classical school...
TRANSCRIPT
Overcoming the issues
1. Address student baggage.
Premise: We are usually capable of much more
than we realize or believe.
2. Equip for success.
3. Make connections.
•Why pick on math only? These questions apply to every subject…all learning.
•Consider the difference between job training and education.
•Fitness/Athletics offers an analogy.
Discuss the “challenge” questions.
Why do I have to take math?
When am I ever going to use math?
Addressing the Baggage
Failure and Success
Final
Attempt
In
Life
What is failure?
“I never failed once. I invented the light bulb. It was just a 2000 step process.”
-Thomas Edison
The eventual achievement of a goal.
Failure and Success
What is success?
Failure and Success
Adequate time – calculate your work and school commitment.
Positive Attitude – we can’t always choose our circumstances, but we can choose our behavior.
Commitment – binding yourself to a course of action.
Self-discipline – choosing to do what needs to be done - even when you don’t feel like it.
What do you need to succeed?
“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is to try just one more time.” -Thomas Edison
Strong students… Weak students…are relaxed, patient, and work carefully. are rushed, impatient, and hurry through work.
almost always arrive on time and leave the classroom only in an emergency.
often arrive late and often leave class to “take a break.”
Sit as close to the front as possible sit as far away from the front as possible
pay attention to instruction. ignore instruction, chit-chat, draw, fidget, etc.
use courteous and respectful language, encourage others, make positive comments, are cheerful and friendly
use disrespectful language, discourage others, make negative comments, are grumpy and unfriendly.Examples: “I hate this stuff” “Are we doing anything important today?” “Can we leave early?”
ask appropriate questions and answer instructor’s questions during class
avoid asking questions and rarely answer instructor’s question in class.
take lots of notes, have organized notebooks, seek out and use study strategies
take few notes, have disorganized notebooks, do not use study strategies
begin assignments promptly and manage time wisely, and almost always complete assignments on time.
procrastinate, manage time poorly, and often complete assignments late.
label assignments properly and show all work neatly. show little or no work and write sloppily.
read and work ahead. rarely read or work ahead.
contact instructors outside of class for help, and use additional resources such as study guides, solutions manuals, computer aids, videos, and tutorial services.
avoid contacting instructors outside of class, and rarely use additional resources available.
Equipping for Success
1. Learning styles
2. Study system
“Give a person a fish and they eat for a day, teach them to fish and they eat for a lifetime.”
Equipping for Success Learning Styles
Visual: pictures, charts, diagrams, arrows, connecting lines, color codes
Auditory: speech, music, jingles, poems, songs
Tactile: performance, movement, manipulatives, worksheets, seat work, board work
1. Notes
2. Homework
3. Study Materials
4. Graded Work
Organize the notebook into four sections.
“Excellence is a habit not an event.”-Aristotle
Equipping for Success Notebook
• Begin notes for each class on a new page (front and back for that day is okay).
• Use three colors: red for definitions, blue for rules or procedures, and pencil for all examples and other notes.
Notes
• Use pencil so that you can erase.
• Label with name, date, section title, and assignment.
• For each exercise, write the problem number, initial information, and show all solution steps neatly.
Homework
Why do I need to show work? Isn’t the correct answer enough? You really learn mathematics when you organize your thoughts and present
those thoughts clearly using mathematical language. Showing your work allows the instructor to verify that you are using correct
procedures to arrive at your answers.
What if we use a computer program like MathXL or MyMathlab? Getting your exercises from a program is no different than out of a book, so
write your solutions just as you would if working from the book. If you have difficulties that are unresolved by the program, you can show your
instructor your work. If you have a correct answer, but were unable to enter it correctly, your
instructor can verify your answer and then override the score.
Suppose you are given the following exercise.
For Exercises 1 – 15, simplify.
1. 52 + 3 4 – 7
Homework Simplifying Expressions or Solving Equations
Suppose you are given the following exercise.
For Exercises 1 and 2, solve.
1. Find the area of a circle with a diameter of 10 feet.
2. Two cars are traveling toward each other on the same highway. One car is traveling 65 mph and the other is traveling 60 mph. If the two cars are 20 miles apart, how long will it be until they meet?
Homework Application Exercises
Suppose you are given the following exercise.
For Exercises 1 and 2, graph the equation.
1. y = 2x – 3
2. y = –2x + 1
Homework Graphing Exercises
Find the shaded area in the figure shown.
8 ft.
6 ft. 3 ft.
4 ft.
12 ft.
Grading Homework
Grading Homework
Two scores are given:AccuracyQuality (Rhetoric)
Grading Homework
A: 2/2R: 2/2 4/4
Two scores are given:AccuracyQuality (Rhetoric)
Excellent!
Grading Homework
Although accurate, the quality of the presentation is lacking.
Grading Homework
Although accurate, the quality of the presentation is lacking.
A: 2/2R: 0/2 2/4
units?
Joe, these appear to be random calculations. Give detail so that the reader could reconstruct the original problem (draw picture, include formulas, etc.): A = ½ h (a + b) - bh A = ½(6)(12 + 8) – (4)(3) :
Label with full name, course, date, and assignment title
List every rule or procedure in the current chapter.
(Rules and procedures are in blue in your notes.)
Study Materials Study Sheet
If you are not provided a practice test, create one by listing each example from your notes.
Study Materials Practice Test
Write the definition, rule, or procedure used to solve each problem or group of similar problems on the practice test.
Study Materials Game Plan
Archive all graded tests and quizzes.
• Final exam questions are often taken from quizzes and tests.
• If you feel a grade is in error, you have a portfolio of all graded work.
Graded Work
Grading the Notebook
Currently, the notebook average is part of the homework average, which is 30% of the grade.
Thank you!