Minutes+2010-2011

Friday, 9.3.10
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 * 1) Proper scheduling of students
 * Check with Jamie to see if all 11th graders have math
 * Check recommendations list from 09-10 for all placements
 * PM Vo-tech missing 11 minutes of class per day (M-F)
 * 1) Year end goal…based on student achievement?
 * Increase student scores on benchmark assessments
 * Increase use of proper vocabulary
 * 1) Study Island
 * 2) Benchmark
 * (list of kids on Study Island that may need to be removed)
 * Kids who were absent for Benchmark…make-up date?
 * 1) Preparation for PSSA using Study Island
 * Math 11 starting 9/7/10
 * Others start after 1st half of quarter 1
 * Incentives for upper level math kids?? Do study island until they get Advanced on Benchmark
 * 1) Vocabulary
 * Shared document
 * Word wall
 * Glossary
 * 1) Quiz/chapter; edmodo journaling; wordwall.com
 * 2) Dual enrollment
 * 3) Professional develop
 * 4) Concerns?

Friday, 9.10.10
incentive
 * 1) Google calendar-awesome
 * 2) Math Department wiki-updated
 * 3) Placement of students in math
 * 4)  Checked
 * 5) Benchmark results-
 * 6)  kids need to take time (can you set a time limit?)
 * 7)  This is a baseline score for us to use

Friday, 9.17.10

 * 1) Wiki work
 * 2) Practicalities of Completing the square
 * 3) Athletic Eligibility discussion (choose "leave blank" ...with reasonable amount of time to turn it in)
 * 4) No bells ringing end of 8th ...please fix
 * 5) Graphing Calculator redistribution discussion

Friday, 9.24.10

 * 1) Discussion about Study Island...when will we use it and who will be using it (11th grade students will begin getting assignments next week)
 * 2) Discussion about MMS problems and difficulties of creating and printing progress reports
 * 3) Discussion about Google calendars
 * 4) No bells at the end of 8th period...please fix

Friday, 10.8.10
Through a review of the validity of the StudyIsland benchmark data we have discovered the following: This information was generated by comparing the 3 instances the 11th grade students that completed the StudyIsland benchmark assessments during the 2009-2010 school year with their 11th grade PSSA results. Students that attained two instances of benchmark results not in alignment with their PSSA score were assigned a result of "loose correlation", and students that attained three instances of benchmark results not in alignment with their PSSA score were assigned a result of "no correlation". It has been hypothesized that the current process by which our students are being administered the benchmark data is promoting a disconnect between the assumed predictability of the StudyIsland benchmark assessments and the PSSA's.
 * 1) Out of 104 assessed students we found that 21 students had a very loose correlation between the StudyIsland benchmark data and each student's actual PSSA scores.
 * 2) Out of 104 assessed students we found that 28 students had nearly no correlation between the StudyIsland benchmark data and each student's actual PSSA scores.
 * 3) Out of 104 assessed students we found that 55 students had a very good correlation between the StudyIsland benchmark data and each student's actual PSSA scores.

Friday, 10.15.10
Students who were 'on the bubble' of passing the PSSA and in need of tutoring were discussed and then the list of designated students was sent to Mr. Jeffery.

Friday, 10.29.10
We scheduled ourselves for the tutoring dates as follows __Math Dates (Tuesdays)__ November 9, 16, 30 December 7, 14 January 4, 11, 18, 25 February 1, 8, 15, 22 March 1, 8
 * Cycling in the order Sokoloski, Mackrell, Graham for

We need to meet with administration regarding the idea of dropping Algebra A and Algebra B
 * 1) Students will succeed after having 2 years of Algebra.
 * 2) Algebra A and B will have to be taught back to back
 * 3) NCAA clearinghouse concept for only a few students (don't change everything based on a few students)
 * 4) Right now there is a high failure rate in Alg A or B and this is only 1/2 the Algebra 1 material in a year.
 * 5) Observe an Algebra A or B course to see what kids are or are not capable of.

Keystone Exam questions
 * 1) Are we doing away with Mid Term and Final Exams?
 * 2) Are we doing 1/3 of final grade based on Keystone?

Math Networking Session 2.25.2011
**REL Fraction Forum**
 * Next Math Networking April 1, 2011 - Free (9am-3pm)
 * Presenter: Skip Fennel (NCTM President)
 * Register at @http://rel.educ.psu.edu/
 * Research and best practices regarding the teaching of fractions in grades k-8.
 * Register soon b/c it's almost full.


 * Classroom Diagnostic Tool (CDT)**
 * Free (Grades 6-12, but populates info up to grade 3)
 * Not a benchmark assessment.
 * Its adaptive and analyzes strengths and weaknesses.
 * Training available if our school is interested. (a bit of download involved - IT dept)
 * The CDT is the same testing platform as the Keystone Exam.
 * Not to be used instead of progress monitoring (max of 5 reports)
 * Content can align to both Keystone and PSSA anchors.


 * NPCTM Spring Meeting**
 * April 28 at the St. Mary's Center 6pm-8pm.
 * Topic: Common Core Standards


 * PCTM 60th Annual Conference**
 * November 9-11, 2011
 * Penn Stater Conference Center
 * Possibly No Internet???
 * Registration and Speaker Proposals
 * www.pctm.org
 * Theme: Mathematics at the Crossroads of Change


 * NEIU Secondary Math Acadamy (Next year) -** goals: teaching math for understanding.
 * Year 1: Linear Relationships
 * Year 2: Lesson Planning Protocol


 * PCTM Partnership Programs** (4 sessions w/ Focus: Grades 3-8) Currently not free but they're looking for a grant to fund.
 * 1) Number Concepts
 * 2) Geometry & Measurement
 * 3) Algebra
 * 4) Data Analysis


 * Spring Math Networking Session**
 * Sometime in May


 * Common Core Standards**
 * Effective July 1, 2013.
 * Summer forum for planning transitions.
 * PSSA's will remain until Spring 2013 in Grades 3-8, after that assessment is __uncertain__.
 * PA standards are not aligned w/ Common Core so transition time needs to be provided 3-8
 * Now until June 2013 PSSA is law - July 2013 CCSS is law.
 * High school Common Core standards are mostly aligned State Standards, but not with Anchor standards.
 * 11th Grade PSSA - PDE as made request to remove for 2013.


 * Keystone Exams**
 * Graduation requirements affecting current 7th and 8th grade.
 * 6th grade and below - uncertain as to the # of Keystone Exams they will be required to take.
 * All students that take the Algebra I Keystone this year is "Grandfathered" in.
 * Options
 * AP Exams can trump all Keystone exams.
 * Locally developed assessment, but it needs to be validated (cost -districts pay 50%- and time -18 month process- is an issue)
 * At least 33% of final grade option.
 * BB = 0 points, B = 50-69 points, P = 70-89 points, AP = 90 - 100 points
 * Special Education
 * Stand alone option.


 * Questions**
 * How are we implementing the Keystone Exams? (paper/online)
 * Which set of high school standards are the Common Core best aligned with?
 * More policy needs to be developed at the school level.

Friday, 3.11.11
Discussed the 'new' courses that we are teaching next year to include College Algebra and Math Applications. PSSA discussion for next week. Mr. Nebzydoski: teaching assignments for 2011-2012, reduce field trips/assemblies prior to PSSA, can we still get compensated for tutoring, summer school for this year?

Friday, 4.29.11
· Discussed the Keystone Exam and course schedules for next year. · Requesting the preliminary class lists for next year’s courses. · We also discussed the CDT. Since Leeta (from the NEIU) will not be coming on the 6th we will try to look into the CDT and its potential uses in the future. ·