large view Don't Let Pre-Algebra Drive You Nuts

     PLEASE GET A BOOK COVER for the NEW math book issued weeks ago.  Any damage will be easily seen.  Remember, each student is financially responsible for the book.  SO FAR I HAVE SEEN FEW BOOKS COVERED.  MOST LIKELY, A STUDENT WILL NOT TAKE ON THE RESPONSIBILITY TO GET IT COVERED.  SO PARENTS, YOU WILL HAVE TO TAKE THE INITIATIVE TO GET YOUR STUDENT ONE.

     With the end of 2nd quarter, it is important to note if a grade is lower than a B-.  Please read below about the possible consequences of having a grade lower than this.  If the grade is lower than a B-, and the student is a 7th grader, you may want to consider going into the Tutorial Pre-algebra class.

     We are approaching the end of 3rd quarter.  Currently, we are primarily testing on percents, the Pythagorean Theorem, and simplifying.  However, since we are approaching the end of chapter 7, standards from this unit are now appearing on homework and will show up on tests beginning on March 18th.  This chapter is the door opening onto algebra.  It stresses upon a student's understanding of graphing linear equations, interpreting graphs, having a conceptual idea about the slope of a graphed line, and calculating the slope of a line.

     Data, statistics, and probability will be the next standards to be approached.  These standards and problems can be seen in chapter 11 of the pre-algebra book.

     Early in the 3rd quarter, all pre-algebra students in the district took the District's Benchmark 2 evaluation.  This is a key measuring device indicating whether a student is progressing  enough in the standards to indicate that algebra would be a good choice for him/her next year.  Students in my two classes have quite well.  The total results are shown below:

                               Proficient     Basic     BelowBasic     FarBelowBasic

District:                       32%          48%        19%                1%

Pryor's Tutorial:            27%         60%          13%              0%
Pryor's 1-period            52%         48%           0%                0%

Pryor's Average            43%          52%          5%                0%

I hope I am providing your students with a quality and intensive math experience.

Another district benchmark test is scheduled for March 24th and 25th.  The results from these will be shown on a student's grade about a week after we return from Spring break.  I cannot emphasize enough the importance of these benchmark grades and the overall grades earned for each quarter.  THERE WILL BE NO SUMMER SCHOOL OFFERED THIS YEAR.  Therefore, there will be no Pre-Algebra Academy offered.  A student with marginal grades (less than B-) will be recommended to repeat pre-algebra in 8th grade.  From my experience, the district will place such students in algebra only if that student tests proficient on the State math test being given in May.  We do not get these results back until well into summer.



NEW STUFF:

You can link to past homework sheets and our current sheet at the bottom of this page.  If you lose your sheet you can come here and make a new copy.

Access the book and MANY resources by doing the following:

Log into:   http://my.hrw.com

Enter the unique Username provided to each student from my classes ( I asked them to write this down in their binder reminder).

The password is:   prealgebra


Summary of My Classes:

I teach exclusively pre-algebra classes.  Pre-Algebra is the stepping stone into higher mathematics.  Much of the standards of this course will appear on the High School Exit Exam for math.  This may be the most important and relevant math class taken in the student's life. 

My one-period class consists of both 7th and 8th graders.  The students come from all the teams, for math is not team oriented here at Pasteur.  In addition, for my first and third period, I instruct another pre-algebra class which is connected to an associated tutorial.  This is for students who are provided additional opportunities to gain knowledge of previous standards as well as integrating in the curriculum the current standards.  Please note, I am part time this year and my classes run the first three periods of the school day only.


Each week, the pre-algebra students are given a weekly homework sheet.  In my classes, this is passed out on Wednesday and is due the following Wednesday.  HOWEVER, during some weeks, parts of this homework MAY BE DUE BEFORE THE FOLLOWING WEDNESDAY.  This most likely will happen in the beginning part of the year.  The questions on these sheets are problems that have been repeated numerous times in class and (as the year goes on) on numerous past weekly homework sheets, and even on past tests.  On the following THURSDAY, a weekly homework test is given.  The type of problems that appeared on the homework sheet are on the test.  There are no surprises.  These tests are a substantial part of a student's grade and clearly indicate if the student is becoming proficient with the standards.  They are a huge indicator showing me if the student is ready to move on to algebra.  Any grade below a B- is, by itself, of mild noteworthiness.  However, a pattern of such grades indicates troubles are mounting with the knowledge of the standards for that student.

IF A STUDENT IS  STRUGGLING, HERE ARE SOME SUGGESTIONS:

FIRST and FOREMOST:  The entire book is on-line.  But more importantly to you as the parent of a  student AND the student himself, is that at this site each section of the text has a teaching video.  There is a teacher who shows the concept and demonstrates using several examples.  Going beyond this, there are additional problems for students to do with an explanation of each.  You can't do any better than this for service to you at home.  Consider it a free tutor.   See above to read how to log into this site.


Other approaches to getting the standard:

1)  A student's team generally offers a study hall ON WEDNESDAY AFTER SCHOOL.  For additional help, a student may attend this.  Though I am part time and will not have a study hall, ANY math teacher can provide help, especially the one assigned to the team your student is on. 
2)  As the year moves ahead,  CASA ROBLES PROVIDES US WITH A LIST OF THEIR STUDENTS WHO WILL TUTOR AT THE PRE-ALGEBRA LEVEL FOR A SMALL FEE (PERHAPS $10/HR.or less).
3)  So much math is online these days.  Googling a subject, like "Pythagorean Theorem" will generate numerous sites that many times have short videos demonstrating the idea.
4)  Every student in our school is either currently taking this course OR took it last year.  Those currently taking the class are all about the same place in the book.  Therefore, there are nearly 700 students who could be of help.

Look often at your student's grades on-line through our District's site.  We are no longer attaching grades via our own websites here at Pasteur.  Please note, as of the time of writing this, the District has not provided us or the parents the instructions of how to access these grades.  I guess, though, that info will be coming out shortly.

HOW IMPORTANT ARE THE QUARTERLY GRADES:

For those students who are 7th graders, it is extremely important that they keep their quarterly grades at B- or above.  Grades below this indicate that the student is having LARGE difficulties with the pre-algebra standards.

Those students who are not reaching standard will most likely be re-enrolled in pre-algebra when in 8th grade.  In the past, there has been a summer school class offered to those folks who are working below standard.  This class is titled "the pre-algebra academy."  It is for those who are very motivated and NEAR to being proficient. IT IS NOT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE GOTTEN GRADES OF D OR F.  In the past, it ran for about four hours a day during the entire summer school term.  The student who enrolls for this would not be taking any other class during summer school.

Please note, that because of funding, summer school courses may not be offered.  However, if it is offered, the following situations would determine what recommendations mean:

Those students who are very far behind will not be offered this Academy.  It would be mandatory for these students to repeat pre-algebra.

For those students who are behind slightly (C+ and C range) it would be a "requirement" to attend the Academy only if they want to move on to algebra.  If they pass the courses's final exam, they would be enrolled in algebra as an eighth grader.  If they did not get a high enough score, they would repeat pre-algebra.  PLEASE NOTE, that "required" to attend the Academy does not mean a student has to enroll.  It means that they are required to go and pass if they want to go onto algebra in 8th grade. If they are not interested in going on to algebra as an eighth grader, they would not be required to attend.

There are students who are on the fence, so to say.  They have been getting in the B- range.  These folks will find algebra tough.  In these cases, we will put in a suggestion that it would be highly recommended that these folks attend the academy.  It is not mandatory, but it sure would help them.  They will go on to algebra even if they do not attend.

I hope this helps explain things a bit.

My email address is Lpryor@sanjuan.edu
I respond much more quickly when the email is used to contact me rather than by phone.

My phone: 791-8075  ext 156

A team conference can be arranged by contacting the team leader of the team that your son/daughter is a member of.

Pre-Algebra Sheet #1 (pdf file - 52kb)

Pre-Alg hmwk #3 (pdf file - 94kb)

Pre-alg hmwk #2 (pdf file - 122kb)

Hmwk Test #1 (pdf file - 47kb)

Hmwk #4 (pdf file - 50kb)

Homework sheet #5 (pdf file - 47kb)
Pre-algebra Hmwk sheet #5

Hmwk #6 (pdf file - 51kb)

Homework #7 (pdf file - 58kb)

Homework #8 (pdf file - 55kb)

Homework #9 (pdf file - 56kb)

Homework #10 (pdf file - 56kb)

Homework #11 (pdf file - 56kb)

Homework #12 (pdf file - 62kb)

Homework #13 (pdf file - 60kb)

Homework #14 (pdf file - 59kb)

Hmwk#15 (pdf file - 62kb)

Homework #16 (pdf file - 63kb)

Homework 17 (pdf file - 62kb)

Homework 18 (pdf file - 65kb)

Homework #19 (pdf file - 58kb)

Homework #20 (pdf file - 60kb)

Homework #21 (pdf file - 62kb)

Homework #22 (pdf file - 63kb)

Homework #23 (pdf file - 61kb)

Homework #24 (pdf file - 55kb)

Homework #25 (pdf file - 56kb)

Homework #26 (pdf file - 57kb)

Homework #27 (pdf file - 52kb)

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