ServingGiftedStudents

Im a Tool
1. State your name
2. Proudly and boldly proclaim

Im a tool
3. Describe your purpose as a tool
4. Describe methods in which people use you
5. Get other people to guess what tool you are

Tools
Purpose
Method of Use
Practice Develops Mastery

Mastery Produces Growth

Purpose
Math is the language by which
we study and establish
relationships between us and
the universe around us.

Method of Use
Verbal
Numerical
Algebraic
Graphical

Verbal
If you can't explain it simply, you don't
understand it well enough.
Albert Einstein

If you dont understand it well enough any

simple explanation wont be simple.

SB

Understanding Statements (Verbal)

Major Concepts and Sub-concepts
These are the written statements of truth, the core to the
meaning(s) of the lesson(s) or unit. These are what connect
the parts of a subject to the students life and to other
subjects.
It is through the understanding component of instruction that
we teach our students to truly grasp the point of the lesson
or the experience.
Understandings are purposeful. They focus on the key ideas
that require students to understand information and make
connections while evaluating the relationships that exist
within the understandings.

Numerical

Tables
Maps
Can be substituted for variables or unknowns
Can be used to determine patterns
Can be misleading
Patterns may not be established correctly
Placement of numbers is crucial

Algebraic
All we know is still infinitely less than all that
remains unknown.
William Harvey

How many different ways can we use an x, or other

symbols?
Variable vs unknown.
Do students understand the equals sign?

Graphical
A picture is worth a thousand words.
Unknown

Graphs
Drawings
Any visual representation of data
Calculator

Practice Develops Mastery

He who loves practice without purpose is like
the sailor who boards ship without a rudder
and compass and never knows where he may
cast.
Leonardo da Vinci

In theory there is no difference between

theory and practice. In Practice there is.
Yogi Berra

An ounce of practice is worth more than tons

of preaching.
Mahatma Gandhi

Verbal

Numerical

Graphical

Algebraic

Name
Unit

Verbal

Numerical

Graphical

Algebraic

Mastery Produces Growth

Whos Responsible for Learning?

Teacher or Student
How do teachers know if students are
learning?
How do students know if they are learning?

Grading
100 point scale
A
B
C
D
F

90 100
80 90
75 80
70 75
0 70

AP Grading
5
4

Proficient
work
on all objectives and advanced
Extremely well
qualified
work in some objectives
Proficient
work on all course objectives
Well
qualified

Proficient
Qualified work on most important objectives but
not in all objectives
work on half the objectives and missing
2 Proficient
Possibly qualified
some important objectives
1 No
recommendation
Proficient
work on few objectives if any
3

5 Point Scale
1
No clue.
Does few
things right
but cant
explain them.
Hard time
making any
connections.

2
Feels
comfortable
with few
concepts.
More gaps.

3
Feels
comfortable
with most
concepts.
Few gaps.

4
Feels
comfortable
with all
concepts.
Can explain
why they got
the wrong
answers.
Makes more
mistakes than
would like.

5
Masters all
concepts.
If there are
any mistakes
they are
minimal.

Using the 5 Point Scale

Tests
Corrected but not scored and returned
Students must self assess and score 1-5
Expectation is for 1-3s to get extra help

Gives students a chance to prove to me what

they have learned

In Class Quick Assessment

Hands up 1-5

Goals for 5 Point Scale

More specific to subject, units, and
concepts
Used for homework to help students
verbalize their strengths and weaknesses