1. November 15, 2012 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM @WMS Auditorium
Kennedy Middle School
Wilson Middle School
Family Math Night
Adrienne
November 15, 2012
7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
@WMS Auditorium

2. Evening Overview Overview of Evening
NPS Middle School Mathematics Programming
Transition to Common Core
Grade Level Expectations and Content
Math Placement Process
Options for classes/levels and High School
Grade Level Investigation Experiences
Q & A
Adrienne

3. Middle School Mathematics
A comprehensive approach to:
learn the concepts behind mathematical operations
build mathematical understanding, number fact fluency, and algebraic thinking
incorporate all eight Standards for Mathematical Practice to support comprehensive mathematics learning
incorporate traditional skill building
build a platform for success in high school coursework in algebra and geometry
Adrienne
Provide students with a solid foundation of middle school math skills for future high school and college study

4. Standards for Mathematical Practice
Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.
Reason abstractly and quantitatively.
Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others.
Model with mathematics.
Use appropriate tools strategically.
Attend to precision.
Look for and make use of structure.
Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning.
Mark

5. Grade 5 Overview Operations and Algebraic Thinking
Write and interpret numerical expressions.
Analyze patterns and relationships.
Number and Operations in Base Ten
Understand the place value system.
Perform operations with multi-digit whole numbers and with decimals to hundredths.
Number and Operations – Fractions
Use equivalent fractions as a strategy to add and subtract fractions.
Apply and extend previous understandings of multiplication and division to multiply and divide fractions.
Mark

6. Grade 5 Overview continued
Measurement and Data
Convert like measurement units within a given measurement system.
Represent and interpret data.
Geometric measurement: understand concepts of volume and relate volume to multiplication and to addition.
Geometry
Graph points on the coordinate plane to solve real-world and mathematical problems.
Classify two-dimensional figures into categories based on their properties.
Mark

7. Grade 6 Overview Ratios and Proportional Relationships
Understand ratio concepts and use ratio reasoning to solve problems.
The Number System
Apply and extend previous understandings of multiplication and division to divide fractions by fractions.
Multiply and divide multi-digit numbers and find common factors and multiples.
Apply and extend previous understandings of numbers to the system of rational numbers.
Adrienne

8. Grade 6 Overview continued
Expressions and Equations
Apply and extend previous understandings of arithmetic to algebraic expressions.
Reason about and solve one-variable equations and inequalities.
Represent and analyze quantitative relationships between dependent and independent variables.
Geometry
Solve real-world and mathematical problems involving area, surface area, and volume.
Statistics and Probability
Develop understanding of statistical variability.
Summarize and describe distributions.
Adrienne

9. Grade 7 Overview Ratios and Proportional Relationships
Analyze proportional relationships and use them to solve real-world and mathematical problems.
The Number System
Apply and extend previous understandings of operations with fractions to add, subtract, multiply, and divide rational numbers.
Expressions and Equations
Use properties of operations to generate equivalent expressions.
Solve real-life and mathematical problems using numerical and algebraic expressions and equations.
Mark

10. Grade 7 Overview continued
Geometry
Draw, construct and describe geometrical figures and describe the relationships between them.
Solve real-life and mathematical problems involving angle measure, area, surface area, and volume.
Statistics and Probability
Use random sampling to draw inferences about a population.
Draw informal comparative inferences about two populations.
Investigate chance processes and develop, use, and evaluate probability models.
Mark

11. Grade 8 Overview The Number System Expressions and Equations Functions
Know that there are numbers that are not rational, and approximate them by rational numbers.
Expressions and Equations
Work with radicals and integer exponents.
Understand the connections between proportional relationships, lines, and linear equations.
Analyze and solve linear equations and pairs of simultaneous linear equations.
Functions
Define, evaluate, and compare functions.
Use functions to model relationships between quantities.
Adrienne

12. Grade 8 Overview continued
Geometry
Understand congruence and similarity using physical models, transparencies, or geometry software.
Understand and apply the Pythagorean Theorem.
Solve real-world and mathematical problems involving volume of cylinders, cones and spheres.
Statistics and Probability
Investigate patterns of association in bivariate data.
Adrienne

13. Accelerated Mathematics In Middle School
New “compacted” pathways for Grade 7, Grade 8, and the Model Algebra I course could be compressed into an accelerated pathway for students in grades 7 and 8, allowing students to enter the Model Geometry course in grade 9.
Selection and placement of students into accelerated opportunities must be done carefully in order to ensure success.
The compacted pathway is advanced work at an accelerated pace. Students placed into the these courses will be challenged by significantly more rigorous standards in a compressed time frame as they will master all the grade 7, grade 8 and algebra standards within 2 years instead of 3 years.
The Department of Education recommends that placement decisions be made based upon common assessments to be reviewed by a team of stakeholders that includes teachers and instructional leadership.
Natick has a comprehensive placement process in place:
Iowa Algebra Readiness, MCAS, Teacher-created assessments, Teacher recommendation
Adrienne
The “compacted” pathways can be found in the document Common Core State Standards for Mathematics Appendix A: Designing High School Mathematics Courses Based on the Common Core State Standards, at

14. Common Core Recommendations for Middle School Acceleration
Compacted courses should include the same Common Core State Standards as the non-compacted courses.
Decisions to accelerate students into the Common Core State Standards for high school mathematics before ninth grade should not be rushed.
Decisions to accelerate students into high school mathematics before ninth grade should be based on solid evidence of student learning.
Adrienne
The “compacted” pathways can be found in the document Common Core State Standards for Mathematics Appendix A: Designing High School Mathematics Courses Based on the Common Core State Standards, at
Common Core State Standards for Mathematics Appendix A

15. Accelerated 7th Grade Overview
Rational Numbers and Exponents
Apply and extend previous understandings of operations with fractions to add, subtract, multiply, and divide rational numbers.
Know that there are numbers that are not rational, and approximate them by rational numbers.
Work with radicals and integer exponents.
Proportionality and Linear Relationships
Analyze proportional relationships and use them to solve real-world and mathematical problems.
Use properties of operations to generate equivalent expressions.
Solve real-life and mathematical problems using numerical and algebraic expressions and equations.
Understand the connection between proportional relationships, lines, and linear equations.
Analyze and solve linear equations and pairs of simultaneous linear equations.
Mark

16. Accelerated 7th Grade Overview continued
Introduction to Sampling Inference
Use random sampling to draw inferences about a population.
Draw informal comparative inferences about two populations.
Investigate chance processes and develop, use, and evaluate probability models.
Creating, Comparing, and Analyzing Geometric Figures
Draw, construct and describe geometrical figures and describe the relationships between them.
Solve real-life and mathematical problems involving angle measure, area, surface area, and volume.
Understand congruence and similarity using physical models, transparencies, or geometry software.
Solve real-world and mathematical problems involving volume of cylinders, cones and spheres.
Mark

17. 8th Grade Algebra I Overview
Relationships Between Quantities and Reasoning with Equations
Reason quantitatively and use units to solve problems.
Interpret the structure of expressions.
Create equations that describe numbers or relationships.
Understand solving equations as a process of reasoning and explain the reasoning.
Solve equations and inequalities in one variable.
Linear and Exponential Relationships
Extend the properties of exponents to rational exponents.
Analyze and solve linear equations and pairs of simultaneous linear equations.
Solve systems of equations.
Represent and solve equations and inequalities graphically.
Define, evaluate, and compare functions.
Understand the concept of a function and use function notation.
Use functions to model relationships between quantities.
Interpret functions that arise in applications in terms of a context.
Analyze functions using different representations.
Build a function that models a relationship between two quantities.
Build new functions from existing functions.
Construct and compare linear, quadratic, and exponential models and solve problems.
Interpret expressions for functions in terms of the situation they model.
Mark

18. 8th Grade Algebra I Overview continued.
Descriptive Statistics
Summarize, represent, and interpret data on a single count or measurement variable.
Investigate patterns of association in bivariate data.
Summarize, represent, and interpret data on two categorical and quantitative variables.
Interpret linear models.
Expressions and Equations
Interpret the structure of expressions.
Write expressions in equivalent forms to solve problems.
Perform arithmetic operations on polynomials.
Create equations that describe numbers or relationships.
Solve equations and inequalities in one variable.
Solve systems of equations.
Quadratics, Functions and Modeling
Use properties of rational and irrational numbers.
Understand and apply the Pythagorean theorem.
Interpret functions that arise in applications in terms of context.
Analyze functions using different representations.
Build a function that models a relationship between two quantities.
Build new functions from existing functions.
Construct and compare linear, quadratic and exponential models and solve problems.
Mark

19. Compacting in Middle School/Acceleration
Grade 6
Grade 7 + Part of Grade 8
Part of Grade 8 + Algebra I
Geometry
Algebra II
Precalc
Calculus
Adrienne 
Acceleration Point

20. Grades 7, 8, and 9
Grade 7 Mathematics
Grade 8 Mathematics
(Honors or College Prep)
Algebra I
High School
Accelerated 7th Grade Mathematics
8th Grade
Geometry
Adrienne
7 Accelerated is 7th grade and approx 2/3 of 8th grade material
8 Accelerated is the remainder of grade 8 material and all of Algebra I
7 Standard class will reassess kids in the fall for possible acceleration, either moving to accelerated class or accelerating within standard class by unit of study
???Grades 7 and 8 teachers will work together to develop an assessment for the end of grade 7 to determine possible move from Standard to 8 Accelerated???
Also note, some kids may struggle in Accelerated 7 and opt to take Standard 8 instead of continuing the accelerated path (Algebra) in grade 8

21. The Process
Data is collected throughout the year and shared with parents
Data is analyzed and compared to placement criteria
Recommendations are made for the next year’s placement and shared with parents
Conversations between school and parents
Option to override school’s recommendation*
*Forms due first week in June because class sections are created based on the number of eligible students (changes yearly)
Mark

22. Portfolio of Assessment
Many opportunities to demonstrate skill/knowledge
Variety of assessments to give complete picture of learner’s skill/knowledge
Nationally-normed
State
Locally created
Skill assessments
Writing tasks
Inquiry tasks
Computation tasks
Readiness tasks
Adrienne
(basic skills)

23. Placement Assessment Information
6th to 7th Grade
5th Grade MCAS
Scantron Performance Series
(Nationally Norm Referenced, Aligned to the MA Standards)
6th Mid-Year Exam
Nationally Norm Referenced Algebra Readiness test
Teacher Recommendation
Grades from Term 1 & 2
7th to 8th Grade
6th Grade MCAS
7th Mid-Year Exam
Nationally Norm Referenced Algebra Readiness test
Teacher Recommendation
Grades from Term 1 & 2
Adrienne

24. Threshold Scores MCAS: (both grades) (90%)
Criteria for placement remains consistent
MCAS: (both grades) (90%)
MidYear: (both grades) (90%)
Scantron: (grade 6 to 7) (90%)
Iowa:
Grade 6 to 7: (85%)
Grade 7 to 8: (90%)
Mark

25. Date of Administration
Dates of Assessments
Assessment
Date of Administration
MCAS (all grades)
May 2012
6th Grade –Scantron Nationally Norm Referenced Assessment
October 2012
April 2013
Mid-year Tests (all grades)
January 2013
Nationally Norm Referenced Algebra Assessment – 7th Grade
Nationally Norm Referenced Algebra Assessment – 6th Grade
May 2013
Mark

26. Websites
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (explanation of acceleration in middle school)
Illustrative Mathematics (sample tasks aligned to CCSS)
Khan Academy (reinforcement, extra practice)