Hello, Parents, and Guardians,
Please "quiz" your child on the vocabulary from the Alg. book. The "Key Words" are found at the beginning of each chapter (we are just starting Ch.3) as well as at the beginning of each section in the chapter. I cannot stress enough the importance of learning the "lingo", but I am finding the students are not learning it, even when I announce that we will have a "pop quiz" the next day on the vocabulary. If a student does not learn the terms (vocab.) then I may as well be speaking Russian! It's just like a foreign language which you must learn in order to understand the instruction given in class. Often a student will ask me to explain something again, but when I do, he doesn't understand what I said because he does not know the terminolgy. This is critical to learning Algebra, and subsequent maths.
Here are some specific things to look for at home:
1) Class Notes. They should be labeled (for example 2.5 Multiplying Real Numbers) and dated, and should include numerous examples.
2) Classwork (CW). They should have 10-30 classwork problems worked out. For credit all work must be shown. This should also be dated.
3) Homework (HW). I alternate between assigning workbook (wkbk) pages (usually there are 10-15 problems on these pages) and odd problems in the book. When working problems in the book, they are to check all problems in the back of the book, and make any needed corrections. This way they know how they are doing, and know whether or not they are "getting" it. No credit is given if all work is not shown. This should also be dated. Please ask you child to explain to you what the lesson is about, how to do the problems. I am finding many students are just putting numbers down on the paper to "look like" they have done the HW, when in fact they have not, or, they are simply copying the answers form the back of the book. If your child cannot give you a reasonable explanation for how he got his answer, he needs to go back and study his notes, the book, the examples until he has a better understanding and can make an honest attempt at each problem. Then any wrong problems can most likely be corrected. This is critical to the learning process!
Please email me through the school email if you have any questions or concerns. Also, you are always welcome to visit my class at anytime, even unannounced. Just be sure to check in at the front office and get a visitor pass. Hope you will come!
Again, thank you for all you do at home to ensure you child's success!
~Mrs. Lawson
