September 4, 2015
Dear Algebra Student and Parent/Guardian,
As math teachers here at Black Hills High School, we are excited to be working with your student during the 2015-2016 school year. We wanted to take a moment to share with you some of the major changes that are occurring in math classrooms across the country. Our state is one of 43 that have adopted Common Core State Standards which is a nationwide movement designed to better prepare students for both college and the work force. As we work to implement the shift required by these new standards, students will be expected to work as mathematicians: they will be asked to make sense of complex problems, justify their solutions, communicate those ideas to others, make generalizations about problems, and critique the generalizations of both themselves and their classmates.
These changes require a shift in the way materials are presented. Students will be challenged to learn new concepts, ideas, and vocabulary through explorations and student-centered discussions rather than through teacher-centered lectures. We will ask students to persevere through challenging problems and to use errors as a jumping off point for better and deeper understanding of the material covered. We understand that students will find these new expectations uncomfortable. Research shows that their effort through these challenges will help them reach their full potential and become life-long problem solvers. Students will be actively involved in class discussions, the presentation of their ideas, and making connections to previous learning. These are things that cannot be recreated if a student is absent.
With all of these new and challenging changes in our classrooms, we would ask parents to step beside us in encouraging your child to be a life-long learner and problem solver. If your student is struggling with finding ways to make sense of a problem, here are some strategies that you can use with them: ask them what they know or what they see; ask them to write down their ideas. Encourage them not to give up on the problem, but to maybe put it down for a few minutes and come back to it. Encourage them to actively participate in class and ask questions. Make sure that they are present in school. Try to schedule appointments outside of the school day or at least their math class - if at all possible. Lastly, please take a moment to discuss this letter with your child and send them with any questions that you may have.
Thank You,
Kelly McNeal and the Black Hills Math Department
Parent______Student______