Del Webb Middle School Open House 2014 Mrs. Albright & Mrs. McInerney Pre-Algebra

1. Del Webb Middle SchoolOpen House 2014Mrs. Albright &Mrs. McInerneyPre-Algebra

2. Mrs. Diane Albright • Starting my 14th year teaching with CCSD 7th year teaching at Del Webb. • Masters Degree in Education Lesley University, 2005. • Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education University of Nevada-Las Vegas, 2000.

3. Mrs. Shannon McInerney • I graduated from UNLV with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Master’s Degree in Special Education and am currently a doctoral student in the college of Education and Clinical Studies. • This is my fifth year co-teaching math at Del Webb. Both of my children attended Del Webb. • I am a teacher who has high expectations, but will give 100% effort to ensure your child has the tools, support and guidance necessary to achieve their goals.

4. Our Teaching Style • We use a Socratic teaching style. Students’ first response to this style of teaching is often: • -    Why is the teacher always answering a question with another question? • -    Why is the teacher asking “Why” all the time? • -    Why is the teacher pausing before taking answers? • -    Why is the teacher writing up all the answers, even the wrong ones? • -    Why can’t the teacher just solve the problem and write the correct answer on the board • so we can move on? • Socratic Teaching • “The oldest and still the most powerful teaching tactic for fostering critical thinking is Socratic teaching. In Socratic teaching we focus on giving students questions, not answers. We model an inquiring, probing mind by continually probing into the subject with questions.” • Socratic teaching supports student learning by providing: • Shared goals and objectives • Shared questions and problems • Shared information and data • Shared modes of interpreting or judging the information • Shared specialized concepts and ideas • Shared key assumptions • Shared point of view

5. To ensure your child’s success: • Students must ATTEMPT all homework. If they leave any blanks it will be an incomplete and they will have to complete the Alternate assignment. • Students must have a colored pen to grade homework with in class daily. Homework is their study guide for quizzes and test reviews. • Students must have a 3-ring notebook. • Ask students to see their work each day to ensure completeness. • Help students study for tests by checking their answers on Test Reviews. The answers will be emailed home to you the night before the test. • Please do your part to make sure your child attends school and is prepared every day.

6. Grading Policy • Grading: The number of points available may vary from term to term. Points will be earned from the following scale: Approximately • Unit Tests 50% of grade • Quizzes25% of grade • Homework 10% of grade • Classwork10% of grade • Notes 5% of grade Grades will be assigned according to district guidelines: A at least 90% of total points B at least 80% of total points C at least 70% of total points D at least 60% of total points F less than 60% of total points *Quiz Retakes will be encouraged if your student does poorly on a quiz. Students must fix their original quiz then retake. **Unit Tests may not be retaken.

7. Homework Procedures:Incomplete or Missing • 1. Alternate assignments have been created for students that received an incomplete or missing on original homework. These ALTERNATES can be found on the Pre-Algebra page of the Del Webb website. • 2. Students must grade their alternates with a colored pen provided and turned in to receive credit. • 3. All ALTERNATES must be turned in prior to the Unit Test.

8. To Prepare for a Test: TEST REVIEW : Before each Unit Test students will be given a Test Review to complete. It will be graded, and students will be required to complete Test Review Corrections for each problem they miss. This process allows students to analyze their errors before they take the test. The Corrections MUST be done before the Unit Test can be taken.

9. Extra Help • The 8th grade math department has created a schedule to help students before and after school. Before school hours are from 8:15 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Students must get a Corridor Pass from their teacher the day before in order to enter the halls before school. • After school hours from 3:25 p.m. – 4:25 p.m. Late buses are provided for students who are zoned for bus service. • Extra Help Schedule is subject to change due to teachers’ availability.

10. Other Help . . . • Text or email a friend • Ask a family member • Visit the Del Webb Homepage Click on Math (on the left) Click Pre-Algebra for notes Khan Academy for tutorial videos • Homework Hotline 799-5111 Monday through Thursday 3:30–5:30 p.m. • Textbook • www.learnzillion.com for tutorial videos

11. Contacting the Teacher . . . • Phone: 799-1305. Calls will be forwarded to voice mail during instructional hours. • E-mail: mrsalbright@interact.ccsd.net snmcinerney@interact.ccsd.net • You can expect a reply within 24 hours. • This presentation will be available on Mrs. Albright’s web site found through the Del Webb Homepage, Faculty & Staff, 8th Grade Teachers, find Mrs. Albright’s photo, and click on the link that says, “Click here to visit Mrs. Albright’s website.” Thank you for being here this evening!