PG Meeting 12/18/13

We are still on track to test on Standard 5.1 this week.  We looked over the test and were satisfied with it.

We took another look at the final exam.  Some problems need to be cut, as they are not covered 1st semester this year.  Also, #1.2, 1.6, 4.8, 4.9, & 4.14 could be modified in how they are presented.  Also, it was suggested that the numbering be changed back to something more traditional, though section headings could be beneficial.

We decided to give them some aid to the students.  We will decide whether to let them fill out a note card or give them a pre-made sheet similar to unit 4.

PG Meeting 12/11/13

Many of us have been splitting up our RtI referrals over 2 weeks.  If we are going to do that, we should not put an M in the new referral column until the week they start.  We may still hand them the slip to week before, though.

We decided to attempt to assess Standard 5.1 before winter break.  Standard 5.2 will be the first standard for semester 2.  There is some enrichment material for 5.1 that can be used after winter break, before semester 1 review.

The rest of our time was spent breaking down last year's final exams (1st & 2nd semester) to see which questions apply to each first semester standard for this year.  John will compile just these questions, and we will reevaluate the final exam at a later meeting.

PG Meeting 12/4/13

We collaborated on an assessment for Standard 4.3: Coordinate Geometry.  John Hauenstein will finish the assessment and post it in the shared drive.  John presented a flowchart that could be used to assist the students on this standard. We decided to let the students use it on the assessment.  All teachers will be ready to assess by the end of next week, so we will determine who is assigned on 12/18.

We decided to take a look at the final exam during future meetings.

The rest of the time was spent determining which students would be recommended to RtI for Standards 4.1-4.2.

PG Meeting 11/20/13

We discussed the changes to the intervention instrument.  Not much has changed from our end.

We took a close look at the unit 4 assessment.  Multiple changes were made.  It was also decided that it might be a good idea to start the assessment on Thursday and finish it on Friday, due to the length of the assessment.

We discussed retention for those passing the re-takes.  It was decided that students should have to wait a day after review to re-take a standard.  We feel this will show whether they are retaining what they learn.

We will look at the final exam in coming meetings.

We also decided to cover the first standard from unit 5 in semester 1 and start 2nd semester with the second standard from unit 5.

PG 11/13/13 meeting

We revised the standards for unit 4.  Standard 4.1 will be identifying properties of polygons and classifying special quadrilaterals.  Standard 4.2 will be using properties of special quadrilaterals to find side lengths and angle measures.  Standard 4.3 will be applying properties of special quadrilaterals to coordinate geometry.  Standards 4.1 & 4.2 will be assessed before Thanksgiving break, and 4.3 will be assessed after.

We took a look at the attendance issue for RtI.  We stressed assigning students for whom RtI will be beneficial.  We also decided to change our grade replacement policy.  The test grade will still be replaced completely if the student has all of their homework in.  Now, the grade will be replaced with an average of their original grade and the retake if they do not have their homework in.  We feel this will give them incentive to attend RtI and work hard.

We took a look at the website: http://illuminations.nctm.org/.  Their was a lesson on properties of quadrilaterals, with a starter of drawing perpendicular diagonals and describing the quadrilateral they form.

11/6/13 Meeting

Results of the Unit 3 assessment were discussed.  A sufficient amount of students showed proficiency in standards 3.1 & 3.2.  We discussed how to improve standard 3.3.  Most teachers had already re-taught and re-tested on the standard and only about half had shown proficiency.  We decided to add extra problems to the assessment in order to scaffold for students who struggle with vocabulary. 

We touched base on where we are in Unit 4.  There is more freedom in this unit for teachers to do projects and such, so we will not all stay exactly on the same timeline, but will aim for assessing before Thanksgiving break.

The rest of the time was spent deciding who to recommend for RtI. 

October 30th Meeting

John shared with us the concept of a "launch problem" from a book he has been reading.  It suggests that we start a lesson with a question or problem for the students to delve into.  There is one example of having students try to draw 2 different triangles of given side lengths that had questions that would lead to SSS triangle congruence.  Common mistakes and errors are also used to lead to further understanding.

Our timeline was discussed.  All will have tested by the end of the week.  We will recommend students next Wednesday for Unit 3 interventions.

We discussed the issue of attendance in the intervention room.  The question was raised of whether it could be handled through the attendance office, just like for classes.

A discussion about whether total replacement of scores after a re-take is beneficial to the students.  Are we taking the responsibility away from the student and putting it all on the teacher?  We will continue to examine this as the year goes on.  

John shared an application that he used with Unit 3 Day 5 material.  It allows students to work with a real-life example of angles and parallel lines.  It also gives them a chance to do a 15-20-minute problem on the material.

We looked at the standards for the rest of the year.  This helped clarified what was being covered in Unit 4. (There were worksheets on angles of polygons in the shared folder, but this material will actually be taught in a standard in Unit 8.)  We also decided to allow students to use a property chart throughout Unit 4, including on tests and quizzes.

October 23rd Meeting

The team began the morning by discussing further student recommendations to RTI. There are less than twenty students in the RTI Geometry room needing to complete standards for unit 2. The team discussed problems with students who are recommended for RTI services but do not show up or simply refuse to go. Potential solutions were discussed and this conversation will be continued. The Unit 3 test has a tentative administration date of next Thursday and then RTI recommendations will be the following Wednesday.

Plane Geometry PLT Meeting 8/28/13-10/23/13

8/28/13

The group decided on a tentative unit 1 test date of 9/17.
The subject of breaking tests into standards was discussed again.  Standards for unit 1 were discussed last week and the common assessment is being created with them in mind.  In future meetings, we will need to decide what standards will be assessed in each unit.  We set a goal of having this done for each unit in semester by the end of next week's meeting.
A data goal of 80% of the standards showing 70% proficiency was proposed.
Team-teaching schedules were discussed.
Use of Chromebooks was discussed.  We will look into online resources that can be used as a substitute for a text book.  Also, we will decide on Apps in the Chrome Store that we should have our students download.
The rest of our time was used to continue the work we began last year restructuring the curriculum.

9/4/13

The group reviewed the common assessment that Heidi Leech created for unit 1.  We then discussed how the assessment will be scored.
Also, we decided that students will be allowed to retake specific standards, with the original grade being replaced.
In addition, we decided that students will not be allowed to keep their tests, but can go over them with the teacher or RTI specialist.
An instructional coach came to the meeting and a discussion about the new support facilitation system ensued.
We then decided to break each unit of the first semester into standards.  John Hauenstein will compile this list.
Once again, we agreed on a data goal of 80% of the standards for the semester showing 70% proficiency.

9/11/13

Based on informal assessments it was determined that the unit 1 test date be moved from 9/17 or 9/18 to Friday 9/20.
A discussion ensued on whom to refer to RTI.
We decided that an email to parents would be a good way to inform them that their student has been referred to RTI.  This would allow for quick notice and documentation.
RTI liaison John Hauenstein informed the group that a re-take for each standard for unit 1 has been written and posted on the shared drive.  Other RTI resources were discussed.  Also, we were informed that re-takes will be taken with the math tutor, not in the RTI room.  Thus teachers need to get re-take tests to B-201B.
We looked ahead to unit 2, focusing on a mini-golf activity that reinforces angles and hands-on measurement.

9/18/13

The RTI room now contains folders containing practice for each standard in unit 1.
It was agreed that students must complete homework in order to retake standards.
The common assessment is still scheduled for Friday.
JH explained to the group how data from the common assessment will be collected.  The spreadsheet created has students listed alphabetically (not by teacher).  Data for each unit 1 standard must be input by Tuesday.  If the percentage is not met, we may not be able to move on as a PLT.   The spreadsheet is located in the shared drive -> math -> power standards -> results -> 2013-2014.  No more than 20% of all PG students can be recommended for RTI.
Referral process:
https://docs.google.com/a/maine207.org/document/d/1iofuNsUAeOi6OXTV4N348xz7XghavsaCehVs3i0Ib5c/edit

https://docs.google.com/a/maine207.org/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0ArB78yw6PQuydHVGLVZHdVNyT1lTQ0c5YTVmR3NDUUE#gid=0

The possibility of standard assessments (one standard), rather than unit tests (multiple standards), was proposed.  All seemed to see value in this.  It will be proposed to our DC.

9/25/13

The Algebra 2 team proposed of sharing their 2nd data with us: an increase in the frequency of having students write problems for other students to solve.  All were agreement to share this goal.

The rest of our time was spent analyzing data and determining which students will be assigned to the intervention room.

10/2/13

We discussed or current timelines.  Most are assessing on Standard 2.1 on Friday and re-assessing on the unit test.

A mini-golf activity will used to reinforce concept from unit 2.  Heidi Leech discussed her struggles with the activity.  Tom Casanova gave further explanation of the activity since he has used it before.

The RTI coordinator took an opportunity to ask teachers about students assigned to the intervention room.

10/9/13

We discussed timelines again.  All should be assessing Standards 2.1 & 2.2 by next Wednesday.

Discussed the types of students that are benefiting most from RtI.  Adding students who were not initially placed in RtI for Unit 1 standards was also discussed.

We looked over the material to be covered during Unit 3.  Some fine tuning needs to be done with the guided notes before they are ready to be copied, but the material covered is satisfactory.

10/16/13

We looked at results from the unit 2 assessment.  Both standards had a high percentage of students of meeting proficiency.  It was deemed that re-teaching as a PLT was not necessary.

It was discussed that students should be recommended to RtI in 2 groups.  Students should not need more than a couple of days for these standards.  So half will be recommended this week and the other half next week.  This will give the students more individual attention.

The rest of the time was spent determining who should be sent to RtI.

10/23/2013

The team began the morning by discussing further student recommendations to RTI.  There are less than twenty students in the RTI Geometry room needing to complete standards for unit 2.  The team discussed problems with students who are recommended for RTI services but do not show up or simply refuse to go.  Potential solutions were discussed and this conversation will be continued.  The Unit 3 test has a tentative administration date of next Thursday and then RTI recommendations will be the following Wednesday.