12/20/24

Winter Break is here!  Lots of smiles and laughter this week.  Such a fun time to be around Woodlawn!

Upcoming Dates:

12/21 - 1/5 - No School - Winter Break

1/6 - Classes Resume

1/10 - Ski Trip Alpine Valley

1/14 - Early Release - Students dismissed at 1:30 PM

1/20 - No School

Quicklinks

Click here for the Woodlawn PTO December Blog

District Virtual Backpack: https://www.kcsd96.org/about/virtual-backpack

Woodlawn Virtual Backpack: https://www.kcsd96.org/w/virtual-backpack

Click here for the Woodlawn Daily Announcements

Ski Club Trip to Alpine Valley

Interested in hitting the slopes on skis or a snowboard? Join Ski Club!  Our first trip is coming up January 10th.  Click here for Ski Club information!  Reach out to Ms. Gordon for questions at [email protected].

Winter Weather Gear

As we wrap up our first few days of December, you can feel that temperatures start to dip. Please ensure that you are sending your child/ren to school with appropriate outerwear, including winter coats, snow pants, boots, hats, and gloves. If you need assistance with outerwear, please contact the front office.

Current Patriot Consortium Mathematics Placement Process- 8th-Grade Parents

The consortium has created criteria that define the four strands of mathematical proficiency to highlight the attributes of a proficient mathematical thinker. The criteria are grouped into three categories.

• Procedural Skills & Fluency (How well you can correctly use mathematics.)
• Conceptual Understanding (How well you utilize mathematical ideas, transfer your knowledge into new situations, and apply it to new contexts.)
• Problem Solving with Adaptive Reasoning and Strategic Competence (How well you can apply strategies and sound reasoning.)

Over the course of the year, the mathematics teachers will be discussing these criteria with the students in class to create a portrait of each student. This portrait will be used to recommend the students to the mathematics course at Stevenson High School that matches their content knowledge as well as their level of mathematics proficiency at this time.

As a district and consortium, it is our vision that each student moves on to the next course in the sequence providing that there are no significant gaps in content knowledge. If there are significant gaps in content knowledge and a change in recommendation occurs, we will contact you. We feel that this process allows a mathematical picture of the student to develop over time, which will provide a more informed recommendation.

Course Sequence for Core 8 Students

-Algebra 1 with Mentor Math or Algebra 1 with Math Guided Study will be recommended if students need to reinforce and refresh targets in Units 1-4

-Algebra 1 will be recommended if students have mastered targets in Units 1-4

Course Sequence for Algebra 1 Students

-Geometry will be recommended if students need to reinforce and refresh targets in Units 1-4

-Geometry AB/BC will be recommended if students have mastered targets in Units 1-4

Course Sequence for Geometry Students

-Algebra 2 will be recommended if students need to reinforce and refresh targets in Units 1-3

-Algebra 2 AB/BC will be recommended if students have mastered targets in Units 1-3

PORTRAIT OF A MATHEMATICALLY PROFICIENT STUDENT

Procedural Skills & Fluency

How well you can correctly use mathematics.

(skill in carrying out procedures flexibly, accurately, efficiently, and appropriately)

• I can identify and use the most efficient method for the problem. (MP7)
• I can use mathematical computations, terms, symbols, formulas, and language appropriately. (MP5, 6)
• I can recognize the algebraic structure in problems and use rules or procedures to solve or simplify. (MP7)
• I can solve problems with accuracy. (MP6)

Conceptual Understanding

How well you utilize mathematical ideas, transfer your knowledge into new situations, and apply it to new contexts.

(comprehension of mathematical concepts, operations, and relations)

• I can use diagrams, pictures, and symbols to justify my work. (MP4)
• I can understand and justify the “why” of the procedure. (MP3)
• I can justify solutions algebraically, graphically, and numerically. (MP3)
• I can explain my solution with sound mathematical reasoning using precise mathematics vocabulary and terminology. (MP3, 8)
• I can determine the reasonableness of my answer.  (MP2)

Problem Solving with  Adaptive Reasoning and Strategic Competence

How well you can apply strategies and sound reasoning.

(capacity for logical thought, reflection, explanation, and justification and ability to formulate, represent, and solve mathematical problems)

• I can select and use all the pertinent information to solve the problem. (MP2)
• I can determine a problem-solving strategy by forming logical relationships among concepts and situations. (MP7, 8)
• I can represent a situation mathematically using modeling. (MP4)
• I can retain and apply information and skills from previous units to solve problems alongside new concepts. (MP7,8)
• I can make connections between multiple mathematical concepts to solve problems in unfamiliar situations. (MP7,8)
• I can persevere when encountering new and difficult concepts.(MP1)

We made it!  The past four weeks I have learned so much, and it has made me look forward to July 1st more than I thought possible.  That said, I am so excited to have Mr. Grana back in January and happy to hand him back “the keys to the castle.”  I look forward to continuing to learn from him and celebrating his time at Woodlawn.  Thank you all and have a great Winter Break!