Mrs. Harrison’s
Intro to Math
2011 - 2012
Information
• What is Intro to Math?
• Why was your child selected for this class?
• What will students learn (MAP and curriculum)?
• What strategies will be used?
• Parent Involvement
• How will students be graded?
• What materials do students need?
• How much homework will there be?
• How to Contact Mrs. Harrison?
Mrs. Kathy Harrison
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Originally from St. Charles
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Currently I live in St. Ann with my husband of
19 years and our 2 boys (18 and 13 years old).
Teaching Experience/Education
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Middle School Math Teacher – 25th year
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Orchard Farm MS (6th and 7th gr.) - 15 years
Southwest MS (7th gr.) - 2 years
Northeast MS (8th gr.) - 3 years
Northeast MS (Math Intervention) – 5th year
Education
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UMSL – Bachelor’s Degree in Middle School Education
Lindenwood University – Master’s Degree in Education
MIR Academy – Cathy Fosnot
How is Intro to Math Funded?
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Made possible by the Passage of Proposition R in
2006, which allowed Parkway to establish a
Mathematics Intervention program for students in
elementary school and middle school.
What is Intro to Math 6?
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A replacement math class, which replaces a math
class on team and meets every day for 2 class
periods.
OR
A double dose math class, which is in addition to a
math class on team. It replaces an elective class and
meets every day.
Designed to meet the student where they are and
nurture them…….
How Was the Student Chosen?
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MAP scores
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Stanford scores
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District Common Assessments
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Previous year’s math teacher recommendation
Mathematicians in Residence
 “Work
with the developing
mathematician, rather than
addressing the wrong strategy.”
-C. Fosnot
What will students learn?
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Strategies to help students automatize
basic math facts.
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Strategies for making calculating numbers
easier.
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How to think and problem solve.
Our Goal:
 The
student will be resourceful,
flexible, and efficient in dealing
with new problems in math…. make
a problem easier then compensate.
 The
student will calculate
numbers accurately.
Ma & Pa Kettle
(See video link on teacher website)
From the 1980’s
How many buses does the army need to transport
1,128 soldiers if each bus holds 36 soldiers?
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8th Grade Problem on the National Assessment
of Educational Progress (NAEP), mid-1980s
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Nearly 1/3 of 8th graders answered……
“31 remainder 12”
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How would you solve it if there were 1,200
soldiers?
From Problem Solving in Context(s), Schoenfeld, ©1988
in Understanding by Design, Wiggins & McTighe, ©2005
Mental Math Quiz
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1200 divided by 36
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3,996 plus 4,246
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66 times 15
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35 times 9
Dr. Arthur Benjamin
Harvey Mudd College
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“If we’re doing mental math, computing left to
right is best because we are working with the
most significant digits right away.
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“What is more important – knowing the
answer is bigger than 6300 or that the last
digit is 7?”
“Secrets of Mental Math” Presentation at T3 in Dallas, 2008
Why don’t we stress traditional
algorithms more?
Education is what you have left
when you’ve forgotten everything
you learned in school.
Why I will be refraining from telling and/or
showing how to do a particular problem.
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“We are usually convinced more easily by
reasons we have found ourselves than by
those which have occurred to others.”– Pascal
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“Premature introduction of the algorithm for
computing …divorced from a meaningful
context….may block students from
understanding…”
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“If I give you the shortcut first, you’ll always
use it but never understand it.” – G. Tang
When should students write down their work?
(Show their work)
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“We must shift our focus from executing
algorithms to documenting mathematical
work.” – Kutzler
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Students should show their work in order to
keep track of their thinking.
Parent Involvement
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Encourage
Ask your child about the day’s lesson.
Homework
When your child asks if the answer is right,
throw a question back at them, ask :
 “How did you do it”?
 “Convince me.”
 What are you sure of?
Homework Monday – Thursday
(20 - 30 minutes each night)
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Ongoing Practice
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Doubling
Addition facts
Multiplication facts
Vocabulary Words
Various
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Reviewing strategies taught in class.
Worksheets
Websites
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Classzone.com
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Textbook – McDougal Littell Course
lots of activities
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Khanacademy.org
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www.gregtang.com
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multiplication flash cards with strategies
Teacher Website
Citizenship Grade
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Citizenship Grades are based on the
demonstration of NEMS character traits.
Respect…Responsibility…Honesty…Caring…Integrity
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Scoring
O = Outstanding
S = Satisfactory
I = Needs Improvement
U = Unsatisfactory
Letter Grade
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EFFORT
 Progress Made Toward
- Mastery of basic facts
- Mastery of basic computational
algorithms
- Use of multiple strategies
To Exit Intro to Math
Students will have a:
 mastery of basic facts.
 mastery of basic computational
algorithms.
 mastery of multiple strategies.
Materials Needed Everyday
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3 Prong Folder or 3-Ring Binder
Notebook
Materials needed for all classes:
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Assignment Book
Hall Pass
Loose Leaf Paper
Pencil or pen
Eraser
Materials (Optional)
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Dry Erase Markers
(I have a class set, but kids tend to be
rough on them.)
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Box of Tissue or Personal Tissue Pack
Contact Me
 kharrison@pkwy.k12.mo.us
 Work: 314 - 415 - 5157
 During plan time: 1:00 – 1:30 pm