South Orange & Maplewood School District
Level Distinctions Document
Physics
Skills
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
Level 5
Habits of mind
– note taking
skills, ability to
work
independently,
organizational
skills, and
working
ahead.
At this academic level
students are taught
the value of note
taking, as well as
methods to take
notes in an organized
manner.
Students in this
academic level are
more inclined to
perform note taking
in class and can
demonstrate abilities
to work ahead and do
homework on a
regular basis.
At this level students
are expected to be
able to use sound
note taking
techniques and see
note taking as one of
the ingredients of
academic success.
Students exhibit the
highest of
organizational skills.
Notes are carefully
constructed with
examples and
appropriate
annotations. Students
independently strive
for accuracy, knowing
that their notes will
serve as a tool
throughout the
course.
Students in this
academic level
typically find it
difficult to work
ahead, read
independently,
complete homework
consistently and
study strategically.
There is an emphasis
on helping students
to develop good
study habits.
Daily routing includes
the development of
other organizational
skills regarding
organization of
materials and coming
to class prepared.
Students are
reminded to seek
help early in the
process rather than
wait to be asked if
they need help. This
is a fundamental shift
in thinking for some
students.
Daily routine includes
the taking of accurate
and useful notes. It is
expected that
students will come to
class prepared
without more than
the occasional
reminder.
Homework
completion is
expected at this level,
though the load is not
as demanding as it is
in higher levels of the
course.
Students are
encouraged to seek
help when needed,
but often do so
without such
reminders.
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Homework
completion is
expected at this level.
The volume and
complexity of
homework is greater
in this level than in
levels 2 & 3.
Students at this level
often seek help
without reminders.
Students have the
ability to work
independently,
especially once given
the opportunity to be
exposed to
demonstration
lessons in class.
Students at this level
rarely need any
prompting to do
homework or take
notes.
These students
exhibit the ability to
work ahead, i.e.,
homework is assigned
before it is discussed
in class, requiring
students to explore
independently.
Students often form
their own study
groups and teach
each other.
South Orange & Maplewood School District
Skills
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
Level 5
Mathematics
skills I –These
cover a
number of
different areas
including:
 simple
arithmetic
through
basic
algebra,
advanced
algebra,
geometry,
pre-calc and
statistics;
 number
sense and
the ability to
estimate;
 ability to
work in
symbolic
notation
rather than
solely in
numbers;
Teachers spend time
reinforcing the
necessary
mathematical skills
used in Physics with
students on a regular
basis. While students
can generally handle
basic arithmetic and
simple algebra, i.e.,
simple linear
equations of the form
y = mx + b. Solving
quadratic equations,
order of operations,
use of exponents, and
calculator use are
generally more
challenging and are
part of direct
instruction at this
level.
It is expected that
students will have a
thorough grasp of
basic algebra and
limited aspects of
more advanced
algebra such as the
use of quadratic
equations.
It is expected that
students will have a
thorough grasp of
algebraic concepts
such as the use of
quadratic equations,
estimation and
number sense.
It is expected that
students in this level
have a thorough
grasp of math content
necessary for the
course. Students are
enrolled in precalculus or level 5
algebra, and a
number take AP Stats.
Students often rely on
the use of a calculator
to complete
mathematical
functions.
While symbolic
notation is
challenging, students
are able to learn to
execute simple
manipulation of
algebraic quantities.
The basic trig
functions are covered
in the course, and
students generally
grasp the concepts
with support. The
course is vector based
and without the
ability to find
components of
velocity, acceleration,
force, momentum the
course becomes
diluted.
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Students are
expected to have
facility with symbolic
notation and to
follow more complex
algebraic derivations
and solve much more
complex problems.
It is expected that
students have facility
with basic trig
functions and will
gain understanding in
the use of trig inverse
function.
Students are
expected to have
mastered linear and
quadratic equations,
symbolic notation and
complex algebraic
derivations, and
calculus-level
concepts such as area
under a curve on a
graph. Students
understand variables
and functional
notation.
It is expected that
students have facility
with basic trig
functions and will
gain understanding in
the use of trig inverse
function.
South Orange & Maplewood School District
Skills
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
Level 5
Mathematics
skills II –These
cover a number
of different
areas including:
 order of
operations;
 understanding
exponents;
 associative
and
distributive
laws;
 graphing and
grasping the
meaning of a
graph; in
physics every
aspect of a
graph has
physical
meaning.
The application of
math tools such as
a*(b + c) = a*b + a*c
and a*(b/c) = (a/c)*b
is also taught.
Students have a
general facility with
order of operations,
exponents and the
associative and
distributive laws, use
of line and Quadratic
graphs
Students enrolled in
Level 4 are enrolled
in Algebra II or
Geometry as well.
Students enrolled in
Level 5 master the
physical
interpretation of
both linear and
quadratic graphs and
use these concepts to
verify the distance
equations under
acceleration, which
provides them with
the basic concepts
found in integral
calculus.
Creating and
understanding the
physical meaning of a
graph, especially in
the case of projectile
motion, is covered as
part of the course
content. It is
expected that
students will be able
by the end of the
course to properly
execute a graph with
proper scaling of
axes, plotting a
straight line and
calculating slope.
It is expected that
early in the course,
students are able to
plot a linear graph,
use proper scaling,
and calculate the
slope.
Order of operations
and the
understanding of
exponents and the
associative and
distributive laws are
an integral part of the
course.
Students will be
taught the physical
interpretation of
both linear and
quadratic graphs, the
concept of area
under a curve and its
physical
interpretation.
Students will use
Excel spreadsheets
and graphing
routinely.
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The concept of area
under a curve and its
physical
interpretation is
taught, and mastery
expected.
Students will use
Excel spreadsheets
and graphing
routinely.
South Orange & Maplewood School District
Skills
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
Level 5
Mathematics
skills III –This
covers strategies
to solve problems
including word
problems. This
element crosses
over into reading
skills.
It is understood that
students may be
challenged by word
problems. Teachers
at this level work
with students to
dissect the meaning
of word problems,
especially those with
multiple steps to
finding solutions.
Students are also
taught how to
translate word
problems into a
visual context such
as a graph or
symbols used in
physics.
This level assumes
students have more
skill in translating
word problems into
actionable steps.
Students are able to
translate word
problems into a
visual context such
as a graph or
symbols used in
physics.
This level assumes
that students will
quickly grasp how to
translate words and
phrases into symbols
used in formulas,
interpret multi-step
problems and
translate word
problems into visual
context.
This level assumes
that students will
quickly grasp how to
translate words and
phrases into symbols
used in formulas,
interpret multi-step
problems and
translate word
problems into visual
context.
Physics is
essentially one
long series of
word problems
which requires
students to read,
translate words
into symbols and
then into
relations and then
solve the
problem.
Students are
generally able to
analyze the problems
and apply the
appropriate relations
which may require
considerable algebra
or trig to solve.
This is
summarized as
conceptualization.
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