Mathematics Updates

Coweta County School System Page 1 of 5 August 2015 Mathematics Updates

Our vision is to ensure the success of each student. August 2015

Georgia Standards of Excellence now in place for Math, ELA The Georgia Board of Education approved revisions to CCGPS standards in mathematics and English language arts in the spring which will be implemented this year as Georgia Standards of Excellence. Coding for the standards in math and ELA has been changed, replacing the “CC” with “GSE”.

More than just a coding change, the mathematics standards themselves have been slightly revised as they were edited for clarity. For example, in kindergarten, MCCK.CC.4 has become MGSE.K.CC.4 and it specifies one-to-one correspondence and cardinality. The introduction of money begins in kindergarten as pennies are used as objects to be counted.

In addition, some math standards were added. For example, a new standard this year is MGSE1.NBT.7 which requires the use of dimes and pennies as manipulatives and the understanding that 10 pennies can be thought of as one dime.

Other math standards have moved. MCC3.MD.7d, which requires students to find areas of composite figures, is now in fourth grade as MGSE4.MD.8. Sixth and seventh graders will no longer have to find and interpret mean absolute deviation as that concept under the Georgia Standards of Excellence has moved to high school.

A summary of changes for mathematics standards K-8 is included with this newsletter. The summary gives an “at-a-glance” look at the standards that have changed in the first three pages, and then gives a side-by-side comparison for each of these standards in the pages that follow.

High school math standards not only had revisions and edits, but they also were realigned into another sequence of courses. More high school information is provided in a separate article.

Curriculum website, intranet provide updated GSE materials Materials that reflect the Georgia Standards of Excellence are available on Coweta’s curriculum website (http://curriculum.cowetaschools.org/) and on grade-level math pages of the intranet. In addition to curriculum documents, resources for supporting instruction and assessment, engaging in professional learning, and providing home connections to classroom work can be found in these locations.

Passwords have been removed from grade-level pages on the intranet.

We believe, as a learning community, we must continuously improve.

http://curriculum.cowetaschools.org/

Mathematics Updates

Coweta County School System Page 2 of 5 August 2015 Mathematics Updates

High school math changes Changes in high school mathematics have been more dramatic than those at the K-8 level. The state now allows districts to select either the integrated or the traditional sequence of courses – or both. Coweta teachers, administrators, and parents have supported the change to the traditional sequence, beginning with incoming ninth grade students this fall and being phased in as these students move through their high school years.

Students who entered ninth grade prior to 2015-2016 and who do not have any high school math credits may also enroll in the traditional sequence which begins with Algebra I.

Course sequence options, based on the year a student entered ninth grade, are shown in the column at the right. Mathematics graduation guidance documents for cohort groups can be accessed at http://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Curriculum-and-Instruction/Pages/Mathematics.aspx

Foundations of Algebra added Foundations of Algebra will be offered for the first time in 2015-2016. The first year high school math course option is designed for ninth graders who need substantial support to bolster success in high school math. Students must be screened for enrollment eligibility based on several years’ standardized test performance as well as a numeracy screener performance level.

The one-term course does not have an associated End-of-Course assessment.

Enrollment in Foundations of Algebra will be closely monitored by the state, and score reports on the numeracy screener must be submitted to the state by the first FTE count. Please contact Dr. Lynn Skinner if students do not have scores so that she can schedule a time to conduct the screener.

Sequence options for students who entered

9th grade in 2015-2016 and beyond

Sequence options for students who entered

9th grade prior to 2015-2016

http://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Curriculum-and-Instruction/Pages/Mathematics.aspxhttp://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Curriculum-and-Instruction/Pages/Mathematics.aspxhttp://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Curriculum-and-Instruction/Pages/Mathematics.aspx

Mathematics Updates

Coweta County School System Page 3 of 5 August 2015 Mathematics Updates

Which students may take Algebra I? Generally, students who are entering high school as ninth graders for the first time in

2015-2016 will enroll in Algebra I. Some incoming ninth graders, however, will take Foundations of Algebra instead, followed by Algebra I the next year. Students enrolled in high school prior to 2015-2016 may also take Algebra I if they do not have any high school math credits.

With the move to the traditional high school math sequence, Coordinate

Algebra is being phased out. Can a student still take Coordinate Algebra in 2015-2016?

Coordinate Algebra is being phased out as a course offered in Coweta. The course is still

on the list of state-funded courses and will continue to be taught in some Georgia districts. Students who have taken and failed Coordinate Algebra may be able to get back on track for gradu-ating with their class if they take and pass Coordinate Algebra this year. Doing so will allow them the opportunity to take Analytic Geometry for another math credit towards those required.

Will there be Georgia Milestones EOCs for both the traditional and integrated

sequences? The state will have Georgia Milestones EOCs for Algebra I, Coordinate Algebra, Analytic

Geometry, and Geometry.

How do the traditional and the integrated high school math sequences

differ? Content for the first two courses in these sequences is rearranged so that, in the

traditional sequence, Algebra I contains only algebra and statistics standards and Geometry addresses only standards from the geometry and statistics domains. The first two courses in the integrated sequence includes algebra, geometry, and statistics standards in each course.

What type of credit is earned for Foundations of Algebra? Students taking Foundations of Algebra can earn a core math credit, one of the four

required for graduation. Although the FOA class is taken prior to the high school math sequence, it will count as the student’s fourth math credit, and the student will have to complete the sequence only through Algebra II unless the student has an IEP which allows for completing the sequence after Geometry.

With the transition to the traditional sequence being rolled out, into which

course should students transferring into the district with Algebra I credit be scheduled?

Scheduling decisions such as this one must be made on a student-by-student basis. For

students transferring in from accredited schools and have credit in a course that includes the concepts and skills based on Georgia’s state-adopted curriculum for Algebra I, placement in Analytic Geometry – the second-year course of our integrated sequence – would not be a best place-ment choice. Instead, those students can be scheduled for Advanced Algebra in 2015-2016, allowing them to take the traditional Geometry course the following year.

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Mathematics Updates

Coweta County School System Page 4 of 5 August 2015 Mathematics Updates

Mathematics resources Elementary

Math consumables for K-2 and workbooks for K-5 were received at the warehouse and sent to the schools. Due to enrollment fluctuations, some schools may have more materials than their counts at certain grade levels and other schools may be in need. A spreadsheet has been shared with elementary principals and APs (with editing rights) so that needs can be filled. Please take inventory, enter information into the sheet, and contact schools to transfer these learning resources. Even one or two extra books will make a difference!

Math learning resources can also be accessed at https://www.pearsonsuccessnet.com/ Returning

teachers will be able to access digital resources using their credentials from last year until the bulk upload of

teachers and students occurs. The bulk upload will be done once the tide of registration ebbs. Please contact Dr. Lynn Skinner with names of any teachers who need digital access if it is needed before the bulk upload.

Middle school

Math workbooks for middle grades were sent to the schools. The district has a limited number of extra workbooks for each grade level. Any school needs may be able to be covered by sharing among the schools.

As students transfer, please be sure to collect the math workbook as well as all textbooks. The partially used workbooks can then be given to students who enroll later in the year.

Middle school math learning resources for teachers and students are available at http://my.hrw.com/ A bulk upload of students will occur soon. Teachers needing access may contact Dr. Lynn Skinner.

High school

Transitioning to a different sequence of high school math courses will require the use of digital components of the textbooks adopted in 2013.

High school math learning resources for teachers and students are available at http://my.hrw.com/ A bulk upload of students will occur soon. Teachers needing access may contact Dr. Lynn Skinner.

Because it is designed to be a course that fills in gaps, Foundations of Algebra relies heavily on formative assessment and materials to meet specific needs. Modules for the course have been developed by the state. These modules are located at https://www.georgiastandards.org/Georgia-Standards/Pages/Math-9-12.aspx In addition, the state has developed pre-/post- and module assessments available in GOFAR. FOA information for administrators, counselors, and educators is http://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Curriculum-and-Instruction/Pages/Mathematics.aspx

https://www.pearsonsuccessnet.com/http://my.hrw.com/http://my.hrw.com/https://www.georgiastandards.org/Georgia-Standards/Pages/Math-9-12.aspxhttps://www.georgiastandards.org/Georgia-Standards/Pages/Math-9-12.aspxhttp://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Curriculum-and-Instruction/Pages/Mathematics.aspxhttp://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Curriculum-and-Instruction/Pages/Mathematics.aspxhttp://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Curriculum-and-Instruction/Pages/Mathematics.aspx

Mathematics Updates

Coweta County School System Page 5 of 5 August 2015 Mathematics Updates

Math professional learning opportunities Math professional learning offered during 2015-2016 will focus on building powerful numeracy and integrating technology. Sessions will be offered specific to each grade band from elementary through high school. Look for announcements about workshops in upcoming professional learning newsletters. Administrators can contact Dr. Lynn Skinner to set up workshops for specific needs.

Dates for middle grades math meetings for professional learning have been set.

Date Location

August 11 Arnall

October 13 East Coweta

November 10 Evans

December 1 Lee

January 19 Madras

February 23 Smokey Road

Carolyn Cutts, with ETA Hand2Mind, will be at the August 11 meeting at Arnall to demonstrate use of manipulatives in middle grade math. Use of manipulatives will engage students in the concrete-representational-abstract progression in order to build deeper conceptual understanding.

Assessment updates Student Growth Assessments were reviewed and revised by teachers over the spring and summer. The SGAs given this year will reflect the changes made in the revision process.

All math SGAs will have a performance task given as part of the post-assessment – except for third grade. Third graders take the Georgia Milestones in all four content areas. They also take SGAs in ELA and math because no state assessment data is available to use as pre-test scores. To reduce testing, third grade teachers decided to eliminate the performance task.

Georgia Milestones resources have not been updated yet for 2015-2016 on the state’s website. New assessments last year, the Georgia Milestones tests are going through a standards setting process. Once that process is complete and schools receive performance data, the state should also release updated materials. The Georgia Milestones page is http://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Assessment/Pages/Georgia-Milestones-Assessment-System.aspx

An Algebra I End-of-Course test, which assesses the standards specific to that course, will administered to students enrolled in Algebra I this year. As with the other year-long math courses that have a state assessment, students in year-long Algebra I will not be tested until they complete the entire course.

Any students who take Coordinate Algebra this year will have to take the Coordinate Algebra EOC. Please be sure to make Dr. Julie Raschen aware of the need for the administration of this test.

http://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Assessment/Pages/Georgia-Milestones-Assessment-System.aspxhttp://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Assessment/Pages/Georgia-Milestones-Assessment-System.aspxhttp://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Assessment/Pages/Georgia-Milestones-Assessment-System.aspx