I wanted to share some information about our upcoming Algebra 1 Benchmark for high school Algebra 1 students.

The benchmark will be given on Tuesday, December 3, beginning first period and should be completed by third period.  It will be given online through the Cambium program and will be a very good indicator of progress in my class.  Just a few thoughts:

• This is not for a grade.  Students have a tendency to worry about these sorts of assessments and this is not what I want.  All I ask of my students is that they give me their very best.
• While this is not for a grade, it is still important.  I will use the collected data to make decisions about remediation and tutorials.  This could affect your student’s enrichment schedule when we return from Christmas break.
• Because the test is through the Cambium program, it will cover a multitude of topics, including topics we haven’t covered.  I make students aware of this and just ask them to do the best they can.  Still, these questions will give me a baseline to compare when we take our next benchmark in the spring.
• I usually do some type of reward system for student and class achievement to encourage best effort.

I’m sure there may be more questions.  Let me know by email and I’ll get back ASAP.  [email protected]

Monday 11/4- go over and discuss last week’s test (now that band is back), Writing Linear Equations from Word Problems Practice (Due Tomorrow)

Tuesday 11/5- Section 4.2:  Writing Point-Slope Equations Notes and Practice

Wednesday 11/6- Section 4.2, continued. In class practice, due at end of class period

Thursday 11/7- Writing Linear Equations Quiz:  Slope-Intercept, Point-Slope, Word Problems

Friday 11/8- Section 4.3:  Standard Form Equations Notes and Practice

Reminder:  Test Boost Tutorials are before school each day at 7:30.  Test Boost bill need to be completed by this Friday.

Monday, 10/7- Go over Friday’s function test, review solving equations, Start 3.4:  Graphing Standard Form (focus on x and y- intercepts)

Tuesday, 10/8- review solving inequalities, continue and finish 3.4 (actual graphing)

Wednesday, 10/9-   Nine Week Test (Chapters 1-3)

Thursday, 10/10- Section 3.5: Graphing Slope-Intercept Form (y=mx+b)

Friday, 10/11- more graphing

Just a reminder about the Nine Week Test:  This test is used to replace a lower test grade.  In the event that it is the lowest test grade, it will be dropped.  In other words, the 9 week test can only help a grade and will never bring down a grade.  It is a great opportunity to bring up an average a few points.

My apologies for the tardiness of this post.

Monday, 9/30:  Functions Quiz Review and Function Notation worksheet with substitute.

Tuesday, 10/1:  Functions Quiz and grade worksheet

Wednesday, 10/1:  Input/Output function notation around the world activity

Thursday, 10/2:  Review Stations

Friday, 10/3:  Chapter 3, Sections 1-3 Test:  Functions, Linear Functions, Function Notation w/ and w/o DESMOS.

Advanced Notice:  Our 9 week test will be next week, most likely Wednesday.  It will cover everything we have covered so far this school year, mostly equations, inequalities, and functions.  The 9 week test will count towards everyone’s final average.  However, if the 9 week test is higher than any of the previous 3 tests taken, it will also replace the lowest test score.  A good 9 week test grade can have a great positive impact  on  one’s final average.