Math 6 Red Mr. Gerdin

Experience Education: M.Ed Education (Loyola) BS Chemical Engineering (Wisconsin) Masters Engineering Management (Northwestern) Experience: 8 Years 6 th grade math teaching at The Joseph Sears School 15 years professional engineering experience

Common Core Standards Math Practices outlined in CCSS Always been part of good math instruction, now will be more emphasized Call for more depth, less content

Practices Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them Reason abstractly and quantitatively Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others Model with mathematics

Practices Continued Use appropriate tools strategically Attend to precision. Look for and make use of structure Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning

Great Mathematicians Newton Euler Noether Your Child ?!

Problem Solving Explicit Instruction – 4 Techniques Apply Techniques to Core Content Assessments

Math 6 Red Basics: TEXT Middle School Math – Course 2 (Scott Foresman/Addison-Wesley) 1 Copy to Keep at Home. Classroom set of textbooks for use in class Additional copies available for use at math lunch and homework club Other resources – MIF, Explore Learning, IXL, etc.

Placement Placement to match student’s current ability and aptitude with instruction This course typically leads to an introduction to algebra in 8 th grade Historically - placement by matrix has been accurate

Placement cont. Criteria include IAAT, IOWAs, Class Quiz/Test Scores, HW Completion, grade, EOY Student placement re-evaluated near end of first trimester and monitored beyond Highest weight to standardized results NT has confirmed that there is NO correlation between math placement and ability to get in “best” universities

Math 6 Red Basics: Supplies Bring to Every Class Positive Attitude/Open Mind 8-1/2” x 11” Loose Leaf Paper (Lined and Grid) Pencil w/eraser and Red Pen Calculator (TI – 30 Xa), Protractor & Ruler Executive Functioning Binder w/Math Folder Complete Homework and Current Notes

Math 6 Red Basics: Homework About Minutes Expected Daily Daily Class Notes & Videos to be used as Guide Notes & Videos posted on Gerdin Website Work must be SHOWN as directed – Communication Homework may include text book problem sets and extensions of concepts

Homework Example

Math 6 Red Grading Homework Quizzes and Tests Problems Projects/Activities Scoring/Grading Per Sears Policy No Extra Credit

Math 6 Red Math Homework Help Students need to develop their own skills and should make a concerted effort to solve problems prior to asking for help. Review Text Examples and Class Notes Ask Classmate(s) Ask Parent Ask Teacher (in class during homework review) Still Struggling? – Teacher Conference

Math 6 Red Content 6 th Grade Common Core Moderate Pacing (but challenging!) Mastery of Skills Application of Concepts to Solve Problems Techniques, Strategies, Algorithms Communication Modified as appropriate

Math 6 Red Content, Continued Algebraic Formulas, Expressions, and Equations 3x – 5 = 17 D = R x T Decimals and Fractions 0.25 = ¼ 0.25 x 4 = 1

Math 6 Red Content, Continued Operations with Fractions 1/ /3 = 2 2/3 4 ÷ ½ = 8 Geometry and Measurement Area of polygons Surface Area and Volume of Prisms and Pyramids

Math 6 Red Content, Continued Ratios, Rates, and Proportions 9/12 = ¾ 300:150; 150:75 $365,000/yr = $1000/day Dimensional Analysis

Math 6 Red Content, Continued Percents 25% off $79.99 = $20 4 is 2% of 200 Integers -33 x 23 + (-3-(-78)) -136/4 + (-3) 7 Graphical Representations Statistics

Math 6 Red Technology Technology (calculators/spreadsheets) not a substitute for knowing concepts and mastering skills. Technology will be integrated into work – especially using calculator to check work Mental Math is important and techniques are incorporated into lessons.

Math 6 Red

Credits All photos courtesy of