Ms. Melissa Woods Team 7-2 Mathematics: WELCOME BACK!

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

WELCOME BACK!

August 24, 2009
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Hello, my name is Melissa Woods. I am the 8th grade mathematics teacher on team 8-2. I am sending a correspondence to inform you of my maternity leave itinerary. During my leave, students will experience a breif review of last year’s material as well as begin new concepts for the 8th grade school year. Homework assignments will occur frequently while tests and quizzes will be administered accordingly.
My scheduled temporary replacement, Mrs. Zukauskas, has a strong teaching background as a former mathematics teacher at Roosevelt Middle School. With a pasisonate approach to math and a student-centered style of teaching, I’m confident that her expertise will enable her to sustain the students’ interests and accommodate varying levels of abilities. We have met prior to the start of school in order to establish the curriculum to be covered during my leave and will continue to communicate weekly.
My tentative scheduled personal leave will extend from the start of the school year until mid-October. Team 8-2 teachers will handle scheduling Student Portfolio conferences during my leave. I look forward to meeting you during Curriculum Night and developing a strong relationship with you throughout the school year. Please feel free to contact me at mwoods@op97.org if you have any questions, comments, or concerns. Thank you for your time.
Ms. Melissa A. Woods ; 8th Grade Mathematics Teacher ; Percy Julian Middle School ______________________________________________
Dear Team 8.2 Families:
We are delighted to have Ms. Zukaruskas join us as a math teacher at Julian MS while Ms. Woods, team 8.2, is on leave spending time with her new baby girl 7 lbs 8 oz, Alexandra Roselyn. Ms. Woods plans to return to work on or around October 19. Congratulations to the Woods family and welcome Ms. Zukaruskas! Please also feel free to contact me with any questions.
Sincerely, Victoria E. Sharts, Ph.D. Principal

DIFFERENTIATION EXPLANATION

FYI- Differentiation is a process teachers use to maximize student learning by improving the match between a student’s unique characteristics and the curriculum. Since math is sequential, students are put in different groups to best suit their needs.
Offering a variety of math classes is one way District 97 differentiates instruction, process, and assessment.
Next 7 students are derived from the Math 7 class. Students periodically take pretests to determine mastery of concepts prior to instruction. Students are grouped and regrouped according to their performance on the pretest (90% or better). These students are assigned alternate, more challenging, homework and evaluations.

Weekly study sessions help meet the need of those students who demonstrate a need for concept reinforcement. All students are welcome to come throughout the school year. Students may use this as an opportunity for clarification and/or re-teaching of the concepts already presented during class. Study sessions are used as needed.

Academic Studies helps meet the needs of students who have not met the standards for the previous school year. This is a class designed to help boost student's skills in math and reading. Students are identified for placement into this class at the start of the year by the administration.

Ms. Melissa Woods Team 7-2 Mathematics

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

WELCOME BACK!

Administration:

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Class Descriptions 2010-2011

DIFFERENTIATION EXPLANATION

Weekly Syllabus

Core Extension

Blog Archive:

WEEKLY STUDY SESSIONS:

Calculators:

Textbooks: