For many much of my classmates this year has been filled with struggles, lots of due dates, but most importantly, PROGRESS. While some may feel that math is easy and others might find it on the challenging side, this math class is like unlike any other math class you will ever have -- and I mean that in a good way. Your year in math will be functioning in a way that will make you responsible for your own learning. You will be tested on how well you manage your time, how seriously you take every piece of work (including the WSQs), and how determined you are to learn the math. Will certain units may be easy, you will be thrown harder units as the year progresses and you can not simply rely on your prior basic algebra skills to solve. In this classroom, you must carry yourself with integrity. Yes, cheating on your PQs and PTs will get the job done, but when test day come, you will not have mastered the Unit as well as you thought. Some may think that they can cram and do quick review and some may even get away with it, HOWEVER, on the final you will not have it this easy. You will suffer from your lack of comprehension of the unit and that will definitely hurt your grade. There will be times when you feel extremely overwhelmed and frustrated with the work load, but its best to throw those feelings aside and just get through the work rather than waste X amount of time complaining. Sometimes you may feel like that one WPP is a waste of time and is meaningless, but it really will help you better understand that concept. As I said before, this all depends on how motivated and focused you are. Moreover, do not expect something you do not deserve. For example, if you cheated on your PQs or PTs or did not try hard on the other work that was assigned to you, don't expect to get an A on the test-- be reasonable. This is one of those classes where hard work counts. Its not just memorizing, it is UNDERSTANDING. The flipped classroom may take some time to get used to, but with time, it will become very easy. Mrs. Kirch has given you all of the tools (videos, SSS Packets, WSQ Charts, WSQs, etc.) it is up to you to use them, and use them wisely. With the flipped classroom you can learn at home and bring your questions and do your work at school. Of course, as I have mentioned before, you MUST use your time wisely. If you spend half the class period pretending to do your work, than for that night not only do you have to watch the videos for the new concept, but you also have to do the PQs for the previous concept. DON'T GIVE YOURSELF MORE WORK. In class you actually get to have one on one time with the teacher and ask your classmates for help. You can also get ahead when you know that you have a huge project coming up or an essay due soon. Personally, because I came into this class with an open mind I easily adjusted to the flipped classroom and my work ethic drastically increased. Lastly, in a regular classroom you probably did a few math problems for homework, the teacher lectured in class, then assigned homework on the lesson. With the flipped class room, you move past the normal homework practice problems and you literally interact with math. You make your own problems, your own videos on how to work your own problems. You get to make tests and you experience math in new ways. You finally move past knowing a concept, you actually realize its importance, its derivation, and how that comes into play with the real world. In the end, it is all up to you. Mrs. Kirch can not force you to do the work-- it is up to you to decide to do it. It is your responsibility. That does not mean you are alone. You still have support at school. That is nice to know, isn't it? Good luck, everyone!
- Yours Truly, Arlene S. (Period 6 - Princess table D with Tien N.,
Tiffany T., Grecia G., Miriam L., & Jessica R.)
