Algebra I Pre-test Results

My test results can be found here

Based on these results, I can tell that most students have an adequate understanding of solving for one variable in an equation. Given this, I would most likely move on to including more difficult topics such as combining like terms, problems with a higher difficulty of order of operations, or word problems and applications that use this skill.  

Mr. Kaufmann MS Algebra I Warm-up from Ben Kaufmann on Vimeo.

1. What strength(s) did you notice in the teaching and learning process?

I really like how the popsicle sticks not only allow me to make sure everybody gets called on, but they also keep students engaged because they know that they might be called on. The format of students doing the warm-up on the smart board also works to my advantage by allowing me to roam the class and spot-check while one student is up at the board.

2. What evidence(s) of students' learning did you observe?

The original video clip was far too large but it showed how I had students compare answers to the one on the smartboard.   

3. To what degree were all learners engaged?

Like I mentioned above, this method keeps all learners engaged by allowing me to walk around and spot check while the warm up was being done on the smartboard. The students also keep their warm-ups in a journal that I periodically collect, to make sure they are doing the warm-ups and taking notes.

4. What evidences of addressing varied abilities did you observe?

It is not obvious from the short video clip, but I often tailor my help to students depending on their ability level. It is not an option to to say “I don’t understand it” or “I didn’t do the warm-up” because I will always help students at the smartboard if they need it.  

5. What was the your role in supporting learning?

During warm-ups I feel that my role is to make sure everybody is engaged in the activity and to help students who need it.

6. Describe one challenge you observed.

One challenge that is evident in a longer clip of the warm-up is that sometimes students take a long time working the problem out on the whiteboard and it is sometimes difficult to keep all students engaged while they are working on it.

7. What did you learn or observe about your students thinking (eg., what were their typical mistakes or misconceptions?)

Typical mistakes often center around a misplaced negative. One of the frequent mistakes that surprises me is students will often turn an x into a y in the middle of the problem!

8. Based on the above responses, how might you revise or tweak this instructional routine?

I think the way that I do warm-ups in the classroom is solid. One of the changes I’d like to make is to vary the warm-up method I use, so it is not always the same routine. Lately, I have been throwing in group response or other methods, just so the warm-up doesn’t take as long. It will also be interesting to view the other videos to see if their methods would work for me.

Algebra I Pre-Test