CATALINA FOOTHILLS SCHOOL DISTRICT

Welcome
Honors Level Placement
Success in Math
Student Resources
Academic Standards
StudentVUE/ParentVUE

Summer Curriculum Review*

For students entering into:

Algebra 1
Geometry
Algebra 2
Precalculus
Honors Precalculus
Calculus BC

*The above Summer Curriculum Review require a student cfsd16.org email account in order to be viewed.

Success in Math

When in class:

1. Come to Class Prepared: Students are expected to have their textbooks, composition books/notebooks, and pencils every day in class. Not only should a student be physically prepared; they must be mentally prepared. Teachers routinely assign PreViews (reading assignments in the text), practice problems and writing assignments to be accomplished for the next day’s class. Students are expected to have these completed to the best of their ability. Notation of any confusions or areas where questions/misunderstandings continue to linger in any work accomplished at home prepares the student to ask for clarification (in groups or from the teacher) the next class. These expectations are held to ensure all students are active participants in their learning.
2. Listen and Focus in Class: Many of the important ideas are said aloud in class. Always be listening, and then write it down! Even if you see the problem worked out in front of you and you have the correct answer, do not tune out. Listen for generalizations that may be made. Keep your cell phones put away. Being unfocused for just one minute may cause you to miss an important detail.
3. Take Notes: Add to your PreView in the margins or at the end, or take notes on a new piece of paper. Make generalizations for given topics, but also write down tricks or specific details you see or hear about.
4. Talk to your Partner: Work together. Talking about a problem out loud can help to solidify understanding. A good strategy for testing your knowledge is to explain a concept/skill to someone else. If your partner doesn’t agree or understand your explanation chances are you don’t understand the concept/skill as well as you should. Ask your partner for clarification or assistance. Don’t ever leave a problem unfinished. If you do not understand, ask!

When reviewing Tests and Quizzes:

1. Revisions: Always do test and quiz revisions, even when they are not assigned. It is critical that you learn from your mistakes. If you do not redo the problem correctly, it is likely that you will make the same mistake on another assessment. Check your redo with the teacher’s solution key. Just looking at a problem and determining your error will not help as much as redoing the problem on paper then confirming your new work with a peer and/or the solution key.
2. Study Quizzes: Use the quizzes to help you study for a test. Redo the problems on a separate sheet of paper without looking at the work you did the first time. Make sure you can still do the problem. Quizzes are great to study, but they should be looked at in addition to other practice work, including homework problems, extra review problems in the book, and notes.
3. Make practice tests… and time yourself. A concern of students is the time limit with tests; you can prepare by timing yourself on a practice test. Work with a partner and exchange practice tests. Ask your teacher how long a problem should take. You will not have time to ponder/contemplate solutions on most major assessments.

When doing Homework:

1. Assigned Problems: Do all assigned problems and always check your answers. Never leave a problem blank if you do not know how to do it. Start by writing down the problem. Write down what you do know how to do. Work out each step until you get stuck. Look back at the example for guidance. Try another problem that is similar to see if you can do that one, and to see if it will help you with the problem in question. If you are still stuck, at that point, write down a question to ask in class.
2. Additional Problems: Many test questions come from the book. Go above and beyond and do the even problems in a section. Choose harder problems from the end of a set of directions to really test your knowledge. Come in and check your answers to the evens with the solutions manual. Always check your work and your solution to a problem. It is a waste of time to do a problem and never check to see if you’ve done it correctly.
3. Review Previous Concepts: When you finish a set of homework problems, find two or three problems from previous sections and work them out. Make sure you still remember previous skills once you’ve learned new skills. Always check your answers.