Monday, June 15, 2015

Units and Learning Targets 2014-2015

I often see a tweet from someone who is searching for learning targets for Algebra 1.  Two summers ago I worked hard to create learning targets and units based off of the common core standards my district has chosen for Algebra 1.  Those are posted on this blog, but I thought it might be valuable to share what I did this year, as it doesn't quite line up with what I shared before (planning and reality rarely align).

Unit 1:  Number and Operations

  • I can perform operations with integers.
  • I can identify and justify number equivalencies.
  • I can order numbers.
Unit 2:  Expressions
  • I can use the distributive property to rewrite expressions in equivalent forms.
  • I can simplify expressions by combining like terms.
  • I can evaluate expressions for the given value(s) of the variable(s).
Unit 3:  Equations
  • I can solve linear equations.
  • I can graph linear equations.
  • I can solve a multi-variable linear equation for a given variable.
Unit 4:  Systems of Equations
  • I can state whether or not given values for the variables represent a solution to a system of equations.
  • I can estimate a solution to a system graphically.
  • I can solve a system using substitution.
  • I can solve a system using elimination.
Unit 5:  Sequences
  • I can determine if a sequence is arithmetic, geometric, or neither.
  • I can describe a sequence recursively.
  • I can describe a sequence explicitly.
Unit 6:  Functions
  • I can find the domain and range of a relation.
  • I can determine and justify if a relation is a function.
  • I can use function notation to describe, evaluate, and graph a function.
Unit 7:  Exponentials
  • I can simplify and exponential expression.
  • I can determine and justify if a function is exponential.
  • I can find the base and y-intercept given an exponential function.
  • I can graph an exponential function.
Unit 8:  Polynomial Operations
  • I can identify the degree of a polynomial.
  • I can add and subtract polynomials.
  • I can multiply polynomials.
  • I can factor polynomials.
Unit 9:  Quadratic Functions
  • I can determine and justify if a function is quadratic.
  • I can find the zeros of a quadratic function.
  • I can sketch a graph of a quadratic function.
  • I can find the line of symmetry and vertex of a quadratic function.
Unit 10:  Statistics
  • I can organize and analyze bivariate data.
My (Brief) Reflection:
  • Units 1 and 2 were boring for many of my students this year, but things I perceived my students the previous year to need.  Also things I think many students benefited from.  I would like to do some sort of pretest to see which students could benefit from what...but that will be complicated...
  • I want to integrate statistics into my other units.  It gives a setting to apply the other learning that is "real-world" and then I won't save it until the end and end up not being able to do it.
  • I need to focus somewhere on "rate of change" a little bit more...maybe since we didn't really do a linear functions unit this year that struggled.
  • I would like to take time to compare these to the original learning targets I planned out and decide which I prefer for which units.
So here they are to borrow, steal, or edit!  Enjoy :)
-Kathryn

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