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In an ever-changing world, we learn that there are many ways to teach. As such, paradigms shift from one generation to the next. The very function of schools acts throughout the nation’s history to, for better or worse, match the landscape of the political and social variables therein. In my eutopia, school produces capable citizens with rational thinking skills to contribute to the betterment of our world.

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Much in math appears to be a string of equations composed of symbols and letters. Due to the way we commonly practice and learn math, we forget that math is life! It is all around us and it is only the numerical representation of reality in the same way that books are just black and white ink on a page, yet they paint vivid stories in our minds when we allow our imagination to fold into the pages. Thus, I find that a great many online resources bring the beauty of math to life. I am inspired by blackpenredpen and Khan Academy on YouTube. Eddie Woo also has excellent lectures on the concepts we will learn. As a side note, if you find a resource particularly helpful, or can explain something in a way that resonates with you, please do share it with me!

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In mathematics, visualization tools such as Desmos and GeoGebra allow students to interact with graphs and functions dynamically, testing hypotheses and discovering patterns. These tools promote active exploration, moving students beyond rote memorization toward conceptual mastery.

Technology can transform “I don’t get it” into “Let’s try it another way,” giving students multiple entry points to the same idea. Work smarter, not harder! As your teacher, I will guide you in using these digital tools to support your mathematical growth while also showing you how to use technology responsibly and with integrity.

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Find a maximum point in the function f(x)=2-x-x² on the interval [-2,1].

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Equity & Accessibility Through Technology

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Equity & Accessibility Through Technology

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One of the most critical roles of technology is to bridge educational inequities. Features such as text-to-speech, multilingual translations, and digital graphic organizers ensure that all students can participate meaningfully.

For students who face barriers due to language differences, learning needs, or limited resources, these tools help level the playing field. Technology, when used equitably, reinforces my classroom value that every student’s voice matters. Students today are gifted with massive integration and fluency in technology in ways my generation began to scratch the surface. My goal is to leverage that to work for you, so that your time in my class aligns with the strengths you already possess. We want everyone to have the same opportunities to succeed!

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Fortunately, we live in an exciting time to be both a teacher and student! Where, in the past, it was the pattern of teachers demonstrating methods and correcting errors, all of that remains in play, but now we recognize that students learn best when they own and discover the knowledge themselves. The best way to accomplish this goal is to work together and utilize your collective minds to solve problems. The way you analyze a problem and solve an equation may be different than your classmates – it is beneficial to cross-pollinate and share these thoughts. You will always be accessible to each other before me. The core of our class activities will be group work, where you will all collaborate on projects, wrestling with and persevering through new concepts, and grow in both capacity and character. We do math on our feet and together!

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Students and their families can expect to engage in daily routines, such as warm-ups, group collaboration, and exit tickets, to build consistent learning habits. The standards are our collectively established Team and Community Agreements. These agreements will underpin that we respect each other's voices and are ready to engage.

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How Do We Handle a Breach of Our Agreements?

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How Do We Handle a Breach of Our Agreements?

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When Norms Are Broken:
We will not always see eye to eye. Disagreements are inevitable. I believe the potential to move forward better is nested in every social challenge. Please watch this video on nonviolent communication. In our classroom, we draw heavily on the practices of restorative justice as they have been published by the Santa Clara County Office of Education and outlined in Restorative Practices: A Toolkit for Educators. In short, we aim to break patterns of frustration and punishment with empathy and solution-oriented interventions.

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I communicate my belief in a growth mindset by modeling my own mistakes when solving math problems and celebrating revisions. I make simple mistakes quite often, as some of us do. But that's ok! In fact, I see these simple errors as teachable moments to show you how easy it is, for example, to mess up mental math. The point is that we all have different proficiencies in our executive functions (Weinstein and Tsai, p. 49), and we will benefit from sharing these.

On the first day of class, you will be grouped into teams of four. Kellough and Kellough (p. 114-115) set the standard for how we will police ourselves. In your teams, you will talk about what your Team Agreements will be for how you will work together and help each other. Then, we will apply this same democratic process to create a universal set of Community Agreements. This is how we will all know and adhere to the standards of communication and behavior.

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For the families, I want you to know that my classroom aligns with school-wide supports designed to help every student succeed. Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) give us clear expectations and consistent reinforcement of positive choices, while Universal Design for Learning (UDL) ensures multiple ways for students to access, express, and engage with the material. Together, these frameworks mean your child will be supported not just as a student, but as a whole person. My goal is to partner with you in creating a classroom where expectations are clear, successes are celebrated, and every learner has the tools they need to thrive.