1. Why is math such a large priority at ECHS?

Many students are not successful in college because they cannot pass the math entrance exams mandated by every community college, Cal State, or UC.  If your child does not pass the math entrance exam, they may have to enroll at another school to receive that credit.  Furthermore, your student’s financial aid will most likely NOT pay for the remedial courses necessary.  This means that you or your student must pay out of pocket to take high school courses that they are currently enrolled in at ECHS.  Wouldn’t be great if they learned it this time around for free?

We don’t like this system as math teachers and there are many values that drive our curriculum and our instruction.  However, we want our students to be successful in college, and that means being ready for college work on the first day.  We don’t want our future lawyers, doctors, engineers, writers, journalists, scientists, mathematicians, teachers, etc to have to defer their dreams so they can re-learn skills they should’ve learned while in high school.

2. Why is my child taking two math classes as a first year student at ECHS?

First, please read question 1 if you have not done so already.  If your child is not in Geometry as a 9th grader, he or she has math twice a day for the entire year.  Almost all of our students are behind in math.  We need to catch them up so that by the time they graduate from the 12th grade, math is not an obstacle to their dreams in college.

Part of that catch process includes having math twice in the 9th grade.  Your child’s two math classes are different.  Mr. Bias’s math class focuses on skill development, problem solving, and incorporates all the numeracy skills they will need in 9th grade science, AVID, algebra, and other classes.

3. 3.How are my child’s math grades calculated?
   

For most math classes, 30% of the grade is based on homework completion, class participation, and other formative assessments that students complete on a daily basis that shows their learning process.

The other 70% of the grade is based on a few summative assessments.  You can view these assessments as big tests or projects that come up 3 or 4 times in a semester.

Every summative assessment must be passed in order to move on to the next math class.  For further explanation, keep reading.

4. 4.Why do you demand that students pass all exams?
   

There are many ways to assess math students.  Standardized testing is only one method, and as ineffective as it can be as an authentic assessment, traditional tests are what your child is going to have to pass if they go to any public college or university in California.  These college entrance tests contain traditional math problems that test your child’s ability to demonstrate knowledge of traditional, abstract math problems.  To ensure that students are mastering these skills, we make sure that students pass every summative assessment.  We do provide tutoring for free (see #7 below) and also allow students to retake summative assessments (see #6 below).

5. 5.How come my child has an “F” when his/her grade is over a 70%?
   

Your child simply needs to come in a retake an exam.  When a student doesn’t show proficient skills on a test, the teacher assigns that student a temporary zero in PowerSchool.  The student can retake the exam for credit.  Once your student has done so, the test grade will be changed to a 75%.

6. 6.How does my child make up an exam?
   

If your child needs to make up an exam, they need to come after school for tutoring (see the next questions for more details on the Math Lab).  During after school, your child will receive individualized instruction, an opportunity to practice more problems, and a chance to take a pre-test (usually textbook problems).  Once they’ve passed these steps, they are ready to retake their exam.  There are deadlines for retaking exams, so you, as a parent, want to make sure your child is actively working toward completing these steps.

7. What is the Math Lab?

The Math Lab is a free service provided to you and your student to receive math instruction in any course at any level.  The Math Lab is open EVERY DAY after school except for minimum days.  The Lab opens right after school and goes until 5:00.  On busy days, the Lab will stay open until 5:30 or 6:00.  The Math Lab runs in room 146 and room 144.

The Math Lab is run by ECHS math teachers, our top math students, and community volunteers.

8. 8. Does the Math Lab cost anything?
   

This service is provided to you and your child for FREE! 

9.  Who can attend Math Lab?

The short answer is:  you, your child, and ECHS alums.

If you need help with high school or college level math as a parent, you are more than welcome to come to our Math Lab.  Many parents taking math classes at community colleges have come in for help before.  If you would like to volunteer as a tutor, we could use the help.  Send me and email:  chase_orton@echsonline.org.

10. 10.My child claims that s/he is bored in class because the material is too easy.  How should I advise my child?
    

Starting this year, we are implementing an Honors level curriculum in Algebra 2.  Next year, we hope to start Honors level options for Algebra 1, Geometry, and Pre-Calculus. 

Details on our Honors program will be coming soon, but students who claim the work is too easy should be coming after school so they can earn extra credit.  Students completing Honors work will receive recognition on their transcript (which looks good to colleges) and will also receive extra points on their GPA (which also looks good to colleges).

11. 11.What math classes are offered at ECHS?
    

At ECHS, we offer a traditional math curriculum.  Briefly, the courses we offer are Math Enrichment (see question #2 above), Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, Precalculus with Trigonometry, and AP Calculus.  If your child is enrolled in Algebra 1A or 1B, they are in a TWO year Algebra 1 program.

The diagram below is from our back to school night for parents that we show ever fall.  You can also learn more about this curriculum on our parent empowerment page.  Briefly, there are four years of high school mathematics.  If you want your child to take Calculus (college-level math), then your child will need to:

1. A.Take Algebra 1 in 8th grade  OR
   

2. B.Take Geometry over the summer.
   

Remember, the more math your child knows, the more likely they will be successful in college.