Mathematics Communication 8-7-2017

Mathematics Communications

Texas Education Agency

August 7, 2017

Please do not respond to this e-mail. This is a one-way communication.

Greetings, Mathematics Bulletin Members.

Topics included in the bulletin:

• High School Mathematics Course Sequence
• Teacher2Teacher Videos
• OpenStax Open-Source Instructional Materials
• Study Edge Open-Source Instructional Materials
• Grade 6 OnTRACK Lessons
• ESTAR/MSTAR Assessment Windows for 2017–2018 School Year
• ESTAR/MSTAR Professional Development
• MATH COUNTS

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High School Mathematics Course Sequence

The required course sequence in Texas Education Code §28.025(b-2) for advanced English and mathematics courses was eliminated by Senate Bill 826. The change applies beginning with the 2017-2018 school year. This change does not impact the prerequisites listed for high school mathematics courses. Prerequisites listed for courses are part of the TEKS, which are located in the Texas Administrative Code (TAC).

Please note that there is a distinction between prerequisites and course sequencing requirements. A sequencing requirement is a requirement that a student cannot enroll in a course until the student has successfully completed the previous course(s). Prerequisites identify the knowledge and skills that a student must have in order to be successful in a particular course. The State Board of Education has adopted rules that clarify prerequisites in TAC §74.11(j) and (k). Those rules establish circumstances under which a student can meet prerequisites. These rules are available online at http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/rules/tac/chapter074/ch074b.html#74.11.

 

Teacher2Teacher Videos

Seventeen Teacher2Teacher videos are now available on the Texas Gateway. The topics range in grades from kindergarten to Algebra I and include fraction division, integer operations, addition and subtraction of a variety of numbers, percent increase/decrease (growth and decay), solving equations, and multiple representations of equations. These videos demonstrate a transition from various strategies to the standard algorithm and include vertical alignment discussions. You can access the videos at https://www.texasgateway.org/node/227936.

 

OpenStax Open-Source Instructional Materials

OpenStax (Rice University) open-source instructional materials are available at http://tea.texas.gov/Academics/Instructional_Materials/Open-Source_Instructional_Materials/. The products are organized into units and chapters and can be used like traditional textbooks as the entire syllabus for a course.

OpenStax open-source instructional materials will be fully available in September. For assistance in locating sample materials, contact the Instructional Materials Division at (512) 463-9601 or instructionalmaterials@tea.texas.gov.

 

Study Edge Open-Source Instructional Materials

Study Edge open-source instructional materials are available on the Texas Gateway. Materials are available for Precalculus and Statistics as well as Chemistry and Physics. The products created by Study Edge are delivered in short videos with master teachers presenting the material. The videos can be used to teach an entire course or as supplemental material to help students be more successful in these challenging courses.

For more information about Study Edge open-source materials available through TEA, visit https://www.texasgateway.org/node/227231. For additional assistance, contact the Instructional Materials Division at (512) 463-9601 or instructionalmaterials@tea.texas.gov.

 

Grade 6 OnTRACK Lessons

Two OnTRACK lessons for grade 6 have been added to the Texas Gateway. Each is filled with instruction and interactives designed to assist students is sixth grade mathematics. Additional lessons are in development.

Applying the Order of Operations: https://www.texasgateway.org/resource/applying-order-operations

Generating Equivalent Forms of Rational Numbers: https://www.texasgateway.org/resource/generating-equivalent-forms-rational-numbers

 

ESTAR/MSTAR Assessment Windows for 2017–2018 School Year

The purpose of the ESTAR/MSTAR Universal Screeners is to determine if a student is at-risk for algebra readiness. The content in these screeners does not cover all the TEKS for the grade levels. The results should be used to guide instruction for whole class and interventions where appropriate. The Diagnostic Assessments can then be used to find specific areas of needs for the students who are identified as “at-risk” for algebra readiness by the Universal Screener. These tools can be accessed on the Texas Gateway at http://www.texasgateway.org/.

 

The ESTAR/MSTAR Universal Screeners, Diagnostic Assessments, and professional development courses are available at no cost to all Texas public school districts. For account creation assistance, contact mathTX@esc13.net.

 

Universal Screener         

Fall                August 21, 2017 – October 13, 2017

Winter           January 8, 2018 – February 9, 2018

Spring           April 23, 2018 – May 18, 2018

 

Diagnostic Assessments      

Fall                August 28, 2017 – October 20, 2017

Winter           January 15, 2018 – February 16, 2018

Spring           April 30, 2018 – May 25, 2018

 

ESTAR/MSTAR Professional Development

 

Teachers are encouraged to complete the appropriate online professional development courses when using the ESTAR/MSTAR Universal Screeners and Diagnostic Assessments. The following online courses are available on the Texas Math Support Center (http://texasmathsupportcenter.org/):

 

• TEA ESTAR/MSTAR Universal Screeners
• TEA ESTAR/MSTAR Learning Progressions
• TEA ESTAR/MSTAR Diagnostic Assessments

 

 

MATHCOUNTS

 

MATHCOUNTS is a national middle school coaching and competitive mathematics program that promotes mathematics achievement through a series of fun and engaging “bee” style contests.

 

In the 2017 competition, a team of four students from Euless, Missouri City and Austin took first prize including the top two individual scores. Congratulations to the whole team, their coach, parents/guardians, and teachers. For more information, please visit https://www.mathcounts.org/national-competition.

 

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Thank you for your commitment to serving Texas students.

James Slack

Statewide Mathematics Coordinator

Curriculum Standards and Student Support Division

james.slack@tea.texas.gov

Phone: 512-463-9581