Feel free to contact me phil.goetstouwers@hintonschool.com or 712-947-4328 any time.

Have a wonderful holiday break!

Our 7-8th graders recently had our 2nd quarter SOARing Celebrations. We celebrated our students sOaring with an emphasis on Optimism. Congratulations to our students: Addi Ortegren, Elli Friessen, Chloey Geddes, Wyatt Robinson, Garrett Gant, Trevor Obbink, Brady Dunkel, Brynlee Boeve, Makenna Schlesser, Camden Buchanan, Amelia Gormally, Jaylyn Chase, and Caitlin Hagestrom!

Our 9-12th grade also our 2nd quarter "SOARing Summit" focusing on Optimism. Congratulations to our students: Calen Keegan, Gregory Beals, Rachael McGaffey, Addison Kovarna, Natalie Nelson, Lauren Pridie, Landen Hanks, Brogan Lake, Ethan Sachau, Eli Probasco, Gabby Friessen, Paige Clark, Stacy Hoelscher, and not pictured (Gage Morgan and Lauren Kounkel)! Next quarter's focus is Accountability.

Algebra II

This is a new class for me, and the challenge has been exciting. The students have learned a lot about Functions this first semester, including graphing and solving for specific variables. They have also learned the next steps in a lot of the Algebra that they already knew. If they didn’t realize it before, they do now, math never stops, we just add more steps!

Geo have gone over topics such as banking, mortgages, insurances, loans, investing, and much more. The students have been engaged in learning this material. This is a one semester class and next semester we move on to Technical Math. The idea for Technical Math is math for the trades. This class has gained a lot of interest from our students and I can’t wait to get it started.

metry

Something new this year is that we added the Bridge Building Competition. The students were required to come up with a scale drawing for their bridge, using standard bridge designs or they were able to create their own. We had a guest speaker, Darwin Bishop, come in and go over their designs with them in an effort to perfect them and allow them to hold up the most weight possible. After spending time building, we tested all the bridges. The winning bridge held up 135 lbs!

Consumer Math

This is another new class that I have really enjoyed teaching. Basically, this class is real life money lessons for the kids. We

8th Grade Algebra

These students are learning the basics of Algebra and starting to understand how it all works together. They have learned and experimented with different equations and they are seeing how it doesn’t matter what form it is in, it can be graphed and all the graphs look the same. They can solve for different points and they are starting to understand what those points represent on the lines.

This year, we had a student teacher in Mr. Clark’s math class. Ms. Kellen was here from October 16 to December 8. Ms. Kellen did a very good job and will make an excellent teacher wherever she goes. Luckily, she is going to be subbing here from time to time till she gets her own job in the fall. The students really enjoyed having her, especially since she was able to make review days fun with different ways of doing so, such as scavenger hunts and jeopardy.

With the 1st semester wrapping up, I would like to remind everyone of the Algebra rules for 7th graders to enter the class as 8th graders. They must get a 90% or higher for both semester grades, a 90% or higher on both semester tests, a 500 on the ISASP, and 33 or better on the Algebra Readiness exam. The readiness exam consists of material they have already gone over and will need for getting into Algebra. It is always hard telling some kids they didn’t quite make it, but to see how much effort and care they put into this is truly inspiring.

I hope everyone enjoys their holiday break and look forward to a great second semester. Also, can’t forget TRACK IS ALMOST HERE.

Go Blackhawks!

The Hinton High School Math Club is off to a great start this year! Students meet during homeroom to discuss and work on deltamath.com which is an online system used in math courses. Sample math ACT questions are provided and the students work on those problems to earn points. They work on them on their own time and meet up once a month to discuss problems and begin work on the next practice test. At the end of the year, awards will be given to the student with the most points earned in each grade level and the student with the overall top points will be declared the MVM (Most Valuable Mathlete) of the Math Club.

Our 10th grade biology students will be introduced to Mastery-Based Learning (MBL) during the 3rd quarter. This approach emphasizes deep learning and skill development, moving beyond simple memorization.

What is Mastery-Based Learning?

MBL prioritizes student mastery, requiring full understanding of a subject before advancement. This approach guarantees proficiency and bridges potential knowledge gaps. MBL is organized around competencies or learning goals for each unit, guiding students towards understanding their learning objectives. Instead of traditional lectures, MBL employs various resources like video lectures, reading materials, PearDeck notes, and more. This strategy frees up time for teachers to interact one-on-one or in small groups, catering to individual student needs.

Mastery-Based Learning and Bloom's Taxonomy

Bloom's Taxonomy, a six-stage model, categorizes learning objectives into Remembering, Understanding, Applying, Analyzing, Evaluating, and Creating. Traditionally, emphasis is on the base of the pyramid, Remembering and Understanding, centering on memorization and comprehension. (see Figure 1)

With MBL, our goal is to invert this pyramid, focusing on higher cognitive stages - Applying, Analyzing, Evaluating, and Creating. This shift fosters critical thinking, complex problem-solving, and idea generation, promoting a deeper, longer-lasting understanding. (see Figure 2)

Benefits of Mastery-Based Learning

MBL offers multiple advantages:

• Individual Learning Pace: Each student progresses at their own speed within each unit, with a set deadline for completion, ensuring work is timely.

• Higher-Order Thinking Focus: Spending more time on Bloom's Taxonomy's higher stages, MBL encourages critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity.

• Increased Engagement: Active learning is promoted, boosting student engagement and motivation.

• Growth Mindset: MBL nurtures resilience and persistence, emphasizing effort's role in achieving mastery.

Unit Structure in Mastery-Based Learning

Each MBL unit includes:

1. PearDeck Notes: An interactive tool that fosters engagement and collaboration.

2. Video Lectures: Lectures aligned with learning targets, catering to various learning styles.

3. Assignments and Quizzes: Students complete these to assess understanding and track progress. An 80% score is needed to progress to the next segment. If a student struggles to meet this benchmark, it is either encouraged or may be required for them to arrange a meeting with me (via Google Calendar). During this session, we will discuss their difficulties and identify any knowledge gaps that need bridging.

4. Comprehensive Unit Tests: Each unit concludes with a test based on the learning targets. (Example objectives)

Comprehensive Unit Test Options and Scoring

The Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress (ISASP) crafts its test questions using varying Depth of Knowledge (DOK) levels, with a primary focus on DOK2 and DOK3. These levels require students to actively interact with the content and utilize problem-solving techniques for successful responses (refer to pages 6 and 7 in this link). To align with this methodology and to promote advanced learning, we have curated particular unit testing options. These aim to enhance students' comprehension and possible performance on the ISASP.

Three test versions are offered:

• I Get It Test: This method focuses exclusively on the "essential" learning objectives, aligning with Depth of Knowledge Level 2.

• Mastery Test: This method encompasses both "essential" and "important" objectives, correlating with Depth of Knowledge Levels 2 and 3.

• High Mastery Test: This method addresses all learning objectives, spanning Depth of Knowledge Levels 2, 3, and 4.

Scoring by test version:

• I Get It: Scoring 80% or above gives a base score of 70%. Every additional 2% adds 1% to the total score, up to 80%.

• Mastery: Scoring 80% or above offers a base score of 80%. Each extra 2% adds 1% to the total score, up to 90%.

• High Mastery: Scoring 80% or above provides a base score of 90%. Each extra 2% adds 1% to the total score, up to 100%.

Students may try each test version three times, making a total of nine attempts. All work and tests must be finished by the unit end date to avoid a zero score. (Due Dates Link)

Incorporating these elements, MBL promises an engaging, effective, and comprehensive learning experience. We look forward to witnessing the growth and success your children will achieve with this new approach.