Dear Parents and Guardians:

First, please accept my apologies for the non-periodic e-mails lately.  

As you might have guessed, I am doing my best to prepare your child for the upcoming standardized STAAR/EOC Math test this upcoming Monday and Tuesday.  Your child just recently took a Mock STAAR test this week and the grades are now online.  However, as you may see, it is weighted ZERO.  Hence, it will not affect your child's average in any way and it is a raw score.  We are going through it heavily this week in hopes to spur up some review for the mandated state test.  Your child will also receive the practice test this weekend to use it as an aid.


For more practice, feel free to direct your child to this link: http://www.dangmath.com/algebra-i-staareoc-practice.html The page has some practice problems links and quick tips in being successful for the preparation of the standardized test.

The state passing rate for the EOC Algebra I is 27 out of 54 or a scaled score of 3750.  My goal is to get them to 42 out of 54 (distinguished) level.

For Sunday and Monday night, I urge your child to get plenty of rest and have a good breakfast.  We also ask them to be on time, as the test is allotted a total of 4 hours.  We can provide TI-calculators, if they choose not to bring their own.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,
Jim Dang

Dear Parents and Guardians:

Welcome to the spring semester of the school year.  

Your child's next Algebra I Test 4-1 is on Friday, January 25 for Red Day and Monday, January 28 for Gray Day.  The topics will include systems using graphing, elimination, substitution and applications.

If your child needs a refresher of a topic or is absent, they can always get notes on and PowerPoint presentations through my website at www.dangmath.com.  YouTube has a lot of videos with these topics as well.

As a point of reference, my tutoring times have changed from Friday mornings to Monday morning at 7:15am.  This is to due to circumstances I can not control.  I still have open tutoring on Tuesdays and Thursdays during lunch and by appointment.

I urge your child to come into tutoring if they have any questions.  The best advice I can give students to do well is start study groups and meet regularly.  They can retain up to 95% of what they teach.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Dear Parents and Guardians:

As I speak for myself, I am definitely looking forward to the holidays.  I wanted to write to you and keep you informed of what is going on in Algebra II Pre-AP.

Your child's next Algebra I Test 3-1 is on Friday, November 30 for Red Day andMonday, December 3 for Gray Day.  The topics will include Simplifying, Operating Radicals, Conjugates, and Completing the Square.

For Test 3-2, the tentative dates are on Monday, December 10 for Red Day and Tuesday, December 11 for Gray Day.The topics will include Quadratic Formula, Properties of Exponents, Graphing and Solving Radical Equations. 

Notes and PowerPoint presentations are available online, through my website at www.dangmath.com


There is also a lot of concern with the benchmark.  As of now, the questions we covered will be counted as a quiz grade.  I have not received the grades yet but will figure things out when the time arises.  Please do not be alarmed with your child's benchmark grade.  We will go over the benchmark soon, as a way of review for the EOC/TAKS.   

My tutoring times are Tuesday and Thursdays during lunch and Friday mornings at 7:15am.  No appointment is necessary.  There is no tutoring this week (per Thanksgiving).

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. 


Have a great holiday,

Jim Dang

Dear Parents and Guardians:
As always, I want to keep you informed of what your child is learning in Algebra 1.

Your child's next Algebra I test is on Wednesday, November 7 for Red Day and Thursday, November 8 for Gray Day.  Your child will be graphing lines of slope and applying transformations.  I pushed the test date until this date because of our early release schedule.  Plus, this allows me to expand the topic much further than needed.  Notes and PowerPoint presentations are available online, through my website at www.dangmath.com

Test 2-2 is material growing from Test 2-1.  As an incentive for your child, starting today and until test day, I will replace their first test grade with their second test grade.  Here is how it works:

- They must complete ALL of their assignments on time.  I am asking for a legitimate attempt of the assignment.  Late work or not turning in any assignments will disqualify this incentive.

- They must complete ALL quiz corrections.  They must rewrite the question they missed, show all work, box answer, write one complete sentence as to why they missed it and one sentence as to what they can do not get it wrong for the test.  They are always due on the day of the test.

If they complete both of these bullets, I will replace their first test grade with the second.  If the second test grade is lowered than the first test grade, I will not replace it.  Regardless, I will NOT replace their second test grade with the first test grade.  This incentive can only help your child with their learning and grade.  For example:  if your child makes a 80 on the first test and scores a 90 on the second test, I will replace the 80 with a 90 (assuming they complete all necessary assignments).  This will only take effect for the 2nd six weeks.

Graphing calculators will be utilized for this test.  You will NOT have to purchase one.  However, students were asking where the best deals for calculators are.  If your child would like a used calculator and not prefer to use the online calculator, eBay has numerous calculator deals out there.  As always, buyers beware.  Also, I believe the school store has it in stock. Stores such as Target, Wal-Mart, Best Buy, etc... have them in stock, as well.  The models that can be purchased are TI-83, TI-84, or TI-84 Plus.  No TI--89's or higher please.

My tutoring times are Tuesday and Thursdays during lunch and Friday mornings at 7:15am.  No appointment is necessary.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.  Have a great week.

Thanks,
Jim Dang

Dear Parents and Guardians:

I hope everyone is doing well.

Our next test will cover Chapter 4.1 to 4.4, which starts the linear equations and establishing slope unit.  They will take the test on Thursday, October 18 on Red Day and Friday, October 19th on Gray day.  They will be establishing the identification of a linear function, determining slope through two points, and creating an equation.

As a matter of information, I will not be available on Thursday, October 11 and Friday, October 12 in class.  I will not be able to answer any e-mails at that time.  I will return on Monday. In the meantime, during my absence, your child will be completing an in-class project that is a quiz grade.  If you would like to preview the project, it is available on my website at dangmath.com

After this test, your child will start using graphing calculators.  Please do not worry about purchasing one.  We do have a school set of calculators for them to borrow at school only.  If you would are planning on purchasing a graphing calculator, TI-83 to TI-84 plus are highly recommended.  I know that the school store does have them available but I am unsure of the price.

As always, thank you for being so supportive of your child.  If you have any additional questions, please let me know.  You can definitely reach me (except for the weekend on October 11-14) at vdang@houstonisd.org.  

Thanks,

Jim Dang

Dear Parents and Guardians:

As we are heading the home stretch of the first six weeks, I want you to be aware of couple of dates.

Your child's next Algebra I test is on Tuesday, October 2 for Red Day and Wednesday, October 3 for Gray Day.  Your child will be primarily solving equations and analyzing functions.  As always, most of the topics are available online, through my website at www.dangmath.com

I am aware that some of the parents have been asking when we are utilizing the graphing calculators.  We will start that for the second six weeks, as we start graphing slope.

As always, my tutoring times are Tuesday and Thursday and Friday mornings at 7:15am.  No appointment is necessary.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Thanks,
Jim Dang

Dear Parents and Guardians:
I want you to be the first to know that we are adjusting the schedule for a little bit.  This is due to time factors.

The test next week will cover Chapters 1.1 to What's my Rule? (1.5) and Distribution Property (2.5).

Later today, I will put your child's quiz grade in the gradebook but I don't want you to be alarmed.  They will receive it today or Monday.  There are two options to help improve your child's grade.  First, there will be "quiz corrections."  On a separate sheet of paper in pencil, they will have to rewrite the question, show and CHECK their work.  Then, they must write in two complete sentences of why they missed it.  If they complete the necessary steps, they can earn up to half their points back.  For example, if they got an 80 on the quiz, the grade will be changed to a 90.  All quiz corrections are due on test day, when your child walks in.  No late quiz corrections will be accepted.

That being said, I am also reteaching Chapter 2.5: Distribution Property to every student.  I will re-quiz all students on Tuesday/Wednesday of next week.  They will also earn up to 20 additional points on top of their quiz score.  Hence, they can earn a score of more than a 100.

I am in the process of adding additional people to the list so please be patient with me if you are reading this on the blog.  I am in contact with Google Groups and trying to get that problem resolved.  

Plus, of course, thank you for being so supportive of your child.  If you have any additional questions, please let me know.

Thanks,
Jim Dang

Hello parents and guardians,

My name is Jim Dang and I am your child’s Algebra I teacher at HSPVA.  

To share a little about myself, I am entering my 8th year of teaching High School math.  I also teach a similar course at Lone Star College in Kingwood.  I am pursing a master's degree in Math through Sam Houston State University.  I am very excited to be your child’s math teacher this year.

This purpose of these bi-monthly e-mails is to inform you of what is going on with this course and upcoming dates.  I will tell you that this course is very demanding and rigorous.  However, if your child is dedicated and works hard, he or she will do perfectly fine.

Your child will keep up to date with a notebook.  The purpose of the notebook is to establish fundamentals of organization skills that are needed to be successful in high school.  We will set the notebook up today and Tuesday and have frequent notebook checks.

We will also have at least two quizzes in the next two weeks.  Your child will have the option to complete quiz corrections.  The details will be given to them next week.  In short, your child will have to fill out a form and present a new question.  If they complete the process, they can earn half credit for each missed question.

If your child has not add/like me on Facebook or Twitter (Professional page only), please remind them to do so by next week.  The link is available on my webpage.  Also, supplies are also due next week.

The first test of the first six weeks is Thursday, September 13 for Red Day and Friday, September 14th for Gray Day.  The test is all non-calculator.  My tutoring times are Tuesdays and Thursdays during lunch and Friday mornings at 7:15am.  

I am also looking forward to meeting many of you during Open House.

As always, you can visit my website at http://www.dangmath.com to get upcoming lessons.  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at vdang@houstonisd.org

Sincerely,

Jim Dang