Assessment Policies
It has been our passion to accurately assess student learning by creating a grading system that utilizes both formative and summative assessments correctly. We have found that our grading policies have effectively eliminated the common grade inflation problem and gives a much clearer picture of how well students understand the mathematics and why that may be the case. Please check out our Assessment page for more info.
Textbook Design Theory
When we set out to design a textbook, we wanted something that was the bare bones so that we could affordably print them ourselves (we're at around $5.70 per student which is still cheaper than any officially published textbook), give students total access to everything they need, and not have our textbook drive our curriculum. In this case, the textbook comes directly from the curriculum. We looked at each Common Core Standard and wrote the textbook straight from that. By putting everything online, we are able to train students in self-regulation strategies to promote self-learning. No, there are no bells and whistles in this book, but it's meant to be a resource only. The bulk of the bells and whistles should come from the teacher. No amount of cool pictures in a text book showing kids having fun riding a roller coaster will actually help them learn more.
We also knew that by publishing our own textbook we could maintain control of the product. If we find problems that don't work well, we simply update it for the next year. If the explanation in the book isn't clear, we go back and reword it. We have found the textbook writing process to be very time consuming, but extremely rewarding. If at all possible, we'll never teach from a "real" textbook ever again.
We also knew that by publishing our own textbook we could maintain control of the product. If we find problems that don't work well, we simply update it for the next year. If the explanation in the book isn't clear, we go back and reword it. We have found the textbook writing process to be very time consuming, but extremely rewarding. If at all possible, we'll never teach from a "real" textbook ever again.
Sharing the Book & Resources
One of our other major goals was to make this freely available to any other teachers interested. We're happy to share not only the PDF versions, but the originals as well. After all, what's the point if you can't update and make changes yourself?
Mr. Eric Bright is the author of the CMS curriculum but has since moved. If you'd like a copy of the curriculum, please send an email to Mr. Bright at [email protected] and he'll happily pass everything along. If it's after August of 2018, you can also email CMS math teacher, Mr. Blandford at [email protected]. Either way, here's what you'll get:
All this is available for free. The only thing we ask is that if you find something wrong or make a great update, please let us know. We know our product is not perfect and will always be a work in progress. Help us continually make it better.
Mr. Eric Bright is the author of the CMS curriculum but has since moved. If you'd like a copy of the curriculum, please send an email to Mr. Bright at [email protected] and he'll happily pass everything along. If it's after August of 2018, you can also email CMS math teacher, Mr. Blandford at [email protected]. Either way, here's what you'll get:
- A curriculum map
- The full textbook
- Unit Pre- and Post-Tests
- Unit Pre-Test and Homework answer keys
- Quarter Exams (Quarter 2 Exam also includes Quarter 1 material, Quarter 3 Exam only covers Quarter 3 material, Quarter 4 Exam covers Quarters 3 and 4)
- Problem Solving activities that fit the specific skills
- Problem Solving rubrics (pick one that works best for you)
- Quarter Projects (these try to apply multiple skills from the Quarter)
- Classroom Posters relating to each unit
All this is available for free. The only thing we ask is that if you find something wrong or make a great update, please let us know. We know our product is not perfect and will always be a work in progress. Help us continually make it better.