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Parent/Guardian Resources
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Parent/Guardian Resources
Hello, parents and guardians and welcome to Team Vista's Physics-Math Help page by teacher Ted Cuevas. Please email me at tcuevas@cv.hightechhigh.org if you have any questions or concerns. I will add updated information periodically to help your student be successful at High Tech High Chula Vista.
My syllabus for the Physics/Math course for Team Vista 2008-2009
If your student needs help or if you need to talk, I have Office Hours on Mondays and Thursdays from 3:30 to 4:30pm or by appointment.
My team partner, Kay Flewelling's digital portfolio for Humanities class. Click here for Kay's syllabus.
A note on Powerschool
Please note that Powerschool grades are a snapshot of your student's performance in the past.
Although all teachers try very hard to keep grades up to date, very
often grades can get up to two weeks behind due to many factors which
can delay their update, including project curriculum design and
implementation. Feel free to send me an email if you would like to get
an update about your student's performance. Please see our team syllabus for clarification on grade policies and my syllabus for specific topics in the Physics-Math course.
FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions
What is an OT Set? How do they get them finished?
Check my calendar for when different portions of the prep (homework) assignments are due. Here is the best description of how these OT Sets get "Done" and "Finished".
Can I/should I help my student on their prep (homework)?
In general, it would be best that the student try their best to answer
the questions the best they can. If they need help understanding the
problem in the first place, then of course, please help them. Often,
vocabulary can be a challenge. However, showing them how you do
it, may not be the best strategy. A good tutor is someone who can
literally keep asking guiding questions such that the student can
arrive at their own solution. If you know how to do the problem, try to
just ask questions to them, guiding your inquiries in a way such they
can answer the question. This does not mean asking questions so that
they learn how to do it your way. Instead, if you are patient, you will
be pleasantly surprised at the perspective they have in answering their
questions. Also, if it takes more than 5 minutes or if you see that
your student is getting frustrated, have them write down a question or
two so that they do not forget where they got stuck. I consider that
good effort and worthy of credit. The idea is that they show their
thinking and not just the answer (I know the answers :-)).
What is an SLC?
An SLC is otherwise known as a Student Led Conference. Students in Team
Vista will be coached and will have been gathering all of their work
thus far this year in their "Working Portfolios" for each class.
Students will have a family chat explaining their progress this year
and what they have been doing in school. Different from a Teacher Led
Conference, the students are encouraged to advocate for themselves and
be able to show evidence of their growth. The first SLC is around the
first progress report in the fall and spring semesters.
What is a PoL?
A PoL (Presentation of Learning) is the students first major
presentation of the year. Students make this presentation to their
teachers, community members and their team peers. The content of the
PoL is using the projects they did in the first semester to reflect on
their learning of the Habits of Heart and Mind within the context of
the activities and projects throughout the semester.
What is a TPoL or TIoL?
A TPoL (Transitional Presentation of Learning) or TIoL (Transitional
Interview of Learning) is the final presentation/interview at the end
of the year. In this presentation or interview students will answer the
following essential question, "Do you know how to be a 10th Grade High
Tech High Chula Vista student?". Students will make assertions
referring to their year's work, their growth in the Habits of Heart and
Mind, and what they have learned in content and personally that shows
how that they know how to be a 10th grade student. Their assertions
must be backed up with evidence (one of the Habits of Heart and Mind)
which can be from a portfolio, their digital portfolio, or the physical
project if available. Other forms of evidence are also acceptable if
their are deemed appropriate.
Team Vista students will be participating in the TIoL, which follows a more formal interview format. Students will prepare a short presentation introducing themselves to the panel (their team teachers, community members, and two panelists of their choice). Students will then answer various questions from the panelists attempting to demonstrate their readiness and understanding of what is required of them to be successful 10th grade students at High Tech High Chula Vista. Check here for a fairly comprehensive explanation and question topics concerning the TIoL used in the 2008 school year.