Assisting Teacher Handoff Sheet

Session 1.1 - What Is a Function? | Week 1, Tuesday

FOR THE ASSISTING TEACHER: Read the information below before Kaa Shaayi leaves at 2:00. You are supervising worksheet time from 2:00-3:00. Students work independently from 3:00-3:30.

What Students Just Learned (30-second summary)

A function is a relationship where each input gives exactly one output. We used a vending machine analogy: one button = one snack. Students also learned the vertical line test for graphs and saw that y = x² is a function but x = y² is not.

The Worksheet

Students are working on Worksheet 1.1 (35 points, 10 problems across 4 parts). There is a Quick Reference box at the top of the worksheet with all the key definitions. Point students there first if they're stuck.

Part A (Story): Real-world function identification and a pay-rate table. Most accessible - good starting point for struggling students.

Part B (Visual): Tables, mapping diagrams, vertical line test. The SVG diagrams ask students to draw arrows.

Part C (Traditional): Ordered pairs and equations. This is the hardest part for most students.

Part D (Synthesis): Write their own definition, create examples, reflect on which approach helped most.

Top 3 Mistakes to Watch For

1. "Two inputs can't give the same output."
Wrong. The rule only goes one direction: each INPUT must give ONE output. Two different inputs CAN produce the same output. (Example: f(-2) = 4 and f(2) = 4 is fine.)
2. Confusing y = x² with x = y².
y = x² IS a function (each x gives one y). x = y² is NOT (x = 9 gives y = 3 or y = -3). Students mix these up in Problem 7.
3. Table 3b - missing the repeated x-values.
The table has x = 2 appearing twice with different y-values (10 and 20). This is the key indicator that it's NOT a function. Students often don't notice the repeated inputs.

If a Student Is Stuck

First: Point them to the Quick Reference box at the top of the worksheet.

Second: Ask them "For this one input, could you get more than one output?" That question works for almost every problem.

Third: The Session 1.1 Reading has worked examples. It's available in Canvas.

Video: Math Antics "What Are Functions?" on YouTube (search "Math Antics functions"). This 10-minute video is a visual explainer.

Priority Problems

If students are running low on time, have them prioritize: Problems 1, 3, 5, 8 (one from each part). Problems 9 and 10 can be finished at home.