Just In Case . . .

It's almost midway through the winter break. If you are checking the blog, perhaps it is because you missed school towards the end of the week before break started. I suggest you look through your binder to see if all of your math work is done and checked off. Several of you have missing assignments, including the field trip problem that was completed in class on 12/17 and 12/18. Finish any partially done work, and put it somewhere safe so you'll be ready to turn it in on the first day back to school (January 8th). Don't work too hard, as it is vacation time, you know!!

Tonight's Homework: See above.

Happy Holidays!

Students worked on a problem related to triangular, rectangular and square numbers. Afterwards, we sang some science songs written to the tunes of familiar holiday songs.

Tonight's Homework: None, unless you didn't finish the problem in class today. Enjoy the next two weeks. Be happy and safe. I'll see you in January!

That's a Lot of Birds!!!!

We looked at the lyrics of the song, "The 12 Days of Christmas" from a mathematical perspective today. Students worked together to see if they could summarize their findings by creating an equation.

Tonight's Homework: Finish the two problems on the worksheet that you started in class today.

Teddy Bear Jump and Slide

Students worked in pairs on a strategy game called "Teddy Bear Jump and Slide". Though this seemed like a simple task at first, it got increasingly more difficult as the teams progressed through the levels. By the end of the period, most people were able to successfully navigate through the first four levels of the challenge. Data tables were created to help organize the information being collected.

Tonight's Homework: Finish the activity we started in class. Look for a pattern and try to write an equation for the minimum number of moves it will take to complete each level.

Finishing the Field Trip Work Sample

Students finished the field trip planning work sample in class today. (Too bad it didn't snow more last night . . .)

Tonight's Homework: None!

Planning a Field Trip Work Sample

We took some time to discuss how to use our data from the red vine activity and turn it into an equation. Next, students completed the first part of a work sample dealing with the planning of a field trip. Afterwards, students had time to start their homework.

Tonight's Homework: Finish the worksheet you started in class today.

Red Vines Disappearing!

We finished moving boxes of food from the holiday food drive to Miss Madathil's office. Then we did a quick activity that involved measuring the length of red vines as we ate them. Students literally ate their math work today!

Tonight's Homework: Finish the data table, graph and equation for the data you collected about red vines in class today.

Personalizing Our Learning About Linear Relationships

After a brief review of vocabulary, students used the bulk of the period to complete their poster projects related to linear equations. Each poster included a situation, data table, graph and equation. Although some students felt rushed, most did excellent work!

Tonight's Homework: None! Isn't that a nice surprise?

Data Tables to Graphs to Equations, Oh My!

We wrapped up our learning about linear relationships by working with a partner to create a situation that could be represented by a graph, table and equation. This project will be finished in class tomorrow.

Tonight's Homework: ACE 1 (31)

More About Lines

Students completed an in-class pair activity today. When they finished, they began the Investigation 1 review sheet, which will be completed tonight as homework.

Tonight's Homework: Complete the Investigation 1 review worksheet you started in class today.

Spending Our Profits From the Walkathon

Today, we looked at lines that have negative slopes, meaning they move down and to the right on the coordinate grid. To accomplish this, we investigated the idea of spending our profits from the walkathon on items to donate to a children's hospital. When the money ran out, we were done spending. We talked about the x-intercept today, and what it means in relationship to the problem. We also practiced writing equations to model these types of problems.

Tonight's Homework: ACE 1 (10 - 14, even)

Fundraising for the Walkathon

Today, we looked at the lines described by different types of fund raising schemes. Students noted that getting paid a fixed amount of money, regardless of laps walked, created a straight and horizontal line. Getting paid a flat number of cents per lap created a straight line moving up and to the right from the origin. Getting a donation and a certain number of cents per mile created a similar type of line, but it does not start at the origin. We talked about the y-intercept today.

Tonight's Homework: ACE 1 (6 - 8, 24, 25)

Walking Rates and Rates of Change on a Graph

Using the data from yesterday's activity, we wrote equations to express our walking rates. Students learned that the rates, though not exactly constant, could be found by drawing a line of best fit that fit most of the data.

Tonight's Homework: ACE 1 ( 3, 4, 19 - 22 )

Investigating Our Rates of Walking

Students collected data on how long it took them to walk 10 meters, using different types of strides. Students walked at a normal rate, then tried to speed walk, and finally walked heel to toe down a 10 meter stretch of the courtyard. Data collected was recorded in a data table, and was then converted into a triple line graph.

Tonight's Homework: Investigation 1.1 (all parts).

Beginning to Move Straight Ahead

Students previewed the new math book, Moving Straight Ahead, and learned that it extends our recent learning about variables, patterns, graphs, tables and equations. We talked about the definition of linear equations and functions, and prepared for an activity that will be conducted in tomorrow's class.

Tonight's Homework: ACE 1 (1, 2, 15-18). In addition, if you did not finish the packet from yesterday, please do so tonight.

The Second Trimester Begins Today!

Mrs. Hopper filled in for me today, as I was at a district meeting. Students learned how to convert repeating decimals into fractions. Mrs. Hopper showed a video to the class to help them understand the process, and then gave the class time to get started on tonight's homework. Weekly grade slips were distributed.

Tonight's Homework: Home Book, page 26 (1 - 6), show your work. In addition, be sure to complete all problems in the tricolored packet you started in class today.

The End of the Term Has Arrived . . .

We cleaned out our notebooks today, and then graphed "dot" patterns to see if graphs can help us see patterns, equations and rules. More on this will be covered next week.

Tonight's Homework: None.

"But Where is This in the Picture???"

We reviewed how to do the fraction problems on the "Looking Back and Looking Forward" worksheet, and many students understood their errors in thinking. We then analyzed our dot problems and saw how the table and the picture could help us come up with formulas that would allow us to calculate the number of dots at any time in the pattern. Tomorrow, we will look at the graphs to see how they can help.

Tonight's Homework: Complete the Session 4 dots worksheet.

Bye, Bye, Variables and Patterns!

Students used graphs, tables and formulas to explain what they saw happening in a series of dots problems.

Tonight's Homework: Complete the two "dots" worksheets you started in class today. Remember, tomorrow is the last day for Tax Man submissions. Keep working on this if you are trying to earn some extra credit for this term. Good luck!!!

Reviewing Computations with Fractions

Today, students reviewed how to compute with fractions while they answered a series of questions related to purchasing nuts and dried fruit. Although the questions may have seemed a bit easy, the calculations helped students really think about the processes they need to follow to get the correct answers.

Tonight's Homework: Did you finish the "Looking Back" worksheet in class? Good for you if you did. If not, please get it done tonight. Home Book, pages 29-30 (all problems). Please don't use a calculator!

Happy Thanksgiving!

After correcting homework, students continued working on finding patterns and then writing equations for the patterns they found.

Tonight's Homework: None. Have a safe and restful Thanksgiving!

Best Plans Can Be Foiled

Because a meeting this morning ran overtime, students were not able to come in early to finish their tests. As a result, time was given in class for students to finish the test over Variables and Patterns Investigation 3. We then looked at patterns created with blocks.

Tonight's Homework: Complete the triangle/pentagon perimeter problem we started in class today.

Testing over Graphs, Tables and Equations

Students received their weekly grade slips today and then took the test over Investigation 3 of the Variables and Patterns book.

Tonight's Homework: None, other than to wear yellow tomorrow!

Talent Show Assembly Shortens Class

Because so many students were absent from our class today, we played a strategy game during the shortened class period. Students were issued a challenge to develop a strategy that would give them a winning score. All strategies must be submitted by the end of the school day on Thursday, November 29th.

Tonight's Homework: None, other than to be ready for Monday's test.

Test Postponed Until Monday

After finding out that nearly 1/4 of the class will be missing 6th period on Friday, I have decided to postpone the test over investigations 2 and 3 of the Variables and Patterns book until Monday, November 19th. We practiced writing formulas and looking for patterns today.

Tonight's Homework: ACE 3 ( 30 - 42, 48 ). Making a graph for information from problem 48 is extra credit.

Reviewing for Friday's Test

Students completed a mini-assessment today over investigation 2. We then talked about the pros and cons of using data tables, graphs and equations.

Tonight's Homework: Complete all problems on page 63. Start studying for Friday's test over the information in your Variables and Patterns book.

More on Formula and Equation Writing

After reviewing the formulas written for each of the book stacks, we practiced looking for the rate of change in tables, graphs and formulas. This proved to be a bit more challenging for most students, so we spent a little extra time on it. Students completed a 4 question assessment over tables and graphs during the last 15 minutes of class.

Tonight's Homework: ACE 3 ( 22 - 27 ). Get your grade slips signed!

Measuring the Height of Books

To help students see the relationship between tables, graphs and formulas, students measured the height of stacks of books and cubes. This data was recorded in a table, and then graphed. We will be using this information as we continue our investigation on Tuesday.

Tonight's Homework: Make a graph of the data you collected in class today. Be sure to give it a meaningful title, axis labels and a key. Be sure to leave room for predicting the height of at least 20 books (or cubes!). Have a great weekend!

Writing Equations to Describe Patterns in Tables and Graphs

The goals of today's lesson are for students to be able to: • Write one-step equations to represent relationships between variables and describe how the pattern of change shows up in a table, a graph, or an equation, and • Use tables, graphs, and equations to answer questions. We spent a bit of time going over many examples to ensure student success as they attempt to complete their homework.

Tonight's Homework: ACE 3 ( 1 - 4, 43)

Finishing Up the What's My Line? Activity

Students used their understanding of the relationship between water volume and height in a container to predict which of 5 different graphs matched a particular bottle shape. We then continued our discussion of the bike trip by looking at patterns that can be related as equations. This will be our focus for the next week or two.

Tonight's Homework: Problem 4.1, found on pages 50 and 51. Be sure to do all problems!

More on What's My Line?

We continued our analysis of the data collected during the water volume vs. water height activity. Students began to see the relationship between the shape of a container and the line graph it suggests when looking at the volume and height variables.

Tonight's Homework: Reflection on page 48. Be sure to give complete answers to the questions asked.

Analyzing Bottle Shapes and Predicting Graph Lines

Today, we used our understanding of the relationship between the volume of liquid in a bottle to the height of the water in the bottle to make predictions of what the graphs of each of the other bottles would look like. Students sketched pictures of the bottles and then started on the predictions.

Tonight's Homework: Wear red, white and blue tomorrow. Finish your predictions by drawing 10 little graphs and write 10 explanations.

Filling Bottles with Water--This is Math?

As a culminating event for investigation 2 in the Variables and Patterns book, we began an activity in class today where we filled different bottles and containers with water, 25 milliliters at a time. Students recorded the height of the water in the bottle after each increment of water was added. Data tables were made, recording the volume of water and the height of that water in the container. This information will be used in class on Monday.

Tonight's Homework: Make a line graph of the data you collected in class today.

Matching Graphs with the Stories They Tell

As we continue our study of Investigation 2, we took some time to look at graphs and realize that they do tell stories about what happened. The story relates the two variables that are graphed on the axes, and depending on the scale used, graphs can take extremely different shapes. We practiced interpreting the graphs, and still had time to get started on our homework.

Tonight's Homework: ACE 2 (8, 10-12, 24)

Happy Halloween!

Students completed a quiz over the first investigation of the Variables and Patterns book during today's short class. Hopefully, all did well on it.

Tonight's Homework: None. Have a fun, but safe Halloween!

Starting a Bicycle Touring Company?

Thanks to everyone who wore red today to celebrate the end of Red Ribbon Week--you are all rock stars! Today, we finished investigation 1 and began investigation 2 in the Variables and Patterns book. As a class, we thought about all of the things we would need to provide if we were starting up a bicycle touring company. This discussion will guide us as we move through the different parts of investigation 2.

Tonight's Homework: ACE 2 ( 1 or 2, 3 or 4, and 15). There will be a quiz over Investigation 1 material on Wednesday, October 31st. Start preparing for it now!

Red Ribbon Week Begins; Continuous vs. Discrete Data Discussion Begins

Students received red ribbons to help kick off our celebration of Red Ribbon Week. Being drug free is a choice we make every single day. Our math lesson had us revisiting the jumping jack activity, but with a different twist to it. We collected data from Erika, Emily, Parker and Kobe as they jumped for two minutes. Students recorded the data so they can further analyze it tonight.

Tonight's Homework: Create one well-labeled graph to show the jumping jack data we collected in class today. Do not connect the dots today, as the number of jumping jacks done in each interval is discrete, not continuous, data. Write one summary statement about each of the 4 people who volunteered to be our jumpers.,

Notebook Clean-Out Day

During the short period, students corrected last night's homework, turned it in, cleaned out their notebooks, and still had time to get started on tonight's homework.

Tonight's Homework: ACE 1 ( 4, 5, 26 )

Analyzing Parts of a Line Graph

We took some time today to analyze what the information shown on a line graph really indicates. The steepness of the line can tell us something about what's happening. If the line is flat, it can also tell us something about what's happening in the given situation. There are clues hidden in the graph--you just have to be a detective to find them.

Tonight's Homework: ACE 1 ( 1-3, 13 - 20 )

Jumping Jacks in Math? You Have to be Kidding!

No, it's true! Many students volunteered to do jumping jacks in class as a part of our data gathering experiment. The data gathered will be turned into both a well-labeled data table and a line graph. This is the initial activity in our study of variables and patterns, which we'll be studying for the next several weeks.

Tonight's Homework: Complete all parts of Problems 1.1 and 1.2 in the new "Variables and Patterns" book. Don't forget to label!

Unit Test Over Integers Taken in Class Today

Students took the unit test over integers today. They also turned in their "Accentuate the Negative" books. Our next unit of study will be over variables and patterns, as you might have expected from the title of the new book you received today.

Tonight's Homework: Complete the orange "Daffynition Decoder" worksheet. Enjoy the goofy answers.

Reviewing for the "Accentuate the Negative" Unit Test

Students played a review game to strengthen their order of operations skills. Topics that will be on tomorrow's test include integer operations (add, subtract, multiply, and divide), orders of operations, distributive property, commutative property, and associative property. (Oh, and by the way, great job, yellow table, for winning today's game!)

Tonight's Homework:--Be sure to study for tomorrow's test. Complete all problems on the purple Order of Operations worksheet. Bring your textbook to class on Tuesday.

Picking Up the Pieces From Earlier in the Week

Students were reminded to do the right thing almost all the time so they will avoid troublesome situations. In particular, students were encouraged to go out of their way to be helpful to guest teachers, and not make their lives more difficult by misbehaving. Students learned that there will be a test over the integer unit on Tuesday, October 16th. I encouraged them to start preparing for it now.

Tonight's Homework: All problems on page 75 of your ATN book.

Looking Back and Looking Ahead

Today, we reviewed properties, operations and applications of integers. Specifically, we reviewed how to use things like silly stories, chip boards and number lines to represent integers and how to add, subtract, multiply and divide with them. We also used integers in real-world problems. To be sure we can do all of these things, we answered a lot of questions using pictures, diagrams, and silly stories as a part of our in class and out of class work.

Tonight's Homework: All problems on pages 78 and 79 of the ATN book.

Distributing Operations

Today, we looked at Problem 4.2. We used the areas of rectangles to help us learn more about the distributive property. We discovered that the pictures of the rectangles helped us to better visualize what is happening when we are needing to distribute in math problems. Students completed problem 4.2 in class, using the brain power of all table mates and classmates to power through the more difficult problems.

Tonight's Homework: ACE 4 (3, 4, 30-32).

Introducing the Distributive Property

Students used orders of operations to solve simple problems that could also be solved by using the distributive property. We developed a definition for the distributive property, and then practiced using it today.

Tonight's Homework: Pages 64 and 65 (all problems). If you are working on a PEMDAS poster, it is due on Monday, October 8th.

Revisiting Orders of Operations One More Time

Students learned that we need to follow directions completely when solving problems that involve orders of operations. To not do so will cause you to get some pretty funny results (like when you put your shoes and socks on!). We're getting better at computing with orders of operations.

Tonight's Homework: ACE 4 (5, 26-28, 33, and 45). Work on your PEMDAS poster.

More on Order of Operations

We reviewed the process for using order of operations today, as many students got confused on the part that requires that you multiply and divide from left to right. Many students were doing all of the multiplication, and then doing the division. Hopefully, this mistake will be corrected from now on. Students wishing to make a PEMDAS poster received paper today. We began an activity by writing out directions for how to put our shoes and socks on.

Tonight's Homework: ACE 4 (1, 2, 8-25, 36-43). If you are creating a PEMDAS poster, be sure to get started on it now!

An Introduction to Order of Operations

Vocabulary related to types of numbers (rational, irrational, integers, whole and counting) was discussed. We also talked about the commutative property, and how it works for addition and multiplication, but not for subtraction and division. This led us to a discussion about orders of operations.

Tonight's Homework: Page 63 (all problems). For extra credit, please make up a new, original sentence for orders of operations (PEMDAS) that you can illustrate. This poster will be due by Monday, October 8th.

Test over Integer Operations

Students took the test over integer operations today, and then attended the kick-off assembly for the magazine drive.

Tonight's Homework: None! Enjoy the weekend.

Subtracting Integers, Revisited

Students received their weekly grade slips today, as well results from last week's quiz. It was evident that most students were proficient at adding integers, but not nearly as proficient at subtracting them. With this in mind, we reviewed how to do this using a "same, change, change" method (also known as adding the opposite). Students seemed very confident that this will help them do a better job at subtracting integers on future assignments and quizzes.

Tonight's Homework: Get your weekly grade report signed and bring it back to class on Tuesday. Redo the 10 subtraction problems on your quiz, using the "same, change, change" method we learned in class. Then use pictures to show the answer to each of these problems.

How Good Are We At Adding and Subtracting Integers?

We finished the week by reviewing how to compute with integers. Students took a quiz over adding and subtracting integers.

Tonight's Homework: Give the course description and "Missed PreAlgebra" sheets to your parents and have them read them. The signed sheets of paper are due on Monday, September 24th. Also, please show your parent the note about the new phone number to call about attendance issues.

Patterns in Repeated Addition

We reviewed a bit more on how to subtract negative numbers, as a few students are still a bit shaky on this. Afterwards, we looked at patterns that exist in multiplication. We extended these patterns to include multiplying by negative numbers. Through analyzing the patterns, we concluded that there are a couple of basic rules that govern both multiplication and division of integers.

Tonight's Homework:
Be sure you know how to add and subtract integers, as there is a quiz over this tomorrow. Do all problems on page 30 of the Home Book.

Reflecting About Integers

We reviewed how to use integer chips, and then did many addition and subtraction problems to reinforce our understanding of adding and subtracting integers.

Tonight's Homework:
Complete all problems on page 21 of the "Accentuate the Negative" book. Be sure to answer each question fully! Getting your grade slip signed tonight and returned tomorrow is optional.

Red and White Integer Chips Make Integers Visible

Students were introduced to double-colored chips to help them see integers see more clearly. We talked about zero pairs and how using these don't change the value of the equation. Some students liked these better than the number line; others did not.

Tonight's Homework: ACE 1 (36-38 and 52-54)

Stepping Out with Integers

Students used giant number lines to help them move like integers when they are added and subtracted. Addition activities were generally easier to master than subtraction, but by the end of the period, most students were able to use the number line to complete either operation with fractions with success.

Tonight's Homework: Complete both sides of the worksheet you received in class. Be sure to follow the directions carefully.

What Are Integers?

As we begin our study of integers this year, students learned how to work in groups, use manipulatives to aid in their understanding, and apply positive and negative numbers to things in their world, like money, weight, temperature, elevation, sports, and populations. Integers are important to help us understand changes in a variety of things that we encounter in our lives.

Tonight's Homework: ACE 1 (1-8, 39, 45). This assignment starts on page 16 in the ATN book.

Jeopardy in Math?

To kick off our study of integers, we played math Jeopardy. Students reviewed some of their fraction skills while earning points for their table teams. Wrong answers earned negative points, while correct answers earned positive points for the teams.

Tonight's Homework: Read pages 3-7 in the ATN book. Do pages 8-9 (A-E).

District Benchmarking Test Completed

Students completed the district's fall math test today in class. The test provides the district with benchmark information about student skills via answers to 45 questions asked to students via the computer.

Tonight's Homework: None! Enjoy the weekend!

Welcome to the 2012-2013 School Year!

The purpose of this blog is to serve as a back-up system for students to access homework related information when they miss a class unexpectedly (due to medical appointments, illness, office visits, etc.) and were unable to record homework in their planners. As a general rule, homework is written on the whiteboard or the overhead by the middle of class and ample time is allowed for students to copy this information onto their planners. Occasionally, homework assignments may be modified before the end of a class period, and if this happens after a student leaves for the day, checking this blog would be useful.

Both parents and students should benefit from the information posted on this blog.

Please note that this blog is not designed to replace the use of student planners, as there may be times when the homework assignment will not be posted in a timely manner (i.e. I am sick, I have afternoon and evening meetings, etc.). Students should always refer to their planners first, and use this as a method to double check. (I also encourage students to call a classmate to get information, or to call me. It's okay, and if I'm not available when called, leave a message so I know you tried!)

Most importantly, please know that I will not accept any blog-related excuses for not being able to complete and submit homework (the computer/internet was down/I forgot the address/the blog wasn't updated/etc.). Be sure to use other resources (your planner, a friend, me) should your computer connections fail you, and you don't wait until late in the evening to seek help!

Let's have a terrific year, and have a little fun with math!