7th grade, Wed 12/16

Almost everyone finished their percent workshop. Many asked if they could have a catalog to take home -- I'll let them do this tomorrow. Hope I don't create any problems at home -- some of these items are very interesting (and expensive). Tomorrow we'll offer bonus points to any student who has their math portfolio ready.

Prealgebra, Wed, 12/16

Almost everyone finished their percent workshop. We'll finish up tomorrow by offering bonus points to those who get their math portfolio done.

Algebra, Wed 12/16

Students did turn in those second inequality packets today and received a final handout -- due tomorrow morning. One side says "get the message" and the other says "double whammy". These cover inequalities and equation solutions. We will have some in-class activities tomorrow that bridge from what we've been doing to what we'll be doing next.
The ASSIGNMENT -- finish the handout (both sides) -- and any XC items.

Algebra, Wed 12/16

7th grade, Monday 12/15

We continue to finish tests and work on the percent workshop. We'll finish these tomorrow.

Prealgebra, Tues, 12/15

A pleasant day today -- many students completed their percent worksheets. We'll finish tomorrow and/or start working on our portfolios.

Algebra, Tues, 12/15

Finally! Students got serious about those inequalities. There was much progress in class today. These 2nd packets on inequalities are due at the beginning of class tomorrow.

7th grade, Mon, Dec 14

Today many students spent time completing their computation tests.

Those that were done started working on a problem-solving workshop involving many percent calculations. They select items from catalogs for their own "store" -- calculate a discount price, then a markup price, then a commission. the goal is to get as close as possible to spending the $2500 our "money partner" is providing. This is all in-class work.

Tutoring this week is open to any student who would like to improve their grade.

Prealgebra, Mon 12/14

A few students needed to complete their tests but all the others are graded and entered in Powerschool. Students are spending Monday & Tuesday on a problem-solving workshop for which they form their own small business -- selecting items from catalogs, calculating a discount price then a markup price then a commission. The goal is to come as close as possible to spending all $2500 the "money partner" is providing.

tutoring this week is "open" -- any student who wants to improve their grade is welcome to come.

Algebra, Monday 12/14

Today and tomorrow we are spending time on a second problem-solving workshop packet for inequalities. This will improve the earlier grades on this item.

About those tests -- I'm not going to enter those grades -- they were just terrible.
We will take another look at linear equations and their graphs after break and try it again. I am disappointed but not really surprised -- this is the topic that each algebra class has had the most trouble with.

Math tutoring this week is open schedule -- anyone who wants to improve their grade is invited.

Prealgebra, thus, 12/10

Our test on computation was today -- a few students finished all of it -- most didn't. I'll allow part of class tomorrow to finish them. One extra credit assignment was available also. Next week we will have a chance to improve the test grade (if needed) and we will work on an interesting project.

Algebra, Thus 12/10

test today on linear equations and their graphs. I will allow students to spend PART of tomorrow on them (I collected them in class). The rest of our time until break will offer math work that can improve our grades -- two extra credit options were available today. Our primary focus will be on the inequalities (our most recent problem-solving workshop) and on test areas that need re-work.

7th grade, Wed - Friday, 12/9 through 12/11

forgot to blog yesterday -- we distributed study guides for the test -- test is on Friday
Thursday we reviewed these study guides, using the class votes as our priorities for topics to focus on. Friday is the test. Students may use their study guides / notes to help on the test. They may not use calculators for the first 3 pages, then they turn these in and pick up a calculator which they may use for the rest of the test. There will be a page of extra credit on the test. Next week we will have opportunities to improve our math grade, including our test grade.

Answers to the study guide follow and I will be at school early on Friday morning for any students who would like a last-minute study session.
Study Guide Answers
Computation with Positive and Negative Numbers
1. 8 2. -9 3. -24 4. 63 5. -4 6. 4 7. -29 8. -12 9. 4 10. -23 11. 15 12. -36 13. -2 14. 51
Computation with Fractions and Decimals
1. 9.685 2. 0.0756 3. 874 4. 54 5. 1.9505 6. 1360 7. 5/12 8. 4/39 9. 1 3/4 10. 5/9 11. 20 1/2 feet 12. 7 miles a week
Computation with Percentages, Ratios and Proportions
1. 7/6 2. 11:4 11 to 4 11/4 3. $2 to 8 4. $.25 each pencil 5. 20 days 6. 12 7. 17.5 inches 8. 1 1.8 cups 9. $17.50 10. $132 11. $7.77
Computation with Fractions, Decimals and Percentages (calculators OK)
1. 5 17/18 2. 9 2/3 3. 26.613 4. -7.488 5. $.40 more 8 weeks later for 10 gallons
6. 8.285 oz. 7. 20 % decrease 8. $13.50 9. $78.40 10. yes, it needs 11 13/20 feet

Prealgebra, Wed, 12/9

we reviewed our study in preparation for tomorrow's test. Students may use the study guide to help them on the test. The first part of the test will be with NO calculators. When that part is turned in, students may use calculators for the rest. There will be a before-school study session in my room -- anyone is welcome to come and participate.
As an aid to tonight's studying, here are answers to selected items on the study guide:
integer page:
1. 28
2. -180
3. 0
4. 16
5. -41.49
6. 3.4
7. 1600
8. 5
9. 21
10. 272
11. -1
12. 24
Order of Operations page (benchmark 1)
1. a 2. c 3. c 4. b 5. c
adding & subtracting decimals page (reteach 1-2)
7. 11.172
8. 3.8
9. 31.49
10. 0.132
11. 7.14
12. 11.909
multiplying and dividing decimals page (Practice 1-3)
5. 165
6. 1.26
7. 2.457
8. 17.94
23. 84,700
24. 3
25. 3260
26. 50.2
add and subtract fractions page (benchmark 8)
1. 11 3/4
2. 7 2/7
3. 1 5/12
4. 18 5/24
5. 5 7/8 pounds
multiply and divide fractions page (benchmark 9)
1. 6/25
2. 12
3. 2
4. 4/5
5. 4 tablespoons
ratios & proportions page (benchmark 10)
1. 1:2
2. 1:4
3. 40 mph
4. 60 wpm
5. 1/25 = 4/x x=100 miles
6. 13 3/4 caps
percent increase and decrease page (benchmark 16)
1. 40% decrease
2. 25% increase
3. 6% decrease
4. about 41% increase
5. 24% increase

Algebra, tues 12/9

we reviewed our study guide, in preparation for tomorrow's test. Students may use the study guide to help them with the test. We reviewed the items that they requested in detail and answers to all items follow (I can't make graphs here -- for the items with graphs, I'll just describe them)
1. false, rate of change can be negative, positive, zero or undefined
2. false, it's undefined
3. slope = 3
4. slope = -3/2
5. y-int = 3, x-int=6
6. y-int=-4, x-int=4/3
7. y-int=-3, m=1/2
8. goes through point (3,2), m=-2
9. y=2/3 x -3
10. y=1/4 x + 5
11. y = -2/3 x + 3
12. y = 7/3 x + 4
13, (0,2) (4,0)
14. (0,-8), (24/5, 0)
15. (0,12), (-6,0)
16. (0,-5), (5,0)
17. y+2=1/4 x
18. y-1=-2 x
19. y-2=-7/6 x
20. y+3=-8/3(x-3)
21. y=-2x+7
22.y=-2/7 x -4/7
23. y=-4
24. y=3/5 x + 4/5
25 a) neither b)parallel (actually, they coincide) c)perpendicular d) neither
26. y=-1/2 x + 7/2
27. x=-7
28. y=-1/4 x + 1/4
29. x = 4
30 a) 0.5 x + 0.8 y = 240
Others were reviewed in detail on the board.

We'll have a pre-school study session in my room -- anyone is welcome to come & participate.

7th grade, Tues, Dec 8

We finished with percents today -- we reviewed the 6-6 assignment where we worked with converting between decimals, fractions and percents and we learned how to calculate the percent increase or decrease between two quantities. The ASSIGNMENT is to complete just 8 items on the worksheet, Reteaching 6-8, #4,5,8,9,12,13,16 & 17.
Tomorrow we'll start to review all our computation topics and prepare for a test before the end of the week.

Prealgebra, Tues, 12/8

I handed out a study guide on the computation topics we've studied this quarter: integers, decimals, fractions, order of operations, ratios, proportions, and percents. It includes several examples of benchmark assessments, which are often used with high school students, so these 8th graders can start learning how to work with them. We will review the study guide tomorrow and we have a TEST ON THURSDAY. Students will be able to use the study guide to help with the test. During the first part of the test, students will not be able to use calculators. They will turn that part in and be able to use a calculator for the rest of the test. In the meantime, there is NO NEW ASSIGNMENT.

Algebra, Tues, 12/8

We finished working with parallel & perpendicular line equations today. I handed out a study guide for the TEST ON THURSDAY. We'll review tomorrow. There is NO NEW ASSIGNMENT. Students will be able to use their study guides to help with the test.

Prealgebra, Mon 12/7

We finished working with percents today -- completing our worksheet in class and reviewing the book assignment, too. There is no new ASSIGNMENT.
Tomorrow we'll start a review of all the computation topics we'd worked on this quarter
integers, decimals, fractions, percents, ratios, proportions.
We'll have a test -- most likely on Thursday.
Several students asked if we could do more Singapore math -- yes, it is in the works :)

Alg, Mon 12/7

What a chatty group today! Hope it isn't this way for the next 2 weeks.
We picked back up on transforming equations -- today we learned that:
if 2 lines are parallel, then their slopes are the same
if 2 lines are perpendicualr, then their slopes are negative reciprocals (they multiply to -1)
We are continuing to work with our handout on this -- the ASSIGNMENT is to complete items 17 - 23 for both parallel and perpendicuar lines (this is 8 items).
Tomorrow we will start to review for our test on this standard -- the test will probably be on Thursday.
Students seemed to have faulty memories about how long they had to work on the recent inequality problem-solving workshop packet. I reviewed my notes -- they were given out upon completion of the Relations & Functions test, Tuesday before Thanksgiving. We spent the next THREE ENTIRE CLASS DAYS on it not including the long weekend -- I provided some examples/answers to check on each of these days. I picked them up on the Wed following Thanksgiving break. Altogether, I provided answers in class to 28 of the 57 items.
Grades are down because of poor results (so far) on these packets. After our test this week -- we will re-open this topic and make improvements.

More on Prealgebra, Fri 12/4

Well, I guess it's been a long week. I just realized that, in fact, students didn't complete the assignment on percent increase & decrease in class so it IS the ASSIGNMENT for the weekend. Sorry for the mixup on the earlier posting. Grades in PowerSchool are up-to-date. I will have extra credit opportunities available next week.

7th grade, Friday 12/4

Yes !! today we finished our review of multiplying & dividing fractions with an in-class activity.
Students were reminded if they have any missing work. Extra credit work was offered. Otherwise, there is NO ASSIGNMENT over the weekend.

Next Monday we will discuss percents -- when we finish this we will start a review and be ready for a test on all our computation areas we've studied this quarter.

Prealgebra, Friday 12/4

We spent time on two activities today. One was an introduction to Singapore Math, presented by Mr. DuBree who has attended workshops on this interesting topic recently. The students in Singapore top all the international math competitions and it is very interesting to see how they learn math. We experimented with some of it today and I will continue to bring it into our class from time to time. It is especially good for learning/reviewing basic math facts -- which some of our students haven't yet mastered. Look for those triangular flash cards to make an appearance soon!

We also completed an assignment on percent increase and decrease. We didn't review the assignment from yesterday (also on percents) but we will review it in class on Monday. Then we will review all our computation skills from the entire quarter and get ready for a TEST -- probably on Thursday. There was NO NEW ASSIGNMENT over the weekend.

Algebra, Fri, 12/4

We finished off the last two items from yesterday -- graphing from standard form -- as a quiz.

Then we launched into transforming equations into standard form . We will continue with this on Monday -- we are almost done with linear equations & their graphs -- I hope to be ready for a test by the end of next week. There is NO ASSIGNMENT over the weekend.

I've started grading the inequality packets -- they'll get into powerschool before Monday. Many students had a tough time with this and we will be able to work on improving this grade before the end of the quarter but, in the meantime, I expect some grades will suffer.

All students who completed the functions retest saw their test score raise by at least one letter grade :)

7th grade, Thus 12/3

We spent about half the period updating our math folders.
Then we discussed/reviewed multiplying and dividing fractions, working several examples out as a whole class. There is NO ASSIGNMENT tonight.

Prealgebra, Thus, 12/3

We worked out of the book -- for the first time in ages -- and the overall class level of cooperation was the worst it's been in months. Unfortunately, this means we didn't complete our work in class so there is an ASSIGNMENT -- on percents -- in the book, Ch 6, Sect 6, items 4,8,12,16, 20, 25,26,27,28,29 and 30. I hope we get back to what has become a pleasant and successful class environment tomorrow.

Algebra, Thus, 12/3

Continuing on the topic of linear equations & their graphs -- today we reviewed our assignment and also discussed graphing from equations in standard form. We did several in class and I mentioned that I am planning to have the last two we didn't do serve as a quick quiz at the beginning of class tomorrow :) Then we'll switch to transforming equations.
there is NO ASSIGNMENT but students who wanted to improve their recent test grade need to turn in the re-test work tomorrow. It is items 1 - 7 on page 278 (end of Ch 5 in the book)
also there are a few who have not submitted their problem solving packet. I've entered info in Powerschool regarding which ones are turned in so far.

7th grade, Wed 12/2

We finished adding and subtracting mixed numbers today -- we reviewed the adding assignment and completed a dividing one in class. We discussed the concepts involved in multiplying and did a few examples but there is NO ASSIGNMENT tonight.

Prealgebra, 12/2

We reviewed dividing mixed numbers and had a quick quiz on it.
Then we started working with proportions -- in word problems and in similar figures.
THE ASSIGNMENT is to finish both sides of the proportion worksheet -- please write a proportion for each item and then solve it. This is just 16 items in all.

We also listened to some cool surfer music during class.

Algebra Tues 12/2

turned in those problem solving packets today -- I'm sure we are not done with this topic but I'll look them over and see what we need to focus on.

We got back into linear equations and their graphs -- starting with a review of slope and slope-intercept form. We did several examples in class and the ASSIGNMENT is to finish the few that we didn't complete -- on slope from graphs that's 13 & 15, on slope from 2 points it's 11, 13, & 15 and on slope-intercept form it's 2 - 6.

7th grade, Mon, Dec 1, 2009

We started by singing The Adding Song again. Then we reviewed yesterday's assignment on the board. Students did quite well and were asked to do 4 problems as a mini-quiz.

Then we started reviewing the yuckier items which involve adding fractions that are mixed numbers -- however, students said it's really not so bad :) We demonstrated several problems on the board and then got started on the ASSIGNMENT which is to complete the middle column on ReTeaching 4-4. This is six items: 2,5,8,11,14 and 17. Many students completed them in class.

Prealgebra, Dec 1, 2009

Sadly, I didn't receive any more of those mystery pictures today -- so those students will now see a zero on this key item in the gradebook :(

On a happier note -- we did well with our division of fractions assignment today. Only four students hadn't completed it before class and they were given a chance to "redeem" themselves by putting items on the board during our review.

We then discussed how to complete multiplication and division problems when the fractions are mixed numbers -- these require several steps:
1) change all mixed numbers into improper fractions
2) if a division problem, change it to a multiplication problem by using the reciprocal of the divisor.
3) multiply (numerator times numerator and denominator times denominator)
4) now see if the answer needs to be converted into a simpler form -- a mixed number or a simpler proper fraction -- this can be the hardest step

We completed several multiplication problems in class so the ASSIGNMENT is to complete the division problems in the middle column of ReTeaching 5-4. this is items 2,5,8,11,14,17 and 20. The first four just ask you to estimate the answer, the last three ask you to work it out completely.

Algebra, Dec 1, 2009

Today's the last day we spend time in class on the inequality problem-solving packet. I had selected answers on the board for all 5 sections so students could check their work and get help where needed. The packets are due at the beginning of class tomorrow.

We spent the last 15 minutes getting re-started on linear equations and their graphs. We will complete this topic and have a test on it before winter break.

Tutoring this afternoon focuses on the recent test over functions and relations. All students may attend but those with less than a C on the test must attend. Correct answers to all items will be discussed and then students will have a re-test opportunity.