Pre algebra & 7th grade, Friday 5/28

all students completed their review work and basic skills tests so we watched Flatland, the movie, one last time on Friday

Next week we will spend part of each day covering some useful algebra-related topics and students will have a chance to improve their grades by participating and learning in class.

Powerschool is completely up to date.

Algebra, Friday 5/28

We have spent most of the week reviewing the entire year's material in preparation for the end of course assessment, next Tuesday and Wednesday.
There are still some more opportunities to review:
Friday 3:20 - 4:00 during math club
all weekend (at the high achiever website -- students have their individual logon data)
Tuesday morning before school: 7:15 - 8:00
Tuesday 3:20 - 4:00

Powerschool is completely up to date -- many students are missing one or two items. I will still give some credit if they are turned in next week.

7th grade -- Mon - Wed, 5/24 - 5/26

Students are making good progress in their small group review of basic skills. As they are prepared, they are requesting to complete the test (form D) on these.

There is extra credit available.

Prealgebra, Mon-Tues, 5/24 & 5/25

We continue our review of basic skills -- students decide when they are ready for the actual test. As of Tuesday, 8 have completed it.
There is XC available.

Algebra, Mon - Fri 5/24 - 5/28

We are focusing on our final review before the ECA test next Tues & Wed.
On Monday, students try a practice test, Part 1. On Tuesday we review these answers.
On Wednesday, students try the practice test, Part 2. On Thursday we review these answers.
Also, On Tuesday a benchmark, 3rd attempt was distributed -- DUE WEDNESDAY.
There is XC available -- another Japanese logic puzzle -- due next Tuesday.

Tutoring this week is set aside for algebra students to get extra review/help in preparation for the test -- 2 came on Monday.

7th grade, Friday 5/21

We started our small group work on basic skills. It went well (I was nervous -- but students followed the rules quite nicely). This will continue next week and will finish with a test on basic skills -- students can take the test as soon as they are prepared for it.

Prealgebra, Friday 5/21

We continue our small group work on the basic skills. It is going well.

Algebra, Friday 5/21

We are into total review mode -- preparing for the end of course assessment which will be on June 1 & 2. Today we were in the computer lab, practicing with over 400 items from the Indiana High Achiever program developed by the Indiana Dept of Education. Students have access to these for the next week and are encouraged to work on this outside of school.

On Monday we will practice part 1 of a final exam. On Tuesday we will review the correct answers to part 1. On Wed and Thus we will do the same thing with part 2 of the same final exam. None of these will be entered in the grade book. Next Friday we are back in the computer lab for our final session with the High Achiever program.

In the meantime, I did hand out a 2nd attempt for yesterday's benchmark (3 items solving quadratics) -- this is DUE MONDAY AT TNE BEGINNING OF CLASS.

7th grade, Thursday, 5/20

Today we shifted our focus from the work on lines and slope to a problem-solving activity, taken from the 1996-1996 6h grade math league national contest. This includes 40 "interesting" multiple choice math questions that students have 30 minutes to complete. A score of 15 is quite good.
These scores will be used to divide the class into small teams that will work together on basic skills, in preparation for a year-end test of basic skills. They will also be able to work on some extra credit activities after complete the basic skill work.
There are a few students with some missing work and there will be extra credit opportunities for the remainder of the term, too. Otherwise, there is NO HOMEWORK.

Prealgebra, Thus, 5/20

Students continued to work on the basic skills review in small groups.
One group has completed their review on 8 of the 11 topics already!! This is a record and they received bonus points.

Students will be able to take the basic skills test after completing all the review topics.

Our work continues to be done in class, however, extra credit is available.

Algebra, Thus, 5/20

Students had 1/2 in class to continue working on the middle column of 10.7. This will be TURNED IN TOMORROW AT THE START OF CLASS.

We had a mini-lesson on rational proportions -- the last topic of the year!

Students ended class with a 1st attempt with benchmark 72 (solving with the quadratic formula).

7th grade, Wed, 5/19

We continued to work on slope in class, completing 2 individual assignments that will receive grades for accuracy. Students have done a very good job learning about slope in the last few days.

We worked a little bit on a related skill: drawing the line from one point and the slope.

There is NO ASSIGNMENT.

Prealgebra, Wed, 5/19

Everyone has now taken the data analysis test and the results were shared with the class. The highest grade was an A+, the lowest an F, the median, mean, and mode were all C's.

We'll be splitting our remaining time this term between two topics:
(1) reviewing basic skills
(2) covering some linear algebra topics

Today's (and tomorrow's) focus is basic skills.
Students divided into self-selected groups and worked together from our Basic Skills check, version C (which all had previously seen).
When done with any of the eleven topics,groups will try out version A and/or B to see how they are doing. When everyone is satisfied with all eleven groups, the entire class will complete version D and this will be entered as a grade -- the final test of the year.

This is all in-class work -- there is NO ASSIGNMENT.

Algebra, Wed, 5/19

today's focus was the quadratic formula.
We started by reviewing the three steps in using it.
I then shared a "real life" example on the board (from physics, using gravity)
The rest of the class time was spent practicing items from the middle column of Practice 10.7. Students worked in small groups and made good progress.

We will continue this in class tomorrow and likely finish tomorrow with a benchmark on solving with the quadratic formula.

In the meantime, there is NO ASSIGNMENT.

There is just one topic left for us to cover this year.

7th grade, Tuesday, 5/18

continuing our work on slope, students spent all class completing the handout "what do you call a duck that steals?" which involved calculating slope from the graph or from two points. (by the way, the silly answer is "a robber ducky")
Students who didn't complete it in class should finish it on their own and turn it in tomorrow.

Prealgebra, Tuesday, 5/18

Today we had our test on data analysis. Everyone who was here completed it.

Tomorrow we will start to review our basic skills. We will have one more test -- on basic skills -- before the end of the term.

Algebra, Tuesday, 5/18

We completed our third attempt at benchmark 66 -- grades for all this time.

Students saw how the quadratic formula is derived from the process of completing the square. Notes on the three steps: 1. get it in standard form; 2. identify a, b, and c; 3. substitute and simplify.

Tomorrow, in class we will practice using the formula on problems. We have only one more topic to cover in the algebra curriculum. In the meantime, there is NO ASSIGNMENT.

7th grade, Monday, 5/17

We continued our work on slope, first by reviewing what we had learned and tried last week. Our goals: (1) learn how to calculate slope from the graph (2) learn how to calculate the slope from two points (and no graph) and (3) learn how to graph the line from one point and the slope. We discussed the first two and started on a related in-class assignment -- which we will continue in-class tomorrow. In the meantime, there is NO ASSIGNMENT.

Prealgebra, Mon 5/17

we completed our fifth (and final) algebra readiness activity -- these will be used for 9th grade placement recommendations and will not be entered in the gradebook.

The rest of class was spent updating folders, completing missing work, and reviewing all 20 topics in our data analysis unit. THERE IS A TEST TUESDAY ON DATA ANALYSIS.
Students may use their notes and completed assignments to assist them on the test.

no one is assigned to tutoring -- it is open to anyone who wants extra help.

Algebra, Mon 5/17

We will be working quickly through our last 3 topics this week.
Students tried the 2nd benchmark on solving quadratic equations -- a few handed them in for a grade. Everyone will try a third time tomorrow -- these will be graded.

We spend the rest of class covering the most difficult topic, solving by completing the square. Students receive a grade for participation based on their notes which I collected.

I'll return these at the beginning of class Tuesday and we'll cover THE QUADRATIC EQUATION.

I have open tutoring this week -- no one is assigned, all are welcome to come for extra help.

7th grade, Friday 5/14

We had short classes because of our movie or academic detention program in the afternoon. We started witn an activity that reviewed subtracting fractions. Then we tried a small exercise with slope -- this will not be graded but will help me prepare our next lessons on this topic. There is NO NEW ASSIGNMENT

prealg, Fri 5/14

we started with a review exercise on subtracting fractions and spent most of the time completing an algebra-readiness exercise, which will not be entered in the gradebook but will be used to help decide on placement in math classes next year. We completed 4 of 5 of these and we'll complete the fifth one on Monday. There is NO NEW ASSIGNMENT.

Algebra, Friday 5/14

We reviewed the small assignment on 10.5, tried a benchmark on solving quadratics (everyone wants to retake a similar one on Monday), reviewed basic examples of slope and previewed our next topic,solving quadratic equations by completing the square.

Students who want to improve their grade on section 10.4 should try items just after those in the assigment (6, 11, 16, 21, etc.).

7th grade, Thursday 5/13

Today we learned about slope -- starting with our current non-math understanding of it and then connecting this to the official math definition. Students used the individual dry-erase boards and a partner to plot points and determine slope, then to plot a point and use the slope to create the line and, finally, to use the line to find the slope. We ended with a summary of what we understand and what we think about it. There is NO NEW ASSIGNMENT. All graphing pictures need to be turned in on Friday. The Japanese logic puzzles (extra credit) may be turned in on Monday.

Prealgebra, Thus, 5/13

Students continued to work on the final assignments in our data analysis unit. They are due by Friday along with the notes on the same topics.

Algebra, Thus, 5/13

Students turned in the 10.4 assignment and we reviewed 4 requested items from it on the board. Then selected students demonstrated 4 items from the 10.5 Reteach page (#1,2,5,9). THE ASSIGNMENT is to complete the remaining items on the reteach side: #3,4,6,7,8)

7th grade, Wed, 5/12

Students continued to work on their graphing projects -- they look very nice and are being displayed in the hallway. Students may do an extra graphing picture for extra credit and there is also a Japanese logic puzzle for extra credit.

We started working on slope with an in-class activity on individual dry-erase boards. We will continue to work on slope and related algebra topics for the next few days.

Prealgebra, Wednesday, 5/12

We completed our last two presentations on data analysis topics. Students are now working on the assignments that go with our last 8 topics. They will be turned in with the notes on these same same topics. Both the assignments and the notes will receive a grade. THERE SHOULD BE ENOUGH TIME TO COMPLETE THIS WORK IN CLASS.

there is still extra credit available (Japanese logic puzzles).

Algebra, Wed 5/12

We are into the "practice makes permanent" phase with the topic of solving quadratic equations.
We reviewed 10.4 in class by completing the chart on the ReTeach side of a handout.
Then students had 1/2 hour to complete 11 items on the Practice side in class (just the items that are multiples of 5). If not completed in class, this must be DONE BEFORE CLASS TOMORROW.

There is still XC available (Japanese logic puzzles)

7th grade, Tuesday 5/11

We continued our review of fractions with some problems that had whole numbers or mixed numbers, too.

We spent most of class continuing our work on the graphing projects. There is NO NEW ASSIGNMENT.

Prealgebra, Tuesday 5/11

We started with a review of fraction operations and learned about a new kind of puzzle -- Skikaku -- which uses logic and rectangles. There is an EXTRA CREDIT assignment based on Shikaku's.

We saw most of our data analysis presentations today -- there are only two left to see tomorrow. Notes will be graded and may be used to help on an assignment (and a test) on these topics. Students will receive the assignment tomorrow

Algebra, Monday 5/11

today's agenda included a brief review of operations with fractions and computing slope from two points.

Students learned about a Skikaku puzzle, which uses logic and rectangles. There is an extra credit assignment with four of these.

We reviewed most of the 10.4 and 10.5 assignment -- but students need to REVIEW/COMPLETE 10.5, items 11 thruough 21 -- this is part of yesterday's assignment but we'll review it at the start of class tomorrow.

7th grade, Mon 5/10

We continued our work on graphing. Today, every student selected a different set of graphing instructions (several levels of difficulty were available). These graphs will be graded for accuracy and then displayed in the hallway. These are being completed in class, so there is NO NEW ASSIGNMENT.
If students want extra credit, they may complete a third graph, ourside of class time.

Any student with a D or F is scheduled for tutoring.

Prealgebra, Mon 5/10

We started with a quick review on adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing fractions with unlike denominators.

Students finished their final presentations on data analysis topics and we started to see them.

Reminder: notes on these presentations are graded and may be used to assist on the related assignment and test.

There is NO NEW ASSIGNMENT

algebra, Mon 5/10

we reviewed the 10.4 assignment, had a mini-lesson on 10.5 (solving by factoring and using thge zero product property). the NEW ASSIGNMENT is 10.4, odd items 11-21 AND 10.5 odd items 1-21.

7th grade, Friday 5/7

today we started working on algebra-related skills.
the first one is graphing.
Everyone worked on on the same first exercise in-class so that we all remember exactly how to graph each point correctly. There is NO NEW ASSIGNMENT.

Next week, students will complete a second graphing exersize (at a difficulty level of their choice) and it will be graded for accuracy.

There will be a third, extra credit, graphing exercise available, too.

Prealgebra, Friday 5/7

We were unable to follow-up on our flagpole project (not enough sun for shadows) so we started working on our last unit in Data Analysis. Students divided into groups of their own choosing an started on their topic. Presentations will begin on Monday. In the meantime, there is NO ASSIGNMENT

Algebra, Friday 5/7

Ch 9 tests are graded and in powerschool.

On Friday we covered new material: we learned about what the definitions of quadratic functions and quadratic equations are. We learned that we use the terms solutions, zeros and x-intercepts to all mean the same thing. We learned that quadratics may have two, one, or zero solutions. We saw how to identify the solutions from the graph and to check them to make sure they are solutions.
We also learned how to find the solutions from the equation (and to check them too).
THE ASSIGNMENT is p. 530, the a,b,c items following example #1 (check understanding) AND p. 531, 10 - 18, the even items.

7th grade, Thursday 5/6

We reviewed our order-of-operations assignment and completed some interesting problems which I found on the Cambridge University website. There is NO NEW ASSIGNMENT.

We also reviewed preliminary results of our math NWEA assessments.
In Core 3: 8 students met or exceeded their targets and 8 students did not
In Core 4: 6 students met or exceeded their targets and 14 students did not

there were several students in core 4 that said they would like to re-take it because they rushed themselves, hit the wrong answer button by mistake, etc. I don't know if this will be possible.

Here is a comparison of the results with the national median for 7th graders:
National median is 230
Core 3 median is 236
Core 4 median is 229

For comparison, the national median for 8th graders is 234. Parents will receive detailed individual reports at the end of the school year.

Prealgebra, Thursday 5/6

We spent more time discussing our possible ways to measure the flagpole and decided to try measuring shadows and using similar triagles (and a proportion). Students went outside in small groups to make their measurements -- most got to do this.

Others, in the meantime, completed two group problem-solving challenges which I found on a website created by Cambridge University in England.

Students turned in their assignments (on order of operations and decimals) from Tuesday. There is NO NEW ASSIGNMENT.

Algebra, Thus 5/6

We de-briefed our NWEA experience and reviewed two charts of the results:

# students who met or exceeded their target: 8
# of students who didn't: 12
highest score: 267
national median score for 8th graders: 234
median score of this class: 244 this is 2+ years beyond the median for 8th graders

We also allowed students more time for that Ch 9 test.

Tomorrow, on to Chapter 10

7th grade, Tuesday 5/4

we completed our review of basic concepts and then started a handout on order of operations. We completed the first four items together on the board and THE ASSIGNMENT is to complete the rest of this side -- items #5 - 12.

We will complete our final NWEA/math assessment tomorrow so this assigment is not due until Thursday.

Prealgebra, Tuesday 5/4

We spent more time in small groups brainstorming ways to measure the flagpole within 1 inch. Then we combined these ideas into a master list.

We spent the rest of the class on a handout that reviews order of operations on one side and dividinng with decimals on the other. We did the first 4 items together on the board and the remaider of each side is THE ASSIGNMENT -- due Thursday

On Wednesday we will be completing our last NWEA/math assessment of the year.

Algebra, Tues, 5/4

the three students who were absent on Monday were here so they had time to work on the Ch 9 test.

All students participated in an in-class review of dividing with decimals and order of operations.

We spent the last 15 minutes answering questions about chapter 9-type items.

On Wednesday we will complete our final NWEA/math assessment of the year.

On Thursday we will spend more time on the Ch 9 test -- notes and study guide may be used. I will grade the tests after Thursday and we will move on to our last topics, which are almost all in Chapter 10.

7th grade, Thus-Fri-Mon 4/29,4/30 and 5/3

We completed our unit on data displays and ended the week with an interesting problem solving workshop based on a Math League competition for 5th graders.
On Monday we updated our folders and started an in-class review of basic math concepts, which we will continue on Tuesday.
In the meantime, there is NO ASSIGNMENT.

Prealgebra Thus-Friday-Mon 4/29, 4/30 & 5/3

we spent time getting everyone caught up with any missing work and we completed an interesting problem solving workshop activity. powerschool grades are up-to-date
On Monday, we updated our math folders and completed an in-class review of math concepts. Students ended by forming into groups that are brainstorming ways to measure the height of our flagpole within one inch.

Algebra, Thus 4/29 - Mon 5/3

Thursday and Friday students reviewed material from Chapter 9
Monday students took a test on Chapter 9 -- polynomials
There is NO ASSIGNMENT