Math: Week 29

MSM2 Blocks 1/2 & 7/8
SOLs Covered:  SOL 7.2 Sequences
Math Packet:  Functions Study Guide; #21 Sequences
Upcoming Assessments:  CCPS Quiz #6 (Mon. 4/20/15); Sequences Quiz (Tues. 4/21/15 @ Home); VA ARDT Test (Not for a grade) (Thurs. 4/23/15)

7H Block 5/6
SOLs Covered:  SOL 8.13 Statistics; SOL 8.12 Probability
Math Packet:  #20 Statistics Representing & Analyzing Data; #21 Probability
Upcoming Assessments:  CCPS Quiz #6 (Mon. 4/20/15); Probability & Statistics Test (Thurs. 4/23/15-Fri. 4/24/15)

Let me start off by thanking everyone who sent kind thoughts and prayers my way since my last posting.  Your emails were much appreciated during this hard time.  My family is coping as best we can, but it's still difficult as I'm sure you can imagine.

 I'd also like to let everyone know that I might be a bit slower in responding to emails than most of you have grown used to.  I had to get a new phone since my old one just wasn't going to last much longer.  With this new phone, I can't seem to get my school account added.  I'm sure it has to do with some of the updated security features not being recognized by the district's current security policy, but I have yet to find a solution and the district's tech support has yet to be any help.  I know a few of my students have parents who are also teachers in the county and others might have work Google accounts as well, so if you know of any possible solutions and don't mind sending them my way, I would greatly appreciate it.  Now onto this week's math happenings.

The MSM2 classes are in a bit of a testing overload period at the moment.  We wrapped up the last unit with a study guide and review on Monday and Tuesday for the test that was taken on Wednesday and part of Thursday.  The rest of Thursday and all of Friday was spent covering numerical sequences.  I feel this topic would fit a bit more naturally before functions since the work for sequences is the foundation needed to work with functions, but stuck with the county's pacing guide (I'll probably rearrange for myself next year).  This all means that the kids essentially have been working with sequences throughout our unit on functions, but we've added a lot more emphasis on the vocabulary (arithmetic vs. geometric sequences, common difference, common ratio) and how it applies to problems.  The kids have taken fairly well with the topic, but some are still getting a little tripped up with the vocabulary and "SOL tricks," so we'll do a little more work next week before the quiz next Tuesday.

For the first part of this week, the 7H class started their statistical analysis unit with what we're calling a mini-PBL project covering presidents' ages at inauguration and death as well as how many children each had.  I'll be hanging onto their completed work, which most students have already turned in, but a digital copy can be found on the calendar as well as in their Google Drive math folders.  Along with this mini-PBL and the usual math packet, I also had the students make scatter plots (the major graph focused on for the Math 8 graphing standard) both "old school" style on paper as well as showing them how to use various tech resources (with major emphasis on Google Spreadsheets and a references to MS Excel) to create the graph.  I surveyed the kids to see which they preferred and so far the majority is going with the tech way.  I'm hoping this is a skill they keep with them as it can come in handy for future reports and projects they'll inevitably have to do.

Well, I'm back on Auntie's taxi duty and my niece has arrived, so I'll end things here.  As I said, it might take me a little longer than my usual speedy response time, but please continue to feel free to email/message me with any questions and I'll get back to you as soon as possible.