Math: Week 30

MSM2 Blocks 1/2 & 7/8
SOLs Covered:  SOL 7.9/10 & 8.12 Probability
Math Packet:  #22 Probability
Upcoming Assessments:  CCPS Mini-SOL Quiz #1 (Mon. 4/27/15); Probability Quiz (Wed. 4/29/15 @ Home); Sequences & Probability Test (Fri. 5/1/15); CCPS Mini-SOL Quiz #2 (Mon. 5/4/15)

7H Block 5/6
SOLs Covered:  SOL 8.12 Probability
Math Packet:  #21 Probability
Upcoming Assessments:  CCPS Mini-SOL Quiz #1 (Mon. 4/27/15); Probability & Functions Quiz Part 1 (Thurs. 4/30/15 @ Home); CCPS Mini-SOL Quiz #2 (Fri. 5/1/15)

My apologies for this being a day late.  My allergies have been wrecking havoc, so I finished up at school as quickly as possible on Friday and headed home.  I'm still feeling a bit under the weather, so I'll get straight to the point and end things fairly quickly this week.

Math: Week 24

MSM2 Blocks 1/2 & 7/8
SOLs Covered:  SOL 7.5 & 8.7 Surface Area & Volume
Math Packet:  #17 Surface Area & Volume
Upcoming Assessments:  Geo. Trans Quiz (Fri. 3/13/15); Geo. Test #3 (Geo. Trans. & Sim. Figs.) (Fri. 3/20/15)

7H Block 5/6
SOLs Covered:  SOL 8.11 Composite Figures
Math Packet:  #17 Composite Figures
Upcoming Assessments:  Geo. Test #1 (Geo. Trans. & Comp. Figs.) (Tues. 3/10/15 & Wed. 3/11/15); CCPS Quiz #5 (Wed. 3/11/15)

I'll start with my apologies for sending this out much later than my usual Friday/Saturday postings.  With the snow days and feeling sick over that extra time off (those snow days really came in handy for that reason at least), I'm just now able to get back into the swing of things.

First Test!

Tomorrow we have our first big test.  Unfortunately we lost quite a bit of time today due to school pictures, so we ran out of time and couldn't finish going over the study guide today in class.  As I promised the students, I'm posting the answers (with work) here so they can check their work on their own.  We'll do a quick review and answer any questions tomorrow, but I wanted the kids to have the chance to have the correct answers for studying tonight along with being able to come in ready with their questions first thing tomorrow.  I've also encouraged them to make flash cards for the perfect squares through 25² to study along with their properties flash cards made last week.  They should look over the quizzes as well as their Math Dictionaries.

Weekly Class Summary: Feb. 25-Mar. 1

SOLs Covered:  7.6 Similar Figures; 7.8 & 8.8 Geometric Transformations
Math Dictionary Sections:  (21) Congruency & Similarity; (36) Transformations
Upcoming Assessments:  Surface Area & Volume Quiz (Fri. 3/8)

We started this week by revisiting congruent and similar shapes, emphasizing the concept's relationship to transformations.  Translations, rotations, and reflections all result in congruent shapes while dilations result in similar shapes.  We did extra practice with similar shapes on and off grids as well as indirect measurement of objects (e.g. using a known height to find an unknown height).  This merged into our two-day review session (see the completed study guide), preparing for today's geometry test on transformations and similar shapes along with a few review topics (just to keep the old material fresh).  The test might take me a bit more time than usual to grade since there are quite a few more non-multiple choice questions this time, reflecting some of the possibilities students can expect from TEI (Technology Enhanced Items) questions that will show up on the state SOL test in a few months (seventh grade math testing will start May 28th).  After the test, students started creating their artisitic reflections/rotations using their initials, my own example can be seen below.

Reflections and Rotations Initials Art

After the technical issues we had a few weeks ago, I've been left a little paranoid about grades updating and posting correctly since our grading program is completely web-based.  Because of this I've asked students to be vigilant in checking their grades before getting rid of any papers (in my opinion, they should get into a habit of doing that anyway).  I’m taking a few extra precautions as well when updating grades, not simply trusting the site/program when the “successful update” screen appears.  I’m checking over several individual reports each time I send, closing and opening the grading program more frequently to ensure recent entries are still there before returning papers, etc. to ensure the new grades are not lost “in the cloud,” but I ask that the students and parents try to check often as well to ensure they all get credit for the work they've done.  This will also help students who may have forgotten they had work they needed to give me as well as ensuring students and their parents always know where the grades stand at any given point.  I'll be sending grade reports home again sometime next week that will need to be returned signed, but I'm students will become more aware of their grades and realize their responsibilities when it comes to getting work turned in on time and the need to be studious with the content covered throughout the course.

Shmoop video on Similar Figures

Homework: Oct. 29-Nov. 2

For the week of October 29, 2012

Mon. 10/29
School closed due to severe weather

Tues. 10/30
School closed due to severe weather

Wed. 10/31
All Blocks:  Finish and study the test review; test tomorrow

Thurs. 11/1
All Blocks:  Finish any last minute make-up work; Term 1 ends on Fri. 11/2

Fri. 11/2
All Blocks:  STUDY!!! Play Math Games!!!

HW for the week of 10/29/12

Weekly Class Summary: May 21-25

SOLs Covered: All Math 6 SOLs

Math Dictionary Sections: All Sections of the MD

Upcoming Assessments: Math 6 SOL Test (Block 1 Thurs. 5/31, Block 2 Fri. 6/1, Block 4 Mon. 6/4)

This week's summary will be "short and sweet" as I'm not feeling up to pare today, so I apologize in advance for the brevity.  The entire week was spent reviewing for the state-mandated SOL testing.   As the school system has been informed all year, it is expected that the level of rigor (a.k.a. difficulty) will be drastically increased on this year's math tests.  It is a bit of a guessing game when it comes to exactly how complicated the questions will be or how things will be asked, but we have been trying to prepare for just about anything.  Thus we've spent a lot of time trick-or-treating through the county's simulation test as well as our other review materials.

The trick portion of our review revolves around finding all of the hidden complications embedded throughout the test: complicated wording, flip-flopping numbers, vocabulary terms, multiple steps/parts, etc.  The treat portion consisted of all the ways to get around the tricks: translating the wording (ex. "wrapping a rectangular box" should be a question dealing with surface area), highlighting the important information/numbers and crossing out the unnecessary (ex. ratio problems that name parts of a whole but question one part to a different part), nailing down vocabulary (ex. balance point is another way of saying mean), breaking down the steps/parts (ex. determining the type of probability for a given situation involving two events, finding the probability of each separate event, then calculating to find the overall probability).

The MSA is the Maryland School Assessment, equivalent to VA's SOL state test.

At the end of the week, students received a set of SOL flashcards to further help in the treat side of things; they should study and memorize the information on the cards, which are essentially a condensed version of the Math Dictionary.  Testing for my class starts next week, so study hard over the long holiday weekend and come prepared next week with all of your last minute questions.  Feel free to email any questions over the weekend as well, but remember you can probably find quick answers in the Math Dictionary, the class YouTube channel, the class SlideShare, or the sites bookmarked on the class Portaportal.

Weekly Class Summary: Nov. 7-11

SOLs Covered: Term 1 SOL Review

Math Dictionary Sections: Term 1 Review of Sections 1-6

Upcoming Assessments: Benchmark Test for Term 1 (Mon. 11/14 & Tues. 11/15)

Because of the two student holidays, this was a short week for students. When students returned from their four-day weekend, we jumped straight into reviewing all of the first term topics using TenMarks, a website that gives multiple choice questions similar to those asked on the benchmarks and SOL test. The questions are also accompanied by help videos for each topic. Students are encouraged to visit the site or their own if possible and not just wait for the assignments that are given in class.

TenMarks.com

We also continued our review of the Term 1 quizzes as part of our first benchmark preparation. Since we still have the document camera, I was able to continue showing students how to take middle school math quizzes, verbally and visually walking them through how I would work a problem if I were in their shoes. We discussed what types of things should be highlighted, how to translate word problems and the importance of carefully analyzing what is being asked, and other test-taking strategies. Since middle school math benchmark tests are taken on the computer, we discussed properly showing work for all questions, even the type that students think they can do completely in their heads. I explained that by forcing themselves to write something down for each question, they are forcing themselves to slow down a bit, thus avoiding some of the woes of rushing through their work and/or misreading the question. This will also give them extra materials to use for their SOL review at the end of the year, since they'll have more information to add to the study packets we will create later in the school year.

Students have been asked to study over the weekend and told that they can email any questions that may pop up. I will try to answer them via email if possible, but I will make sure we review any questions that are sent prior to starting the test. The Math Dictionary, class Portaportal, and class YouTube channel are all good sources for home review as well.

Homework: Oct. 3-7

For the week of October 3, 2011

Mon. 10/3

All Blocks: "Find the Mistake" wksh; study for PEMDAS Quiz

Tues. 10/4

All Blocks: 6-3 Study Guide, even/odd (Gr5 Review)

Wed. 10/5

All Blocks: "Using Properties" wksh (front)

Thurs. 10/6

All Blocks: "Properties Tree Diagram" wksh (back); study for WWU Quiz #1; update Math Dictionary for grade

Fri. 10/7

All Blocks: STUDY!!!  Play DimensionM!!!

Spring SOL Review Season!!!

It's that time of year again!  April showers bring more than just May flowers.  They also bring about the SOL Review season.  To prepare students for the rigorous bout of testing that will soon be upon us, the Math 6 team has already begun our preparation.

In addition to the many in-class review activities students can expect over the coming weeks, they will also be working on homework packets composed of released Math 6 SOL questions.  Students will be completing the first section (Numbers & Number Sense) this week and will receive the rest of the sections (Computation & Estimation; Patterns, Functions, & Algebra; Probability & Statistics; and Measurement & Geometry) before leaving for Spring Break if they bring the required 3-prong folders that were first mentioned last week.  The first folder is to contain these homework packets and any additional review worksheets.  Any students who do not bring in the required folders will not recieve the homework packets in advance, only at the time they will be covered.

The second folder is to contain all of the old WWU Spiral Quizzes (9 total) and the new "You Can Do It" Quizzes (5 total), which will start this Friday and equal an SOL simulation test when combined.  The scores for these quizzes will be graphed in class so students can see what areas they need to work on the most and to help them understand the score they will need in order to pass the SOL.  A letter is being sent home tomorrow with further information on these quizzes.  We ask that all parents/guardians sign and return the letter on the first signature line to show that it has been read.  The letter will be sent again after the last quiz with the scores written on it to show the parents/guardians the areas each student needs to focus on the most.

These two folders along with the Math Dictionary are the materials students should turn to when reviewing on their own or with friends.  In addition to these, there are many websites bookmarked on the Class Portaportal on each topic covered in class as well as study aides (i.e. virtual flash cards, study forums, etc.) and JLab practice SOL quizzes.  Students can earn extra credit towards their Term 4 grades by completing JLabs as well as creating their own review materials, such as making math cartoons and virtual flash cards that can be shared with their classmates.  They can also find the link to various state resources, including the ePAT program (1 & 2), which allows students to practice the various etools provided on the actual SOL test as well as the new question formats for the non-multiple choice questions being introduced this year.

Good luck to all and happy reviewing!!!

The Benchmark is coming, the Benchmark is coming!

Here's just a small reminder on how to prepare for the first benchmark test.

Weekly Class Summary: May 17-20

SOLs Covered: All Math 6 SOLs
New Math Dictionary Sections: SOL Smart Chart
Upcoming Assessments: Math 6 SOL testing starts next week

This week has been focused completely on reviewing for the Math 6 SOL test that will start next week. We practiced making our SOL Smart Chart, which students should continue to practice making so that they can make it again from memory immediately before starting their test next week. It serves as a reminder of key mnemonics (tips and tricks) that make certain problems a little easier, especially for those students that "come up blank" once they get into a test and testing anxiety starts to set in. In addition to the Smart Chart students should continue practicing their multiplication chart (12x12) on graph paper. The multiplication chart can help students with their non-calculator questions as well as with many fraction questions, for example reducing or comparing fractions. We have been practicing all year in order to improve on the amount of time each student takes creating their chart so they do not take away too much time from their testing time.

A good portion of the week has also been spent on taking our final practice SOL test before the real thing. With the modified schedule in place this week with the start of other middle school SOL tests, students were able to get a better understanding of how to manage their time throughout the test, which was the released 2009 Math 6 SOL. Several students have already improved on their "You Can Do It" total score. In addition, Warm Up questions this week came from the 2008 released test.

As students finished their test, they were allowed to use the class textbooks to help them with their Math 6 Vocabulary flashcards. Students are encouraged to study their vocabulary cards over the weekend and next week, especially since there is such a strong emphasis on reading throughout our math test. Reviewing everything in the Math Dictionary is also highly encouraged.

Create and study flashcards alone or with friends online using CoboCards

The Math 6 testing dates are as follows:

• Block 1: Thursday, May 27, 2010
• Block 2: Friday, May 28, 2010
• Block 4: Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Practice for the SOL using Jefferson Lab and receive immediate results and explanations.

Second Benchmark Test

The second benchmark test will take place on Tuesday, January 27, 2009 for all of Ms. Lambert's math classes. A "study guide" for each class is listed below, but students are reminded to use the review test as well to help in the preparations for this very important test. Only materials covered this marking period will be on the test. In the math dictionary, this would be anything from the beginning of November through this week.

As you prepare for the test, do not forget the importance of getting plenty of sleep the night before and having a good breakfast the morning of the test. We have another three-day weekend, so you will all of plenty of time to study up before the test. If you have questions, leave a comment here or email. I will either try to post a response/reply over the weekend, or address it before we start testing.

MSMI Blocks 1&4:

• Number Sets: Fractions and Decimals—MSMI.4 & 9
• Number Theory—MSMI.3
• Add & Subtract Fractions—MSMI.8
• US Customary System—MSMI.12
• Decimal Division—MSMI.8
• Fraction & Decimal Relationships—MSMI.1 & 10
• Circles—MSMI.15

Honors 6 Block 3:

• Fraction Concepts—7.1
• Solving Problems with Fractions—7.4
• Properties (includes Fractions and Integers)—7.3
• Basic Operations with Integers—7.5
• Coordinate Plane—7.12

Study Guide for Block 4

Block 4's Study Guide for the 2nd Nine Weeks Benchmark Test

Study Guide for Blocks 1 & 3

Block 1 & 3's Study Guide for the 2nd Nine Weeks Benchmark Test