Weekly Class Summary: Mar. 31-Apr. 4

SOLs Covered:  SOL 7.8 & 8.8 Geometric Transformations; SOL 7.12 & 8.14,16 Relations & Functions
Math Dictionary Sections:  28 Transformations; 29 Relations & Functions
Upcoming Assessments:  Probability Quiz (Fri. 4/11/14)

This week was predominately filled up with testing, so I don't have too much to write about this time.  We did spend Monday in the computer lab, reviewing current and old materials by playing DimensionU.  By the end of the day, I was able to join in and play with the students; while I'm a little rusty, I did show them I've got some gaming skill by the second round (just had to rest the keys for my "leftiness" first).  On Tuesday, we started class by going over a few last minute details from the review packet before the students started the test on transformations, similar figures, relations, and functions; most students finished the test on Wednesday and used any extra time to wrap up odds and ends for the third term.  Ideally, I would leave it at the one test, but we are required to give the county's post-assessment, which shows student growth in each content area, by the end of the third term; with all the snow days, this was the only viable option for scheduling.  Therefore, Thursday and Friday were devoted to the test.  For those students who finished early, the new packets on probability (notes, homework, and classwork) were made available, which start off with review materials.  We'll start going over all of it together on Monday.

Weekly Class Summary: Mar. 24-28

SOLs Covered:  SOL 7.12 & 8.14,16 Relations & Functions
Math Dictionary Sections:  29 Relations & Functions; 30 Patterns & Sequences
Upcoming Assessments:  Trans. & Rel./Func. Test (Tues. 4/1/14); CCPS Post-Test (Thurs. 4/3/14)

I'm keeping things on the "short and sweet" side this week for the simple fact that I need to get home and take a nap!  I know springs finally starting to make its way into central Virginia since I can already feel the affects on my sinuses.  Now onto the math!

We've been working hard on functions this week, discussing how to identify a function, the different parts of a function, and how to represent relations/functions using tables, graphs, rules, and words.  Students were again given packets (one homework and one classwork) for the unit.  The classwork packet was worked on in class throughout the week, though students are only responsible for completing pg. 1-10 of it; the rest can be used by the students independently for their own personal review and we'll likely come back to it after spring break as part of our SOL review depending on what materials are released by the state and/or county before then.  We ended the week with a test review packet, which does not have to be turned in as the students should keep it as study material.

That's a Function!!! Interactive from ASSET & ASU

The test will be on Tuesday and Wednesday (as needed), after a computer lab review day on Monday (students are reminded to bring their headphones/earbuds that day).  Normally I avoid having multiple assessments in one week, but we've been given a deadline for the county's post-assessment test, which is to be completed by Friday, April 4th, so we'll spend Thursday and Friday next week working on that.  This isn't the same as the county's SOL simulation test, which I have scheduled for the week after spring break (see the Team 7-2 Student Google calendar; students must login with their county accounts for access).

As I promised the students, I'm giving one last extra credit opportunity.  Students can complete assignments/tests on TenMarks and/or JLab (be sure to use the "new" 2009 standards on JLab) for up to 20 points extra credit.  Students can either email or send their results through Edmodo/Google or print a hardcopy to turn into me.  The deadline for this is next Friday, April 4th (the official end of term) and students will be allowed to use part of their computer time on Monday on this if they cannot work on it at home.  As previously stated, all corrections on old assessments and assignments were due by today (3/28), but since I always allow (and strongly encourage) students to work on pulling their grades up, assignments from this week (homework and classwork on functions) will still be accepted next week.

Homework: Mar. 24-28 (+Reminders!)

Students are reminded to turn in late/incomplete assignments as well as signed grade reports if they haven't already.  All term 3 assignments are due by Friday, March 28.  Any grades taken after this week will be counted towards the next term in order to give students a chance to make the work up or due corrections if necessary.  Students should work on the functions packet, which is due this Friday, March 28.

We'll be in the computer lab for math gaming review on Monday, March 31, so students should bring their headphones/earbuds for that day.  A test on transformations and functions is scheduled for Tuesday, April 1 and we also have to take the county's post-assessment this term, which is scheduled for April 3.  I'd prefer not to have back-to-back testing, but it sadly couldn't be helped.  Again, grades from the week of March 31st will go onto the last term.

Reminder:  I'm still not able to schedule a "regular" tutoring time (auntie driving duties have pilled up), but students can make arrangements with me to set up a time to come in early or stay a little after if the need extra help.

HW & CW for the week of 3/24/14

Weekly Class Summary: Mar. 10-14

SOLs Covered:  SOL 7.8 & 8.8 Geometric Transformations
Math Dictionary Sections:  27 Coordinate Plane; 28 Transformations
Upcoming Assessments:  Transformations Quiz (Wed. 3/19/14)

This week has reminded us that spring is approaching (but will apparently take a detour Sunday evening/Monday morning), so we've actually had a whole uninterrupted week.  Students finished the test we "previewed" last Friday.  If they didn't finish on Monday, the completed it on Tuesday in the computer lab before we had our first completely "fun" day of math gaming.  The students all have DimensionU accounts and we were able to play a little bit the last time we were in the lab, but this was the first time they could really get into it.  DimensionU has different "worlds" the students can play in and our school accounts give EDMS students access to the math and language arts part of the game.  Obviously while in my class, students are expected to play the math portion (earning points while answering math questions related to our curriculum), but the game can also be downloaded and played from home.  I'm one of the building contacts for the company, so I've received word that there will be a web-version of the game relaunched sometime in the future.  I'm hoping it will work with the Chromebooks the students will be given next year, so we'll be able to get a lot more use out of the game.


When we returned to the classroom on Wednesday, we got started on our geometric transformations unit.  Students received their new homework and classwork packets, which are currently due on Wednesday, March 19th; this could be pushed back depending on how far we get at the beginning of next week.  We did a little review of the basics of working on the coordinate plane before starting on translations.  On Thursday, some students were able to get started on reflections, but most were only able to finish translations.  With a social studies field trip and chorus students leaving for state assessments, about half of the students were out on Friday, therefore, instead of teaching a lesson that would just need to be repeated on Monday, students were given some Pi Day activities to work on as well as a chance to complete unfinished assignments, work on error analysis for their old assessments, and get help from me when needed.  Since students were with me for both their math block as well as the block they normally have language arts, some were able to make a lot of progress on getting caught up and/or ahead in their work.  Students can work on their classwork packet on their own outside of school, but we will be continuing our work with transformations on Monday.



Students are reminded that they can make arrangements with me for a tutoring session before or after school.  At the moment, I'm not able to set up a "regular" after school tutoring session as I have in the past (my sister needs my "auntie's taxi service" to be running for a bit), but I can find a few minutes before and/or after school some days to give extra help when needed.  Students can check with me or have their parents email and we can find a time that works for everyone.  I can also work with students during SOAR class, though I have plans to help students get organized and clear out lockers over the next few weeks (some of their binders and lockers are looking like a paper factory exploded in there!).

Homework: Mar. 3-7

For the week of March 3, 2014

This week students will wrap up their work on last week's classwork packet mostly on their own at this point and will thus NOT be given new homework.  We'll be reviewing surface area and volume in class and move onto working in groups on higher level word problems.  Students should study for the next test, which will cover quadrilaterals and volume/surface area.  It is currently scheduled for Mon. 3/10, barring any more of this interesting winter weather we've been having

While I might have to change plans again due to the weather, we're currently scheduled to be in the computer lab on Tuesday (3/11) for a bit of gaming review, so students are reminded they can bring their headphones/earbuds to class on that day.

HW for the week of 3/3/14

Weekly Class Summary: Feb. 24-28

SOLs Covered:  SOL 7.5 & 8.7 Surface Area & Volume of Rectangular Prisms & Cylinders
Math Dictionary Sections:  25 Solids; 26 Surface Area & Volume (with Math 7 Formula Sheet)
Upcoming Assessments:  Edmodo Review Quiz (Mon. 3/3/14); Quads & Vol/SA Test (Mon. 3/10/14)

I'll be keeping this week's WCS on the shorter side since I've got a fairly long to-do list to take care of before returning to the school for this year's school play (Willy Wonka Junior).  After taking the quiz on quadrilaterals, students reviewed geometric solids on their own, followed by a quick whole class review of the topic.  From there, we jumped into working on surface area and volume of rectangular prisms and cylinders.  This unit will carry over into next week as well as being brought up again after the spring's SOL testing is completed to go over some of the Math 8 solids that are covered during MSM2 (pyramids and cones).

Students always seem to struggle at first with how to use the formulas in middle school, so we took time to add examples to the math dictionaries using a color matching technique I prefer.  While some students do just fine without it, those who tend to plug numbers into the wrong spot or forget parts of the formula find it easier to keep their work organized with this.  We'll have to work towards using only one color as the current SOL rules do not allow using more than one color highlighter on the test, but it's a good start for those who need the "training wheels" on as they become accustomed to it.

	Surface Area	Volume
Rectangular Prism
Cylinder

Next week we'll be getting into the more complicated side of this unit (i.e. changing dimensions as well as the tricky word problems).  We'll be in the computer lab on Monday where we'll be experimenting with taking a quiz through Edmodo (hence the change in scheduling), to be followed up with some "mathy fun time" on the computers, so students are reminded to bring their headphones/earbuds.

Homework: Feb. 24-28

For the week of February 24, 2014

This week students have been given two new packets of work on solids (review) and volume and surface area (mix of review and new).  The thinner packet (6 pages) is considered the homework and the thicker packet (16 pages) is considered the classwork.

If students did not complete and/or turn in the previous packets and/or take-home test, they should do so as soon as possible.  They are already marked as missing (M=0F) if they haven't been turned into me.

Students should study and prepare for the next quiz, which will be review materials and take place Friday (2/28).  A test is on the horizon as well (quadrilaterals and volume/surface area scheduled for Fri. 3/7).

We'll be in the computer lab on Monday (3/3) for a bit of gaming review, so students are reminded they can bring their headphones/earbuds to class on that day.

CW & HW for the week of 2/24/14

Weekly Class Summary: Feb. 17-21

SOLs Covered:  SOL 7.7 Properties of Quadrilaterals
Math Dictionary Sections:  24 Quadrilaterals
Upcoming Assessments:  Quads Quiz (Mon. 2/21/14); Review Quiz (Fri. 2/28/14)

After returning from another long, snow-covered weekend, students turned in their consumer applications packets and take-home tests.  Knowing how the snow days lead to forgetfulness, I gave the kids a little time on Monday to wrap up their work on these things.  Students are reminded to turn those in ASAP if they haven't so far.

The rest of the week, we started our first geometry unit of the year:  properties of quadrilateral.  In MSM2, we cover the general term of quadrilateral as well as the more specific terms of parallelogram, rhombus, rectangle, square, trapezoid, and kite.  We spent a lot of time going over the quadrilateral "family tree" and how things relate to each other.  I used other analogies to help students better understand their relationships, for example "all puppies are dogs, but not all dogs are puppies" helped students understand that "all squares are rhombi, but not all rhombi are squares."  I also talked about how different shapes share characteristics of their "parent" shapes the same way the students share characteristics with their parents ("daddy rectangle" and "mama rhombus" share their characteristics with "baby square" the way students might have their mom's eyes and their dad's nose).  Most of the characteristics have been covered in previous years, but students were introduced to the rules of each quadrilateral's diagonals.  I've suggested to students that they create flash cards with each characteristic written on one side of the card and all the shapes that have that characteristic on the other.



On Friday, we spent the day in the computer lab.  I'd already booked the lab about two months ago just for a general fun math gaming day, but we ended up needing it to submit our answers for the county's first semester benchmark test.  Since all the work had been completed on paper previously, that part didn't take too long and we had time for some less serious computer stuff as well.  Before allowing the kids to play, I did walk the students through the process of adding the team's student calendar I created to their own Google calendars.  I've been told that with the introduction of Chromebooks next year, students will no longer be issued a tracker/agenda where they've traditionally kept track of all their assignments and such.  Because of this, I'm experimenting with how to use the Google calender to keep students and parents informed as well as helping students keep their school and outside life more organized.  Next week during SOAR on Tuesday (for Block 1/2), Wednesday (for Block 3/4), and Thursday (for Block 7/8), I'll be helping students who need it in setting up their Google accounts and its various features on their mobile devices (as long as they've gotten permission from their parent ahead of time).  Students will only have permission to have their devices in class and out during the SOAR block on those days and have been reminded that being allowed to use them at any time in my class does not give them permission to use it outside of my class or those times.