Break it down...

Points up or down?

HW

No HW!

Today we started looking at a section of the Jacobs text that the kids will see next year on functions and lines.  They just got a chance to start and should NOT do anything for homework tonight!

Chart it up! Workday

Today instead of just checking our x-y charts like normal, we graphed them to check our answers!  This is still new and fresh for them so it turned into our warm-up as well.

On that note, today was a workday... tons more x-y charts and a handful of charts that they had to graph.  

We're into our final unit full-on!  LINES.  :)

They will need to finish what they didn't finish in class for homework.

Reminders...

Domain and range

Relation vs function

Example of relation

Building what we've learned this year...

The great leap...

HW

What is a relation?

What is a function?

An example of a relation

Another way to think of functions and relations

Warm up 1

Warm up 2

New numbers

HW

Surfing the Coordinate Plane

Today we checked homework and had a workday--on a Cartesian Cartoon!  The title of the graph is This Puzzle is Alarming and they will need to finish this for homework. :)

Warm-up

HW 3-4

HW 7-8

HW 5-6

Matthew was proved wrong!

This Puzzle is Alarming!!

Graphing!

We are in full-swing of our next unit--graphing and then graphing equations (lines).  Today we took a pop quiz on the coordinate plane (see below) and then we checked our homework.  We wrapped up with plotting some good ol' fashioned points.  Some folks may need to finish this tonight for homework.

Onward!

Classwork

Quiz!!

The Coordinate Plane

Points...

Intercepts

HW

MBMB and Life Happens!

Well, you may have been wondering where in the heck those MBMB answers went! As my mentor used to say, "Life happened." I spent the majority of break helping my family with some health issues and lo and behold, MBMB totally escaped me.

So here they are, in full:

Sat, Mar 22 -- y^2 (y squared)

Sun, Mar 23 -- 6y + -18

Mon, Mar 24 -- 22

Tue, Mar 25 -- 8

Wed, Mar 26 -- (-27)

Thu, Mar 27 -- 0.72

Fri, Mar 28 -- x = 6

Sat, Mar 29 -- x = 10

Sun, Mar 30 -- Coming soon!

MBMB and Test Corrections... and a Happy Break!

Hey all!

Today the kids got their MBMB (see previous post) -- and got their tests back. Over the break, I'd like them to complete their test corrections on a separate sheet of paper and attach it to their test. DO NOT EDIT THE ORIGINAL TEST. (This of course only applies to those who were there today. Ainsley, Claire, and Anna K. will get their tests back on Monday after Spring Break.)

This is the last official post (I think) before break! Onward and Happy Break!

The Math Brain Munching Bugs - MBMBs!!!

This will be a little confusing. :)

The kids will receive this tomorrow (Friday) because I knew yesterday was the test and I wouldn't see them today. So they will probably forget about this... which is why I have to enroll y'all!

I have discovered in my years teaching math that there is a special kind of bug that attacks children over Spring Break--the Math Brain Munching Bugs. Reasonably skilled children have returned from Spring Break with sand in their flip-flops and nothing left in the math part of their brain! Ah!

So here is what I gave your students yesterday:

Dear Pre-Algebra Students & Parents—

To keep the Math Brain Munching Bugs away, one problem and one problem only must be done a day.

Think of a doctor’s orders to take a certain amount of medicine at certain times of the day. The Munching Bugs are just as severe.

Children have been known to return from Spring Break with only an empty frame of what their minds used to be!

These problems, done once a day, with their work and steps totally and completely shown and written down should significantly diminish the Munching Bugs’ effect.

So, as you can see, a problem a day is the cure! I put a link below to the sheet I gave the kids and I'll be posting answers here from time to time over the break.

The MBMB Pre-Al 4th Pd Sheet

Thanks for your continued support and have a fabulous break! light and love, matthew

No Class Today

Today we actually did not see each other in fourth period because of the talent sharing for Grandparents day.

We will see each other tomorrow--and they will get their tests back!

Test Today!

We took our test today and everyone finished!  I'll be checking them this evening and processing them with your children tomorrow during class. :)

What Matthew's Desk Looks Like on Test Days :)

Test Tomorrow!!

Reminder for first, second, and fourth period that tomorrow is a test
day!

Warmup

Variable on both sides example

Practice problems

Practice problems 2

Eliza tackles a HARD review problem

Review & Test

Today was review day -- the kids got their review sheets and the test was announced for Wednesday.  See notes from board below, review pasted below.

Combining Like Terms, Properties, & Harder Equations Test Review

On this test, you should be able to:

• Simplify expressions by combining like terms (adding/subtracting)
• Simplify expressions by combining like terms (multiplying)
• Identify the Properties of Real Numbers (commutative, associative, inverse, identity, and distributive)
• Simplify expressions using the Distributive Property
• Simplify expressions involving fractions, negatives, etc.
• Solve multi-step and harder equations
• Solve equations by combining like terms and using the Distributive Property
• Solve equations with variable on both sides

Review 1

Review 2

#s 1-2

#s 3-4

#5

A little non-math day!

Today we checked homework and kicked back our feet to take a break!  No homework over the weekend.

Happy Pi Day!

Workday!!

The kids may need to finish #108 tonight for homework. Today was a
workday for them--and they are currently working hard!!

On all these pictures...

I'm experimenting with something.  What if I could just take pictures of our notes and post them up here to help keep you informed?  Hm.... Makes life that much easier!

The first picture is their homework tonight.  They go in backwards order after that--still working out the kinks.  ;)

Today, as you'll see below, was about harder and harder equations.  And your kids are doing smashingly with them!

Notes 2

Pictures from Notes Today...

Both Sides?!

I'm back and we've been busy!!

Yesterday we spent most of our time together processing my absence and
working out problems they had questions about.

Today we worked with equations with variables on both sides of the
equals. They have homework: #s 90-98 on the sheets I gave them today.

Heads up--we'll be looking towards a test next week!!

Matthew's Away!

Hey all!

I'm going to be away Wednesday-Friday of this week and I wanted to let you know (1) there won't be any blog posts or phone call posts and (2) give you an idea of what your kiddos will be doing.

On Monday we nailed down some of the harder distributing and combining like terms problems leading up to harder, multi-step equations.  

So, on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, the kids will be doing a variety of practice on all three of these topics.  You may see a bit of homework come home, but don't expect it--I've left a lot, but the kids tend to work REALLY hard in class!

Also, reminder: their Property Quiz is on Friday!!

Look for the next post on Monday!

Whew!

What a lot we did today!

We took quite a bit of notes today to wrap a lot of what we've been studying together... in to a somewhat cohesive unit :)

Most of the notes were examples of harder distributing, combining like terms, and therefore, equations.

They'll be working on these for the rest of the week.

HEADS-UP -- Property Quiz is Friday!

Distributing with fractions

We spent the day working on distributing over subtraction & addition using fractions.

Take (1/2)[ x + 4 ] for example.

No homework over the weekend.

Distributing!

Today we talked about the mother of all properties: The Distributive Property.  (That's the one that says a(b+c) = ab + ac if you've forgotten!)

We took notes and they got a chance to practice.  I gave them a sheet that I want them to do 1-14 on tonight for homework.

Props!

Today was all about properties--commutative, associative, identity, inverse.. my oh my!

And the kids have a handful of problems (1-40) to finish tonight to solidify the comm/assoc properties.

The long one...

So here we are post-parent conferences!

I want to take a moment now when I can breathe a little easier and tell you more about where we are at in Pre-Algebra as we look into Trimester 3.

We've finished our work in the Jacobs text. This meant working hard in Chapter 1 and breezing through Chapter 2. I like to hit Chapter 1 hard to give the kids the experience of using a text like Jacobs and I treat the skills in Chapter 2 much like I do other Pre-Algebra material (introduce skills, practice, assess). Also, I know that the kids will get to experience number sequences again and again in their lives... but billiard tables?! That's just too cool to pass up. :)

So you might be hearing some grumblings about what we've been working on in class!  Ha!

I didn't waste any time after Jacobs--we automatically jumped back into our next Pre-Algebra unit.  I like to think of this unit as the "Hodge Podge" unit because it is the strangest concoction of skills that at first glance don't look like they're related, but after awhile everything starts clicking together.

Well, if you remember, the kids have worked hard on expressions and one- and two-step equations. Before we can move into the harder, multi-step equations, there is a clump of skills that they need to learn.

For example, in the past few days we've been talking about "Combining Like Terms" -- now, what's that mean?

It means putting things together that look the same--that's my simplest definition. :)  The easiest example is: 2x + 3x = 5x.  2 x's plus 3 x's gives me 5 x's.  I talk to the kids about treating this like the x's are just apples: I've got 2 apples plus 3 apples, I've got a total of 5 apples.  We do this just a few times until they grasp the concept.

On this note I should mention that I will use ANY analogy or metaphor to help this stick in the kids heads.  You may have heard them talking about like "butts" in Pre-Algebra lately.  After we nail down the vocabulary (coefficient, variable, power, exponent, constant), we rename some things--the variable becomes the butt.  So, if only like butts can be combined, it makes sense that in the example above 2x and 3x can be combined--they both have a butt of x!

Then I throw them a curve-ball: 3x - 8x = -5x.  Now, same skill--but can they remember how to subtract integers???  Here's were I start requiring them to ADD THE OPPOSITE.  ALWAYS AND FOREVER.  It's mathematically sound, and it just makes life that much easier!

Now at this point we've only talked about adding & subtracting.  Today we introduced multiplying.  The coolest of the cool part?  The butt doesn't matter when you multiply!!

So, (3x)*(2a) = 6ax -- just combine the butts to form a new one!

Beginning tomorrow, we will enter the "Properties" section of this unit--commutative, associative, distributive, and identity. This lets us take combining like terms to a whole other level.  (And a little harder!)  By being able to successfully combine like terms and prove it with properties, we can now start studying multi-step equations.  We'll spend at least 1.5 weeks solid on just this skill.

Post Spring Break you will find us graphing lines on the coordinate plane. When we get here, we may do a little dance to congratulate ourselves because we will have made it to the end of Pre-Algebra!  Graphing lines on the coordinate plane is the final unit of the year.

I should go ahead and start telling you that there will be a cumulative final exam that will last two days and will probably fall in the first or second week of May. The kids know its coming, but I've been trying to not let them freak out about it yet. I use it as just another tool to help me and them understand what they know and what they still haven't gelled on yet.

I hope this posting finds you all well!

Internet down

Internet is down at ,
CFS so doing this from my phone.

Busy day today, kids have five problems I wrote on the board at the
end if class for hw.

More soon

Sent from my iPhone

Combining Like Terms

We really delved into a our new unit today in class by talking about combining like terms.

Ask your kids about having the same "butt."  :)

Tonight's homework is to complete #90, #s A-H and 1-20.

Whew!

Hey all!

It's been so long since I've actually sat down to write for the blog! Writing reports just takes so much time. I'll be making another posting about the "Skills Assessment" you'll find on your child's evaluation soon.

We've been busy wrapping up Chapter 2 of the Jacobs text on Number Sequences. Last Thursday we took a quick quiz on a handful of number sequences and today the kids got the opportunity to try their hands at creating their own number sequences.

There'll be no homework tonight!

Be on the lookout for another post in the next couple days. Enjoy the break!

Skills!

This morning we started out by checking our homework (the Fibonacci sequence).

We spent most of our time working on filling out our Skills Assessments -- which you will find in their Trimester 2 Evaluations in the coming weeks.

Heads up--number sequences quiz tomorrow!

Chapter 2: The Greatest Hits!

Today we had to move into a new room because my room had been taken over by the OC Carnival being produced by my Jacobs class!

So after we tucked ourselves away in Nancy's room, we checked our work from Friday and yesterday and the moved on to hit the highlights of Chapter 2: sequences of squares and cubes, and the Fibonacci Sequence.

Tonight's homework is to write out the first 20 terms of the Fibonacci Sequence.

Reflections...

Today the kids and I processed where we are and how Friday went.  A lot of conversations about number sequences!

The only homework they will have is to complete the work from Friday that they might not have completed during class that day.  (Some problems from Set I, and #s 9-12 of Set II).

Chapter 2, Lesson 1 Set 2

Today we got to check Chapter 2, Lesson 1, Set 1 (#s 1-14) -- their homework -- and then moved on to working in Set II (#s 1-12).  They will need to finish this for homework.

I also got a chance to go check over their test corrections.

Heads-up!  I won't be here tomorrow and the kids will be working on Geometric Sequences...

Chapter 2 Lesson 1 Slides

| View | Upload your own

Chapter 2!

The kids got their tests back from Tuesday -- and they will need to do those test corrections tonight, on a separate piece of paper, NOT on the test.

We also started Chapter 2 - on Number Sequences today.  They got a chance in class to start working on Set I of Lesson 1.  They should finish up to #14 on that for homework.

Tests & Notebook Checks

Today the kiddos took their Jacobs, Chapter 1 Test and got their notebooks checked.  They'll get their tests back tomorrow during class.

Jacobs, Chapter 1 Test Tomorrow!

Heads-up!  Test tomorrow!

No Homework and Notebook TLC

We spent time today prepping our review sheets for the Chapter 1 Test next Tuesday, and cleaning out and up our notebooks. (There will be a notebook check during the test!)

No homework!

No Updates

No updates today--it's Adolescent Issues Forum!

Homework

No homework tonight!

Heads-up: Jacobs, Chapter 1 Test is NEXT Tuesday, February 5.

Lesson 6, Set I

We played with more Number Tricks today--and the kiddos are to finish Lesson 6, Set I, #s 1-10, and 12 & 13.

Heads up--The test for Chapter 1 Jacobs will be NEXT Tuesday. (It would have been the end of this week, but we've got the whole funky schedule with staff development and Adolescent Issues Forum.)

A Note on Email Updates

You will notice a new box on each of the blogs--"Subscribe to get email updates"--or something to that effect. If you enter your email in that little box, click the button, enter a code, reply to an email they send you, you SHOULD get an email update once a day (between 3-5p) if there are updates to the blog -- which there will be.

This is just one more way to (hopefully!) make your life easier! (And reduce reminder emails from me :) )

You can also keep checking the blog--since they will only send out one email per day.

Onward!

Deductive Reasoning!

With no homework to check today, we spent most of our time playing around with deductive reasoning problems. One was a problem I call... the marble problem :) Ask them about it.

The other time was spent playing with number tricks... and proving they work using deductive reasoning.

Here, you try one!

Pick a number.
Add five.
Double the result.
Subtract four.
Divide by 2.
Subtract the original number.

What was your answer?

Was it 3? It should have been! There's deductive reasoning for ya--try it with any number--it works!

Rolling on through Lesson 4, onward to Lesson 5

We checked over Lesson 4, Set II and then talked about two examples of where inductive reasoning fails to deliver... again. :)

Which brings us to Lesson 5 -- Deductive Reasoning. Deductive reasoning is what we use when theorems and fundamental mathematical laws are in play.

For example, the kids figured out, deductively, how to win a game involving paper clips and colored pieces today. (It's the picture posted below.)

And because they've had quite a lot of homework, no homework tonight! (And it's looking like none over the weekend either.)

Processing Lesson 4

We checked over Set I today, and started work on Set II. They'll need to finish this for homework--and some parts might not be so easy. I'm just a phone call away, though!

Onward!

Homework 1/22

Thevkiddos should finish up Lesson 4, Set II for homework tonight.

Don't forget to check the podcast!

Sent from my iPhone

Check your blogs and even newer technology!

Hi all!

You may have realized that you haven't gotten many reminder emails from me in awhile! I'm experimenting with laying off the emails--to see if you'll check your child's class blog. :)

You may notice, when you check your blog that you'll see a new little green window up there in the right corner under a title "Audio Updates from Matthew." I have discovered a website called gcast.com that will let you phone in a podcast and stores your files for free. Podcasts are those things you've heard about in iTunes. Now, you could go and "subscribe" to this, but for now, just know that every day I'm going to phone in a message about homework for all of my morning classes and post it online on the blogs. If you click on the Play Button, it will play the latest message -- but it will keep playing the old messages as well. If you click on the "Posts" button, you'll see the list of podcasts I've made so far. (The two earlier ones are just test messages.)

We'll see about the future of these podcasts. Maybe we'll link it up through iTunes so yall can listen to me on your iPod! Ha!

Just another way to help keep you informed. :) Have a great weekend!

There is a time for everything...

We spent the first part of today checking over Set I of Lesson 3.  (Ask them about the cool Keynote we used.)

Then I let the children begin on Set II -- and I did assign it for homework.  There is a flow to Jacobs and we are right in the middle of it, and not seeing them Monday worries me a bit.  There is value to working together on these problems as a class, and then as a group as well.  There is also value in them sitting down and working on it by themselves, struggling, getting a little angry, and working through that.

So, Set II is for Homework: Due Tuesday.

Delay

As of 6:07, we are on a 2-Hour Delay.  School begins at 10:30a.

Totally Forgot!

Today we went through the answers to Lesson 2, Sets 1 & 2.

Plus, we talked about how Jacobs has been going and started talking about inductive reasoning -- which is our topic for the next lesson.  In fact we started up on Set I today (and they should finish tonight for homework if they didn't get done in class--but most got really close!).

Sorry it's so late!

Snow dance... snow dance...

NO Class Today

First, let me apologize for taking so long to post homework yesterday. It was one of those days/afternoons that I just couldn't pull myself away for 5 minutes to sit at my computer! Until, of course, I figured out how to send blogs from my phone (how cool!)! So, in the future, that's how I'll solve that problem.

Tomorrow we'll continue our work in Jacobs by wrapping up Lesson 2 and beginning Lesson 3.  Say bye-bye to those billiard tables!

HW Tonight

By Wed they should be done with Sets 1-2 of Lesson 2.

Sent from my iPhone

More in Lesson 1, Transitioning to Lesson 2

We checked Lesson 1, Set II and then the kids transitioned into Lesson 2 on their own and began Set I.  I told them to stop in their tracks and we'd pick it up on Monday.

Lesson 1, Set 1

Today we checked #s 1-8 -- and finished out the set by answering questions #9-14. These final questions required us to look at the tables we drew yesterday and deduce some patterns from them.

Afterwards we began Set II and the kids' homework is to complete the set (Set II) OR work for at least 30 minutes.

I want to take a minute to describe what my process looks like for kids who do not complete their homework. (This is normally how it goes, but once Jacobs starts in Pre-Al this seems to happen more often...) They will have to sit in study hall at some point to make up for their time--but what really disadvantages them is that they have to leave the room when we are checking the homework they did not complete, and then when they come back into the room (they could be working on the homework they didn't complete) they will have missed what we did together as a class and then have to make THAT up at night. Double-whammy! Moral of the story? Do your homework!

Tomorrow will be finishing up Set II and tying up loose ends before the weekend.

Jacobs, Chapter 1, Lesson 1, Set 1

Does the title look confusing??

It can be!  The chapters in Jacobs are organized by a number of lessons and within those lessons are 3 "sets."  Most of the time we focus our work on the first and second sets, but not always.

Today we started off (for real this time) our study of Chapter 1 on inductive and deductive reasoning.  The first lesson (as well as the second lesson) focus on the "path of a billiard ball" -- and using a variety of mathematical experiments (if you will) to deduce patterns.  If you are curious, just grab your child's book.

To start off our work, however, we watched a few videos of some of the amazing things that people who are extremely talented (or really bored and have A LOT of free time) can do with billiard balls, a cue and a pool table.  If you would like to take a look, I've posted them on my wikispace.  The link is at the top of this page, or you can just click right here --> cfsmatthew.wikispaces.com/jacobs

They do have some homework.  I want them to complete #s 1-8 of Set I.  They should have gotten graph paper from me to draw their tables.  No need to go further--I like to process their tables in class.

Hope all is well!

Putting Geometry to Bed and Waking up Jacobs

Today we finalized Geometry. That meant filling out a reflection on the entire unit which I'm going to read over this evening.

I also took up their Geo Part II Tests (which were the measurements and problems they solved from their Gingerbread House). I'll be processing those tonight as well.

This brings us to Jacobs. :)

Back many, many years ago there was a shift in the middle school math curriculum with respect to the amount of time we had to teach the course known as "Jacobs." As such, the first and second chapters of the Jacobs text were handed down to Pre-Algebra. I can't tell you what a great opportunity this is for kids. The next two months (give or take a few weeks) will be spent in these two chapters of the Jacobs text. This will be one of the first real (other than their other textbook) textbook they will experience. (If you want to get particular, I use that text more as a problem holding vessel.) Regardless, the Jacobs text is unlike any other textbook they will see--especially in terms of math texts!

Jacobs at first can be demanding. Gone are the days of here is the skill, practice the skill, test the skill, you know the skill. :) Well, it sort of still is with Jacobs, but this is one of the ways I explain it to the kids. The Jacobs text is very reading intensive--a concept can be introduced in question #2 and will be referenced in question #15 of the same set... and could be referenced 30 pages later! It could be described as constructive as well (in that, within a chapter each lesson builds on one another, each question in each set builds upon the questions you've already answered).

I say all of this to give you a big heads-up! Tonight their homework was to read pages 1-3, the Introduction. Many of them will struggle with the questions and problems that the author presents in those first few pages. The kids actually don't have to "do" the problems--we'll process them together in class.

This is where we sometimes can hit a wall. Most kids find the transition into this text to be not as easy sometimes as they think or thought it might be. That's part of the reason why I love that it's included now in Pre-Algebra! I get them, I get to answer all their questions, and hold their hands through this experience--which in turn prepares them to think critically and solve problems in totally new ways--and gets them ready for full-blown Jacobs next year.

Whew! I hope I have not given you too much to read! If you're wondering what this is all about, go grab your child's book and take a look. (It is a clear-covered, spiraled Kinko'd creation... ask them about what happens if something happens to the book!) Or if your children are being incredibly careful--come find me in the middle school and you can borrow a copy to read through.

I hope you are well as you read this. More soon!

Back to it!

Hey, hey!

Welcome to 2008! I know it's going to be great! (I just love rhyming...)

Today we reoriented ourselves with each other. We shared about our breaks, started to process the geometry unit (and get our notebooks in order!), and looked ahead at our next unit.

Tomorrow we will finish processing the geometry unit and put most of it to bed. Remember that there were 3 parts to the geometry test: Part I was solving problems, Part II was SA and Volume of their GB house, and Part III was the Memorizing-Formulas Test. 

They got their Part III tests back. Many kiddos did wonderfully, missing only a few to acing it.  If they want, they do have the option of a retake. We spoke today about what I'm after on this test. Is it about memorizing formulas? Sure. Is that all I'm after? Heck no! Memorization is a crucial skill to have in life! And formulas is how I do it in Pre-Algebra.  I care less about how many times they take it or that they didn't nail 100% on the first time.  Can they memorize a large set of information?  That's what we're after.

We're about to start the Jacobs component of Pre-Algebra! That's on the horizon for mid-week. More about that in a later post.