Monday, August 31, 2015
Friday, August 28, 2015
Friday, 8/28/15: Real Number Classification and the Axioms of Real Numbers
Tonight's homework is p.45 (1-14).
Thursday, August 27, 2015
Thursday, 8/27/15: Reviewing Lesson 2.1 Homework
There is no formal homework assigned. However, if any student had difficulty on last night's homework, he or she should rework the problems missed. (We reviewed the homework today.)
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
Wednesday, 8/25/15: Continuing Lesson 2.1, Rational Exponents
Our Back-to-School Night is this Thursday, 8/27, at 6:00 p.m., in the oak tree area. I'll be putting out signups for the fall conferences. (Sometime next week I will send home an information flyer about my own fall conferences, should parents not be able to come this Thursday evening.) Parents, I'm looking forward to meeting you!
Tonight's homework is p.35 (17-40).
Our first memorization quiz, on the six real number classifications, and the first 15 perfect squares and first 5 perfect cubes, is this Thursday, 8/27.
Today we looked at how to find a fractional root using the online calculator sometimes available during the SBAC standardized testing. Here is the link to that calculator:
http://demo.tds.airast.org/TDSCalculator/TDSCalculator.html?mode=ScientificInv
Tonight's homework is p.35 (17-40).
Our first memorization quiz, on the six real number classifications, and the first 15 perfect squares and first 5 perfect cubes, is this Thursday, 8/27.
Today we looked at how to find a fractional root using the online calculator sometimes available during the SBAC standardized testing. Here is the link to that calculator:
http://demo.tds.airast.org/TDSCalculator/TDSCalculator.html?mode=ScientificInv
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
Tuesday, 8/25/15: Strengthening Lesson 2.1, Radicals and Rational Exponents
Our Back-to-School Night is this Thursday, 8/27, at 6:00 p.m., in the oak tree area. I'll be putting out signups for the fall conferences. (Sometime next week I will send home an information flyer about my own fall conferences, should parents not be able to come this Thursday evening.) Parents, I'm looking forward to meeting you!
Tonight's homework is p.34 (1-12). Students, if you are reading this, I do want you to try to do this assignment on separate notebook paper, with the upside-down "T" and proper formatting shown on the back of your assignment sheet. But don't worry, I'll walk you through the process for the first several assignments until you're clear as to how to do it.
Our first memorization quiz, on the six real number classifications, and the first 15 perfect squares and first 5 perfect cubes, is this Thursday, 8/27.
Tonight's homework is p.34 (1-12). Students, if you are reading this, I do want you to try to do this assignment on separate notebook paper, with the upside-down "T" and proper formatting shown on the back of your assignment sheet. But don't worry, I'll walk you through the process for the first several assignments until you're clear as to how to do it.
Our first memorization quiz, on the six real number classifications, and the first 15 perfect squares and first 5 perfect cubes, is this Thursday, 8/27.
Monday, 8/24/15: Lesson 2.1, Radicals and Rational Exponents
I apologize for making this post a day late. We lost our internet access after school, due to a power outage.
The homework for this day was an entrance ticket for this Thursday's quiz.
The homework for this day was an entrance ticket for this Thursday's quiz.
Friday, August 21, 2015
Friday, 8/21/15: Closing Off Loose Ends
We finished some loose ends today. This weekend's homework is another entrance ticket for the upcoming number types quiz, but in addition, students will need to include the perfect squares up to 15^2 (225) and the perfect cubes up to 5^3 (125).
Our first quiz will be Thursday, 8/27. Students will have to write on a blank sheet of notebook paper the six number types (natural numbers, whole numbers, integers, rational numbers, irrational numbers, and real numbers) and their definitions, to the level of detail that we've been practicing. The will also need to show me that they know the perfect squares to 225 and perfect cubes to 125.
Our first quiz will be Thursday, 8/27. Students will have to write on a blank sheet of notebook paper the six number types (natural numbers, whole numbers, integers, rational numbers, irrational numbers, and real numbers) and their definitions, to the level of detail that we've been practicing. The will also need to show me that they know the perfect squares to 225 and perfect cubes to 125.
Thursday, August 20, 2015
Thursday, 8/20/15: Previewing Lessons 2.1 & 2.2 on Radicals and Rational Exponents
I was out for a meeting today. During their class time, I had directed that the students preview Lessons 2.1 & 2.2 in their text, starting from the top and going through every example and problem, as the time for the period allowed. While it would be good to continue through to the end of Lesson 2.2, that is not required for tonight. Tonight's homework is another entrance ticket for an upcoming number types memorization quiz.
Wednesday, August 19, 2015
Wednesday, 8/19/15: Cleaning up Loose Ends / Foundational Work
Tonight's homework is another entrance ticket for our upcoming number types quiz.
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
Tuesday, 8/18/15: Introducing the Classification of the Real Numbers
Tonight's homework is an "entrance ticket," in preparation for an upcoming memorization quiz. Yesterday I distributed a photocopy showing the natural numbers, whole numbers, integers, rational numbers, irrational numbers, and real numbers, along with their definitions. Students are going to have to give that back to me on a blank sheet of paper for a quiz we'll be having within about a week, entirely by memory. This is THE most critical vocabulary that they will need coming into high school, and I usually give this quiz two additional times this year, so that they do not forget the definitions.
Students are to take out a blank sheet of paper tonight, and write everything that is on the photocopy (front side only, the one with the definitions above). Their goal tonight is to try to do the first three number types and definitions by memory, but they need to write everything down on the piece of paper tonight. I will collect it first thing tomorrow. Every night I will be giving this as practice. We chunk it; the goal is to increase what the student can do by memory until it is all memorized.
Parents, there is a place for convergent (narrow, militaristic thinking / training) as well as divergent thinking (creative, outside-the-box problem solving). We are using eighth specific thinking strategies in class this year, that the students will know very well. So please rest assured that while there is a place for memorization, it is not the entire course--not by a long shot.
Students are to take out a blank sheet of paper tonight, and write everything that is on the photocopy (front side only, the one with the definitions above). Their goal tonight is to try to do the first three number types and definitions by memory, but they need to write everything down on the piece of paper tonight. I will collect it first thing tomorrow. Every night I will be giving this as practice. We chunk it; the goal is to increase what the student can do by memory until it is all memorized.
Parents, there is a place for convergent (narrow, militaristic thinking / training) as well as divergent thinking (creative, outside-the-box problem solving). We are using eighth specific thinking strategies in class this year, that the students will know very well. So please rest assured that while there is a place for memorization, it is not the entire course--not by a long shot.
Monday, August 17, 2015
Monday, 8/17/15: Introducing Lesson 2.1: Fractional Roots
Tonight's homework is to study the charts at the top of pages 30 & 31, on exponent rules. I highly recommend making flip charts.
Friday, August 14, 2015
8/14/15: Distribution of Textbooks
We distributed our textbooks today. They are consumable, meaning that the text fully belongs to your student. He or she may write in it and highlight the material. I will be asking students to rip out small portions of the text (presently pages 25-46, Lessons 2.1 and 2.2), and carry those small sections back and forth from school and home each day. The overall textbook may be kept at home. It is important that students not lose the text, and that they reliably bring our current working section back and forth each day! To a large extent, that is what we will be working off of. Ideally, those small working sections are stored in a 3-ring binder, along with loose leaf work. (Some students, however, like to use spiral-bound notebooks for homework. I'm okay with that.) Today, we discovered that the punched holes of the textbook pages are really close to the perforations. While ideally we want those working sections of the text in a 3-ring binder, "Plan B" is to clip them in a manila file folder.
At the end of each of the five major units this year, we will empty the unit's contents into a manila file folder, which your student may take home, or I will store for him or her (as we are doing with our regular 8th math students). Shortly before our standardized testing, we will return all of the folders back to students for study purposes.
This weekend's homework is a vocabulary preview lesson. Students are to look up the definition for each of the following, and give an example for each. They may use the Internet (just Google the term), or search within Youtube, or use the paper glossary they took home with them today. The definitions and examples should be written on a separate piece of notebook paper. Note: I told them that one of the terms I checked today, "radicand index" was not in the text glossary or index. (We teach to the standards, not the text. So hopefully in that case the student can find the information online, or if necessary, leave it blank. This is a "flipped classroom" assignment; we will be discussing these in class next week.) Here are the terms:
Exponent
Rational numbers
Irrational numbers
Radical expressions
Radicand index
Real numbers
Closed
At the end of each of the five major units this year, we will empty the unit's contents into a manila file folder, which your student may take home, or I will store for him or her (as we are doing with our regular 8th math students). Shortly before our standardized testing, we will return all of the folders back to students for study purposes.
This weekend's homework is a vocabulary preview lesson. Students are to look up the definition for each of the following, and give an example for each. They may use the Internet (just Google the term), or search within Youtube, or use the paper glossary they took home with them today. The definitions and examples should be written on a separate piece of notebook paper. Note: I told them that one of the terms I checked today, "radicand index" was not in the text glossary or index. (We teach to the standards, not the text. So hopefully in that case the student can find the information online, or if necessary, leave it blank. This is a "flipped classroom" assignment; we will be discussing these in class next week.) Here are the terms:
Exponent
Rational numbers
Irrational numbers
Radical expressions
Radicand index
Real numbers
Closed
Thursday, August 13, 2015
Thursday, 8/13/15: Higher Education
Today we finished most of a slide presentation I'd prepared with regards to higher education. This discussion is crucial, as it sets up what we are doing this year in the context of high school and college work.
No homework was assigned tonight.
No homework was assigned tonight.
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
Wednesday, 8/12: Welcome & Course Syllabus
Welcome back, students and parents! I am looking forward to working closely with you to make this a terrific year!
The purpose of this blog is a simple one: to let you know what homework was assigned for the day. It is my practice to put the homework information up every day, hopefully earlier in the day rather than later. (The latest that I post is around 6:45 p.m., but that could be a possibility if I have extensive meetings after school.)
If homework is in the form of a worksheet, I will try to have a version of it available through the parent portal--however, my work load may not allow it for the day. The student may have to get the worksheet from me upon his or her return to school, and of course, he or she will get full credit for it--as long as it is turned in in a timely fashion.
If a student is absent, I encourage him or her to check this blog for the homework, or check with a peer!
The homework for tonight is for students to review the course information with their parents. Parents, you have an optional homework assignment, where you have a chance to tell me all about your child. I learn great things about my students this way! See the last page of the course information packet, which should have come home with your student today.
The purpose of this blog is a simple one: to let you know what homework was assigned for the day. It is my practice to put the homework information up every day, hopefully earlier in the day rather than later. (The latest that I post is around 6:45 p.m., but that could be a possibility if I have extensive meetings after school.)
If homework is in the form of a worksheet, I will try to have a version of it available through the parent portal--however, my work load may not allow it for the day. The student may have to get the worksheet from me upon his or her return to school, and of course, he or she will get full credit for it--as long as it is turned in in a timely fashion.
If a student is absent, I encourage him or her to check this blog for the homework, or check with a peer!
The homework for tonight is for students to review the course information with their parents. Parents, you have an optional homework assignment, where you have a chance to tell me all about your child. I learn great things about my students this way! See the last page of the course information packet, which should have come home with your student today.
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