8th grade math

Week of June 8-12

2009-06-08T04:23:00.000-07:00

Monday June 8: Review Packet for Finals

Tuesday June 9: Any questions over review packet
8th grade celebration ceremony and dance 6-9pm

Wednesday June 10 (1/2 day): 1st-3rd hour FINALS

Thursday June 11(1/2 day): 4th - 7th hour FINALS

Friday June 12: No school for students

Have a great summer and good luck in high school!

Week of May 26-29

2009-05-26T06:07:00.001-07:00

This week we will be finishing the math portion of the sustainability project and beginning work in Kaleidoscopes, Hubcaps, and Mirrors.

Tuesday May 26: finish creating nets, calculate surface area, volume, and SA to V ratio, and write rough draft of summary

Wednesday May 27: type summary

Thursday May 28: KHM 1.1/2.1. In this investigation students will be analyzing reflectional symmetries and performing line reflections.

Friday May 29: KHM 1.2/2.2. In this investigation students will be analyzing rotational symmetries.

Week of May 18-22

2009-05-15T06:11:00.001-07:00

This week we will be taking our unit test over Filling and Wrapping. We will review Monday and Tuesday and test Wednesday and Thursday. There will be a binder check during the test on Wednesday or Thursday. Any student who wishes to retake the partner quiz must come Tuesday after school to homework hub. Bus tokens will be provided.

Monday May 18:
All hours: Finish 4.1/4.2 worksheet. Begin review packet for test.

Tuesday May 19:
All hours: Finish review packet,discuss any questions, and organize binders.

Wednesday May 20:
All hours: Filling and Wrapping Unit Test

Thursday May 21:
All hours: Filling and Wrapping Unit Test

Friday May 22:
1st-5th hours: Begin working on sustainability project.
6th-7th hours: Spring Fling

Enjoy the long weekend!

Week of May 11-15

2009-05-08T04:11:00.001-07:00

This week we will be finishing up our work in Filling and Wrapping. Next week students will have a unit test and we will begin our work on the sustainability project.

Monday May 11:
5th, 6th, 7th hours: F&W Partner Quiz
1st, 4th hours: F&W Investigation 3.1. In this investigation students will develop methods for finding the surface area and volume of prisms.

Tuesday May 12:
All hours: Investigation 3.1

Wednesday May 13:
All hours: Investigation 3.2. In this investigation students will develop methods for finding the volume of cylinders.

Thursday May 14:
All hours: Investigation 3.3. In this investigation students will develop methods for finding the surface area of cylinders.

Friday May 15:
All hours: Investigation 4.1. In this investigation students will explore the relationship between cylinders and spheres.

UNIT TEST: Next Wednesday and Thursday!

Week of May 4 - 8

2009-04-30T07:01:00.000-07:00

This is the first week of marking period 6. We will begin this marking period working in the book Filling and Wrapping and will finish the marking period working in Kaleidoscopes, Hubcaps, and Mirrors. This week we will look at how nets are two dimensional representations of three dimensional shapes and will be calculating the surface area and volume of these shapes.

Monday May 4: Filling and Wrapping, Investigation 1.3. In this investigation students will use the net of a rectangular prism to calculate the surface area and volume.
Vocabulary: net, prism, suface area, volume
HW: pg 10 #1-2

Tuesday May 5: Filling and Wrapping, Investigation 1.4. In this investigation students will develop an understanding of the relationship betwen the dimensions of a rectangular prism and its surface area.
Vocabulary: dimensions

Wednesday May 6: Filling and Wrapping, Investigation 2.1. In this investigation students will
connectthe dimensions of a rectangular prism to its volume and surface area and understand that rectangular prisms may have the same volume but quite different surface areas.
HW: pg 12 #10

Thursday May 7:Investigation 1 & 2 Review

Friday May 8: Partner Quiz

Week of April 27 - May 1

2009-04-24T07:54:00.001-07:00

This is the last week of the 5th marking period. We will be reviewing our work in Shapes of Algebra and taking the unit test on Wednesday and Thursday. 7th hour will also be taking a unit test over Moving Straight Ahead. There is a half day on Friday (AM Schedule) with the staff and student basketball game during 3rd hour.

Monday April 27:
Wrap up Investigation 5.3 aReview for Unit Test
7th hour: Investigation 4.3 in MSA. In this investigation students will exploring patterns with lines.
HW: STUDY FOR TEST

Tuesday April 28:
Review for Unit Test
7th hour: Review for MSA Unit Test
HW: STUDY FOR TEST

Wednesday April 29:
All hours: Unit Test

Thursday April 30:
All hours: Unit Test

Friday May 1:
1/2 day (AM Schedule)

Week of April 20-24

2009-04-17T06:10:00.000-07:00

This week we will be finishing up our work in Shapes of Algebra and get ready for the unit test next Wednesday April 29th and Thursday April 30th. Honors students will be taking the Algebra I Placement exam this Wednesday and Thursday. Students who pass this test with a 77% or higher will be placed into Geometry their freshman year. Please encourage your student to get lots of rest and eat a good breakfast both days of the test. We will be doing review activities Monday and Tuesday to help prepare them for the test.

Monday April 20:
Regular: Investigation 4.4. In this investigation students will develop a new strategy for solving systems of equations: combination.
HW: Pg 60 #15, 17, 21, 22
Honors: Test Taking Strategies Activity
7th hour: Students will be solving linear equations of the form y=mx+b. They will use manipulatives to help develop strategies for solving such equations.
HW: Solving linear Inequalities practice 1

Tuesday April 21:
Regular: Review the three methods for solving systems: equality, substitution, and combination.
Honors: Discuss/Practice Function Notation
7th hour: Students will be solving linear equations of the form y=mx+b. They will use manipulatives to help develop strategies for solving such equations.
HW: Solving Linear Inequalities Practice 2

Wednesday April 22:
Regular: Investigation 5.1. In this investigation students will be finding the solutions of linear inequalities graphically.
HW: pg 78 #3
Honors: Algebra I Placement Exam
7th hour: MSA Investigation 3.4. Students will be solving linear equations of the form y=mx+b.

Thursday April 23:
Regular: Investigation 5.2. Again, students will be solving linear inequalities by graphing.
Honors: Algebra I Placement Exam
7th hour: Quiz over solving linear equations

Friday April 24:
Regular: Investigation 5.3. In this investigation students will be matching inequalities with their graphs.
Honors: Investigation 4.3. In this investigation students will learn a new method of solving systems of equations: substitution.
7th hour: MSA Investigation 3.5. In this investigation students will be using equations to answer questions about income, expense, and profit.

Week of April 13-17

2009-04-12T09:09:00.000-07:00

Welcome back from spring break! I hope everyone is well rested and re energized for the last 9 weeks of the school year. This week we will be completing the math portion of this marking period's biodiversity team project. In addition, we will continue developing methods for solving systems of linear equations.

Monday April 13:
All hours: Math Portion of Biodiversity Project

Tuesday April 14:
All hours: Math Portion of Biodiversity Project

Wednesday April 15:
Review: writing equations in slope-intercept form and solving systems
7th hour: Review: representing real world situations with tables, graphs, and equations

Thursday April 16: (MATH PORTION OF BIODIVERSITY PROJECT DUE)
Investigation 4.3. In this investigation students will be solving systems of equations using substitution.
7th hour: Investigation 3.1 in MSA. In this investigation students will be using tables and graphs to solve linear equations

Friday April 17:
Investigation 4.4. In this investigation students will be solving systems of equations using combination.
7th hour: Investigation 3.2 in MSA. In this investigation students will be devising ways to solve linear equations symbolically.

Week of March 30-April 2

2009-03-29T09:44:00.000-07:00

This week marks the half-way point of the marking period and the last week before spring break. We will not only be continuing our work in Shapes of Algebra, but will also begin working on the math portion of the team biodiversity project. Thursday the 8B Team will be heading to WMU for the field trip.

Monday March 30:
All hours: return quizzes/discuss quiz, Investigation 4.1. In this investigation students will be solving systems of equations by setting them equal to each other.
7th hour: return quizzes/discuss quiz, Investigation 2.1 MSA. In this investigation students will be finding solutions to a real world problem using a table or graph.

Tuesday March 31:
All hours: Investigation 4.2. In this investigation students will be rewriting equations in y=mx+b form or x=ky+c form. Then they will set those equations equal to each other to solve the system.
7th hour: Investigation 2.2 MSA. In this investigation students will begin to develop an understanding for patterns in the tables, graphs, and equations of linear relationships and connecting their solutions to these representations.

Wednesday April 1:
Biodiversity Project - TBA

Thursday April 2:
8B WMU Field Trip

Have a safe and fun spring break!

Week of March 23-27

2009-03-19T04:23:00.000-07:00

This week we will be finishing Investigation 3 in Shapes of Algebra and will take a quiz over the material on Thursday. Students in 7th hour will be taking a quiz over representing real world situations with tables, graphs, and equations on Thursday as well. Friday is a half day.

Monday March 23:
Investigation 3.3 Part A & B. In this investigation students will be using a graph to find out when two equations in standard form are equal.
HW: pg 45 #15-26, odds
7th hour: Moving Straight Ahead - Investigation 1.4. In this investigation students will continue to explore the tables, graphs, and equations of linear relationships.
HW: pg 14 #6

Tuesday March 24:
Investigation 3.3 Part C and extra practice worksheet. In this part of the investigation students will be using symbolic reasoning to find out when two equations in standard form are equal.
HW: pg 44 #10
7th hour: Linear Rates of Change Extra Practice Wksht

Wednesday March 25th:
Review for Investigation 3 Quiz (Wksht)
HW: STUDY FOR QUIZ
7th hour: Review for Quiz

Thursday March 26th: Quiz over Investigation 3
7th hour: Quiz

Friday March 27th: 1/2 day
All hours: Quiz Revisions

Week of March 16-20

2009-03-12T05:48:00.000-07:00

This week we will begin Investigation 3 in Shapes of Algebra. This will jump start our work solving systems of equations and inequalities.

Monday: New seats, tardy policy problem, revisit classroom expectations

Tuesday: Investigation 3.1. In this investigation students will discover the relationship between solutions of the equation 5s+10c=600 and its graph.

Homework: pg 42 #1

7th hour: Moving Straight Ahead 1.1
Homework: TBA

Wednesday: Investigation 3.2. In this investigation students will be changing equations from standard into slope-intercept form and vice versa. We will talk about the benefits of each form.

Homework: pg 45 #15, 16, 21, 22

7th hour: Moving Straight Ahead 1.2

Homework: TBA

Thursday: 1/2 day for conferences (AM Schedule)

Friday: Investigation 3.3. This is the first time students will be introduced to the concept of a system of equations. Students will be rewriting equations in y=mx+b form and then will graph a system. They will estimate the solution to the system using a graph.

7th hour: Moving Straight Ahead 1.3

Week of March 9-13

2009-03-06T17:23:00.001-08:00

This week marks the end of the 4th marking period. Monday and Tuesday students will be taking the EdPerformance math test. This test is one of many factors that help determine students' placement for courses in high school. It is extremely important that students take this test seriously and do their best. Wednesday and Thursday students in 5th hour will be presenting their stem cell project. Friday is a half-day and the time will be spent getting ready for student-led conferences March 18th and 19th.

Monday:
EdPerformance Testing

Tuesday:
EdPerformance Testing

Wednesday:
1st,4th,6th,7th: Shapes of Algebra Quiz 1
5th hour: Stem Cell Presentations

Thursday:
1st,4th,6th,7th: Shapes of Algebra Quiz 1
5th hour: Stem Cell Presentations

Friday:
1/2 day Advisory

Week of Feb 23-26

2009-02-21T14:36:00.000-08:00

This is a short week as there is no school on Friday. We will focus on the stem cell project on Monday and Tuesday, giving students an opportunity to graph and interpret their population data. The math portion of the project is due on Thursday. We will then begin working in our new books, Shapes of Algebra.

Monday Feb 23:
All hours: Students will be given some data related to stem cell research. They will practice interpreting the data and making projections about the future. During that time, students will get their new Shapes of Algebra book, I will do a binder check, and I will have some time to find out what data students have collected for their project and what they need to successfully graph on Tuesday.

Tuesday Feb 24th:
All hours: Students will be graphing the data they collected for their stem cell project. They will then be required to interpet their graph, describing what their graph means, making projections about the future based on trends, and explaining how their graph relates to their position on stem cell research.
3rd hour connections: Students will be revisiting the concept of slope. They will complete an anticipation guide demonstrating their prior understanding of slope. They will then watch a brief video clip explaining the meaning of slope. Studetns will then practice finding slope and exploring how slope relates to the equation of a line.
HW: Finish graphs and summary (DUE THURSDAY)

Wednesday Feb 25th: (Due Today: solving linear equations exra practice)
1st, 5th, 6th: Investigation 2.1. Students will use graphs to estimate solutions to systems of linear equations and inequalities.
4th hour: Investigation 2.2. Students will develop strategies for solving linear inequalities with one variable. They will also identify probelms that involve linear inequalities.
7th hour: Working with multiple discounts
HW: Finish graphs and summary (DUE THURSDAY)

Thursday Feb 26th: (MATH PORTION OF STEM CELL PROJECT DUE TODAY)
1st, 5th, 6th: Investigation 2.2. Students will develop strategies for solving linear inequalities with one variable. They will also identify probelms that involve linear inequalities.
4th hour: Investigation 2.3. Students will use their methods developed yesterday to solve linear inequalities and graph their solutions.
7th hour: Week 4&5 Post Test
3rd hour connections: Students will begin class by drawing several line segments of various slopes. We will use the navigator screen capture to look at student solutions and assess. Students will then go back to their posters they have created with matching linear tables, graphs, and equations and find the equation of each line.

Week of Feb 16-20

2009-02-13T05:43:00.000-08:00

We are exactly half way through the marking period. Progress reports were sent out on Friday so be on the look out for your grades in the mail. This week we are going to continue looking at strategies to solve linear equations. In regular math we will be focusing on equations such as 2x+3=4x+9. In honors we will review this concept on Tuesday and then will move into Shapes of Algebra.

Monday Feb 16th:
1st-6th hours: Questions, Binder Check, and Quiz Revisions (revisit solving equations)
7th hour: Week 4 Pre-Test & calculating tax (B&P3 Investigation 4.1)

Tuesday Feb 17th: All hours: Introduce Stem Cell Project
1st, 5th, 6th hours: Say It With Symbols 3.1. In this investigation students will continue to develop strategies for solving linear equations. Today we will focus on equations such as 5+ 2(3 + 4x) = 0
Homework: pg 46 #4&5
4th hour: Solving Equations involving multiple steps. After students finished their quiz yesterday, they began working on some more intense solving equations problems. Today they will finish their work. Tables will be responsible for representing one problem on chart paper and explaining their solution to the class.
Homework: pg 46 #4-7
7th hour: Yesterday we began talking about sales tax. Today students will be fininding the sales tax of various items. They will be taking their understanding one step further and seeing if they can find out the original price of an item given how much the sales tax was. (B&P3 Investigation 4.2).
Homework: Calculating Tax Wksht

Wednesday Feb 18th: (Guest Teacher in the a.m.)
1st, 5th, 6th hours: Say It With Symbols 3.2. In this investigation students will be given data about the costs to tile a square swimming pool. They will have to use the equation, table, and graph to find out when the costs are equal. They will then apply their understanding to more general equation such as 20 + 3x = 5 + 8x.
Homework: Solving Linear Equations extra practice wksht - due Friday
4th hour: Shapes of Algebra 2.1/2.2. Students will begin the investigation by looking at a graph and determining when the cost of one company is greater than the cost of another. We will then move into solving linear inequalities and developing rules to solve such equations. In this investigation students will be looking at the effect adding, subtracting, multiply, or dividing has on an inequality.
7th hour: Today students will be working as a group to create a menu of items. Students will apply their understanding of percentages to figure out sales tax and how much they should leave for a tip. Students will develop strategies for quickly finding how much they should leave for a tip, no matter the cost of their meal. (B&P3-4.2)
Homework: Finding Percentages Practice

Thursday Feb 19th:
1st, 5th, 6th hours: Shapes of Algebra 2.1. In this investigation students will be given the cost for security from two different companies. They will look at the graphs and determine when the equations are equal and when one is less than another. This will set the stage for solving linear inequalities tomorrow. Quick Test: Using inequality signs appropriately.
Homework: pg 30 #1
4th hour: Investigation 2.3. In this investigation students will be solving linear inequalities and graphing the solution.
Homework: pg 31 #8-11
7th hour: We will continue working on applying percentages. Today students will be trying to find bargains. The will be calculating not only sales tax but multiple discounts on items. (B&P3 4.3)

Friday Feb 20th:
1st, 5th, 6th hours: Shapes of Algebra 2.2. In this investigation students will explore how various operations effect linear inequalities. This will set the stage for actually solving linear inequalities next week.
4th hour: Shapes of Algebra, Investigation 2 Reflection. Students will be reflecting on how to graphically and symbolically solve equations.
7th hour: Students will take a post test (on the navigator) on finding percentages as it relates to sales tax and discounts on items.

Week of Feb 9-13

2009-02-08T07:59:00.000-08:00

The end of this week will mark the half way point in the 4th marking period. During this past 3 weeks we have been dedicating our time to solving linear equations. After the partner quiz last week, it looks like we are ready to move forward in Say It With Symbols and begin to write equations given several pieces of information. I want to commend my 7th hour as many students have done a great job on weekly post tests and/or are making tremendous gains participating in class and doing their homework. Keep it up!

Monday Jan 9:

Regular: Investigation 2.2 Part A. In this investigation we will be substituting numbers into an equation and solving for the other variable.
Hw:
Honors: Finish Investigation 2.2. In this part of the investigation students will be substituting expressions into an equation to write a new equation.
Hw: pg 30 #9
7th hour: Bell Work: Week 3 Pre-Test. This week we will be adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing rational numbers. Today we will do an anticipation guide and then watch a video about multiplying and dividing fractions.
Hw: multiplying and dividing practice wksht

Tuesday Jan 10: (Guest Teacher)
Regular: Practice substituting numbers into an equation and solving for an unknown variable.
Honors: Substitution Practice Wksht
7th hour:

Wednesday Jan 11:
Regular: Finish Investigation 2.2. In this part of the investigation students will be substituting an expression into an equation to write a new equation.
Honors: Investigation 2.3

7th hour:

Thursday Jan 12:
Regular: Substitution Practice Wksht
Honors: Finish 2.3 & Review

7th hour:

Friday Jan 13:
Regular/Honors: Quiz over Substitution
7th hour: Week 3 Post Test

Week of Feb 2-6

2009-01-31T09:25:00.000-08:00

Monday Feb 2nd:

1st,5th,6th hour:Last week students took a pre-test on solving linear equations. Today they will finish a practice worksheet they began on Friday and hopefully we can clear up any misunderstandings. They will then take a post-test.

4th hr hw: pg 59 #14, redo last week's assignments for further credit
1,st,5th,6th hr hw: pg 59 #14
7th hour: Go over week 1 test, discuss ways to use resources, finish partner ordering activity

hw: comparing fractions wksht

Tuesday Feb 3rd:

4th hour: Say It With Symbols: 2.2. Last week students wrote equations by combining several pieces of information. This week they will be substituting expressions into equations to write new equations that model real world relationships.

4th hour hw: pg 30 #9

1st,5th,6th hours: Today students will encounter a problem very similar to the walkathon problem from Moving Straight Ahead in 7th grade. Today students will be using several pieces of information and write one equation to model the situation.

hw: pg 28 #17
7th hour:Vocabulary, Extending the Number Line: Accentuate the Negative 1.1
hw: TBA

Wednesday Feb 4th:

4th hour: Say It With Symbols: 2.3B. In this investigation students will, again, be expected to substitute expressions into equations and write an equation to model real world relationships.
hw: pg 32 #19-21

1st,5th,6th hours: Say It With Symbols: 2.2. Last week students wrote equations by combining several pieces of information. This week they will be substituting expressions into equations to write new equations that model real world relationships.

7th hour: Extending the Number Line: Accentuate the Negative 1.2
hw: TBA

Thursday Feb 5th:

4th hour: Mathematical Reflection and Review (Quiz next Tues)

1st, 5th, 6th hours: Extra Practice Substituting Expressions into Equations
7th hour: Extending the Number Line: Accentuate the Negative 1.3

Friday Feb 6th: No school for students.

Week of Jan 26-30

2009-01-24T09:40:00.001-08:00

This week will be the start of the 4th marking period. Please make sure you are staying up-to-date with all assignments, especially if you are absent.

Monday Jan 26th
Regular/Honors math: Review expectations, solving equations pre-test (Navigator), team problem solving activity
7th hour math: Establish expectations, week 1 pre-test (Navigator)

Tuesday Jan 27th
Regular math: Distributive Property Wksht
Honors math: Algebra review (solving equations, combining like terms, writing equivalent expressions)
7th hour math: Representing Fractions on a Number line

Wednesday Jan 28th
Regular math: Today we will be going back to Moving Straight Ahead and remember how we solved equations in 7th grade. Students will be exploring the idea of equality. They will begin by solving equations represented pictorially, and then symbolically.
HW: Solving Equations Pictorially Wksht
Honors math: Based on our pre-test from Monday we will take a little time revisiting solving linear equations. We will reference students' work in 7th grade with coins and pouches and will be using that knowledge to help us solve equations symbolically.
Hw wksht: pg 59 #15
7th hour math: Students will be given a number line and asked to divide it into several different parts, marking the corresponding fraction. We will then discuss equivalent fractions.
Hw: Students will be given a number line and asked to label the marks with the corresponding fraction.

Thursday Jan 29th
Regular math:Students will start today's lesson by representing an equation using manipulatives. Then they will continue work to solve the equation symbolically.
HW: pg 59 #14
Honors math: Say it With Symbols 2.1. Students will be combining expressions to write new equations. Students will also be modeling real world situations with symbols.
Hw wksht: pg 30 #9
7th hour math: Students will be asked to sort fractions based on their placement on the number line. They will then be comparing fractions. We will briefly discuss changing fractions into decimals and how to find their placement on the number line.
HW: Comparing Fractions Practice

Friday Jan 30th
Regular math:Today we will be summarizing our week's work solving linear equations. Students will be completing lancer notes and defining the property of equality, distributive property, and the steps to solving a linear equation. Navigator Post Test.
Honors math: Say it With Symbols 2.2. In this investigation students will be combining expressions to write new equations. Students will also be modeling real world situations with symbols.
7th hour math: Week 1 Post Test

Honors - Quiz Next Wednesday 2/4

Week of Jan 19-23

2009-01-18T12:28:00.000-08:00

This week marks the end of marking period 3. Last week we finished up Frogs, Fleas, and Painted Cubes by writing equations for quadratic sequences. Our unit test will be Wed & Thurs of this week. Remember: last day for math tutoring in this marking period is Tuesday Jan 20th from 2:30-3:15. Please make sure you are staying after school if you have assignments to make up or need help understanding the material.

Monday Jan 19th:
Practice Wksht: Interpreting information in a table, graph, and equation of a quadratic relationship and writing quadratic equations for sequences.

Tues Jan 20th:
Group Question & Answer Session and Navigator Partner Review Activity

Wed Jan 21st:
UNIT TEST

Thurs Jan 22nd:
UNIT TEST

Friday Jan 23rd:
No school for students - Records Day

Week of Jan 5 - 9

2009-01-03T10:05:00.000-08:00

Welcome Back! I hope everyone had a great holiday break. Before the holiday break we were using rectangles as a model for helping us to write equations for quadratic relationships. This week we will be taking a closer look at those equations and determe what type of information each equation gives about its graph.

Monday Jan 5-
Review of classroom and building expectations, go over quiz, vocabulary practice
Any student who did not take quiz 2 before break or would like to retake quiz 2 are welcome to come after school on Tuesday and do so. Bus tokens will be provided.

Tues Jan 6-
We will be working on Investigation 2.5. In this investigation students will be graphing several equations and documenting important characteristics of the graph. We will then determine what information we can learn from equations in factored and expanded form.

Wed Jan 7 -
We will be finishing up Investigation 2.5 and summarizing.

Thus Jan 8 -
Investigation 4.1/4.2. In this investigation we will look at some real world scenarios modeled by quadratic equations in expanded form. We will be using these equations and their graphs to determine important information about the situation.

Fri Jan 9 -
Investigation 4.3. In this investigation students will be finding a generalized pattern used to identify all quadratic relationships. We will compare and contrast this pattern with those we have found for linear and exponential relationships.

Week of Dec 15 - 19

2008-12-13T03:49:00.001-08:00

This is the last week before the holiday break as well as half way through the third marking period. We will be finishing up our work of factoring and expanding quadratic expressions and will have a quiz over Investigation 2 this week.

Mon Dec 15: Extended Bell Work problem on writing quadratic expressions in expanded and factored form, Quick vocabulary check,Investigation 2.2 on pg 24. In Investigation 2.1, students changed one dimension of a square and wrote expressions for the area of the new rectangle. In 2.2 students will be changing two dimensions of the square to form a new rectangle and writing expressions to represent the area.
Homework: pg 31 #8-15
4th hour: Extended Bell Work problem on writing quadratic expressions in expanded and factored form, Quick vocabulary check, Investigation 2.3 on factoring quadratic expressions.
Homework: pg 31 #16-20

Tues Dec 16: Bell Work, Questions on homework, Investigation 2.3.
Homework: pg 31 #20
4th hour: Bell Work, Questions on homework, Investigation 2.4. In this investigation students will be factoring quadratic expressions in expanded form.
Homework: pg 32 #30 a-e

Wed Dec 17: Bell Work, Questions on homework, Investigation 2.4.
Homework: pg 32 #30a,c,e
4th hour: Bell work, questions on homework, Investigation 2.5. In this Investigation students will see the benefits of writing quadratic expressions in factored form as they will give us some very important information about the graph.
Homework: pg 32#31-36

Thurs Dec 18: Assembly schedule. All hours will be reviewing for the quiz tomorrow.

Fri Dec 19: Quiz over Investigation 2

Week of Dec 8-12

2008-12-07T11:29:00.000-08:00

We have already made it through Invesgtigation 1 in Frogs, Fleas, and Painted Cubes. We will have our first quiz on Tues. Dec 9th. We will spend the rest of the week working on Investigation 2.

Monday Dec 8: Review for Quiz 1 (stations activity)
Connections: stations-hw pg 12 #4, missing binder assignments, quiz review

Tues Dec 9: Quiz over Investigation 1

Wed Dec 10: Investigation 2.1 (partners). Students will be trading in a square lot for a rectangular lot. Based on the restrictions of the rectangular lot they will be determining if it is a fair trade. This investigation will serve as the beginning to writing equivalent expressions.
Connections: continue interpreting points on a coordinate grid

Thus Dec 11: vocabulary - term, expanded form, factored form
Finish Investigation 2.1 and begin Investigation 2.2. In 2.2 students will be writing equivalent expressions in expanded & factored form.

Friday Dec 12: Investigation 2.3
Connections:

Quiz next Thus over Investigation 2!

Week of Dec 1 - Dec 5

2008-11-30T10:31:00.001-08:00

Welcome back! I hope everyone had a wonderful and restful Thanksgiving break. This week we will be starting in our new book: Frogs, Fleas, and Painted Cubes. I will be collecting textbooks Monday and Tuesday of this week. Any student who does not return their previous textbook will not receive a new one. Remember: it is $8 to replace a missing book.

Monday Dec 1: In the beginning of class students will be working on a review of previous material as well as an introduction into our new unit. They will then be working on Investigation 1.1 (wksht). In this investigation students will be exploring what happens to the area of a rectangle as you vary the length and width. Students will be making tables and graphs and making predictions about what they look like for quadratic relationships.

Tuesday Dec 2: Finish summarizing Investigation 1.1. We will then be working on Investigation 1.2. The work students did yesterday, making tables and graphs will set them up perfectly to interpret tables and graphs today.

Wednesday Dec 3: Today we will be writing equations that describes the relationship between the length and area of rectangles with a specific perimeter. Students will then use that equation to describe the table and graph of a quadratic relationship.

Thursday Dec 4: Investigation 1 Review & Extra Practice (stations: writing equations, making graphs & tables, interpreting tables, graphs & equations)

Friday Dec 5: Check-Up 1 & Binder Check

Week of November 24-25

2008-11-23T05:16:00.001-08:00

This is a very short week as we have a half day on Tuesday and no school the rest of the week. On Tues. the eighth graders will be taking the ACT Explore test all morning in their 7th hour class. The test is composed of 4 sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science. Each section will take approximately 30-minutes. Studies have shown that students who take the ACT Explore as an eighth grader tend to do better on the ACT test they will take later in high school.

Monday Nov 24: Multiple discount day! Students will be researching various items in high demand this shopping season and using their coupons to find out how much they cost after multiple discounts.

Tuesday Nov 25: Explore test in 7th hour. 1/2 Day & end of the 2nd marking period

Wed Nov 26 - Fri Nov 28: No school

Week of November 17-21

2008-11-16T03:44:00.000-08:00

This is the last full week before Thanksgiving break and before the end of the second marking period. As the marking period is coming to a close, so is our work in Growing, Growing, Growing. We will be having our unit test this week Wed, Thurs, and Friday. There will be two components to the test, an individual component and a partner component. Wed and Thurs will be set aside for the individual component so students have plenty of time to work and Friday will be the partner component. Please remember that there is after-school math tutoring on Tues. Anyone looking to improve their grade via this test should be at tutoring.

Monday Nov 17:

Wrap up our discussion about exponential growth and decay problems. Students will be completing a column venn diagram highlighting the similarities and differences between exponential growth and decay. Begin a station activity to review for the test.

Tuesday Nov 18:

Students will be rotating stations around the room, each station will feature a problem students should be able to solve as a result of their work this unit.

Wednesday Nov 19:
1st day for the individual portion of the unit test.

Thusday Nov 20:
2nd day for the individual portion of the unit test & end of unit self-reflection.

Friday Nov 21:

Students will be working in partners to apply their knowledge about exponential growth & decay to a problem a farmer is having with his organic crop. This will be considered the partner portion of the unit test.

Week of Nov 10-14

2008-11-09T06:58:00.000-08:00

This week we will be taking the math EdPerformance test Monday and Tuesday. This test is extremely important for our eigth graders as their progress on this test over the year helps determine what classes students will take in high school. Please encourage your student to get lots of sleep and to eat a good breakfast Monday and Tuesday. We will also be discussing exponential decay at the end of the week and students will complete a project that helps them to understand the characteristics of an exponential decay pattern.

Monday Nov 10: EdPerformance

Tuesday Nov 11: EdPerformance

Wednesday Nov 12: Career Day in the morning
4th, 5th, 6th, 7th hours:

Thursday Nov 13: Exponential Decay Project
In this project students will be modeling the radioactive decay of certain atoms with tables, graphs, and equations. Based on their results they will determine the half-life of the atom.

Friday Nov 14: Exponential Decay Project

Next week will be our unit test on Growing, Growing, Growing!

Week of November 3-7

2008-11-02T06:55:00.001-08:00

This week we are going to work through Investigation 3 in Growing, Growing, Growing. In this investigation we will be learning growth factors and growth rates. We will continue making tables and writing equations to represent situations.

This week's binder check will be conducted a little differently. On Friday students will be given a worksheet that asks for random answers from the Investigations we did this week. Students will have to stay organized and make sure everyting is in its proper place in their binder so the answers are easy to retrieve and they get the most points possible.

Monday Nov 3: 1st-5th hour will be working on Investigation 3.1 on pg 34
6th-7th hour: finishing Unit Test
Hw: pg 38 #2 a-c (due Wed)

Tueday Nov 4: No school

Wednesday Nov 5: Investigation 3.2 on pg 36
Hw: pg #39 9, pg 40 #10-16 evens (due Friday)

Thusday Nov 6: Science and Engineering Expo @ Detroit's Ford Field

Friday Nov 7: Invstigation 3.3 on pg 37
Binder Check

Week of October 27-31

2008-10-24T18:45:00.000-07:00

This week we will be beginning Investigation 2 in Growing, Growing, Growing. In this investigation students will be writing equations for exponential growth patterns. There will be a quiz and reflection due on Thursday of this week.

Monday Oct 27: 1st-4th hours: 10 minutes in class to finish reflection.
Investigation 2.1 pg 21.
4th hour homework: pg 24 #3

Tues Oct 28: Investigation 2.3 pg 23
Homework: pg 24 #1 a & b
4th hour homework: pg 25 #4 a-d

Wednesday oct 29: Practice writing exponential equations/review for Investigation 1 & 2 Quiz
Homework: study for quiz

Thursday Oct 30: Quiz over Investigations 1 & 2 and Investigation 2 Reflection

Friday Oct 31:
1. Bell Work
2. 1st, 5th, 6th, 7th hours: Percent Skills Practice for Investigation 3
4th hour Rules of Exponents
3. End of Class: Daily Success Self-Assessment

Turn in: Bell Work and assignments

Week of October 20-24

2008-10-19T08:12:00.001-07:00

This week we will be continuing our work in Investigation 1 of Growing, Growing, Growing. In this investigation students will be exploring the tables and graphs of exponential growth patterns. In addition, they will be comparing and contrasting these types of patterns with the linear patterns they became familiar with in 7th grade.

Monday Oct 20- Finish Investigation 1.1. We will be summarizing this investigation and discussing the exponential notation. Students will work on the getting ready on pg 6 of their books. Time permitting we will begin Investigation 1.2.
Homework: pg 11 #2-7

Tuesday Oct 21 - MEAP testing in the morning. 1st & 4th hours we will be finishing Investigation 1.2 and beginning Investigation 1.3/1.4. Investigation 1.2 will introduce characteristics of exponential growth patterns, in particular the table and the graph. In Investigation 1.3/1.4 students will be comparing and contrasting linear and exponential growth patterns.

Wednesday Oct 22 - 1st & 4th will be finishing Investigation 1.3/1.4.

Thursday Oct 23 - MEAP testing in the morning. 5th-7th finish Investigation 1.3/1.4

Friday Oct 24 - All hours will be finishing Investigation 1.3/1.4. We will also be working on answering the reflection questions for Investigation 1.

DUE MONDAY: Investigation 1 Reflection completed
MONDAY Quiz over Investigation 1

Week of Oct 13-17

2008-10-11T19:53:00.000-07:00

This will be a very busy week with MEAP testing and student-led conferences. Students will be testing in their 1st hour both Tuesday and Thursday of this week. It is extremely important that students get a good night sleep before the MEAP test and eat a good healthy breakfast. Parents, please stress the importance of this test and encourage students to do their best.

Monday Oct 13: New seats, review classroom expectations/procedures, clean out binders and finish collecting any old textbooks. Today students will be analyzing classroom data. They will be creating bar graphs for MP1 grades as well as looking at class averages in the areas of homework, participation, journals, quizzes, and tests. We will discuss strategies to help students be more succesful.

Tuesday Oct 14: MEAP Testing in the morning
1st - 3rd hour: Reading Uglies.

Wednesday Oct 15: (1/2 Day - Student-led conferences 12-3, 5-8)
4th hour: Begin Investigation 1.1 in Growing, Growing, Growing. In this investigation students gain an intuitive understanding of basic exponential growth patterns. Summarize with Lancer Notes.
5th-7th hour: Review linear patterns.

Thursday Oct 16: (Student-led conferences 5-8)
MEAP testing in the morning
4th-7th hour: Reading Uglies

Friday Oct 17: Finish reading Uglies in all classes
4th hour: begin Investigation 1.2. In this investigation students will begin to recognize exponential patterns in tables, graphs, and equations.
All other hours: Begin Investigation 1.1. In this investigation students gain an intuitive understanding of basic exponential growth patterns. Summarize with Lancer Notes.

Week of Oct 6-10

2008-10-05T10:07:00.000-07:00

This week we will be finishing up our work in Looking for Pythagoras and will end with a unit test Wed. Oct. 8 and Thurs. Oct. 9. Students will need to turn their textbook in by Thursday Oct 9th. Any textbook not returned is $8.00 to replace. Tuesday from 2:27 - 3:15 will be a review session in my room. Any student who needs to bring their grade up or earned a D or F on the last quiz needs to come and practice. Bus tokens will be available.

Monday Oct 6:
Bell Work: Find the Error
Lesson/Summary: Today we will be reviewing the partner quiz given last Friday and helping students solidify how to apply the Pythagorean theorem as well as find the distance between any two points. Students will also work with their partner on a few practice problems that students commonly missed in last week's quiz.
Homework: Finding Distances worksheet (be sure to show all of your work!)

Tuesday Oct 7:
Bell Work: checking last night's homework - green pen
Lesson: We will be doing some work in stations. Students will spend 5 minutes at a station reviewing key items before the Unit Test tomorrow.
Summary: We will discuss each problem students solved at each station to ensure everyone is ready for the test.
Homework: Pythagorean Theorem Practice wksht

Wednesday Oct 8:
Bell Work: checking last night's homework - green pen
Unit Test

Thursday Oct 9:
Bell Work:
Unit Test
TEXT BOOK RETURN

Friday Oct 10: 1/2 Day
1/2 day advisory - preparing for student led conferences

Week of Sept 29 - Oct 3

2008-09-28T12:26:00.000-07:00

Monday:
Math - Investigation 1 & 2 Quiz Retake, Vocabulary Matching Activity
Math Plus - Investigation 3.4. In this investigation students will be determining for which types of triangles the Pythagorean Theorem is applicable.
Homework: pg 38 #6-7

Tuesday:
Math - Find-Someone-Who Review of classroom procedures, Investigation 3.1. In this investigation students will be finding a relationship between the areas of squares drawn on dot paper. They will deduce the Pythagorean Theorem.
Homework: pg 38 #1
Math Plus -Investigation 3 Reflection. Begin to describe Wheel of Theodorus project.

Wednesday:
Math - Investigation 3.3. In this investigation students will find the lengths of line segments using the Pythagorean Theorem.
Homework: pg 38 #5-6

Math Plus - Wheel of Theodorus Art Project. In this investigation students will gain a visual understanding of the estimated lengths of square roots as well as apply the Pythagorean Theorem. Students will gain a deeper understanding of these mathematical concept as well as demonstrate their creative side.

Thursday:
Math -Finish summarizing previous investigations and practice using the Pythagorean Theorem.

Math Plus - Finish their Wheel of Theodorus project. We will summarize students' findings as well as discuss the difference between rational and irrational numbers.

Friday: Baseball Day!
Math & Math Plus: Investigation 4.2. In this investigation students will be applying their knowledge of the Pythagorean Theorem to a baseball field. In this investigation students will use the Pythagorean Theorem to find the distances between bases on the field.

Week of Sept 22 - 26

2008-09-19T18:13:00.001-07:00

This week we will continue our work in Looking for Pythagoras. As always binders will be due on Friday and students will receive a participation, journal, and homework grade for the week. There will also be a quiz this week to assess students' understanding of Investigation 1 & 2.

Monday Sept 22:
1st, 5th, & 6th hours: Investigation 2.2 on pg 21 in book. In this investigation students will explore the relationship between the side length of a square and its area. Students will be introduced to the vocabulary word, square root.
7th hour: Investigation 2.1 wksht. In this investigation students will be drawing tilted squares.
4th hour: We will be finishing summarizing Investigation 2.2 as well as beginning Investigation 2.3. In this investigation students discover ways to find the lengths of line segments by using the area of tilted squares.

Tuesday Sept 23:
1st, 5th, & 6th hours: Today we will be finishing up Investigation 2.2 and summarizing. Students will be taking Lancer notes about what a square root is and its relationship to the area and side length of a square. We will also talk about the exact value and estimated value of a square root.
7th hour: Investigation 2.2 on pg 21 in book. In this investigation students will explore the relationship between the side length of a square and its area. Students will be introduced to the vocabulary word, square root.
4th hour: Students will be taking a quiz on Investigations 1 & 2 in Looking for Pythagoras. In addition, they will be writing responses to the Investigation Reflection Questions.

Wednesday Sept 24:
1st, 5th, & 6th hours: Investigation 2.3 worksheet. In this investigation students discover ways to find the lengths of line segments by using the area of tilted squares.
7th hour: Investigation 2.2 on lined paper. In this investigation students will explore the relationship between the side length of a square and its area. Students will be introduced to the vocabulary word, square root. We will be taking Lancer Notes to summarize our findings.
4th hour: Investigation 3.1 on lined paper. In this investigation students will be coming up with the Pythagorean Theorem and using that theorem to find unknown side lengths of triangles. We will be summarizing using Lancer Notes.

Thursday Sept 25:
1st, 5th, 6th hours: Review for Investigation 1 & 2 Quiz (stations)
7th hour: Investigation 2.3 worksheet. In this investigation students discover ways to find the lengths of line segments by using the area of tilted squares. Any remaining time will be used for review.
4th hour: Investigation 3.2. In this investigation students will work to prove the Pythagorean Theorem.

Friday Sept 26:
All hours (except 4th): Quiz on Investigation 1 & 2 and Investigation 2 Reflection
4th hour: Investigation 3.3. In this investigation students will use the Pythagorean Theorem to find the distance between two points on a coordinate grid.

Week of Sept 15-18

2008-09-14T05:13:00.001-07:00

This week we will be finishing Invsetigation 1 in Looking for Pythagoras and beginning Investigation 2. Friday students do not have school.

Monday Sept 15:
1st hour: finish drawing shapes in a coordinate grid (Investigation 1.2) and begin finding areas of irregular shapes in a coordinate grid (Investigation 1.3)
3rd hour connections: continue working with matching sequences and graphs
4th hour: finish Investigation 1.3 from Friday and begin writing Investigation 1 Mathematical Reflection
5th hour: begin drawing shapes in a coordinate grid (Investigation 1.2)
6th hour: finish drawing shapes in a coordinate grid (Investigation 1.2) and begin finding areas of irregular shapes in a coordinate grid (Investigation 1.3)
7th hour: begin drawing shapes in a coordinate grid (Investigation 1.2)
Homework: Homework worksheet. The first part of the worksheet will be to practice drawing shapes in a coordinate grid. The second part of the worksheet will be completed tomorrow night for homework.

Tuesday Sept 16
1st hour: finish 1.3, begin writing Investigation 1 Mathematical Reflection
4th hour: begin Investigation 2.1, drawing tilted squares and Investigation 2.2, connecting area to the side length of a square
5th hour: Investigation 1.3 and begin writing Investigation 1 Mathematical Reflection
6th hour: finish 1.3, begin writing Investigation 1 Mathematical Reflection
7th hour: finish 1.3, begin writing Investigation 1 Mathematical Reflection
Homework: Students will find the areas of the figures drawn on last night's homework. Students will also finish their Mathematical Reflections.

Wednesday Sept 17:
Due Today: Monday and Tuesday's homework worksheet (figures drawn and areas found) and Mathematical Reflections
1st hour: begin Investigation 2.1, drawing tilted squares
4th hour: finish Investigation 2.2, Investigation 2.3, using squares to find length
5th hour: begin Investigation 2.1, drawing tilted squares
6th hour: begin Investigation 2.1, drawing tilted squares
7th hour: begin Investigation 2.1, drawing tilted squares

Thursday Sept 18:
Due today: turn in math binders for participation and journal grades
1st hour: begin Investigation 2.2, connecting area and side lengths of squares
4th hour: finish 2.3, Mathematical Reflection & Check-up
5th hour: begin Investigation 2.2, connecting area and side lengths of squares
6th hour: begin Investigation 2.2, connecting area and side lengths of squares
7th hour: begin Investigation 2.2, connecting area and side lengths of squares

Week of Sept 8- 12

2008-09-08T03:59:00.001-07:00

This week students will be reading pages 1-31 of their new book the Uglies in math class. Students need to read pages 32-45 on their own. Also this week students will be receiving their math binder, dividers, and math book. We will begin the year with exploring the Pythagorean Theorem in the book Looking for Pythagoras.

Monday Sept 8 - Finish "Pizza Possibilities" in class and summarize. We will be looking for the relationship between a table and graph, graph and equation, and table and equation.
1st hr- will receive their Uglies books.

Tuesday Sept 9 - Handing out new binders and new textbooks. We will also begin reading in the Uglies. If we have time we will do a brief intro to the new math unit.

Wednesday Sept 10 - Finish reading pages 1-31 in the Uglies. We will begin with Investigation 1.1 in the new text. In this investigation students will become comfortable with moving around the coordinate grid.

Thursday Sept 11 - Students in regular math will be finishing and summarizing Investigation 1.1 if we did not finish on Wed. We will begin Investigation 1.2. In this investigation students will be planning parks based on the constraints given in the coordinate grid.

Friday Sept 12 - We will be finishing Investigation 1.2 and beginning Investigation 1.3. In this investigation students will devise methods for finding the area of irregularly shaped parks.

Week of September 2-6, 2008

2008-09-02T11:58:00.000-07:00

Welcome back! I am feeling refreshed and ready to start a new school year and I hope you are too! This week will be mainly a week for information on expectations and procedures. We will end the week reviewing linear relationships from 7th grade.

Tuesday Sept 2, 2008: 1/2 Day - Students will spend all morning in their advisory class learning about building expectations, receiving registration packets, and getting their new schedules and planners.

Wednesday Sept 3, 2008: We will be going over bathroom expectations, arrival/departure expectations for class, and setting classroom expectations.

Thursday Sept 4, 2008: Classroom procedures/Lancer notes. Students will work in groups on "Representing Possibilities". In this assignment students will examine pizza costs and represent information in a table, graph, and equation.

Friday Sept 5, 2008: Students will be completing their "Representing Possibilities" problem with their group and will be displaying their work on large grid paper around the room. These posters will give us a launching point for our discussion on the characteristics of linear relationships.