Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Today was a PLC Day, so only a 40-minute class. This was our opener (pdf).

We then spent some time reviewing dimensional analysis and proportion and percent (lesson, pdf).

Your homework for Friday is:

1. We're going to be blogging soon where sometimes you'll need to include some mathematical notation in your blog posts. Unfortunately, Blogger doesn't currently have an equation editor, but we do have several ways to get done what we need to get done. Please read through the following options and pick the one you think will work best for you (you may want to experiment with several before you decide).
   
   You should be comfortable with how to use the option you choose by Friday. For each of the following, create a practice blog post to paste/insert the image into. You don't have to actually publish the post, just mess around with it in draft form until you feel comfortable with the copy/paste or insert process (then you can delete the draft post if you'd like). Try to create this:
   
   
   
   
   Note: These are in order of difficulty, with the easiest options coming first (but you may prefer some of the other ones).
   
   Option 1: Use an online equation editor, like this one.
   
   Create your equation, choose "png" from the drop-down where it currently says "gif", then click on "Click here to Download Image (png)" to download the image. Then insert it into your practice blog post by using the insert image button on the toolbar (just to the right of the "Link" button).
   
   
   Option 2: Scan or take Digital Picture.
   
   Write out the equation on paper and either scan it or take a digital picture, then insert it into your practice blog post by using the insert image button on the toolbar.
   
   
   Option 3: Use Microsoft Word/Open Office and a screencapture utility.
   
   Both Microsoft Word and Open Office have equation editors built-in to them. You'll need to explore a bit to find them (the help system is great to help you find it). Once you find it try creating some equations, perhaps with fractions in them. Once you can see your completed equation on screen, you'll need to capture it using a screen utility.
   

   Mac: Use Grab (comes with OS X). Launch Grab and drag a selection rectangle around the equation in Word/Open Office and let go. Grab will grab a screenshot of what you had the rectangle around. Once the image is in Grab, choose Edit-->Copy (or command-C) to copy it, then switch to your blog and choose Edit-->Paste (or command-V) to paste it in to your practice blog post.

   Windows: You may already have a utility on your computer that allows you to do this. If you do, great, use it. If not, then MWSnap is a decent, free choice. (While MWSnap should be safe, please ask your parents before installing any software on your computer at home.) Once you've installed it, launch it, capture your equation from Word/Open Office, copy it, and paste it into your practice blog post.

   Option 4: Install MathType.
   
   You can download and install MathType for free on a Windows or Macintosh computer. It will be a fully functional version for 30 days, and then will revert to MathType Lite, but that's okay because the Lite version has everything we need. While MathType should be safe, please ask your parents before installing any software on your computer at home.
   
   After installing MathType you'll need to launch it and change a setting so that you can copy and paste to your blog.
   

   Mac: Go to the MathType Menu, then Preferences, then Cut and Copy Preferences. Select "Equation for application or website" and in the drop-down menu choose "Google Docs" and then click "OK".
   
   Windows: Go to the Preferences Menu, then Cut and Copy Preferences. Select "Equation for application or website" and in the drop-down menu choose "Google Docs" and then click "OK".

   Now play around in MathType and try creating some equations, perhaps with fractions in them, and then practice copying from MathType and pasting into your practice blog post. As an alternative, you can also save it as a GIF (Graphic Interchange Format) then insert that image into your blog post by using the insert image button on the toolbar.
   
   
   Option 5: Some other option you know of that works better for you.
   
   If you need help with any of this, please come in tomorrow (Thursday, as you all have at least one unscheduled hour) and I can quickly show you.
   
   
   
2. If you want some extra practice solving some one-step equations, try these at Cool Math (One-step with addition and subtraction; one-step with multiplication and division). This is optional, but not a bad idea to get some extra practice.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Today we began with this scintillating opener (pdf).

We then spent some time talking about direct variation (lesson, pdf).

Your homework for tonight is:

1. Watch the Solving One-Step Equations video (choosing to watch it full screen is probably best).
   
   
Recall that there are three main parts to the video: an examples and explanation part, a Guided Practice part, and a Self-Check part. Examples and Explanation: Just what it sounds like. I explain how to do the problems and work through some examples. You don't need to write anything down (unless you want to), just watch, listen and learn. Pause the video and replay parts if you need to. Guided Practice: I give you a problem, then ask you a series of questions with about 5 second pauses between questions for you to think about it and answer it for yourself. If you need to, pause the video to give yourself more time. Again, you don't have to write anything down here (although you can and it's often a good idea to). Self-Check: I give you a problem, ask you to pause the video, write the problem down in your notebook and solve it, then play the video again to check your work. You may need to pause the video again to view the solution if you need more time. These problems you definitely need to write down in your notebook - I'll be checking to make sure tomorrow.
2. Can you find a direct variation in your own life? 10,000,000 points of extra credit if you do*
   (*extra credit valid only on days that don't end in a 'y').
   
   
3. Remember that Wednesday is a PLC Day - late start. Our class begins promptly at 9:21.

Monday, August 29, 2011

No class today due to MAP Testing.

Your homework for tonight is:

1. Remember that you'll need graph paper tomorrow.
    
2. Please sign up for email notifications for comments on your blog (otherwise you might not realize you have comments). To do that, login to Blogger. Then find your Algebra blog on your dashboard and click on the "Settings" link. Once you're in Settings, click on the Comments tab across the top (4th tab over). Scroll down to the bottom where it says "Comment Notification Email" and put in your email address. If you are regularly checking your Google Apps email, that would be the logical one to put in. But, if you're not, and if you have another email you do regularly check, put that email address in. After putting your email address in, be sure to click "Save Settings" at the bottom of the page.
   
   
3. Please read through the AHS Blogging Policy. If you have any questions, please let me know.

Friday, August 26, 2011

Today we began with our opener (pdf).

We then spent some time learning a bit about measurement, rates, and dimensional analysis (lesson, pdf).

Your homework for this weekend is:

1. If necessary, make an appointment to re-assess over the Proportion and Percents assessment we took on Wednesday. Remember the re-assessment window is open through next Wednesday.
   
   
2. Organize your notebook. It should have all your openers, classwork, and homework (self-check problems, pre-assessment problems, etc.), as well as your returned assessments (Math Skills Assessment, Proportions and Percents Assessment).
   
   
3. If you haven't created your first blog post yet (it was due today, remember?), please do that this weekend and email the URL to me.
   
   
4. A reminder that we'll have MAP Testing on Monday so please report directly to the Media Center Computer Lab on Monday morning.
   
   
5. If you haven't gotten graph paper yet, please do so this weekend as you'll need it on Tuesday.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Today we began with our assessment over Solving Proportions and Percents and then created the key (pdf). We discussed how the key would be posted to the blog and that you should check your results and sign up for re-assessment if necessary.

We then spent some time applying proportions to various situations (lesson, pdf).

We then went over any questions you guys had about anything we've done so far in this class - not just the algebra, but how various things work in this class. The expectation is that you now know how everything works and can successfully accomplish things like logging into the Moodle and taking pre-assessments, watching videos and completing self-check problems, etc. If there's anything you're still having difficulty with, please come in and see me so that we can get it figured out.

Your homework for tonight is:

1. Check the portal for the results of your assessment, fill out your student checklist with your results, and make a plan for re-assessment (if necessary), including making an appointment. Many of you have unscheduled hours on Thursday (tomorrow) - please make an appointment and come in tomorrow if you need to re-assess (or get help and then re-assess). You can also come in during part of your lunch if necessary as the re-assessment should take only 5-7 minutes (still leaving you time to eat).
   
   
2. Remind your parents that tonight is Back to School Night. This is their chance to find out if I'm actually as weird as you say I am, so please encourage them to come.
   
   
3. If you notice you are missing anything when you check your assessment grade on the portal, please complete whatever you are missing.
   
   
4. Don't forget your first blog post is due by first period on Friday.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

We began with this opener (pdf). We also talked about the pre-assessment you were supposed to complete last night.

Today's lesson (pdf) investigated the use of proportions and percents with TNT, the stock market, and forensic science.

Your homework for tonight is:

1. Prepare for the Solving Proportions and Percents Assessment tomorrow. There are a variety of ways to do that including, but not limited to: review the online pre-assessment; review your notebook and/or the openers and lessons posted on the blog; review the video, work some practice problems in your textbook or that you find online. You can, of course, also get help from me, another math teacher, a teacher in the Study Center, a peer tutor in the Study Center, or a parent, sibling or friend. Do whatever works best for you, but make sure you're prepared. The expectation is that you should all be able to do very well on this assessment on Wednesday.
   
   
2. If you haven't yet, create your blog and your first post as outlined yesterday. This is due by first period on Friday.
   
   
3. If there's anything you haven't completed that you should have (watching the video and doing the self-check problems, the pre-assessment on the Moodle, other assignments you have missing), please complete those ASAP.

Monday, August 22, 2011

We began with this opener (pdf). As you worked on the opener I went around and verified that you had the Self-Check problems completed from the video you watched over the weekend. If you have not done that yet, you still can - please watch the video tonight, complete the self-check problems, and show me tomorrow. (Remember, if you ever have trouble with the YouTube video, you can also visit our Docs & Links page which has a link to downloadable versions of the videos.)

We did a capture-recapture simulation to learn more about applications of proportions and looked at some other examples as well (lesson, pdf).

We then talked about the online pre-assessment you will do tonight for homework, how that process works, and what you need to write down.

Your homework for tonight is:

1. Complete the Proportions and Percents Online Pre-Assessment in the Moodle. Make sure you write your work down in your notebook and, after you complete the pre-assessment, you fill out the self-assess column of your Algebra 1 Concept Student Checklist. (Sorry - had a typo in the answer part until about 5:30 today, it's fixed now.)
   
   
2. As we discussed in class, please create your reflective blog for Algebra. Here's a 1:48 screencast that takes you through step-by-step how to do that but, if you have any questions, contact me. As a reminder, set your display name in Blogger to first name last initial (for me, KarlF) or first name last initial graduation year (for me, KarlF1982) if another teacher has asked you to do it that way. Your blog title should be your first name last initial Algebra Reflective Blog (for me, KarlF Algebra Reflective Blog). Also, recall that the URL for your blog should be fischalg11 followed by your first name last initial (for me, fischalg11karlf). (For the Anthony's, use your first name and the first two letters of your last name for both the blog name and URL.) After you've created your blog, email me the URL, and then proceed to number three below.
   
   
3. Your first reflective post for Algebra is due no later than first period on Friday. Please title the post: Reflective Blog Post #1 and respond to the following prompt:
   
   Looking back at your first week plus in Algebra (and, for some of you, your first week plus at AHS), how are you feeling? What's going well or you're excited about? What's challenging or are you concerned about?
   
   Then I want you to set three goals for yourself for this semester. One goal specifically related to Algebra, one goal related to AHS in general (can be related to classwork, sports, activities, or something else at AHS), and one goal outside of AHS. Make these goals fairly specific, not just "I want to get a good grade." I'll be asking you to revisit these goals toward the end of the semester and evaluate how well you're doing on them, so make them be worthwhile and achievable.
   
   
4. Optional: If you'd like some more practice problems with proportions, try these.

Friday, August 19, 2011

Today's class began with this opener (pdf). Remember, it's a great strategy to occasionally review the openers on this blog if there was something you weren't quite sure about.

Then I returned your Math Skills Assessment and we talked about the importance and the process of reassessments. Remember that you have five school days from the date of assessment to reassess if you didn't score at least a 4.5 (and preferably a 5!) in any one of the four areas. We also talked about filling out your Skills List Student Checklist throughout the semester.

We learned about ratios and proportions, and investigated how we could solve a proportion for an unknown value (lesson, pdf). (Also a great idea to review the lessons.)

We previewed the Solving Proportions and Percents video that you're going to watch for homework this weekend and talked about the different pieces in it, how you should use it, and what you need to write down in your notebook. There are three main parts to the video: an examples and explanation part, a Guided Practice part, and a Self-Check part.

Examples and Explanation: Just what it sounds like. I explain how to do the problems and work through some examples. You don't need to write anything down (unless you want to), just watch, listen and learn. Pause the video and replay parts if you need to.

Guided Practice: I give you a problem, then ask you a series of questions with about 5 second pauses between questions for you to think about it and answer it for yourself. If you need to, pause the video to give yourself more time. Again, you don't have to write anything down here (although you can and it's often a good idea to).

Self-Check: I give you a problem, ask you to pause the video, write the problem down in your notebook and solve it, then play the video again to check your work. You may need to pause the video again to view the solution if you need more time. These problems you definitely need to write down in your notebook - I'll be checking to make sure on Monday.

Remember, you can always replay any part of the video you need to go back over something.

The homework for this weekend is:

1. Watch the Solving Proportions and Percents Video. Remember that it's probably best to view it full screen, and that if you're viewing it from school you'll need to use the link as you won't be able to see the embed below due to the filter.
   
   
   
2. If you need to reassess over any of the areas on the Math Skills Assessment, study and then make an appointment to reassess.
   
   
3. If you haven't had a chance to or had difficulty making a comment on Tuesday's post, please do that (using your Google Apps account).
   
   
4. Practice logging into the Moodle. Your login is your google apps login (the entire login, including the @lpsk12.org part), and the password is your google apps password. You'll need to use the Moodle next week (and probably in science as well), so please make sure you can do this or let me know so that I can help you.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Today we began with this opener (pdf) reviewing the topics on the Math Skills Assessment.

Then we actually took the math skills assessment and talked about checking the results and making appointments to re-assess if necessary (see below).

Then we talked about re-assessing and how important it was to stay on top of things. We also talked about commenting on our class blog (see below).

Your homework for Friday (remember, no class tomorrow) is:

1. Check the portal for the results of your assessment, fill out your student checklist with your results, and make a plan for retake (if necessary), including making an appointment. Many of you have unscheduled hours on Thursday (tomorrow) - please make an appointment and come in tomorrow if you need to re-assess (or get help and then re-assess). You can also come in during part of your lunch if necessary as the re-assessment over each skill should take 5 minutes or less (still leaving you time to eat).
   
   
2. Go to yesterday's post and take a look at the pictures of the explanations you guys developed on the whiteboards. After looking at the pictures and reflecting on the explanations that went along with them, please leave a comment on that post about at least one way you think we could improve next time we're trying to create a visual explanation for our classmates. Be specific, refer to individual pictures if appropriate, be respectful, and try not to repeat what others have already said (that's an incentive to comment early!). (As a reminder, login with your Google Apps account - if you have any trouble, please let me know.)

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Today we began with this opener (pdf) reviewing the topics on the Math Skills Assessment.

We then spent some time reviewing those topics and each group presented on a skill. Please take a look at the following images and critique them (nicely). (Click on each image to view it larger.) What could we do better next time to make a better visual explanation of a math topic? Feel free to leave a comment on this post.

As a reminder, the subtracting integers one below isn't quite correct. Can you remember/figure out what's wrong with it? (Again, don't feel bad if you were in this group, this is how we learn.)

Your homework for tonight is:

1. Review for the Math Skills Assessment. You'll be assessed over these skills tomorrow.
   
   
2. If you haven't completed the assignments from last night, please do so, as they are due by first period tomorrow.
   
   
3. Make sure you know your Google Apps login and password by tomorrow. If you don't know it, you can look it up on the Infinite Campus portal. (Login to the portal: your id number; password: first initial of first name, first initial of last name, then your 6-digit birthdate. So if John Smith was born on May 12, 1995, his password would be js051295.) Once logged in click on Technology in the left navigation and then your google apps login information will show in the content pane.

Monday, August 15, 2011

Today was a little unusual since the freshmen had their class meeting during our class. Here's your homework (it would be great if you could do it tonight, but it's not due until Wednesday):

1. Bookmark this blog on the computer you'll be using at home.
   
   
2. Review for the Math Skills Assessment. You'll be assessed over these skills on Wednesday.
   
   
3. Complete this short form for me.
   
   
4. If you haven't already done this, read through our Class Expectations and then fill out the form to indicate you've completed this. Please make sure you have the class supplies listed on that page with you on Wednesday.
   
   
5. If you haven't already done this, please write your About Me and get it to me as soon as you can, and no later than first period on Wednesday. (I'd love to have it sometime tonight.) You can email it to me as an attachment, copy and paste the text into a body of an email, post it somewhere online and send me the URL, or find some other way to get it to me that works well.
   
   
6. Take your textbook home and place it wherever you study. Then take a digital picture of the textbook in that location and then email it to me as an attachment. If for some reason you can't email it, then bring it digitally to class (on your camera, on your cell phone), or print it and bring it, or draw a picture if you must. Your textbook should stay home all year - you won't need it in class. Use it as a resource when you're working at home.
   
   
7. Please remind your parents to fill out this form if they haven't already done so.

 See you tomorrow!

Welcome to Algebra!

Below is the content of the email I sent out on August 5th in case you need to reference it.

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Parents,


Summer is about over so it’s time to begin gearing up for school. I shared some information with you earlier this summer, but now I’d like to share some more information with both you and your student. First, a few things just for you.

1. You may want to consider bookmarking or subscribing to our class blog. This will be a great way to know everything that’s going on in class, including homework. You can either bookmark it in your browser, or subscribe to it via RSS or email.
   
2. It would be great if you could take about five minutes and provide some up-to-date contact information for yourself. When you get a chance, please complete this online form with your contact info. If more than one parent/guardian would like to be contacted, then each one should fill out the form separately.
   
3. You may want to make a note of my contact information.

Please share the following with your student, and you will probably be interested in reading through it as well. I’ve also sent this to your student’s LPS Gmail account so they can access it there - if they don’t know their LPS Gmail login information you can find it on the campus portal (either their login or yours) - click on Technology in the left-side navigation. (If you have any problems with that, please let me know.)


If you could please make sure they read through the following, whether via their LPS Gmail account or just reading it below, that would be great. Please note that at the end of the information is a request to reply to this email with some information so that I know that you/they got this.

---

Students,



Welcome to our Algebra class. I’d like to share some information with you now that will help you get off to a good start. Some of the following is just informational and some of it suggest things you can do to get ready.

1. Math Skills Assessment
   You hopefully have already been working on the Math Skills Assessment that all incoming AHS freshmen need to complete in order to prepare them to be successful in mathematics at AHS. Even if you’re not a freshmen, you should complete this skills assessment and work on any skills you are having difficulty with. So, if you haven’t done this yet, or if you did it awhile back and need to review, please take some time to work through it. Our first formal assessment (grade) will be over these skills on Wednesday, August 17th, so you want to be ready.
   
2. Class ExpectationsPlease read through our class expectations (parents, too). It’s important that you read through and understand these expectations, and then fill out the online form to indicate you’ve completed this. Please also note the supplies list on that page and have those with you on the first day of school.
   
3. About Me Writing Assignment
   Your first assignment is going to be to tell me a little bit about yourself. While you don’t have to do this until school begins, I highly encourage you to do it now because that first week of school is kind of crazy. If you do it now you’ll have more time to complete it (and less homework that first week), and I’ll get a chance to know a little bit about you before school starts.
   
   Please visit my About Me page to see your writing prompt and my response to the prompt. If you choose to write this now (and I encourage you to do so), please email it to me. You can include your response as text in the body of the email, as an attached document, or as a URL if you do it online somewhere.
   
4. Bookmark Our Class Blog
   It’s probably going to come in handy to have our class blog bookmarked on whatever computer you use while at home. Go to our class blog and bookmark it. While you’re there, you might look around a little.
   
5. What Do You Like to be Called?
   Do you go by your given name or by a nickname? Please let me know.

Please email me back to confirm you received this email, and let me know what you like to be called. If you choose to do the About Me Writing Assignment now, please send that along as well. Thanks for your time and I look forward to seeing you soon.


Karl Fisch
Arapahoe High School

Information About Mr. Fisch's Algebra Class

Below is the content of the email I sent out to parents earlier this summer in case you need to reference it.

---

I want to share a few things with you about my Algebra class now, and then you can expect another email around the first week of August that will give you some more information as well as some information I’ll ask you to share with your student. There are many reasons why broadband access to the Internet is going to be very helpful for your student, but two of the most important are access to some video instruction and access to pre-assessments that your student will take before formal assessments. If you’re interested, here are examples of one of the videos and one of the pre-assessments, and here is a brief description of the philosophy behind this approach.

The AHS Math Department has created a Math Skills Assessment that all incoming freshmen need to complete in order to prepare them to be successful in mathematics at AHS. Even if your student is not a freshmen, they should complete this skills assessment and work on any skills they are having difficulty with. Our first formal assessment will be within the first few days of school over these skills. Students who are still struggling with these skills will then need to devote extra time - and their unscheduled hours - to master these skills in the first few weeks of school. Since those first few weeks are both exciting and extremely busy, it would be much better to use some of their time during the summer when things are more relaxed to make sure they have mastered these pre-algebra skills.

While you obviously don’t need to go shopping just yet, I wanted to share the materials your student will need for my class now. That way if you come across any great sales you can purchase early, and perhaps you might just want to purchase early since back-to-school time can be pretty busy and stressful for a lot of folks. Here’s what your student will need for my class:

1. 3-Ring Binder - Probably a 1-inch binder will do.
   
2. Notebook Paper - Your student will be taking notes, working problems, and sketching diagrams on a daily basis.
   
3. Graph Paper - This is Algebra, so graph paper is a must. Probably about 100 sheets would be a good amount to start with.
   
4. Writing Utensils - The old standby #2 pencil is going to come in handy. Some students will also find either colored pencils or pens (like those 4-color pens) handy in order to better take notes and illustrate their thinking.
   
5. Calculator - The only requirement is that your student has a scientific calculator of some sort. Our recommendation is that they consider getting a graphing calculator (TI-84 or TI-Nspire). We will be using graphing calculators in Algebra I to explore multiple representations of data and equations, and if your student eventually takes Algebra II (which most students at AHS do), they will definitely need a graphing calculator. We’ve also found that graphing calculators help in another important way - students can see what they’ve typed in for calculations - which helps tremendously in identifying errors in their thinking or simply in how they enter the calculations into the calculator. But, to be clear, you are not required to get a graphing calculator. If you decide to get just a scientific calculator, the TI-36X Pro is a pretty good one for just under $20.
   
   If your student will be bringing a laptop or netbook computer to school (also not required, read more about laptops at AHS, but many students are finding them helpful), you might consider purchasing the software equivalent of a TI Nspire graphing calculator. For about the same price as an Nspire calculator, your student would be able to just carry one device (the laptop/netbook), have all the capability of the calculator, and have the added advantage of a full keyboard and processing power of the laptop/netbook. Please note that Nspire runs on Windows and Mac OS X, but does not currently run on Linux operating systems.
   
6. Optional USB Flash Drive - For all of their classes, a USB flash drive will come in handy at times for students to transport files among various computers.

I’m hopeful that you find this information helpful. If you have any questions, please let me know. You can expect another email from me around the first week of August. Thanks for your time and I’m looking forward to having your student in my class this fall.

Sincerely,

Karl Fisch
Arapahoe High School