Wednesday, January 11, 2012

We began with our assessment over Zero and Negative Exponents (key, pdf).

We then practiced with scientific notation and explored the effects of exponential growth on a retirement program (lesson, pdf).

Your homework for Friday 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.
   
   
2. On your personal blog, create a new post titled: "Scientific Notation" In the post explain to your reader how to solve this problem:
   
   Multiply, then write your answer in scientific notation: (4.5 x 10¹¹)(3.1 x 10⁴)
   
   Make sure you thoroughly explain the steps and what you are doing so that someone that doesn't know how to do scientific notation can understand it. (Hint: Just in case, the correct answer is 1.395 x 10¹⁶).
   
   Remember, three ways you can "type" exponents on the blog:
   
   1)  Use the ^ key (shift-6). So 5^2 is 5 to the second power. This is the easiest way and probably the way most of you will do it.
   
   2)  Create an image using the tools I showed you first semester, then upload that image.
   
   3)  If you're into HTML, the code for superscript is <sup>, so you have to switch to HTML mode (there's a button at the top of your blog post window that says Compose, right next to it is HTML) and insert the code on the HTML screen. The code would look like this: 5 ²
   When you switch back to the compose window, you'll see a nicely done exponent.
   
   Then visit the moodle and paste in the URL of your blog post.
   
3. Prepare for the Scientific Notation Assessment on Friday . Please study.

Monday, November 7, 2011

We began with this electrifying opener (pdf).

Then today's lesson (pdf) was a Carnegie Hall Day (practice, practice, practice).

Tonight's homework is:

1. Prepare for the Solving Systems of Equations by Substitution 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.
   
   
2. Another reminder that I won't be here on Thursday to help or to re-assess. If you need help, please stop by the Math Department. If you need to re-assess, please schedule an appointment for some other day this week.
   
   
3. Try out Google Gravity. Go ahead and do a search for something.
   
   
4. If you want some additional practice on solving equations by substitution or elimination, here's an endless supply of them. (Note: some would be better solved by substitution, some better by elimination.)
   
   
5. If you haven't read it yet, please read this that I posted yesterday.
   
   
6. Due Monday, November 14th: On your Algebra Reflective Blog, please create a new post titled "Solving Systems of Equations: Substitution vs. Elimination." In this post explain to your readers how you decide whether to use the Substitution Method or the Elimination Method to solve a system of equations. My guess is that you will need to include some examples, including at least one that you would choose to solve by substitution, and at least one you would choose to solve by elimination. Remember, you have to assume your reader knows nothing about this process, so be specific and detailed.

Friday, October 21, 2011

We began with this memorable opener (pdf).

Then today's lesson (pdf) was learning about Five Number Summaries. Here are a couple of articles regarding the mean and median wages in the U.S. that we talked about in class. Consider talking with your social studies teacher and/or your parents about what these numbers mean and how they relate to some of the current protests going on around the country.

Your homework is:

1. Watch and complete the Writing Linear Equations in Standard Form video. Please make sure you give this your best effort and complete the self-check problems and have them with you on Monday.
   
   



2. Due before you go to bed Monday night: On your Algebra Reflective Blog, please create a new post titled "The Effect of Outliers on Mean and Median." Then, in your own words, describe the effect of outliers on mean and median. You can do that however you'd like, but most likely you are going to want to find or create a data set that has some outliers and use it as an example to explain to your reader the different ways outliers affect mean and median.

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

We began with our assessment over Graphing Linear Equations Using Slope Intercept Form (key, pdf).

Then the lesson (pdf) was all about using the point-slope form of a linear equation.

Your homework 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.
   
   
2. Prepare for the Writing Linear Equations in Slope-Intercept Form Assessment on Friday. 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.
   
   
3. On your personal Algebra Reflective Blog, create a new post titled "Parent/Teacher Conference (Fall) Reflection". This post is due before you go to bed Sunday night, but please don't wait until the last minute. Here's your prompt:
   
   Parent/Teacher Conferences are coming up next week. Since these conferences are about you, I think you should be there. It makes very little sense to me that we should have a conference about you and you’re not there, so I’m encouraging your parents to come and to bring you with them. Please bring your Algebra notebook as well, so that we can look at your work if we need to.
   
   Whether you end up attending or not, I want you to spend some time thinking about what you want your parents to know about this class and how you are doing. Here are some questions for you to respond to:
   
   • Has class met your expectations? Why or why not?
   • What’s going well for you?
   • What’s challenging for you?
   • What could I do as your teacher that would help you be more successful?
   • What could you do as a student that would help you be more successful?
   • Is there anything your parents can do to help you be more successful?
   • Is there anything else you think your parents should know about this class or about how you are doing in this class?
   
   Please be thoughtful and specific in your responses, and please don't wait until the last minute, as I want you to put some real thought into this. The more you put into it, the more valuable it will be for you, me and your parents. Thanks.

Friday, September 30, 2011

We began with our assessment over Slope/Rate of Change and then created the key (pdf). I reminded you that the key would be posted to the blog and that you should check your results on the portal and sign up for re-assessment if necessary (see below). I have to say, I was pretty disappointed in the results.

Then our lesson (pdf) was to look once again at some of our application problems and make sure we understand the idea of slope/rate of change, and then try to apply that to more abstract equations.

Your homework for Monday 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.
   
   
2. If you haven't read Fisch Food for Thought (Part 2), please take 5 minutes and read it. Thanks.
    
3. Watch and complete the Graphing Linear Equations Using Slope-Intercept Form video. (You know what to do, and what to write down, right?)
   


4. On your personal Algebra Reflective Blog, create a new post titled "Slope". In this post, tell me everything you know about slope, and everything you think someone else who was taking Algebra needs to know about slope. (Hint: this is going to be more than one sentence. A lot more. It might even include some diagrams/pictures.) This should be completed before you go to bed on Monday night (but I would highly recommend you complete it this weekend.) Make this good, the world is reading and you want to make a good impression.

Monday, September 12, 2011

Today we began with this exquisitely crafted opener (pdf). We then reviewed a bit about how to graph points on a coordinate plane and then did a bunch of review problems on distributive property, solving equations with variables on both sides, graphing on a coordinate plane, percents and dimensional analysis (lesson, pdf).

Your homework for tonight is:

1. What is considered the Earth's x-axis? Its y-axis? What quadrant is AHS in? Please write this down in your notebook. How is the Earth different than the x-axis and y-axis on a coordinate plane that we're talking about?
   
   
2. Complete the Solving Equations with Variables on Both Sides Pre-Assessment on the Moodle.
   
   (Reminder: your login is your google apps login - including the @lpsk12.org part, and your google apps password. If you've forgotten those, you can look them up on the portal; once you've logged in, click on Technology and it will list your google apps login and password.)
   
   This pre-assessment is very important and will be your best indicator of how well you'll do on the assessment on Wednesday. Please do it tonight so, if you have any difficulties, you can get some help tomorrow before the assessment on Wednesday.
   
   
3. On your personal blog, create a new blog post where you explain how you solve this equation:
   
   
   3(x - 5) = -7x + 12
   
   Don't just solve the problem (although that should be part of what you include), but explain your thought process for each step. Like your previous post, try to write this post as if you were explaining this process to someone who didn't know anything about solving equations with variables on both sides. They should be able to read your post and have a pretty decent understanding of how to approach a problem like this.
   
   This blog post is due by first period on Wednesday, but I highly recommend you do it tonight so that, if you have difficulties (either with the blogging or the concept of solving equations), you can come in and get some help on Tuesday.
   
   
4. Optional: If you need or would like some more practice problems with solving equations with variables on both sides, check out this unlimited supply of problems (and solutions) at Coolmath or, alternatively, these at Khan Academy. Do as few or as many as you need until you feel confident in your ability to solve these types of equations. If you find that you struggle, please come in for some extra help tomorrow.

Friday, September 2, 2011

Here's the opener (pdf) where we discussed how we determine how fast an object is moving and practiced some direct variations.

Our lesson (pdf) explored speed and some aspects of physics. If you're interested, here's the full clip of Rich Eisen, Tim Tebow, Jacoby Ford and others.

Your homework for this weekend (due Tuesday since Monday is Labor Day) is:

1. 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).
   
   
2. Write a blog post on your personal blog. Title it "Direct and Inverse Variation". Then, with a combination of words and examples (or video, or audio - be creative), demonstrate your understanding of what direct and inverse variation mean. This should be an explanation that makes sense to someone that doesn't know anything about direct and inverse variation and could be used as a teaching tool in a first year algebra class. Be creative, but make sure you achieve your objective.
   
   You can reference your notes, the openers and lessons on this blog, resources on the web, and anything else you can find to help you, but the final words and work should be uniquely yours. This should be completed before you go to bed on Monday night (and I would highly recommend at least starting it no later than Saturday so if you have questions you have time to ask). (You may need to use some mathematics notation in your post, use the option you explored for Wednesday's homework to help you create that.)

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.

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.

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.)