Monday, September 26, 2011

We began with our assessment over Graphing Linear Equations Using Intercepts 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).

We then spent some time trying to make "cents" of slope (lesson, pdf).

Your homework for Tuesday 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. Review today's lesson (pdf). Make sure you understand the concept of slope, how you figure out slope between any two given points, where you find slope in y = mx + b, and how slope relates to what we did with recursive routines. Pay careful attention to the bottom of the first page where it lays out several ways to think about slope, and gives you a formula to calculate slope between any two points.
   
   
3. You don't have to watch this, but you might enjoy this four minute video titled I Hate Pennies! And you might be interested in this article Penny Dreadful. Then go talk to your social studies teacher and ask them what they think about whether we should still have pennies (and nickels).
   

Friday, September 23, 2011

I had to take my daughter to an appointment this morning, so Mrs. Blechschmidt kindly filled in. It was also a shortened class due to the pep assembly in the afternoon.

Today was a Carnegie Hall Day (practice, practice, practice) where you spent a lot of time reviewing how to graph a linear equation using intercepts, as well as some review over distributive property, solving equations with variables on both sides, proportions and percents, and dimensional analysis (no, I can't really run a 4.4 forty, unless it was 40 feet). If you didn't finish in class, please finish for homework this weekend (here's the key, pdf).

Your homework for the weekend is:

1. Have fun - and be safe - at all the homecoming activities.
   
2. Finish the review worksheet if you didn't finish in class.
   
3. Prepare for the Graphing Linear Equations by Using Intercepts Assessment on Monday. 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.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

We began with this tasty opener (pdf).

We then investigated the intercept form of a linear equation through an application problem involving Mr. Fisch, exercise, and calories (lesson, pdf).

We also talked about how important it is both to have fun and to be safe, including wearing your seatbelt. Please.








Your homework for Friday is:

1. Have fun at the bonfire. Please remember to always wear your seatbelt. And make everyone else in the car wear their seatbelt, too. Please.
   
   
2. Review the notes from the lesson (pdf).
   
   
3. Complete the Graphing Linear Equations by Using Intercepts Online Pre-Assessment on the Moodle. Our assessment will be on Monday next week, so make sure you complete this as soon as possible (preferably tonight) and, if you have questions, get them answered before Monday.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Today was the Homecoming Royalty Assembly, so a shortened class period.

We began with our assessment over Graphing Linear Equations Using a Table of Values 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).

Then we watched the Graphing Linear Equations by Using Intercepts video together so that I could remind you of some strategies for how to get the most out of the videos.

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. Please don't put this off - the sooner you come in, the better.
   
   
2. Re-watch and make sure you understand the Graphing Linear Equations by Using Intercepts video. Make sure you have the self-check problems completed and that you note any questions you have.
   
   

Monday, September 19, 2011

Today we began with this enchanting opener (pdf).

We finished talking about Friday's lesson by looking at and interpreting the last 3 graphs, and then had a Carnegie Hall Day (practice, practice, practice) where we spent a lot of time reviewing how to graph linear equations using a table of values, including talking about when solving for y might help us and the special cases of x = a constant and y = a constant. We also reviewed some previous topics, including distributive property, solving equations with variables on both sides, proportion and percent, and dimensional analysis (lesson, pdf).

Your homework for tonight is:

1. Please finish the review worksheet we started in class.
    
2. Prepare for the Graphing Linear Equations Using a Table of Values 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 Tuesday.
   
   
3. If you haven't read it yet, please take five or so minutes and read the post I put up last night. Feel free to comment if you have any questions or comments to add.

Friday, September 16, 2011

Today we began with this incomparable opener (pdf). We finished talking about Wednesday's lesson and then took a little field trip to the gym hallway to collect some data to help us explore time and distance relationships (lesson, pdf).





Your homework for Monday is:

1. Complete the Graphing Linear Equations by Using a Table Online Pre-Assessment on the Moodle. Our assessment will be on Tuesday next week, so make sure you complete this over the weekend and, if you have questions, get them answered before Tuesday.
   
   
2. Finish the remaining graphs that we didn't get to in class (see page 2 of the lesson (pdf) for the collated data for the last 3 walks). As a reminder, for each walker here are the steps I'd like you to complete:
   
   a) Graph the walk. Time (seconds) goes on the x-axis, distance (meters) on the y-axis. I provided you with graph paper to use.
   
   b) Calculate the walker's speed. If the speed changes at some point(s) during the walk (how can you tell?), then calculate the speed for each interval where it's different. Use the formula d = rt (distance equals rate times time; rate is another term for speed; probably easiest to divide both sides by t so that you have rate = distance divided by time, r = d/t).
   
   c) Write out the directions you think Mr. Fisch gave the walker.
   
   d) Repeat steps a) through c) for each walker.
   
   e) Create your own set of walking directions (just one example, for 10 seconds) and then create the accompanying graph that would represent what that would look like if the walker was able to follow your directions exactly.
   
   
3. For your easy reference, here's the daily theme for Homecoming next week (as well as all the athletic events).
   
   Monday – Superhero day
   
   Tuesday – Black and white formal day, Royalty assembly 7:30 am
   
   Wednesday – Wacky tacky day, Bonfire 7:00 pm baseball field
   
   Thursday – Disney character day, Lunchtime activities
   
   Friday – Spirit day, Pep assembly 1:15pm, Royalty recognized at varsity football game 7:00 pm
   
   Saturday – Parade 10:00 am, Dance 8:00 pm-11:00 pm