Concept 3 Test Completed in Class Today

Because of the fall social, classes were shorter than normal today. We used today to take care of loose ends. Students turned in the "Good Morning" activity sheet, and then used the remainder of the period to finish the last part of the Concept 3 test.

Tonight's Homework: None! Have a happy and safe Halloween weekend.

Applying Math to Real Life Situations

Students worked in groups today to solve a variety of problems related to nutritional values of eating a particular type of breakfast (cereal). Students were encouraged to work efficiently in their groups, so as to maximize the amount of work that was completed. The directions asked students to clearly show and label work.

Tonight's Homework: Finish the "Good Morning!" handout if you did not do so in class. Students in period 2 should begin work on the Concept 2 practice test, and students in period 6 should finish the practice test. The practice test will be due on Friday, October 29th for period 6 students and on Monday, November 1st for period 2 students.

Absolute Value Inequalities

Today, we learned how to break inequalities with absolute value expressions embedded in them into 2 different inequalities, solve them, graph the solutions and then check them. Though this involves a number of steps, students seemed to get the hang of what to do.

Tonight's Homework: Your homework depends on which class you are in:

Period 2: Complete the two problems you copied down in class today.

Period 6: There were 10 problems on the board for you to copy down today. For each problem, solve for the variable. You do not need to check any of these problems tonight. You will need to graph 5 of the solutions (your choice).

It's Red Ribbon Week!

Students received their weekly grade slips today. During the course of the class period, students were able to renew their pledge to live drug-free lives by signing the large red ribbon that is now displayed in the courtyard. Most students picked up stickers and ribbons to display this week. Students are encouraged to wear red on Wednesday to celebrate Monroe's Red Ribbon commitment.

Today, we reviewed how to solve absolute value problems. Most students forgot that these types of problems usually end up having two solutions, and that the answer statements include the conjunction "or". We also learned the definition of several types of numbers, and how to display most using set notation.

Tonight's homework: Read pages 124-126 and do page 127 (5 - 37, First Column Only).

Concept 3 Test Started in Class Today

Students corrected last night's homework, and then took the first part of the concept 3 test in class this morning. Students were instructed to clean out all work related to concepts 1 and 16 from their notebooks. These papers should either be placed in the clean-out notebook or recycled.

Tonight's Homework: None. Enjoy the weekend, rain and all!

Solving Absolute-Value Equations, Day 1

We corrected the practice test for concept 3 in class today, and I gave hints (hopefully helpful ones) for how to clear decimals and fractions from problems. After reviewing compound inequalities, we looked at how to solve both simple and more complicated absolute value problems. There will be more practice given for these types of problems next week.

Tonight's Homework: Study for the concept three test, which will be taken in class on Friday. Also complete both sides of the absolute value worksheet.

Solving Inequalities--Part 1

Today, we reviewed how to solve inequalities, as well as how to graph solutions and show check steps. For most, this was a review, but for some, this information was brand new. It is important to remember to switch the nature of the inequality sign whenever you multiply or divide by a negative number. You do not switch the sign if you add or subtract a negative number.

Tonight's Homework: Read pages 103-105. Do pages 105-106 ( 4 - 35, First Column Only, and 73 ).

Solving Equations That Have Decimals or Fractions

The key to solving equations with decimals or fractions in them is to get rid of them! A simple way to clear a problem of fractions is to use the distributive property and multiply both sides of the equation by the LCM of the fractions you see. To clear a problem of decimals, multiply both sides of the equation by a power of 10 that matches the decimal number with the greatest number of digits to the right of the decimal.

Tonight's Homework: Read pages 83 to 86 in the Home Algebra book. (Pay attention to the steps listed on the top of page 86.) Then do page 87 ( 39 - 49, odd, and 60 - 62). Be sure to show a check step for each of the first 6 problems.

Review of Fraction Operations

Today, we reviewed how to add, subtract, multiply and divide fractions. We spent time practicing each operation.

Tonight's Homework: Complete both sides of the yellow worksheet you received in class.

Concept 1 Test Results Delivered--Pretty Good News!

Students generally did well on yesterday's test. Time was given in class to have students go over their tests and determine what kinds of errors, if any, were made. Procedures for retakes were explained.

Second period students were able to enjoy an ice cream treat, thanks to one student being lucky enough to have her name drawn during last week's M & M contest. There was no homework assigned to students in period 2.

Sixth period students weren't as lucky, and ended up with 6 problems to complete. The problems were given in class, and students were instructed to show all steps, including a check step, for each of the problems.

Concept 1 Test Taken in Class Today

The test over integer operations, evaluating expressions, order of operations, and exponents was taken in class today.

Tonight's Homework: Page 53 ( 54 - 75 ) in the book you keep at home.

Picturing the Distributive Property

Winners of the Jeopardy game were announced in each class today, and the members of each team will receive 5 bonus points on tomorrow's test.

We reviewed the importance of using parentheses when distributing terms involving a negative sign. In addition, we looked at how to draw pictures of expressions like (x + 3) amd (x + 5). These pictures can help when trying to use them to find the area of a complex distributive problem.

Tonight's Homework: ACE 1.3 ( 10 - 23 and 50 ) from the "Say It With Symbols" book. Don't forget to study for tomorrow's Concept 1 Test.

The Distributive Property

Students reviewed the answers to CT 1, and then kept their papers to use as a tool to prepare for Wednesday's test. They also completed the jeopardy round in class today.

Tonight's Homework: Read pages 9 - 11 in your SIWS book. Then do problems A - E on page 11. Remember to do all parts of each problem.

Preparing for Concept Test 1

Students completed a pre-assessment on solving equations during the first part of class. During the second half of class, students worked on the practice test for concept 1. Most should have completed at least half of the problems on the 2 orange worksheets. Both are due on Monday.

Tonight's Homework: Complete all problems on both sides of the 2 orange worksheets you received in class today. The test will be given next week.

Looking at Things Differently

Today, we revisited the Tiling Pools activity and concentrated on the number of border tiles needed to surround a square pool. We discovered at least 4 ways to represent the border, and drew pictures of each.

Tonight's Homework: 1.2 ACE (3, 4, 25 and 26)

Tiling Pools

Today we began an investigation that helps us understand equivalent expressions. It is in the "Say It With Symbols" book, and you should be bringing that book to class on a daily basis for the next week or so.

Tonight's Homework: Complete all parts of the problems in the SIWS book on page 6. Then go to page 12 and do ACE problems 1 and 2. In your stay-at-home book, do page 40 (55-61 and 75 - 77).

Distributive Property Review

Students took a quick quiz over integer operations, and did quite well. We then reviewed the distributive property, paying special attention to problems that involve subtraction or distributing a negative number.

Tonight's Homework: Read pages 36 - 38, and do 39 - 41 ( 15 - 48, only the problems that are divisible by 3, and 88 - 92 ). Getting the orange flyer (half sheet of paper) signed by a parent is extra credit if you bring it to school on Monday.