Happy Halloween!

Since today's classes were shortened (for the afternoon social), students took only the first part of the planned test in class today. The rest will be taken on Friday.

Tonight's Homework: None. Have a fun, but safe, night!

Reviewing For Tomorrow's Test

Students corrected homework and then played a review game to help them prepare for tomorrow's test. The test will cover decimal and fraction operations (add, subtract, multiply and divide), definitions of sets of numbers, identification of properties (associative, commutative, distributive, identities and inverses) and equation solving. Be sure you know how to do a proper check step!

Tonight's Homework: Study for tomorrow's test.

Using Unit Analysis to Help Solve Real-World Problems

We reviewed what will be on Wednesday's quiz (fractions, decimals, equation solving, properties, and sets of numbers). Afterwards, students worked in groups today to tackle a complicated multi-step problem related to building a deck. Most got through at least half of the problem in class.

Tonight's Homework: Finish the tan equation solving worksheet and the orange deck worksheet. Be sure to show your work and include labels!

Math and Our Breakfast Meal

Unit analysis makes sense when you answer questions that make you convert from one type of unit to another. Today, we looked at the nutritional information on breakfast foods (cereal and milk) and calculated percentages of the recommended daily allowances of different nutrients contained in those foods. Students worked in groups today to help make sense of the problem.

Tonight's Homework: Finish the "Good Morning!" activity and the gray worksheet (problems on both sides. Be sure to show a check step for all problems.

Trying to Eliminate Fractions in Equations

Students indicated that they don't really like fractions, so I suggested they could use the multiplication property of equality to help eliminate fractions completely from problems. We did several examples, and then wrote seven problems to practice our new strategy.

Tonight's Homework:

Thinking About Properties and Types of Numbers

Students received feedback on how they did on last week's quiz. We reviewed properties that govern our computation (associative, commutative, distributive, identity) and sets of numbers.

Tonight's Homework: Page 81 ( 1 - 8 )

Notebook Clean-Out Day

Students cleaned out their math sections of their notebooks, and then took a quiz over statistics. Students were directed to keep their vocabulary lists from the first 50 pages of the textbook.

Tonight's Homework: Complete the 4-page packet of worksheets you received in class today.

Interpolation and Extrapolation

After going over the homework from the last two nights, we used our data to predict my foot length. This led us into a discussion about interpolation and extrapolation. We practiced these skills by looking at a variety of graphs. We also practiced writing complete summary statements about different types of scatterplots.

Tonight's Homework: Be sure to prepare for tomorrow's quiz. Read pages 9 - 50, and create a vocabulary list from all of the bold and highlighted words you find on those pages. Bring this list to school on Monday.

Explore Testing Cancels Class for Eighth Graders

Eighth grade students did not attend class today because they were taking a battery of tests over math, reading, science and other topics. Seventh grade students worked on a series of special tasks catered to topics covered on this year's OAKS test.

Tonight's Homework: No new homework. Be sure the two worksheets you received in class on Tuesday are done and ready to turn in on Thursday.

Using the Scatterplot to Predict Results

Students used their forearm vs. foot length scatter plot to predict my foot length. They wrote a reason for why they made this prediction. The class had time in class to create a variety of scatterplots and then analyze them. Hopefully, time was used well.

Tonight's Homework: Complete all problems on the Scatterplot Classwork worksheet and the Scatterplots and Line of Best Fit 2 worksheet. These will be due on Thursday since 8th graders will not be attending math class on Wednesday. Remember, you will have a quiz on Friday to demonstrate your understanding of making box and whisker plots, stem and leaf plots, histograms and frequency tables. Be sure to prepare adequately for this ahead of time.

Tests Returned; Forearm vs. Foot Length Data Collected

Students learned how they did on last Thursday's test. Many students were disappointed to see their scores lowered because they did not include titles and labels on their answers. Another attempt to raise scores will be given in class on Friday, October 19th. Students measured their foot and forearm lengths today in class. This information was copied and distributed to all so they could construct a well-labeled scatterplot. Students will need to include a line of best fit and a three sentence summary of their findings.

Tonight's Homework: Complete the foot length vs. forearm length scatterplot. Do all problems on the white worksheet you received in class today (check both sides).

Test over Statistics Taken In Class Today

Students turned in their arm length vs. height scatterplots and analyses today. They then completed the unit test over statistics.

Tonight's Homework: None, as long as you are caught up. Remember, midterm grades will be determined at the end of next week.

Field Trip in Science Turns This Class into a Work Day

Because many students were involved in Mr. Bowden's field trip, students were given the period to complete work. This way, those who came in late were able to do so without fearing they missed something important. Those who left early left knowing what the homework was and those who missed class completely could complete homework without missing any new information. The big winners were those not going on the field trip, as they had the whole period to work, and perhaps were able to have now new homework!

Tonight's Homework: Make a scatterplot of our class arm length vs. height data. Plot the height along the x axis, and the arm length along the y axis. When you are done, try to draw the line of best fit through the data. Write a paragraph that analyzes this data. Give specific details about your findings. Remember to prepare for tomorrow's test!

Using Scatter Plots to Summarize Data Sets

Students were introduced to the scatter plot as an alternative to the paired box-and-whisker plot for comparing data. The scatter plot should only reflect actual data points gathered, so students should not be trying to connect the dots on this type of display. However, students are correct to envision patterns in the data and to try to draw conclusions. Students will revisit scatter plots in later chapters, when they fit lines to data to describe a trend.

Tonight's Homework: 247 ( 8 - 12 )

Analyzing Data Displays Made by Others

Today, we used information from Ms. Barcroft-Hundt's class to predict both the total number of pieces of candy and the color distribution of those pieces that would be found in a small package of Skittles® candy. Once the predictions were made, students opened their packages, and the data was shared with the class.

Tonight's Homework: Finish the data analysis of the Skittles® information you gathered during class today. Be sure to find the mean, median, mode and range of the data for each color and for the total number of pieces of candy found in each bag. Then make box and whisker plots for each of the colors and for the total number of pieces of candy found in the bag. Write an analysis about what the data shows.

Posters Summarize our M & M® Data

Students worked in groups to prepare posters that summarized our M & M® data. These posters will be shared with the other algebra class on Monday. Students had 30 minutes to create the posters, and many groups were amazed at what they could accomplish in that amount of time. It pays to work together efficiently!

Tonight's Homework: Page 241 ( 10 - 17 )

Edible Box and Whisker Data???

Today, we opened a lot of packages of M & M's ® to supply us with data to analyze. We recorded the number of each color candy found in a bag as well as the total number of pieces of candy. Students will make either data tables or graphs of the data tonight.

Tonight's Homework: Complete the investigation you started in class. Create neat and complete tables or graphs to reflect the class M & M® data that was collected in class. Be sure to include a paragraph that summarizes your findings.

Comparing the Height of Third Period Students

Today, we used the shorter period to conduct an investigation about the heights of the students in our class. After determining our heights (in centimeters), students were asked to construct a double stem and leaf plot as well as box and whisker plots for boys and girls data. Computing the MMMR statistics and creating a histogram for the data is extra credit.

Tonight's Homework: Complete the investigation you started in class. Be sure to include a paragraph or two that summarizes your findings. Be neat and label your work completely!