Homework and Announcements
12/2/2019
It has been a long time since I have updated my website. I apologize for the lapse in time. In that break since I've updated this site, we ended the trimester and enjoyed Thanksgiving break. I hope everyone enjoyed the break and is returning to school well-rested. Here are a few things we have coming up this week:
Math 6 We finished the Comparing Bits and Pieces Unit the week before break. You should have received a letter home from me regarding the topics covered in that unit and your child's level of mastery on the unit test. If you did not receive the letter, chances are it is still in your student's backpack. After finishing that unit, we started a mini-unit on percentages. I am going out of the textbook for this unit. We have found in past years that our text doesn't quite dive deep enough into percentages, so I will be pulling from other resources to put together this short unit. We will be taking an assessment on percentages sometime before the winter break. Your only homework is MathXL. Math 6 - Topics Covered this week Let’s say 440 people attended a school fundraiser last year. If 330 people were adults, what percentage of people were adults? If it’s expected that the attendance this year will be 125% of last year, how many attendees are expected this year? A double number line can be used to reason about these questions. Students use their understanding of “rates per 1” to find percentages, which we can think of as “rates per 100.” Double number lines and tables continue to support their thinking. The example about attendees of a fundraiser could also be organized in a table. Toward the end of the unit, students develop more sophisticated strategies for finding percentages. For example, you can find 125% of 440 attendees by computing With practice, students will use these more efficient strategies and understand why they work. Here is a task to try with your student: For each question, explain your reasoning. If you get stuck, try creating a table or double number line for the situation.
Solution: Any correct reasoning that a student understands and can explain is acceptable. Sample reasoning:
(source: Open Up Resources) Math 7 This week we will wrap up our Comparing and Scaling unit. I have scheduled the test for next Tuesday as I didn't want to rush you back in and test this week. Your only homework is MathXL. Math 7 - Topics Covered this week This week your student will work with graphs that represent proportional relationships. For example, you could make a graph that represents a relationship between the amount of square feet of carpet purchased and the cost in dollars. Say for instance that each square foot of carpet costs $1.50. The point on the graph tells us that 10 square feet of carpet cost $15. In proportional relationships, the points on the graph are arranged in a straight line. If you buy 0 square feet of carpet, it would cost $0. Graphs of proportional relationships are always parts of straight lines including the point (0,0). Here is a task to try with your student: Create a graph that represents the relationship between the amounts of grape juice and peach juice in different-sized batches of fruit juice using the recipe “for every 5 cups of grape juice, mix in 2 cups of peach juice.” (source: Open Up Resources) Homework and Announcements
11/4/2019
What a week we just experienced! I hope everyone is safe and recovered from the weather and fires from last week. Because of the power outages and general craziness of the past week, I will be keeping the homework from last week open without penalty for an additional week. There will be a new assignment, but both assignments for this week and last week are relatively short. Here is a brief overview of the week ahead:
Math 6 This week we will continue working through the final sections of Comparing Bits and Pieces. We are looking to close out this unit with a unit test next week. Consider taking your notebook home to review your notes if you feel you would benefit from that extra time. Your only homework is MathXL unless you need to take home an in-class assignment to be completed on your own. We will have a short quiz this Wednesday. Keep in mind, the quiz is really just a checkpoint to see how ready you are for the test next week. Do not stress out. Math 6 - Topics Covered this week Over the course of this unit, your student has learned to use the language of ratios and to work with ratios using representations like diagrams and double number lines. In the final sections of the unit, they use tables to organize equivalent ratios. Double number lines are hard to use in problems with large amounts. Let’s think about an example we saw before: the 6th grade class is selling raffle tickets at a price of $6 for 5 tickets. If we tried to extend the double number line below to represent the price of 300 raffle tickets, it would take 5 times more paper! A table is a better choice to represent this situation. Tables of equivalent ratios are useful because you can arrange the rows in any order. Although students can choose any representation that helps them solve a problem, it is important that they get comfortable with tables because they are used for a variety of purposes throughout high school and college mathematics courses. Here is a task to try with your student: At a constant speed, a train travels 45 miles in 60 minutes. At this rate, how far does the train travel in 12 minutes? If you get stuck, consider creating a table. Solution: 9 miles. (source: Open Up Resources) Math 7 This week we will continue working through the first sections of a unit on ratios and proportions. If you recall, we left Comparing and Scaling unfinished earlier this trimester. We are going back to revisit and elaborate on that material. This is a GREAT chance for you to improve your quiz scores from those sections. If you attain higher scores in the upcoming quizzes, I will gladly honor some score replacements and I will announce that opportunity when it comes up. Your homework is MathXL. We will have a short quiz this Wednesday. This will be your first chance to earn a quiz replacement on a quiz from earlier this year. I will give more information in class. Math 7 - Topics Covered this weekThis week your student will learn about proportional relationships. This builds on the work they did with equivalent ratios in grade 6. For example, a recipe says “for every 5 cups of grape juice, mix in 2 cups of peach juice.” We can make different-sized batches of this recipe that will taste the same. The amounts of grape juice and peach juice in each of these batches form equivalent ratios. The relationship between the quantities of grape juice and peach juice is a proportional relationship. In a table of a proportional relationship, there is always some number that you can multiply by the number in the first column to get the number in the second column for any row. This number is called the constant of proportionality. In the fruit juice example, the constant of proportionality is 0.4. There are 0.4 cups of peach juice per cup of grape juice. Here is a task you can try with your student: Using the recipe “for every 5 cups of grape juice, mix in 2 cups of peach juice”
Solution:
Homework and Announcements
10/28/2019
Here is a brief overview of the week ahead:
Math 6 This week we will continue working through the final sections of Comparing Bits and Pieces. We are looking to close out this unit with a unit test either late next week, or the week after. Your only homework is MathXL unless you need to take home an in-class assignment to be completed on your own. It is essential that you keep up with the class work assigned, or you will not be able to keep up with the concepts covered. No tests or quizzes this week. Math 6 - Topics Covered this week Over the course of this unit, your student has learned to use the language of ratios and to work with ratios using representations like diagrams and double number lines. In the final sections of the unit, they use tables to organize equivalent ratios. Double number lines are hard to use in problems with large amounts. Let’s think about an example we saw before: the 6th grade class is selling raffle tickets at a price of $6 for 5 tickets. If we tried to extend the double number line below to represent the price of 300 raffle tickets, it would take 5 times more paper! A table is a better choice to represent this situation. Tables of equivalent ratios are useful because you can arrange the rows in any order. Although students can choose any representation that helps them solve a problem, it is important that they get comfortable with tables because they are used for a variety of purposes throughout high school and college mathematics courses. Here is a task to try with your student: At a constant speed, a train travels 45 miles in 60 minutes. At this rate, how far does the train travel in 12 minutes? If you get stuck, consider creating a table. Solution: 9 miles. (source: Open Up Resources) Math 7 This week we will begin a unit on ratios and proportions. If you recall, we left Comparing and Scaling unfinished to earlier this trimester. We are going back to revisit and elaborate on that material. This is a GREAT chance for you to improve your quiz scores from those sections. If you attain higher scores in the upcoming quizzes, I will gladly honor some score replacements and I will announce that opportunity when it comes up. Your homework is MathXL. No tests or quizzes this week. Math 7 - Topics Covered this weekThis week your student will learn about proportional relationships. This builds on the work they did with equivalent ratios in grade 6. For example, a recipe says “for every 5 cups of grape juice, mix in 2 cups of peach juice.” We can make different-sized batches of this recipe that will taste the same. The amounts of grape juice and peach juice in each of these batches form equivalent ratios. The relationship between the quantities of grape juice and peach juice is a proportional relationship. In a table of a proportional relationship, there is always some number that you can multiply by the number in the first column to get the number in the second column for any row. This number is called the constant of proportionality. In the fruit juice example, the constant of proportionality is 0.4. There are 0.4 cups of peach juice per cup of grape juice. Here is a task you can try with your student: Using the recipe “for every 5 cups of grape juice, mix in 2 cups of peach juice”
Solution:
Homework and Announcements
10/21/2019
Here is a brief overview of the week ahead:
Math 6 This week we will begin working through the second section of Comparing Bits and Pieces. Your only homework is MathXL unless you need to take home an in-class assignment to be completed on your own. It is essential that you keep up with the class work assigned, or you will not be able to keep up with the concepts covered. No tests or quizzes this week. Math 6 - Topics Covered this week There are different ways to represent ratios. Let’s say the 6th grade class is selling raffle tickets at a price of $6 for 5 tickets. Some students may use diagrams with shapes to represent the situation. However, drawing so many shapes becomes impractical. Double number line diagrams are easier to work with and we will begin working with these this week. Here is a task to try with your student: Raffle tickets cost $6 for 5 tickets.
Math 7 This week we will be reviewing and testing on Stretching and Shrinking. Your homework is MathXL and the review worksheets I assign on Monday and Tuesday. These SHOULD be completed in class, but they will come home for study purposes. Homework and Announcements
10/14/2019
Here is a brief overview of the week ahead:
Math 6 This week we will continue working through the first section of our new unit - Comparing Bits and Pieces. Your only homework is MathXL unless you need to take home an in-class assignment to be completed on your own. It is essential that you keep up with the class work assigned, or you will not be able to keep up with the concepts covered. We will be ending the week with a quiz. Math 6 - Topics Covered this week There are different ways to represent ratios. Let’s say the 6th grade class is selling raffle tickets at a price of $6 for 5 tickets. Some students may use diagrams with shapes to represent the situation. However, drawing so many shapes becomes impractical. Double number line diagrams are easier to work with and we will begin working with these this week. Here is a task to try with your student: Raffle tickets cost $6 for 5 tickets.
Math 7 This week will be a pretty calm week as we continue working through the final section of the Stretching and Shrinking chapter. I have included the overview of this section below. We will be taking the unit test next week. Your only homework is MathXL this week unless you need to take home an in-class assignment to be completed on your own. It is essential that you keep up with the class work assigned, or you will not be able to keep up with the concepts covered. Math 7 - Topics Covered this Week This week your student will be learning about scale drawings. A scale drawing is a two-dimensional representation of an actual object or place. Maps and floor plans are some examples of scale drawings. The scale tells us what some length on the scale drawing represents in actual length. For example, a scale of “1 inch to 5 miles” means that 1 inch on the drawing represents 5 actual miles. If the drawing shows a road that is 2 inches long, we know the road is actually 2⋅5, or 10 miles long. Scales can be written with units (e.g. 1 inch to 5 miles), or without units (e.g., 1 to 50, or 1 to 400). When a scale does not have units, the same unit is used for distances on the scale drawing and actual distances. For example, a scale of “1 to 50” means 1 centimeter on the drawing represents 50 actual centimeters,1 inch represents 50 inches, etc. Here is a task to try with your student: Kiran drew a floor plan of his classroom using the scale 1 inch to 6 feet.
(source: Open Up Resources) Homework and Announcements
10/7/2019
Here is a brief overview of the week ahead:
Math 6 This week we will continue working through the first section of our new unit - Comparing Bits and Pieces. Your only homework is MathXL unless you need to take home an in-class assignment to be completed on your own. It is essential that you keep up with the class work assigned, or you will not be able to keep up with the concepts covered. Math 6 - Topics Covered this week There are different ways to represent ratios. Let’s say the 6th grade class is selling raffle tickets at a price of $6 for 5 tickets. Some students may use diagrams with shapes to represent the situation. However, drawing so many shapes becomes impractical. Double number line diagrams are easier to work with and we will begin working with these this week. Here is a task to try with your student: Raffle tickets cost $6 for 5 tickets.
Math 7 This week will be a pretty calm week as we continue working through the next section of the Stretching and Shrinking chapter. I have included the overview of this section below. Your only homework is MathXL this week unless you need to take home an in-class assignment to be completed on your own. It is essential that you keep up with the class work assigned, or you will not be able to keep up with the concepts covered. Math 7 - Topics Covered this Week This week your student will be learning about scale drawings. A scale drawing is a two-dimensional representation of an actual object or place. Maps and floor plans are some examples of scale drawings. The scale tells us what some length on the scale drawing represents in actual length. For example, a scale of “1 inch to 5 miles” means that 1 inch on the drawing represents 5 actual miles. If the drawing shows a road that is 2 inches long, we know the road is actually 2⋅5, or 10 miles long. Scales can be written with units (e.g. 1 inch to 5 miles), or without units (e.g., 1 to 50, or 1 to 400). When a scale does not have units, the same unit is used for distances on the scale drawing and actual distances. For example, a scale of “1 to 50” means 1 centimeter on the drawing represents 50 actual centimeters,1 inch represents 50 inches, etc. Here is a task to try with your student: Kiran drew a floor plan of his classroom using the scale 1 inch to 6 feet.
(source: Open Up Resources) Homework and Announcements
10/1/2019
Happy Tuesday! I hope you all enjoyed the long weekend. Here is a brief overview of the week ahead:
Math 6 Great job on the Prime Time tests last week! You should see the scores show up in Q sometime over the next couple of days. I typically allow enough time for each student to review their test and bring their test letters home before I post scores. Please ask your child to show you the test letter if they haven't already done so. If your child took the taste late, they will not have this letter yet. This week will be pretty calm. We are starting a new chapter - Comparing Bits and Pieces - and we will be taking the first sections slowly. Your only homework is MathXL this week unless you need to take home an in-class assignment to be completed on your own. It is essential that you keep up with the class work assigned, or you will not be able to keep up with the concepts covered. Math 6 - Topics Covered this week A ratio is an association between two or more quantities. For example, say we have a drink recipe made with cups of juice and cups of soda water. Ratios can be represented with diagrams. Here are some correct ways to describe a ratio:
The ratios 6:4, 3:2, and 12:8 are equivalent because each ratio of juice to soda water would make a drink that tastes the same. Here is a task to try with your student: There are 4 horses in a stall. Each horse has 4 legs, 1 tail, and 2 ears.
Math 7 This week, we will be wrapping up the first section of our Stretching and Shrinking unit. We will be ending the week with a quiz on the first 6 lessons in this unit. I've included the summary of the section in this post again as it is a general overview of what will be covered on the quiz. Your only homework is MathXL this week unless you need to take home an in-class assignment to be completed on your own. It is essential that you keep up with the class work assigned, or you will not be able to keep up with the concepts covered. Math 7 - Topics Covered this Week This week your student will learn about scaling shapes. An image is a scaled copy of the original if the shape is stretched in a way that does not distort it. In each scaled copy, the sides are a certain number of times as long as the corresponding sides in the original. We call this number the scale factor. The size of the scale factor affects the size of the copy. A scale factor greater than 1 makes a copy that is larger than the original. A scale factor less than 1 makes a copy that is smaller. (source: Open Up Resources) Homework and Announcements
9/23/2019
Happy Monday! Here is a brief overview of the upcoming week:
Math 6 This week, we are going into our last exploration of factors as we take a brief look at prime factorization. We are cutting down this investigation to just the first couple sections and then we are looking to take the Prime Time unit test. At the earliest, we will review for the test on Wednesday and take the test this Thursday. Your only homework is MathXL this week unless you need to take home an in-class assignment to be completed on your own. It is essential that you keep up with the class work assigned, or you will not be able to keep up with the concepts covered. On Wednesday, you will be taking home a test review sheet if we are going to take the test on Thursday. You can study from this review sheet as you see fit. Math 7 This week, we will be diving further into our new Stretching and Shrinking unit. No quizzes or tests this week, we will be taking our time to get through each new lesson. Below you will see an extensive overview of the first lessons we are covering. This will make for a great reference in the event that you miss a day. Your only homework is MathXL this week unless you need to take home an in-class assignment to be completed on your own. It is essential that you keep up with the class work assigned, or you will not be able to keep up with the concepts covered. Math 7 - Topics Covered this Week This week your student will learn about scaling shapes. An image is a scaled copy of the original if the shape is stretched in a way that does not distort it. In each scaled copy, the sides are a certain number of times as long as the corresponding sides in the original. We call this number the scale factor. The size of the scale factor affects the size of the copy. A scale factor greater than 1 makes a copy that is larger than the original. A scale factor less than 1 makes a copy that is smaller. (source: Open Up Resources) Homework and Announcements
9/16/2019
Happy Monday! Here is a brief overview of the upcoming week:
Math 6 We are continuing to explore problem solving with factors and multiples. Last week, we learned about Greatest Common Factor and Least Common Multiple. This week, we will continue to practice our new skills as we complete a variety of problems. We will be ending this week with our first partner quiz on Friday and it will be focused on problem solving with factors and multiples. As part of each unit, students will take two to three quizzes one of which will always be a partner quiz. When I first started teaching from this text, I was very hesitant to give a partner quiz. After all, quizzes are intended to see what the individual student understands. However, I decided to give it a shot and I found was that the students engaged in rich and meaningful discourse during the quiz as they negotiated and worked diligently to obtain correct answers. The partner quizzes truly enhance student learning and they only occur once per unit. We assess the students independently on such a frequent basis that one partner quiz a unit serves as a nice break from the normal routine That said, the students do have the option of working alone instead of with a partner. Your only homework is MathXL this week unless you need to take home an in-class assignment to be completed on your own. It is essential that you keep up with the class work assigned, or you will not be able to keep up with the concepts covered. Math 7 We are continuing to learn about ratios and proportions this week. We will taking our first partner quiz tomorrow and it will focus on proportional reasoning. As part of each unit, students will take two to three quizzes one of which will always be a partner quiz. When I first started teaching from this text, I was very hesitant to give a partner quiz. After all, quizzes are intended to see what the individual student understands. However, I decided to give it a shot and I found was that the students engaged in rich and meaningful discourse during the quiz as they negotiated and worked diligently to obtain correct answers. The partner quizzes truly enhance student learning and they only occur once per unit. We assess the students independently on such a frequent basis that one partner quiz a unit serves as a nice break from the normal routine That said, the students do have the option of working alone instead of with a partner. Your only homework is MathXL this week unless you need to take home an in-class assignment to be completed on your own. It is essential that you keep up with the class work assigned, or you will not be able to keep up with the concepts covered. Homework and Announcements
9/9/2019
Happy Monday! It was fantastic meeting everyone who was able to come out for Back to School Night. There was one piece of information I only touched on in a few classes and it's going to be important for many of you: OFFICE HOURS. Every year, I offer up regular hours for students who need to come in for tutoring. This year, I will be available for extra help Tuesday through Thursday starting at 8:05 am. I only ask that if you give me notice before you plan to attend. I don't want to be in a parent teacher conference or in the copy room preparing for the day if someone is waiting outside my room.
Now for this week's announcements: Math 6 We are going to apply what we've been doing with factors and multiples for the past two weeks and apply it to problem solving, GCF, and LCM. Today, we did a problem solving activity involving GCF (greatest common factor). We took a quiz last Friday and the results will be posted tomorrow afternoon. I have them graded, but I always wait to post the scores until each student finishes the quiz and gets to see their errors. I'm planning on this occurring tomorrow. Please check Student Connect/ Parent Connect sometime this week (not yet). Your only homework is MathXL. No quiz this week. Math 7 We are going to apply what we've been doing with ratios and scaling and take it further with unit rates and constant of proportionality. We took a quiz last Friday and the results will be posted tomorrow afternoon. I have them graded, but I always wait to post the scores until each student finishes the quiz and gets to see their errors. I'm planning on this occurring tomorrow. Please check Student Connect/ Parent Connect sometime this week (not yet). Your only homework is MathXL. No quiz this week. |