Welcome to December!

We completed our math project on Fractions, Decimals and Integers right before Thanksgiving.  Students took a quiz on the Tuesday before break and were given the option to make corrections to the quiz in order to raise their grades.  Quiz corrections are due on Friday, December 2nd.  There was also an extra credit packet available over the break.

We will be begin moving a little quicker starting this week.  We will be working on Lessons 2-2 and Lesson 2-3 this week.  Students have homework every night Monday-Thursday.  Two nights they have 10 problems to complete on Tenmarks and the other two nights a video to watch and take notes on.  It is important that they watch the video in advance of class as it is a preview to the material that will be covered in class.  They may always continue working on their MathXL and Lesson Quizzes for each section at home.

Please let me know if you have any questions!

Operations Review Project

due Tuesday, November 22 at the beginning of class

This will count as a Project/Assessment grade.  There is also a quiz on Tuesday, 11/22.

We will be reviewing these topics in class but I also put some videos on our website under the Exit Ticket if you need some extra review.

In order to review operations with fractions, integers and decimals, each student needs to create a display - could be a comic book, a booklet, a Google Slides presentation, or poster - if you have another idea, ask me.

The display must include -

1. Fractions (15 points)
1. How to add fractions with unlike denominators
1. Explanation (1 point)
2. 2 Sample problems (2 points)
2. How to subtract fractions with unlike denominators
1. Explanation (1 point)
2. 2 Sample problems (2 points)
3. Addition and Subtraction with Mixed numbers
1. 1 sample problem with addition (1 point)
2. 1 sample problem with subtraction (1 point)
4. How to multiply fractions
1. Explanation (1 point)
2. 2 sample problems (2 points)
1. 1 must include a negative fraction or mixed number
2. 1 must include a mixed number
5. How to divide fractions
1. Explanation (1 point)
2. 3 sample problems (3 points)
1. 1 must include a negative fraction or mixed number
2. 1 must include a mixed number
3. 1 must include solving an equation with a fractional coefficient -
1. Example:   4/15x = 8  Solve for x.
2. Decimals (12 points)
1. How to add decimals
1. Explanation (1 point)
2. 2 Sample problems (2 points)
1. 1 must include a negative decimal
2. How to subtract decimals
1. Explanation (1 point)
2. 2 Sample problems (2 points)
1. 1 must include a negative decimal
3. How to multiply decimals
1. Explanation (1 point)
2. 2 sample problems (2 points)
1. 1 must include a decimal
4. How to divide decimals
1. Explanation (1 point)
2. 2 sample problems (2 points)
1. 1 must include a negative decimal
2. 1 must include solving an equation with a decimal coefficient -
1. Example:  (-0.3)x = 12  Solve for x.
3. Integers (13 points)
1. How to add integers
1. Explanation - must include neg + neg and neg + pos (1 point)
2. 2 Sample problems (2 points)
1. Must include a positive + a negative
2. Must include a negative + a negative
2. How to subtract integers
1. Explanation - must include neg - neg and neg - pos (1 point)
2. 2 Sample problems (2 points)
1. Must include a negative - a positive
2. Must include a negative - a negative
3. How to multiply integers
1. Explanation - must include + * +, - * -, -* + (1 point)
2. 2 sample problems (2 points)
1. Must include a negative * a positive
2. Must include a negative * a negative
4. How to divide integers
1. Explanation - must include +/+, -/-, -/+ (1 point)
2. 2 sample problems (3 points)
1. Must include a negative / a positive
2. Must include a negative / a negative
3. Must include a positive / a negative

Total Grade

1. Fractions - 15 points
2. Decimals - 12 points
3. Integers - 13 points
4. Neatness - 10 points
5. Creativity - 5 extra credit points

Total - 50 points + 5 extra credit

Fractions, Decimals and Integers! Oh my!!

There has been a lot of confusion this week with our beginning attempts at solving equations with fractions, decimals and positive and negative numbers.  So at the request of several students we are going to step back and do some review work this week - culminating in both a quiz and a project on these review topics before Thanksgiving.

I have placed many videos on separate pages that will explain operations with fractions, decimals, and integers.  Plus you can search the Virtual Nerd library from this link on any math topic.

Virtual Nerd library

Term 2 Begins

Term 2 began this past Thursday, November 3rd.  Report cards for Term 1 will go home on Thursday, November 10th.

Based on the work completed during Term 1 by the students, we are returning to a more traditional grading policy for Term 2.

Assessments (Quizzes, Topic Assessments, and Projects):  50%
Class Work: 30%
Homework: 10%
Notebook: 10%

Students will have homework every night - Monday through Thursdays.  At least 2 of those nights, their homework will be to watch a video and take notes.  The other nights their homework will be to complete work on TenMarks, an online skills based program.  Homework that is not completed can not be made up unless a student is absent.  If it is submitted a day late, students can receive a maximum of 75%.  If it is submitted 2 days late, the maximum is 50%.  After that it will receive 0 credit.  A listing of the homework assigned for the week is available both on our blog and in PowerSchool when you click on their math grade.

Online lesson quizzes and MathXL assignments will count as class work grades at the percentage received in the program.  Students still need 80% on a lesson quiz to move on to the next lesson.  Although assigned in class students may still work on MathXL and Lesson quizzes at home if they choose.

We are currently working on Solving Equations including positive/negative numbers, fractions and decimals.  There are a lot of steps involved and a lot of past ideas needed.  It is a difficult topic but a foundation for much of the work for the remainder of this year and on into Algebra 1 next year.  Please be patient with grades and frustration levels!  Let me know how I can help you or your student.