ECST Mathematics Department

Newsletter

March 22-26, 2021

March Mathness Updates

Please visit the March Mathness website to view the Desmos Art Gallery and IDM Poster Gallery. I will continue to insert submissions as time allows. View one of the submissions below.
The originally scheduled March 24th round 4 will be moved to March 31st due to a large number of juniors taking the in-school SAT. Both round 4 and round 5 will take place on March 31st. The theme for the round 4 competition is PSAT & SAT. The theme for the round 5 competition is Statistics in Sports. The final round will be recorded and posted on the website for all to view.
You may use the Quizizz from the competitions with your classes the DAY AFTER the round is over.
Please reach out to the team you will be competing against on March 31st and enter Zoom information into the FORM.
- - ROUND 4: WCT Arenstein - Rubix Cubes v. NT Antoine - Owls @ 8:45AM
  - ROUND 4: PT Fam - Wolves v. PT Koltsova - Dragons @ 9:15AM
  - ROUND 5: Finals (Teams TBD) @ 10:00AM

If you have not previously done so,

please share these test taking tips with your juniors.

Review of function notation and evaluating functions.

Review of characteristics of a quadratic function.

Desmos Art Gallery

It is my pleasure to highlight the Desmos Art Gallery submission by Emilce Espinoza (WCT Gr. 10). Her Geometry teacher, Mr. Zack Arenstein, shared, "When I gave the art project, this kid was having massive trouble with decimals. I helped her get started.... She asked me a question about one part that was on the x-axis. She did the rest." These are the moments that make it all worth it. Beautiful work Emilce and Mr. Arenstein!

Calculus Review

Well, really, it is a fabulous tip and another application of Pascal's Triangle that I was not aware existed. I think we will explore the applications of Pascal's Triangle in the future. BriTheMathGuy explains how to find the derivative using this trick that is seldom taught in calculus class. Enjoy the ah-ha moment. I did.

WTKBS S3 E6

How to Catch Gen Z in the Comments

If you are looking to be "in the know", watch THIS episode of What the Kids Be Saying (WTKBS).

My Favorite Mistakes

Last year, while I was in Mrs. Maria Moura's class, she completed an activity titled "My favorite mistakes". The students had previously completed an assignment and Mrs. Moura selected two students' responses to share with the class. To protect the identity of the students whose work was selected, she transcribed their work on the board exactly as the students had written. She guided the students through an error analysis to emphasize the common mistakes that many of the students had made. One of the students even volunteered, "Hey, I think that is my work. May I correct it now at the board?" This is a good way to review content and to model "math talk" with the students. Try it. And then share the experience with a colleague.

When Students Are Quiet

Recently, I read a thread about when students are quiet after the teacher asks the whole class a question. The author, Howie Hua, commented "I ask them if they are quiet because they are shy or because they do not know the answer." This was followed by many other comments and suggestions. A select few are shared below.

Ben Hambrecht: "I like to tell them, 'If you can't think of an answer, think of a question.' I'll take either, but not silence.
James Schloss: "Yeah, chat is the best solution, imo. I was always afraid of speaking aloud, but find myself more than willing to say things in the chat."
Katerina: "... I said strangely to me as a teacher it tells me that I did not explain enough."

What are your thoughts? Enter them HERE in the Schoology discussion section. This will also indicate if you read the newsletter. :)

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