Post date: Mar 12, 2020 8:29:34 PM
MSM2 Periods 1 & 4
SOLs Covered: 8.5 Angle Relationships; 8.8 3-D Models
Math Unit: 19 Angle Relationships; 20 3-D Models
Daily Agenda: March 9-13, 2020
Upcoming Assessments: 3.04 Geometry Part 1 Quiz (Tues. 3/17)
Math 7H Period 3
SOLs Covered: 8.5 Angle Relationships; 8.8 3-D Models
Math Unit: 20 Pythagorean Theorem; 21 Angle Relationships
Daily Agenda: March 9-13, 2020
Upcoming Assessments: 3.04 Geometry Part 1 Quiz (Tues. 3/17)
Happy Thursday, folks! This is coming to you a day early because today took a spin I both was and was not expecting. In case you aren't aware, CCPS will be closed to students tomorrow both to allow staff to continue the more rigorous cleaning of the facilities as well as allowing faculty the opportunity to prepare for the possibility of having to close for a longer period of time (click here for further information). We all knew in a vague sense that it could happen in theory, but I'm not sure we believed it would actually end up getting to this point. Tomorrow I'll be planning for the possibility of being out for an extended period of time, but I will also continue planning for normal days/week as usual.
In hopes of otherwise sticking to what I had currently planned at the moment, I decided later in the day after the announcement for the closing was made that I would keep the previously posted digital assignments planned for tomorrow as is (meaning I wouldn't just push them to Monday) but that they would become two extra credit opportunities for all classes. This both allows us to stay on track (at least for the time being) and gives me the chance to allow some extra credit opportunities I am otherwise unable to give due to 7th grade math policies. I was only able to directly share this with my 4th block students, but I've updated the Daily Agenda to reflect the change. The students are sent these updates as well and they are posted on my website but very few read them, so please pass the info along so they can hopefully utilize the extra time off tomorrow to take advantage of this latest opportunity to help improve upon their grade.
Regarding these same digital assignments along with two others from the newest unit (3-D Models), I've finally been able to find the time to play around with Canvas a little more and feel comfortable enough to send their digital assignments through that platform. That being said, I'm still not 100% trusting of the site based on some of the issues I've heard from my own nieces as well as a recent glitch I discovered with one math notebook check (these are set up using the quiz feature on Canvas) for one of my students. For this reason, I've set the assignments up on both Google Classroom and Canvas. As I'd previously mentioned to the kids and I believe in at least one of my weekly updates, I'm doing this so that if there are any issues with the Canvas assignments, we'll have the Google Classroom version as a backup. I told the kids that they'll do the work for these assignments completely on Google Classroom and then copy and paste it into the Canvas version before submitting both. I'll of course help the kids with any step in the process if they need it, but if they see any glitches on their side (weird error messages, loading issues, etc.) to let me know and to take screenshots if possible. This is so I can pass any issues I can't clear up on my own along to the county tech folks, which is what I've done for the math notebook check issue I mentioned earlier. They're already digging that one, but every bit of extra information I can share with them helps.
That should cover all the logistical things for the week, now lets jump into the math. We started the week by wrapping up our work on angle relationships. Some of the kids are still stumbling on the vocabulary a little, mixing up some of the terms a bit, but I've encouraged the kids to continue reviewing the notes I've given them and to create some flashcards (real or virtual) for themselves to help quiz themselves on the terms. The second half of the week has been on 3-D models, which has the kids building shapes out of cubes and identifying the different 2-D views (front, top, side). I think the kids have enjoyed this tremendously as this topic essentially requires that they play with blocks as part of their work. The work doesn't require building anything too fancy, but I always give the kids some extra time to just play; you can check out my class Instagram for some of their creations. I've told the kids this is probably the only time they'll here this from a teacher, but I recommend going home to play with their old Legos if they still have some lying around or even playing Minecraft if they're into that as part of their studying for this topic. Both legitimately help students better understand this topic.
Well, I'm going to close things out here since I still have to come in tomorrow (at least for now, who knows how things will continue to develop). Before closing, I'd like to send out a request for pencils and pencil lead from anyone who might be willing and able to send some in for my classes. I'm down to my last three pencils and noticed today that apparently all of the pencil lead has been used up at this point. The kids and I are incredibly grateful for anything you can send our way! I hope everyone has an amazing weekend, but more importantly, I hope everyone is able to avoid all the germs!