Post date: Oct 18, 2019 7:29:23 PM
MSM2 Periods 1 & 4
SOLs Covered: 7.11 & 8.14 Order of Operations (Review) & Algebraic Substitution; 7.12 One- & Two-Step Equations
Math Unit: 07 Evaluating Expressions; 08 Translating Expressions & Equations
Daily Agenda: Oct. 14-18, 2019
Upcoming Assessments: 1.05 Translating, Properties, & One- & Two-Step Equations Quiz (Mon. 10/28)
Math 7H Period 3
SOLs Covered: 7.11 & 8.14 Order of Operations (Review) & Algebraic Substitution; 7.12 One- & Two-Step Equations
Math Unit: 07 Evaluating Expressions; 08 Translating Verbal Expressions & Equations
Daily Agenda: Oct. 14-18, 2019
Upcoming Assessments: 1.05 Translating, Properties, Laws of Exponents, & One- & Two-Step Equations Quiz (Mon. 10/28)
Howdy! Before getting into this week's math happenings, I want to clear up any possible confusion for parents and guardians regarding grades in ParentVUE. Any formative assignment listed as missing or incomplete is indeed still missing or incomplete. While I do still have grading to do (it's a never ending stack of both real and virtual assignments), I grade late and re-submissions the same day they are turned in so that what is posted is as accurate as possible. If your child is saying they've turned in an assignment and I just haven't graded it yet, they're telling a bit of a tale. All formative assignments can and most definitely should still be completed, ideally as soon as possible.
While the incompletes in the formative assessment category cannot be made up, that category can be improved upon by completing all future weeks. I have also decided since I'm not allowed to give an independent extra credit opportunity and there have been some tech issues, I will be dropping one of the lowest ALEKS grades. I have a big stack of quiz corrections I'm working my way through, so students still have the chance to improve upon the summative category as well. Once I've graded corrections, you will see a note indicating the student completed the corrections along with the adjusted points. Hopefully this clears up any possible confusion folks might have about grades, but please let me know if you have questions now or at any point in the future.
For math this week, we're now fully immersed in the beginnings of our algebra work, which will carry over into the second quarter. While some of you might groan at the very thought of algebra, I try to make what can be a difficult (and some might say painful) topic as entertaining as possible. After wrapping up the basics of algebraic substitution (a skill that will come in handy for checking our answers once we start solving equations), we started translating algebraic expressions and equations, which I like to call translating from English to Mathish and vice versa. There are all kinds of little landmines that can make a seemingly simple word problem more difficult, so I give the kids a few tricks for spotting them. My favorite trick is for dealing with what I call the "John Cena words" of than and from. These words reverse the numbers to opposite sides of the operation (ex. four less than a number means x - 4) but this always throw kids off. I therefore make a big deal about how they're like John Cena (or whoever your favorite wrestler my be for the kids who are into it) and they come along and body slam the numbers to the opposite sides. There are overly dramatic demonstrations where I pretend like I'm picking the numbers or variables up slamming them to the other side, which always earns plenty of giggles but definitely stick with the kids. One of the kids said something about how I'm just so dramatic, just like them (meaning 7th graders in general), to which I can only agree, but you do what you gotta do, right?
This translating unit will continue to pop up throughout the rest of our algebra work and anytime we come across word problems in the future, but it's officially wrapping up on Monday when we'll also be reviewing the properties of real numbers before we start solving equations later in the week. The honors class (3rd block) will also get the first of their "exclusive" topics per the county curriculum when we cover the laws of exponents, so they'll need to be sure to check their class specific Daily Agenda slides (right side of this page) and Table of Contents as there will be some much bigger differences now that we're verging off into slightly different directions. While all 7th graders take the Math 8 SOL test and there are some similarities in what is covered in all of the classes, I've labeled the things that are exclusively meant for the honors classes with a 7H on the instruction page of Canvas. While I'm not comfortable enough to make a full transition to Canvas yet, I've shown the kids how to get to the additional resources provided there, including those created for these extra topics.
Well, as previously stated I still have that never-ending stack of grading to get back to, so I'm going to close things out here. As always, feel free to email anytime you have any questions. Hope everyone has a great weekend!