Post date: Nov 6, 2020 9:25:44 PM
MSM2 Block 1
SOLs Covered: 7.11&12, 8.12,14,&17 One- & Two-Step Equations
Math Unit: 10 One- & Two-Step Equations
Daily Agenda: Nov. 4-6, 2020
Upcoming Assessments: 2.01 Multi-Step Equations with Combining Like Terms & Distributive Property Quiz (Fri. 11/20)
Math 7H Blocks 2 & 3
SOLs Covered: 7.11&12, 8.12,14,&17 One- & Two-Step Equations
Math Unit: 10 One- & Two-Step Equations
Daily Agenda: Nov. 4-6, 2020
Upcoming Assessments: 2.01 Multi-Step Equations with Combining Like Terms & Distributive Property Quiz (Fri. 11/20)
Happy Friday, folks! Hope you've all had an amazing week! Even though it's been a short week with the kids, it's been a busy one and I've not been feeling my best (don't worry, it's not COVID related... my oh-so graceful self slipped and fell on Monday and I've been feeling it all week), so I'm going to try and keep this a quick update.
We continued our work with solving equations, kicking it up a notch with two-step equations. With the introduction (or review for many students) of two-step equations, I also introduced the kids to the story of SAD MEG (that's GEMDAS --the order of operations-- backwards). Poor SADMEG suffered from your typical middle school break up but desperately wants to reunite with her X. While we all agree that SAD MEG just needs to move on, we're good friends and at least try to make sure she doesn't make a fool of herself in front of the entire locker pod. Though the tale is silly (but pretty accurate based on some of the brokenhearted middle schoolers I've dealt with over the years... seriously, the tears!), it helps remind the kids that we tackle equations by working backwards in order to isolate the variable.
The two-step equations seemed to throw a few kids off, but it seems to be mostly due to being rusty with algebra still and most are doing much better at this point. I do highly encourage all the kids who are still feeling a little shaky on the topic to review everything we've done this week along with the equation work found here on Khan Academy (skip the inequality work for now). We wrapped the week and the last few units up with a quiz today, though I've encouraged the kids to make sure they have all of their unit work done first before taking the quiz (remember my analogy of practicing before the big game?). Because I know that some of the kids needed a little more time after struggling a little on Wednesday, I've given the weekend to wrap up the rest of their work with Unit 10 (assignments 10.05, 10.06, and 10.07) as well as finishing the quiz (Quiz 1.05) and thus will not be marking those as "missing" until Monday.
Students have been encouraged to check out StudentVUE/ParentVUE and ensure that they take care of any currently missing work so they can stay ahead of things in the second quarter. I'd like to ask parents to do the same. I've entered grades for everything that has been submitted at this point (4:17PM on 11/6), so what you see on SVUE/PVUE is the most up-to-date information. If something says "missing" but the student thinks they've done it, they are encouraged to both double check the assignment itself (many are still forgetting to hit the submit button) and to check the feedback left on the "unofficial grades" page on our Canvas class. If all looks well in both areas (I'm human, so I do still make mistakes), I ask that the kids message me about it and/or resubmit the assignment.
As always, please let me know if you have any questions. I hope you all have an amazing weekend!