Math 7H Blocks 1 & 2
SOLs Covered: 8.10 Composite Figures
Math Unit: 21 Composite Figures
Daily Agenda: February 28, 2022 & March 1-4, 2022
Upcoming Assessments: Quiz 4.01 Surface Area & Volume (Tues. 3/15; this will be a grade for the final term)
MSM2 Block 4
SOLs Covered: 8.10 Composite Figures
Math Unit: 21 Composite Figures
Daily Agenda: February 28, 2022 & March 1-4, 2022
Upcoming Assessments: Quiz 4.01 Surface Area & Volume (Tues. 3/15; this will be a grade for the final term)
Greetings, folks! Before getting into this week's math happenings, I'd like to ask for a little help with some of our classroom needs. First, we completely ran out of pencils this week and it would be a huge help if anyone out there is willing and able to send in some donations, either of regular pencils or lead for mechanical pencils (either 0.5mm or 0.7mm sizes). Second, I generally keep little snacks in the room for kids as it is difficult to work and concentrate when you're hungry and we're running low again even with my most recent restock. If folks are again willing and able to send in any kind of snacks, it would be very much appreciated. Commonly stocked snack items include: granola/breakfast bars, fruit snacks, fruit cups, individual serving packs of crackers, water bottles, juice boxes/pouches, etc.; if possible without the common allergens, particularly peanuts. None of these are required of course, but it would be a huge help as it will be awhile before I can manage to add more of either myself.
In regards to this week's math happenings, we continued our geometry work with the introduction of composite figures. The kids were a little intimidated at first upon browsing through the packets and observing the shapes, but once I explained and showed how we break the composite figures down into the shapes they've learned in years past, they immediately started feeling more comfortable. I walked them through how to determine if we were combining shapes, removing smaller shapes, or even some combination of the two and from there starting to create their own "custom" formulas from those they already know (or can at least find on the formula sheet that is provided). They've done really well with the topic, but some kiddos are still struggling with breaking down the shapes into their more basic components, for which I recommend continued practice with blocks and even puzzles, especially including tangram puzzles. Once they start to look for smaller parts rather than the image as a whole, they'll find the work a lot easier. Some kids needed a bit more time to finish than what the block allowed (especially 4th due to Mrs. Acome's "7th Grade Social" at the end of the block), so they were asked to finish over the weekend so they don't miss any of the new topic we'll start on Monday.
This week I also presented the kids with their extra credit opportunity for the term. I set up an announcement on each class's Canvas page about completing JLab practice Math 8 SOL quizzes. They can earn up to 10 summative points for their first quiz and up to 10 formative points for their second quiz. If they don't like their first results, they can do additional quizzes to replace the lower scores. So far only one student has taken advantage of this opportunity, but I'm hoping more will over the next two weeks. Please help me by encouraging the kids to take advantage of this opportunity. Even those students who don't need the extra grade points are still encouraged to try as it's great review and they can instead use their scores to gain extra Lambie Points.
That should cover everything for the week but as always, please reach out if you have any questions. I hope everyone has an amazing weekend!