Math 7H Blocks 1 & 2
SOLs Covered: 8.2 The Real Number System
Math Unit: 03 The Real Number System
Daily Agenda: September 13-17, 2021
Upcoming Assessments: Fall Math SOL Growth Assessment (Thurs. 9/23); Quiz 1.03 Scientific Notation & Comparing/Order Real Numbers (Fri. 10/1)
MSM2 Block 4
SOLs Covered: 8.2 The Real Number System
Math Unit: 03 The Real Number System
Daily Agenda: September 13-17, 2021
Upcoming Assessments: Fall Math SOL Growth Assessment (Thurs. 9/23); Quiz 1.03 Scientific Notation & Comparing/Order Real Numbers (Fri. 10/1)
Good afternoon! Can you believe we're already four weeks into the school year?! Somehow we are and this means that next week would officially mark the interim. We don't do paper interims at the middle school level, so we ask that parents/guardians check ParentVUE in the coming days and chat with your child(ren) about what they can do to improve upon their grades before the quarter ends. For students currently failing or at risk of failing, we'll be contacting parents/guardians next week (calls, texts, emails), but please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions. Even for kids who might be happy with the current grade, there are still probably things that can be done to improve upon it.
For my class, all formative checks have unlimited attempts through the deadline (for this term, that's Monday, October 18th), missing ALEKS can be made up by adding the missing amount to the next week's required 10-topic goal (students can also "bank" up to 5 extra topics to get ahead on upcoming weeks which would turn into 5 extra credit points if unneeded), and summative quizzes have two attempts and can then be corrected for half credit thereafter for any questions still wrong. For all of the Canvas assignments, students can obviously access those direct from Canvas, but since I'm utilizing the new "Grade PassBack" system to sync their grades, there is a link provided on ParentVUE/StudentVUE that will take them directly to that assignment. Unfortunately, it's not a clickable link, but they can copy/paste the URL into a new browser tab to access it. Another unfortunate piece to the new syncing system is that the notes I might add for individual grades don't transfer over from Canvas to PVUE/SVUE, but I have a link on each class Canvas page to the "Unofficial Grades," which does allow them to easily view notes and additional information all in one spot as well as easy access to the assignment. Additionally, I'll set up an extra credit assignment of some kind (likely through Khan Academy) towards the end of the term; more information will be sent out as we get closer to the end of term.
Now onto this week's math happenings! We covered the real number system this week or (as I like to refer to it) the Real Number Family (please envision a "Family Feud" style intro when you read that). I use a Russian nesting doll to introduce the kids to the traditional nested Venn diagram that is often used to illustrate the relationships within the system, but I also merge this into discussing where each group might be sitting at the family reunion. Natural numbers obviously are all sitting at tiny little preschool tables that the "older generations" can't fit at (imagine the last time you tried to sit at the seats in your child's old kindergarten classroom), but they often get called over to visit the "older relatives" so grandma (a wise old Rational number) can squeeze their checks and comment on how much they've grown. The sole unique Whole number Zero is just a bit too big for the Natural table, but still doesn't want to move up to join those moody Integers who are still relegated to a kiddie table of their own, so Zero typically just pulls a chair up in between. Then theirs that crazy relative, the Irrational number, who you try to avoid getting stuck in conversation with because they go on and on forever and typically don't seem to make any sense. The kids really got into this idea (and some even started calling out who that weird Irrational family member might be, LOL!), so between that and our silly mnemonics for remembering the proper order within the Venn diagram (Raising Racing Iguanas With Nutella Ice-cream) and the connection from one group to the other (I can Always climb up the tree, I can only Sometimes get myself safely back down, but I Never try to swing between the trees), the kids did really well with today's quiz.
Due to the amount of quarantining that's been going on, I highly encourage kids unable to attend (be it due to quarantine or any other reason) to try to keep up outside of school with all the work, including the quizzes. I know this can be harder when the kids might be missing a big chunk of time but as I've told the kids, I'm happy to arrange some Google Meet tutoring sessions as my schedule permits and I've provided them with a ton of resources they can use to work independently. Please explore some of the resources on my class website (which include a few that can help in other subject areas as well, not just math... again, huge nerd who spends too much time online!), but I've also shared a few additional things with Dr. Strittmatter to include in the resource he emailed out yesterday. It's a difficult situation, so I'm happy to help in anyway possible, so please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions, even if they don't pertain to my class/subject.
Well, that's probably more than enough to throw your way today (I did warn you all early on that I can get carried away), so I'll wrap things up here. As always, please let me know if you have any questions. Hope you all have an amazing weekend!