SOLs Covered: SOL 8.17 Solving Multi-Step Equations
Math Unit: 10 One- & Two-Step Equations
Daily Agenda: November 28-30 & December 1-2, 2022
Upcoming Assessments: Quiz 2.02 Multi-Step Equations (A-Wed. 12/14; B-Thurs. 12/15)
Good afternoon! I have to make this a lightening fast update as I have some family plans soon and need to get out of here quickly today. The week wasn't super exciting as we were working on the previously mentioned benchmark test. Again, I hated having to do a test as soon as we returned from a break, but it was the only option to keep us on track with pacing for this year. But with the inconvenient timing as well as some thoughts I had during the break after reading some education post, I allowed the kids to use their notes on the test and will continue allowing notes for their tests and all other work aside from SOL tests (that is completely out of my control as there are state regulations for those). The reasoning behind this is in part because they don't have any of the actual test questions in their work, but predominately because pretty much any job you'd get in the future allows you to look up any information you might need in order to do your job correctly. Being able to find the necessary information and then applying it are skills all on their own. I was already doing this with quizzes and classwork partially for these reasons (the post just emphasized the idea for me), but also because I believe it pushes the kids to be better notetakers, which also pushes them to be better listeners during the notetaking process.
The test led into test corrections, which we did somewhat together, and in some classes completely together depending on how long students needed to finish the test on Wednesday/Thursday. I reviewed how to properly complete the corrections form (all of which are always located in the modules on Canvas) and how to analyze their work for their mistakes. For many students, they approached the work correctly for most questions but got tripped up on the reading parts (ex. finding just the amount being discounted rather than the required final total). This left some kids a little annoyed at their past selves, but they felt better knowing their correction efforts would improve their grade. For those kids who missed the in-class corrections work or for those classes that didn't get to go over all the questions, I'm happy to help students before school. As mentioned before, I am available on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings starting at 7AM, but I ask that kids and/or their grownups double check with me first so I can ensure I'm in the room and not off making copies or something.
Today, the A-day kids started our equations work by reviewing one- and two-step equations. The B-day kids will get this review on Monday and then we'll move up to multi-step equations the rest of the week and into the following before taking the quiz just before the winter break.
Well, again I got a little carried away and while I feel like this was still rushed, I have to head out to make it into Chester. Please be aware that some kids have submitted their corrections but since I don't have planning on A-days and I have to head out now, I won't be able to get them all updated today. I might be able to get some done this weekend, but I'll try to get them all taken care of on Monday. Please reach out if you have any questions, though I will likely be slower to respond over this weekend. I hope everyone has a great weekend!