SOLs Covered: 7.NS.3 Analyze Square Roots & Perfect Squares
Math Unit: 01 Squares & Square Roots
Daily Agenda: August 25-28, 2025
Upcoming Assessments: Topic 1 Quiz (next week, TBD); MAPS Testing (Mon. 9/8-Tues. 9/9); Unit 1 Exponents & Powers Summative (TBD)
Howdy! I'm going to try to keep this update on the "short and sweet" side as I still have quite a bit to do before I can head out for the weekend. This week we continued on with our work on perfect squares and square roots. Students started exploring the topic by using square tiles to form different size squares, thus learning why we call them "perfect squares" in the first place. We continued using these tiles this week to both reinforce this concept as well as to help them potentially memorize the perfect squares.
This is a non-calculator topic and since the kids are expected to know the perfect squares from 0 to 400, the extra hands-on time helps with memorization. Since memorizing things can be difficult for some students, I've shown them several other ways they can find the perfect squares and thus also the square roots. If they create their own multiplication chart, they can find the perfect squares running diagonally across the chart from the top left to the bottom right. We practice filling in a partially complete chart this week to go with this as they'll need to create one from scratch for MAP and SOL testing unless they have it as a math aid accommodation. We'll continue practicing this skill throughout the year and I'll show them tricks for making that process faster as we go. Additionally, kids can use grid paper to draw out squares the same way we made them with the tiles, which is usually a preferred method for students who are more visual/hands-on learners.
We will have a short formative quiz on the topic next week, though I haven't decided on the day yet as I don't want to have one as soon as we return from a four-day weekend. The kids will be told ahead of time, but I can't provide the exact date here yet. Additionally we'll be having taking the Math MAPS test the following week; MAPs is taking the place of the state SGA SOL tests in the fall and winter, but we'll also be including a spring MAP test along with the spring SOL test this year. While that is extra testing, I can say that as a teacher I prefer the data given from MAP testing far more than what I get from SOL testing. Finally, I incorrectly stated in last week's update that there would be a TBD assessment on Integers; this error was because I copied part of an update from last year to make keeping the same formatting as last year easier, but I forgot to modify that part. We'll be taking the first unit test, which covers the first two topics, once we've wrapped up working on scientific notation, which will be started next week.
That should cover everything, so I'm going to wrap things up here. If you have any questions or concerns throughout the year, please feel free to email. I hope everyone has an amazing long holiday weekend!