SOLs Covered: 7.NS.1 Powers of Ten & Scientific Notation; 7.NS.2 Comparing & Ordering Rational Numbers
Math Topic: 02 Powers of Ten & Scientific Notation; 03 Compare & Order Rational Numbers
Daily Agenda: September 15-19, 2025
Upcoming Assessments: Topic 3 Formative (parts completed throughout week of 9/22); Unit 2 Rational Numbers Summative (Wed. 10/1)
Good afternoon! It's been a slightly jumbled week with our first big summative taking place on Monday, but between some students needing extra time, absences, and students being pulled for a variety of reasons, testing has carried over here and there throughout the week. Additionally, due to some school/grade-level policies, I am unable to continue the second-attempts in the same manner I did last year, but I have worked it out that students can complete an error analysis to correct their work and then reopen the quiz so they can try the missed items again.
We've spent at least part of class the rest of the week working on corrections with Mrs. Randall and I helping/reteaching the Unit 1 concepts as needed. For many kids, the think that tripped them up is how the county set up some of the questions; several were worth multiple points and some of those were "all or nothing" questions, meaning that if they missed part, the whole thing was counted wrong. Additionally, some of the issues were more formatting issues than actual math errors, so I've sat with each student as they completed those questions for their second attempt to walk them through that side. They're still responsible for doing the math on their own, but I don't ever want them to suffer academically for something as small as a formatting issue. We'll continue this process throughout the year.
For the remaining time, we've worked on reviewing integers as the start of our rational numbers unit. Students will have to compare and order various rational numbers, something that isn't completely new to them but with some additions. They will need to be able to use multiple strategies (e.g. benchmarks, number line, equivalency) to compare and order rational numbers expressed as integers, fractions (proper and improper), mixed numbers, decimals, and percents. The fractions, mixed numbers, and decimals can be positive or negative (the negative is always a bit tricky for them).
They also need to be able to justify their solutions orally, in writing, and with a model. As I've told the students, it's unclear what format the "in writing" part might look like on the SOL test, so we're doing more practice with reading and writing skills in math. While we've always done some practice, particularly picking apart word problems (a.k.a. story problems) and I've personally had some related books that get read for certain units (ex. the Sir Cumference book series for some of our geometry work), Carver has a school-wide reading goal to incorporate different reading strategies in all the subjects, which will also lend itself to improved writing. As a result, I found an article from Scholastic Math (Generation Who?) that we could use both to suit the purposes of the goal as well as do a bit of work with percentages. I'm also hopeful that they'll stop calling everyone a "Boomer" when they're most definitely not part of that generation.
This unit will carry over into the next two weeks, practicing with the various number types as well as looking at them in contextual situations (a.k.a. word problems). Monday's work will get slightly disrupted again due to school pictures taking place during math classes, but I'm in the middle of making adjustments to work around that.
Well that should more than cover everything and I've got copies I need to go make, so I'll close things out here. As always, please feel free to reach out if you have any questions. Hope you all have an amazing weekend!