September 5
It was great to see so many of you last night!
Today we worked on spirolaterals, but did not do Activity 1. I would prefer to save the academic work until next week, as it is possible there will be a day or two without school due to Ike. Students will need a review when they return.
Students were given a rubric to show them what I will be looking for when they turn in their spirolateral packets (tentatively the end of next week). We went over the remaining concepts in the packet so that students would have enough information to know how to complete the activities. If school has to be canceled at all next week, give them graph paper and colored pencils or markers, and they will have interesting activities to keep them occupied!
As I told you last night, I have added a link for the Pinnacle Parent Viewer site to the bottom of this page. Your user name is your child's student number (which can be found on your child's schedule). The password is your child's birth date in the form YYYYMMDD. For example, if your child's birth date is April 20, 1997, use 19970420.
I will be adding more information this weekend about our plans for next week. Meanwhile, stay safe!
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SEPTEMBER 3 UPDATE
Change in plans.....
Today we did Activity Sheets 35 and 36 instead of doing Lesson 1-2. I will teach the new lesson tomorrow and we will work on the assignment in class. Hopefully, students will have ample time to do their homework in class. Friday, we will review the lesson and do Activity Sheet 1. We will also work on spirolaterals.
I am looking forward to seeing you tomorrow night at Open House.
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WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 1, 2008
Monday is a holiday.
Tuesday, 9/2 and Thursday, 9/4 are "Even" days.
Wednesday, 9/3 and Friday, 9/5 are "Odd" days.
OPEN HOUSE IS THURSDAY, 9/4 FROM 6:15-8:15. Due to the construction and Nova/Davie Community School classes, parking spots will be at a premium. Please arrive early to secure one. I'm looking forward to meeting all of you.
By now your child has probably shown you a spirolateral. These are spiraling designs drawn on a coordinate plane according to a sequence of numbers. Essentially, they are complex mathematical concepts disguised as art! Students were excited when we began these enhancement units last week. We will continue working in the spirolateral packets as we begin our textbook work this week. The packets and the designs made, as well as a quiz on the concepts taught in the packet, will be part of their Enhancement ("Intensive Math") grades.
I will be recording the scores of the two diagnostic tests students took last week on Pinnacle today. We are required to give these tests; the data they provide is very helpful. An item analysis tells me which skills need extra reinforcement or background preparation before program objectives are taught.
Please understand that these scores are strictly diagnostic; THEY DO NOT COUNT AS PART OF YOUR CHILD'S GRADE. It is also important that you do not read too much into their results. Students are not expected to do well on them (the average score was about 50%). Some students do score well, but high scores are not necessary in order to be successful in this class. They are also not necessarily an indication that a child will do well in the program, as solid work habits and desire produce more success than innate ability. The same tests are taken in May, when the scores do count, and most students do very well.
PLANS FOR THE WEEK OF 9/1:
TUESDAY, 9/2
Review: Spirolateral classifications
Warm-Up: Spirolateral packet #6-9 (The Dimension
Rules)
Distribute Study Guides and Study Guide Directions
Notes and do Lesson 1-1 (Variables and Expressions)
(This is due Wednesday; see Study Guide for
specific assignment and directions.)
WEDNESDAY, 9/3
Warm-Up: Activity Sheet 35 (Algebraic Expressions)
Check for completion/Review: 1-1 assignment
Notes and do Lesson 1-2 (Order of Operations)
(This is due Thursday; see Study Guide for specific
assignment and directions.)
THURSDAY, 9/4
Warm-Up: Activity Sheet 1 (Order of Operations)
Check for completion/Review: AS 35, 1-2 assignment
Spirolateral packet:
Order Rules
#s 10-12
Introduction to Modular Math Systems
No specific homework due to Open House
FRIDAY, 9/5
Warm-Up: Activity Sheet 2 (Order of Operations)
Check for completion/Review: AS 1, Spirolaterals
Notes and do: Lesson 1-3 (Evaluating Expressions)
(This is due Monday; see Study Guide for specific
assignment and directions.)
Monday, 8/25 and Thursday, 8/28 are "Even" days. Wednesday, 8/27 and Friday, 8/29 are "Odd" days.
Tuesday, 8/26 is a Teacher Planning Day. Monday, 9/1 is Labor Day (no school).
If you have not already read the "Welcome Letter" I sent home on Thursday, please do so as soon as possible and return the last page to me.
Don't forget to purchase your Dolphin game tickets. All of the funds raised by this project will benefit our students. Best of all, after Saturday night, it appears that the Dolphins are actually going to be worth watching this year!
Thanks to Tropical Storm Fay, we didn't get a lot accomplished last week, but we did take care of some of the general preliminary activities, including setting up our notebooks. This week we will be interrupted for mandatory fire and tornado drills, as well as grade level assemblies, so we might not get too deeply embedded in our curriculum until next week.
Plans for this week include two diagnostic tests. Although the results of these tests will not be used to determine student grades, they will provide me with data concerning the strengths and weaknesses of my students so that I can plan instruction and activities accordingly. The results will be posted on Pinnacle no later than next weekend.
Textbooks will be distributed this week, and we will be examining their features so that we can take full advantage of their contents and related sites.
Students will be given their first opportunities to see how our "Math by Design" worksheets are done, as these will be assigned for when they finish their diagnostic tests.
NOTE: If I actually distribute study guide packets and make an assignment this week other than the design worksheets, I will notify you here. Expect more detailed lesson plans beginning next week.
Welcome to Nova Middle School! I can't wait to meet all of you! Here is a list of supplies for our math classes. You will need to bring your math binder to class every day.
SUPPLIES FOR GEM AND GEM INTENSIVE MATH CLASSES
1) One three ring binder (I recommend a 1 or 1 1/2 inch “slant ring” or “D -ring” binder, as these hold more than traditional binders.)
OR....if you tend to throw things into your backpack and then are unable to find or recognize them, you may prefer to use a spiral notebook with at least two pockets.
2) Dividers (pack of 5)
3) Wide or college ruled notebook paper (white or any color)
4) Graph paper (plain) You will need this for our first unit of work.
5) Pencils (#2 or mechanical) and a good eraser
6) Set of colored pencils
7) Highlighter(s)
These things are not necessary, but you may wish to have them:
Spiral notebook (just for your notes)
Ruler (with both inches and centimeters)
Reinforcements (in case something tears out of your notebook)
Things you will need during the second half of the year:
Scientific calculator--preferably with a fraction (Ab/c) key
Protractor (compass is optional)
Classroom Wish List:
tissues hand sanitizer
I am looking forward to meeting all of you. Enjoy the rest of your vacation.
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