6/3/11 -
THE FINAL STRETCH!
We are entering the countdown for the school year, and this will likely be my last entry for the year.
This week is an exciting one for our 8th graders - we go to Mt. Hebron on Wednesday to get a tour
and a feel for what next year will be like, and then on Thursday we go to Gettysburg to wrap up their
study of the Civil War. (They'll start back on that timeline in 9th grade to learn the rest of US history!)
In math classes, we'll use the remaining time during the week to close out our final topics - a review
of Algebra for Geometry students, and Graphing lines for Pre-Algebra. All of my classes will be
reviewing for their quarterlies/final exams at the end of that week. Geometry will begin their Final
exam with the constructed response portion on 6/13, and everyone will be with their testing proctors
the rest of that week completing all their quarterlies.
Look for the review packets to come home with students on 6/14, so they can study for the math
exam on 6/16. In addition to this, Geometry students have a review packet that went out several
weeks ago, and will get a constructed response review on 6/10.
It has been a truly wonderful year, and I've enjoyed each and every day with my students this year.
Thank you so much to parents who let me borrow them for 180 days!
5/27/11
I hope everyone enjoys their long weekend- the final stretch of the school year is upon us. We are
finishing up in all my classes this week, and looking towards the quarterlies in two short weeks.
Geometry will conclude our 3-D unit this week with a Unit test on 5/31, and then we spend the
remainder of the year reviewing Algebra I topics. I'll stretch them a bit by bringing in some work
from an Algebra II textbook.
Pre-Algebra will also complete their final unit and take a test on Tuesday. After that we will focus on
graphing lines, with quiz on that next week.
Check the calendar for the schedule of quarterlies/final exams. Math exams will be on 6/16, the last
day of testing.
5/13/11
Unlucky day notwithstanding, we are making excellent progress in 4th quarter. In Geometry, we've
finished our study of Trigonometry (but not left it behind) and have begun our investigation of
surface area of 3-D shapes. We'll continue with volume of those shapes, and next week we'll discuver
what a FRUSTRUM is (and how to find its' volume)! Pre-Algebra has spent the week solving some
Algebra I-level equations, and will be moving on to inequalities this week. Keep an eye on my
Calendar to keep track of dates for upcoming quizzes and tests. We are nearing the end, and need to
keep our focus! Mt. Hebron awaits :) ...
5/6/11
The year continues to wind down, but we still have much to do! Geometry will be finishing up our
exploration of Trig this week, with a quiz on Wednesday on Laws of Sine and Cosine. We'll begin
Surface Area this week. Pre-Algebra classes are busy solving Algebra I level equations, and will take
a quiz on that topic on Tuesday. The remainder of this short week will be spent manipulating
equations with multiple variables to solve for one. This will lead us into slope-intercept form of lines
and graphing by the end of the year.
4/29/11
Trigonometry is AWESOME!
My Geometry classes are having a terrific time working with trigonometry ratios, and learning about
three new keys on their fancy calculators. We will have a quiz on Trig ratios on Weds., 5/4, and will
end the week with the Laws of Sines & Cosines that apply to all triangles.
Pre-Algebra classes will take a unit test this week, also on 5/4, and will then dive into solving
complex equations that we've not seen before. This is really the meat of the Algebra I content, and
we are ready to get our hands dirty and do some hard work. Hard to believe we only have four weeks
until Memorial Day - isn't there still snow on the ground?
4/15/11
GEOMETRY TESTS!!!
We struggled on the Geometry test today. We will have a long week to think about the scores, but my
biggest concern is that students didn't demonstrate their mastery of the material. I think a large part
of this struggle is an on-going Algebra issue. I cannot stress enough that if your child is struggling
with the Algebra they are seeing in my class, they absolutely should take some sort of Algebra review
over the summer. In the meantime, I will be sending the tests home with students after we get back
from break, reviewing them in class, and any student who received a C/D/E will have the opportunity
to re-do the problems they got incorrect. For each problem they correctly solve and turn back in to
me, I will add one point to their overall score. This will help boost some grades, but more
importantly, allow students to demonstrate mastery.
In the meantime - please take a deep breath and enjoy the break!
Deep in the snows of winter, it seemed like Spring Break would NEVER arrive. We've worked hard in
the lead-up to this week, so all my students will be taking a well-deserved break from school this
week. Be sure that you come back refreshed and ready to end the year strong! If you've got missing
work, the break is an excellent time to catch up...
An email was recently sent home to all my students reminding them to start thinking about how they
are going to stay sharp over the summer. The HCPSS math office offers summer workbooks for FREE
that can be downloaded from the school website, or a request for a hard copy can be submitted to
me prior to May 1st. I also recommend the Summer Skills books that can be purchased on-line. I
use them with my own children. A link to the website for ordering them is located on the "Links"
page to the left.
Enjoy your break!
4/8/11
The start of 4th quarter has been an interesting one - the frequent interruptions for the Science MSAs
have led some of my students to feel like they are falling behind. Many of them have taken advantage
of
my availability during lunch to come and ask for extra help, and I encourage others to do the same. I
plan on being available during lunch all next week before Spring Break. Geometry will be ending the
week with a unit test on right triangles and circles, and Pre-Algebra will be quizzed on rational
numbers, order of operations, and evaluating expressions. Don't wait until a quiz or test is on your
desk
to ask for help!
4/1/11 -
Third quarter is, unbelievably, OVER! Fourth quarter will, I'm sure, feel like a whirlwind. Geometry
will
start this quarter discussing polygons, circles, and trigonometry. There will be a unit test on the first
two topics before we go to spring break on the 16th. We will start Trig immediately after we get back
from break.
Pre-Algebra in the fourth quarter revisits some of the 2nd quarter objectives, but this time with a
vengeance! It will feel very much like the first quarter of what they will see in Algebra I next year.
Our
first week is a review of rational numbers, reminding students about adding, subtracting, multiplying
and dividing fractions, decimals, and integers.
3/25/11 -
Testing season is still with us - isn't that what the month of March is all about? Science MSAs begin
next week - I wish all my students good luck on them. Because of all the orchestra/band/music
adjudications that are also taking place, there is no Science MSA on 3/30/11. I've decided to use that
window to give my math classes their quarterly assessment. Since we just finished MSAs, these will
not have any constructed response questions, and should provide an opportunity, particularly
Geometry students, to see how the material will be formatted for the Final Exam in June.
Since the music assessments also entail late nights, please rest assured that any student participating
in those important activities will be able to turn in any homework assignments the day after they are
due. Break a leg!