Thursday, October 15, 2015

Week of October 19-23, 2015

Honors Math:

Thank you for all the hard work you put into my class and how great you are every single day! I love being your teacher!

This week we will continue to work on adding integers with the same/different signs. Remember our adding integers song! :)

We will also begin subtracting/ multiplying/ dividing integers. Remember these are your foundation rules into the algebra world I told you about. Keep on practicing every day and I promise everything will run smoothly! Remember to know your multiplication tables by heart too!

Our District Benchmark #1 is around the corner so make sure to stay alert in class so that you don't miss out.

Example:

Problem:	The highest elevation in North America is Mt. McKinley, which is 20,320 feet above sea level. The lowest elevation is Death Valley, which is 282 feet below sea level. What is the difference between these two elevations?

Solution:	When solving problems with large integers, it is not always practical to rely on the number line. Using integer arithmetic this problem becomes: ⁺20,320 - ^-282 = ?

	We need a rule for subtracting integers in order to solve this problem.
	Rule: To subtract an integer, add its opposite.
	The opposite of ^-282 is ⁺282, so we get: ⁺20,320 - ^-282 = ⁺20,320 + ⁺282 = ⁺20,602

In the above problem, we added the opposite of the second integer and subtraction was transformed into addition. Let's look at some simpler examples of subtracting integers.

Geometric Construction:

You guys have been doing great with the STEM projects. I am very proud of you for building pre-engineering skills. This week we will begin working with art geometric tessellations!

Reminders:

October 26- Anti-Bullying Presentation at Paco Zarate Auditorium
October 28- "Spooktacular" Ac2E-MS Fall Festival- Homeroom please bring in one small cake for our cake walk.

October 30- Ac2E-MS Peter Piper Pizza Lock-In 12-6 AM. $25 Fee.

Tuesday, November 10- Math DBM#1

Try your best not to be absent! MIT has been doing a wonderful job, Keep it up guys!

PICTURES INCLUDE STUDENTS WORKING ON DIVIDING DECIMALS PYRAMID PUZZLE, WORKING WITH INTEGER COUNTERS, AND STUDENTS WORKING ON THEIR SPAGHETTI TOWER CHALLENGE STEM ACTIVITY.

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Week of October 12-16, 2015

HONORS MATH

THIS WEEK IN MATH CLASS WE WILL CONTINUE TO PRACTICE DIVIDING DECIMALS. WE WILL ALSO BEGIN TO WORK WITH ADDING INTEGERS WITH SAME SIGN AND ADDING INTEGERS WITH DIFFERENT SIGNS. IF TIME PERMITS WE WILL ALSO BEGIN TO SUBTRACT INTEGERS.

REMEMBER TO GO OVER YOUR NOTES ON A DAILY BASIS AND ALWAYS ASK QUESTIONS WHEN IN DOUBT. THANK YOU TO THOSE OF YOU THAT COME SEE ME FOR EXTRA PRACTICE DURING LUNCH.

STUDENTS GO OVER THIS JUMP START MINI- LESSON TO BE READY FOR OUR INTEGERS MATH LESSON:

For example: 2 + 6

Start at 2 and move 6 units to the right.

Since you stopped at 8, the answer is 8

Notice that you would get the same answer if you start at 6 and move 2 units to the right.

Find -2 + 8:

Start at 2 and move 8 units to the right.

Since you end up at 6, the answer is 6.

Find 4 + -7

Start at 4.

Here the number you are adding to 4 is a negative number(-7), so you have to move 7 units to the left.

After you do that, you will end up at -3, so the answer is -3

Find -2 + -6

Start at -2

Once again, the number you are adding is a negative number(-6), so you will move 6 units to the left.

You will end up at -8, so the answer is -8.

GEOMETRIC CONSTRUCTION:

WE WILL BE TESTING DIFFERENT TOWER STRUCTURES THIS WEEK. REMEMBER ENGINEERS ALWAYS WORK TOGETHER AND DECIDE WHICH IS THE BEST SUPPORT FOR THEIR TOWERS IN ORDER FOR IT TO BE SAFE. TEAMWORK IS KEY IN THE ENGINEERING WORLD. YOU GUYS DID A TERRIFIC JOB LAST WEEK BRAINSTORMING DIFFERENT WAYS TO BUILD YOUR TOOTHPICK TOWERS AND I LOVED HOW YOU TESTED DIFFERENT KIND OF SUPPORTS FOR YOUR MINI-TOWERS.

REMINDERS:

REPORT CARD PICK UP NIGHT AT PETER PIPER PIZZA- MONDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2015

PETER PIPER LOCK IN- FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2015- FEE: $25

WEAR ORANGE ON WEDNESDAYS IN SUPPORT OF ANTI-BULLYING MONTH FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER.

WEAR PINK ON FRIDAYS FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER IN SUPPORT OF BREAST CANCER AWARENESS.

TRY YOUR BEST NOT TO BE ABSENT FROM SCHOOL.

EXCEL AT EVERYTHING YOU DO NO MATTER WHAT KIDS! :)

PICTURES INCLUDE STUDENTS WORKING ON THEIR TOOTHPICK AND MARSHMALLOW TOWERS.

Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Week of October 5-9, 2015

Welcome to the 2nd Six Weeks Mighty Falcons!!!

I am very proud of each of you guys and I see you are slowly adapting to responsibility and are maturing each and every day. Remember college is around the corner and we want you to be 100% ready for when you go to the university of your choice. Grades and attitude will always reflect on you anywhere you go.

This week we will begin to multiply and divide decimals. Make sure you are 100% attentive and to ask questions when in doubt.

Geometric Construction:
We will begin our civil engineering earthquake test project with marshmallows and toothpicks!

Using simple, everyday materials, marshmallows and toothpicks, students can build marshmallow structures. They practice math skills by adding together materials used to get the total number. This product offers background information to set the stage for this science and math project - we will talk about plate tectonics, earthquakes and why they occur, etc. Through this project, the students will learn about earthquakes and seismic testing of buildings.

Reminders:
HESTEC IS THIS THURSDAY!!!

DON'T BE ABSENT!

BE THE BEST YOU CAN BE!

Friday, September 25, 2015

Week of September 28-October 2, 2015

DEAR AWESOME STUDENTS,

HONORS MATH:

I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW FAST TIME IS FLYING! IT IS NOW TESTING WEEK AND I TRUST EVERYONE WILL DO FINE IF YOU CONTINUE PRACTICING YOUR MATH EVERY DAY. GO OVER YOUR INTERACTIVE NOTEBOOKS BECAUSE ALL THE NOTES AND INFORMATION WILL BE PART OF OUR TEST.

1ST SIX WEEKS TEST WILL INCLUDE EVERY LESSON WE HAVE DONE SO FAR. REMEMBER TO KNOW YOUR MULTIPLICATION FACTS BY HEART TO MAKE MATH BETTER AND EASIER EVERYDAY. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE GUYS.

THIS WEEK IN CLASS WE WILL CONTINUE TO DIVIDE FRACTIONS AND MIXED NUMBERS. WE WILL HAVE A REVIEW ON WEDNESDAY TO BE READY FOR THURSDAY'S SIX WEEKS TEST. REMEMBER I AM AVAILABLE DURING LUNCH FOR EXTRA HELP AND MY HELP CENTER IS OPEN ON A DAILY BASIS AKA THE MACARONI TABLE.

GEOMETRIC CONSTRUCTION:

WE WILL BEGIN WORKING ON "MY CITY PROJECT." YOU WILL BE ABLE TO DESIGN YOUR OWN CITY USING GEOMETRIC PROPERTIES AND WILL HAVE TO INCLUDE ALL THE CRITERIA REQUIRED IN ORDER TO EARN AN A.YOU MUST ALSO GO OVER PARALLEL AND PERPENDICULAR LINES. BE CREATIVE AND HAVE FUN!

PICTURES BELOW INCLUDE STUDENTS PLAYING "SPIN AND MULTIPLY," WHERE STUDENTS SPUN A PAPER CLIP AND MULTIPLIED FRACTIONS WITH THEIR LUCKY FACTORS. PICTURES ALSO INCLUDE STUDENTS PLAYING "ZAP," WHERE STUDENTS HAD TO DRAW STRIPS FROM A ZIP LOCK BAG AND IF ZAPPED THAT MEANS THEY MUST RETURN ALL THEIR WINNING STRIPS BACK. THIS LESSON HELPED THEM WITH FRACTIONS AND THEY HAD A LOT OF FUN DOING SO, THEY EVEN ASKED TO PLAY AGAIN :)

GEOMETRIC CONSTRUCTION PICTURES INCLUDE STUDENTS FINDING THE AREA OF CIRCLES BY MEASURING DIFFERENT EDIBLE TREATS.

Friday, September 18, 2015

Week of September 21-25, 2015

Honors Math:

Dear Falcons,

I am very proud of you guys for working hard and trying your very best every day. Many of you were very proud of your progress report grades but remember our goal is to always pick up our grades no matter what, even if you have a 99 average.

This week in our class we will continue to work with multiplying fractions and mixed fractions. We will also begin to work on dividing fractions and mixed fractions. Remember to always go over your notes and continue to ask questions when you're in doubt. Remember our strategies and continue to think about fractions in your daily lives. Remember all the real world scenarios we learned on fractions.

Geometric Construction:
We will be working with area and circumference of circles. Make sure you have completed your activity with the yarn around circles in our classroom.

Reminders:
1st Six Weeks Test are coming up so be prepared.

Congratulations to my homeroom for having 100% attendance all week long!!!

Work hard no matter what.

Thursday, September 10, 2015

Week of September 14-18, 2015

Honors Math:

Mighty Falcons,

I am a very proud teacher because many of you have proven that you are hard workers and are capable of earning an A+ on the 3rd Week test for Six Weeks 1. Hard work will always pay off no matter what. Continue to work harder every single day Falcons!

This week we will be learning how to multiply and divide fractions/mixed fractions. Stay alert because Six Weeks Exams are right around the corner.

Geometric Construction:

We have began working with circumference of circles and will soon be learning about the area of a circle. We will also be working on your Patriot's Pen Essays this week so try your very best and write your hearts out!

Reminders:

Progress Reports will be out this week.

Homeroom MIT--start bringing in $15 for MIT shirts.

Try your very best every single day!

THE FOLLOWING PICTURES INCLUDE MY HONORS MATH CLASS WORKING ON ABSOLUTE VALUE TASK CARDS AND MY GEOMETRIC CLASS PLAYING A TRIANGLE PROPERTIES GAME WITH DICE AND WORKING ON FINDING THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF A CIRCLE WITH YARN AND A YARDSTICK.

Thursday, September 3, 2015

MIGHTY MATHEMATICIANS!

WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 7-11, 2015

DEAR MIGHTY FALCONS,

I FEEL MORE FAMILIAR WITH YOU KIDS NOW AND I LOVE HOW WELL YOU WORK INDEPENDENTLY AND I ALSO NOTICED YOU ARE VERY MATURE WHEN WORKING IN GROUPS TOO! YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME PROBLEM SOLVERS AND MATHEMATICIANS KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!

THIS WEEK WE WILL BEGIN CLASSIFYING RATIONAL NUMBERS, IDENTIFYING OPPOSITES AND ABSOLUTE VALUE OF RATIONAL NUMBERS, AND COMPARING AND ORDERING RATIONAL NUMBERS. REMEMBER WE ARE A TEAM AND ARE HERE TO LEARN TOGETHER.

NOTE: WE WILL BE HAVING A SHORT 3RD WEEK ASSESSMENT THIS WEEK SO MAKE SURE YOU CONTINUE TO GO OVER YOUR MATH INTERACTIVE NOTEBOOKS. ALSO, MAKE SURE YOUR PARENTS SIGN THE WEEKLY LOG EVERY THURSDAY AND GO OVER THE WORK WITH THEM FOR EXTRA PRACTICE. REMEMBER TO "TEACH" THEM WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED IN MATH CLASS AND ASK THEM QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LESSON JUST LIKE I DO IN CLASS :) THIS WILL HELP YOU GET BETTER IN CLASS!

Rational Numbers

A Rational Number is a real number that can be written as a simple fraction (i.e. as a ratio).

Example:

1.5 is a rational number because 1.5 = 3/2 (it can be written as a fraction)

Here are some more examples:

Number	As a Fraction	Rational?
5	5/1	Yes
1.75	7/4	Yes
.001	1/1000	Yes
-0.1	-1/10	Yes
0.111...	1/9	Yes
√2 (square root of 2)	?	NO !

Oops! The square root of 2 cannot be written as a simple fraction! And there are many more such numbers, and because they are not rational they are called Irrational.

Another famous irrational number is Pi (π):