Friday, 12/18/15: Final Day of Semester 1

No formal homework is assigned over the break; however, our next lessons will be 7-1, 7-2, 7-3, and 7-4, on equations, from our textbook.  While the students have not yet been given the pages for these lessons, the lessons may be found online at my.hrw.com .

Best wishes to all of you for a wonderful holiday season!!

Thursday, 12/17/15: More with Two-Step Equations

Tonight's homework is from a photocopy (not the text pages), with p.81 at the bottom, showing numerous two-step equations.  Students are to do problems 18-24, including showing the steps.

Wednesday, 12/16/15: Reviewing Functions & Equations Homework

Parents, the semester ends this Friday, 12/18.  Students have been given the results of their Unit 2 test the day after completion, and have been given updated grade printouts at the same time.  The parent portal has been updated.  Please check it, or ask your student for the printed materials that they have received, to be aware of your student's present grade!

We have had quite a bit of housekeeping associated with the completion of the Unit 2 test, making sure that students exactly know what's going on with their grades, and the close of the semester this Friday.  As such, we've needed to clear up a two-assignment backlog before I assign any additional work.  We're almost clear at this point.  No formal work was assigned tonight, but students can be reviewing Lesson 7-1, on solving equations in one variable, online.  (They have not yet received their textbook pages for the new unit.)  I am assigning homework Thursday night, 12/17; by then we will be back to our normal routine.

Tuesday, 12/15/15: Correcting Functions and Equations Homework

Parents, the semester ends this Friday, 12/18.  Students have been given the results of their Unit 2 test, and have been given updated grade printouts.  The parent portal has been updated.  Please check it, or ask your student for the printed materials that they have received, to be aware of your student's present grade!

We have had quite a bit of housekeeping associated with the completion of the Unit 2 test, making sure that students exactly know what's going on with their grades, and the close of the semester this Friday.  As such, we've needed to clear up a two-assignment backlog before I assign any additional work.  No formal work was assigned tonight, but students can be reviewing Lesson 7-1, on equations in one variable, online.  (They have not yet received their textbook pages for the new unit.)

Monday, 12/14/15: Solving Two-Step Equations

Parents, the semester ends this Friday, 12/18.  Students were given the results of their Unit 2 test today (they finished last Friday), and they were given updated grade printouts.  The parent portal has been updated.  Please check it, or ask your student for the printed materials they received today, to be aware of your student's present grade!

We started Unit 3 today with solving two-step equations in one variable.  Tonight's worksheet is a photocopy, with p.81 printed at the bottom of the photocopy.  Students are to do problems 1-17 from the Written section of this photocopy for homework tonight.  (Note, this is not p.81 from the text.  Again, it is a photocopy.) They were taught this in seventh grade and we modeled several problems today, which they should have recorded in their homework spiral notebook (or loose leaf paper for tonight's assignment).

Friday, 12/11/15: Final Day of Unit 2 Test on Functions

Students completed the Unit 2 test today.  While no formal homework was assigned for this weekend, an extra-credit activity was made available.  It may be turned in as late as 12/18, and is worth 10 points on the homework part of the grade.

Thursday, 12/10/15: Day 2 of Unit 2 Test on Functions

Tonight's homework is from the thin green student workbook that students have in their possession.  They are to complete all of the problems on pages 35 & 36 of the workbook.  The problems are about recognizing which relations are functions.

Wednesday, 12/9/15: Day 1 of Unit 2 Test on Functions

No formal homework was assigned for tonight, as we are in the midst of testing.  I do plan to assign homework Thursday night.  The current test that students are working is on Modules 3, 4, 5, and 6.

Tuesday, 12/8/15: Final Day of Review, Unit 2 Test on Functions

Our Unit 2 test, on modules (short chapters) 3, 4, 5, and 6 is tomorrow, Wednesday, 12/9, and Thursday, 12/10.  While no formal homework is assigned, students should definitely be studying their practice test (25 very parallel test questions).  Additionally, remember the textbook resources (physical textbook pages and online at my.hrw.com ) for the modules above.

Monday, 12/7/15: Reviewing for Unit 2 Test on Functions

Our Unit 2 test, on modules (short chapters) 3, 4, 5, and 6 will be this Wednesday, 12/9, and Thursday, 12/10.  While no formal homework is assigned, students should definitely be studying their practice test (25 very parallel test questions).  Unfortunately, I am unavailable after school this week, and also have nutrition duty this week.  We are using our class time today, 12/7, and tomorrow, 12/8 to review, and I will have open help at lunch tomorrow, 12/8, for students with questions.

Friday, 12/4/15: Reviewing for Unit 2 Test on Functions

Tonight's homework is problems 17-25 of the practice Unit 2 test (that is, the remaining problems which haven't been assigned of that packet).

There is a major Unit 2 test on Modules (short chapters) 3,4, 5, & 6 coming up, which will be given Wednesday, 12/9, and Thursday, 12/10.  The review packet that the students now have is very parallel to what will be on next week's test..

Thursday, 12/3/15: Preparing for Unit 2 Test on Functions

Tonight's homework is problems 9-16 of the practice Unit 2 test.

There is a major Unit 2 test on Modules (short chapters) 3,4, 5, & 6 coming up, which will be given Wednesday, 12/9, and Thursday, 12/10.  The review packet that the students now have is very parallel to what will be on next week's test..

Wednesday, 12/2/15: Preparing for Unit 2 Test on Functions

I apologize for missing this post; I am posting it a day late.  The homework for Wednesday, 12/2/15 was problems 1-8 of the Unit 2 Practice Test, which I distributed to students that day.

There is a major Unit 2 test on Modules (short chapters) 3,4, 5 & 6 coming up, which will be given Wednesday, 12/9, and Thursday, 12/10.  The review packet that the students now have is very parallel to what will be on next week's test..

Tuesday, 12/1/15: Continuing Lesson 6.4, Interpreting Graphs

Tonight's homework is p.180 (16-80).

There is a major Unit 2 test on Modules (short chapters) 6, and 3,4, & 5 the week of 12/7.  On Friday, 11/20, I gave students a portion of our review material today to take home; students (and students with tutors) can be looking over this material.  (Again, for reference, the material is from the lessons in modules 3-6.)  A complete review packet will be given to students Wednesday, and I'll be assigning 8 or 9 problems from it daily now, and reviewing those problems the following day.

Monday, 11/30/15: Lesson 6.4, Interpreting Graphs

Tonight's homework is p.179 (8-10).

There is a major Unit 2 test on Modules (short chapters) 6, and 3,4, & 5 the week of 12/7.  On Friday, 11/20, I gave students a portion of our review material today to take home; students (and students with tutors) can be looking over this material.  (Again, for reference, the material is from the lessons in modules 3-6.)

Friday, 11/20/15: Reviewing Unit 1 Performance Task

No formal homework is assigned for the break, but please know that there is a major Unit 2 test on Modules (short chapters) 6, and 3,4, & 5 the week of 12/7.  I gave students a portion of our review material today to take home; students (and students with tutors) can be looking over this material during the break.  (Again, for reference, the material is from the lessons in modules 3-6.)

Wishing all of you a Happy Thanksgiving with family and friends.  I am thankful for this terrific educational community!

Thursday, 11/19/15: Reviewing Homework from Lesson 6-3, Comparing Linear Functions

Tonight's homework is p.172 (1-2).

Wednesday, 11/18/15: Lesson 6-3, Comparing Functions

Tonight's homework is p.173 (9-12).

Tuesday, 11/17/15: Reviewing Homework from Lesson 6-2, Characteristics of Functions

Tonight's homework is p.168, (11, 12, 15).  This is a "stretch" assignment, but students can think the problems through.  We will review solutions tomorrow and students with correct answers will get raffle tickets.

Monday, 11/16/15: Lesson 6-2, on Characteristics of Functions

Tonight's homework is from the textbook pages, p.166 (1-4).

Friday, 11/13/15: Reviewing Writing Linear Equations Work from Thursday

No formal homework is assigned for the weekend.  However:

We will have a major Unit 2 test the week of 12/7, primarily on Module 6, but also modules 3, 4, & 5.  Students should be studying / reviewing this material, including taking advantage of the resources online at my.hrw.com .  (Students have been given their log-in information.)

Thursday, 11/12/15: Practicing Writing Linear Equations Given Two Points

I was out for a district-level data analysis meeting today.

Today's classwork / homework assignment is a photocopy entitled "Writing Linear Equations."  Students need to complete all 20 problems, with their scratch work shown on separate notebook paper.  This is due tomorrow, 11/13.

Tuesday, 11/10/15: Lesson 6-1, on Functions

Tonight's homework is p.160 (1-6), due Thursday, 11/12.

Veterans, thank you for your service.  Wishing you a meaningful Veterans Day, as our nation expresses its gratitude to you.

Monday, 11/9/15: Finishing Unit 1 Test

Today, the majority of my students finished the Unit 1 test during class.  (Today was a non-instruction work day.)  Tonight's homework is from the thin green student workbook that students have, pages 33 & 34, all problems. 

Tomorrow we will be beginning Module 6, on functions.  Many students from our school's Instrumental Music Program will be performing at Disneyland that day.  For them, here is tomorrow's homework so that they can work on it in advance:  Tuesday's homework, due Thursday, 11/12, is p.160 from the text (1-6). 

Friday, Nov. 6: Unit 1 Test on Linear Functions

Tonight's homework is from the Unit 1 Test review packet that students have had since Thursday of last week:  problems 41-48.

Thursday, 11/5/15: Final Day of Review: Unit 1 Test on Linear Functions

Tonight's homework is to study for tomorrow's test.  I had students mark ten problems, from their practice packet of parallel problems, which are very similar to the ten actual test questions they will see tomorrow.  I also had them record some final study notes for tonight.

Wednesday, 11/4/15: Whiteboard Practice for Unit 1 Test

Tonight's homework is problems 31-40 from the packet of practice questions for our Unit 1 test, now this Friday, 11/6.

Tuesday, 11/3/15: Reviewing for Unit 1 Test on Linear Functions

The eighth grade teachers moved the Unit 1 test, on Modules, 3, 4, & 5 back to this Friday, 11/7.  The students have a review packet of similar problems.  Tonight's homework is problems 9-17 from that packet.

Friday, 10/30/15: Reviewing for Unit 1 Test on Linear Functions

Our next assessment is a traditional-type test, to be given on Nov. 4 & Nov. 5.  It will be on Modules (chapters) 3, 4, & 5.  For students working with tutors, the packet I distributed Thursday with numerous sample problems would be the focal point for practice.

The homework for this weekend is the Unit 1 Practice Test handout, problems (18-28, & 30).

Thursday, 10/29/15: Whiteboard Practice / Review

Our next assessment is a traditional-type test, to be given on Nov. 4 & Nov. 5.  It will be on Modules (chapters) 3, 4, & 5.  I had students record in the right margin of their assignment sheets the three pages which will serve as focal points in the process of preparing for this next test:  p. 91 (review of Module 3), p.123 (review of Module 4), and p.149 (review of Module 5).  The students definitely have p.149, having been given pages 125-150 on Tuesday.  Pages 91 & 123 are part of  just-completed Unit 1, which students may have either filed with me (we have a file box for Unit 1 for each period), or they still have at home.  (The idea is that students clean out their notebooks of their math work and file it, at the end of each major unit.  I will hold those folders for them, and return them several weeks before the standardized testing.)  If any student has pages 91 & 123 filed with me, I told them that they can retrieve their file folder until after this next test.  So to recap:  students can be working through / studying pages 91, 123, & 149.  For any students with tutors, these would be the pages I'd be working on.

Tonight's homework is the Unit 1 Practice Test, problems 1-8.  While students may mark up the practice test, they should be showing work on notebook paper.

Wednesday, 10/28/15: Reviewing Module 5 Homework on Writing Equations

Our next assessment is a traditional-type test, to be given on Nov. 4 & Nov. 5.  It will be on Modules (chapters) 3, 4, & 5.  I had students record in the right margin of their assignment sheets the three pages which will serve as focal points in the process of preparing for this next test:  p. 91 (review of Module 3), p.123 (review of Module 4), and p.149 (review of Module 5).  The students definitely have p.149, having been given pages 125-150 on Tuesday.  Pages 91 & 123 are part of  just-completed Unit 1, which students may have either filed with me (we have a file box for Unit 1 for each period), or they still have at home.  (The idea is that students clean out their notebooks of their math work and file it, at the end of each major unit.  I will hold those folders for them, and return them several weeks before the standardized testing.)  If any student has pages 91 & 123 filed with me, I told them that they can retrieve their file folder until after this next test.  So to recap:  students can be working through / studying pages 91, 123, & 149.  For any students with tutors, these would be the pages I'd be working on.

Last night's homework was p.149, a review of Module 5.  We had short periods today, because of Rewards Day.  We used today to review last night's homework.  No homework is formally assigned for tonight, but please see above.  Remember that students can also be practicing the problems for Modules 3,4, and 5 online at my.hrw.com.

Tuesday, 10/27/15: Lesson 5-3, Finding Linear Equations, Bivariate Data

Our next assessment is a traditional-type test, to be given on Nov. 4 & Nov. 5.  It will be on Modules (chapters) 3, 4, & 5.  I had students record in the right margin of their assignment sheets the three pages which will serve as focal points in the process of preparing for this next test:  p. 91 (review of Module 3), p.123 (review of Module 4), and p.149 (review of Module 5).  The students definitely have p.149, having been given pages 125-150 on Tuesday.  Pages 91 & 123 are part of  just-completed Unit 1, which students may have either filed with me (we have a file box for Unit 1 for each period), or they still have at home.  (The idea is that students clean out their notebooks of their math work and file it, at the end of each major unit.  I will hold those folders for them, and return them several weeks before the standardized testing.)  If any student has pages 91 & 123 filed with me, I told them that they can retrieve their file folder until after this next test.  So to recap:  students can be working through / studying pages 91, 123, & 149.  For any students with tutors, these would be the pages I'd be working on.

Tonight's homework is p.149 (1-6).

Monday, 10/26/15: Lesson 5-2, Writing Linear Equations from Graphs and Tables

Our next assessment is a traditional-type test, to be given on Nov. 4 & Nov. 5.  It will be on Modules (chapters) 3, 4, & 5.  I had students record in the right margin of their assignment sheets the three pages which will serve as focal points in the process of preparing for this next test:  p. 91 (review of Module 3), p.123 (review of Module 4), and p.149 (review of Module 5).  The students definitely have p.149, having been given pages 125-150 on Tuesday.  Pages 91 & 123 are part of  just-completed Unit 1, which students may have either filed with me (we have a file box for Unit 1 for each period), or they still have at home.  (The idea is that students clean out their notebooks of their math work and file it, at the end of each major unit.  I will hold those folders for them, and return them several weeks before the standardized testing.)  If any student has pages 91 & 123 filed with me, I told them that they can retrieve their file folder until after this next test.  So to recap:  students can be working through / studying pages 91, 123, & 149.  For any students with tutors, these would be the pages I'd be working on.

Tonight's homework is from the text, p.139 (8-11).

Thursday, 10/22/15: Continuing Lesson 5-1, on Writing Linear Equations

Our next assessment is a traditional-type test, to be given on Nov. 4 & Nov. 5.  It will be on Modules (chapters) 3, 4, & 5.  I had students record in the right margin of their assignment sheets the three pages which will serve as focal points in the process of preparing for this next test:  p. 91 (review of Module 3), p.123 (review of Module 4), and p.149 (review of Module 5).  The students definitely have p.149, having been given pages 125-150 on Tuesday.  Pages 91 & 123 are part of  just-completed Unit 1, which students may have either filed with me (we have a file box for Unit 1 for each period), or they still have at home.  (The idea is that students clean out their notebooks of their math work and file it, at the end of each major unit.  I will hold those folders for them, and return them several weeks before the standardized testing.)  If any student has pages 91 & 123 filed with me, I told them that they can retrieve their file folder until after this next test.  So to recap:  students can be working through / studying pages 91, 123, & 149.  For any students with tutors, these would be the pages I'd be working on.

Tonight's homework is from the thin green workbook that the students have:  it is p.29 & p.30, all problems.  It is a "stretch" homework assignment, meaning that it is challenging.  I still want students to try it to the best of their ability.  They may not be getting correct answers but I want them to work with each problem as best they can.  We will be reviewing it in class on Friday.  As long as I know that the student made an honest effort, the student will get full credit.

Wednesday, 10/21/15: Lesson 5-1, Writing Linear Equations

We were on an assembly schedule today, which meant that while I saw all of my classes today, we had shorter periods--except for Per.1, which lasted an hour.

In Per.1 we had a terrific opportunity to deeply work with the second half of Lesson 5-1 (we started it Tuesday), and we looked at completing the bottom part of p.133 (#'s 10 & 11).  Problem #11 is worth some extra credit points tonight.

Periods 3 & 4 were significantly shorter today, so we only got through a portion of Lesson 5-1, on writing linear equations.  This is a cornerstone skill, and I want to present this material carefully, without rushing.  I will be assigning homework Thursday night, but no homework was formally assigned tonight.

HOWEVER:  Our next assessment is a traditional-type test, to be given on Nov. 4 & Nov. 5.  It will be on Modules (chapters) 3, 4, & 5.  I had students record in the right margin of their assignment sheets the three pages which will serve as focal points in the process of preparing for this next test:  p. 91 (review of Module 3), p.123 (review of Module 4), and p.149 (review of Module 5).  The students definitely have p.149, having been given pages 125-150 on Tuesday.  Pages 91 & 123 are part of  just-completed Unit 1, which students may have either filed with me (we have a file box for Unit 1 for each period), or they still have at home.  (The idea is that students clean out their notebooks of their math work and file it, at the end of each major unit.  I will hold those folders for them, and return them several weeks before the standardized testing.)  If any student has pages 91 & 123 filed with me, I told them that they can retrieve their file folder until after this next test.  So to recap:  students can be working through / studying pages 91, 123, & 149.  For any students with tutors, these would be the pages I'd be working on.

Tuesday, 10/20/15: Lesson 5-1, on Writing Linear Functions

Tonight's homework is p.133 (5-9).  Students should try this to the best of their ability, but know that we will go over their homework tomorrow, in class.

Monday, 10/19/15: Transition Between Units 1 & 2

We finished Unit 1, on Real #'s and Proportional Relationships, last Friday, 10/16.  As students had been taking the district-wide Performance Task last Thursday and Friday, we had a backlog of homework needing correction & review built up.  We addressed that today.  Tuesday, we will be starting Lesson 5.1.  The students will get the pages for Module (chapter) 5 during class Tuesday, but the textbook is also available online (see below).

As we are catching up, I did not assign homework tonight.  However, I do plan to assign homework from Lesson 5-1 on Tuesday.  For anyone working with tutors, our current slate of new, upcoming lessons, is from Modules (chapters) 5, 6, & 7.  This week we are working on lessons 5-1, 5-2, etc.  Our second unit is on Functions and Linear Equations.  Please remember that there is an online version of the textbook, through my.hrw.com , and that your student should know his or her log-in information. 

Friday, 10/16/15: Day 2 of Unit 1 Performance Task

This weekend's homework is pages 123 and 124 from the textbook, all problems on the pages.  Students should have pages 123 & 124 in their possession.  If for some reason they do not, remember that there is an online version of the textbook at my.hrw.com .  Earlier this year, students were given their log-in information.

Thursday, 10/15/15: Day 1 of Unit 1 Performance Task

Students began taking their first performance task on the computers today.  No homework is assigned for tonight.  For families looking ahead, p.123 and p.124 of the textbook (all problems) will be assigned for homework over the weekend, due Monday.  Students should have pages 123 & 124 in their possession.  If for some reason they do not, remember that there is an online version of the textbook at my.hrw.com .   Earlier this year, students were given their log-in information.

Wednesday, 10/14/15: Final Day of Practice Before Performance Task

Tonight's homework is from the thin green workbook that the students have:  pages 19 & 20, all problems.

Tuesday, 10/13/15: Reviewing Homework

Our first performance task (first test) will be Thursday, 10/15 and Friday, 10/16.  It is primarily on operations with scientific notation, Lesson 2-4.  (The students have the pages for Lesson 2-4.)

Tonight's homework is from the thin green workbook that students have in their possession.  They are to do all of the problems on pages 22 and 23.

Monday, 10/12/15: Preparing for Performance Task

Our first performance task (first test) will be Thursday, 10/15 and Friday, 10/16.  It is primarily on operations with scientific notation, Lesson 2-4.  (The students have the pages for Lesson 2-4.)

Tonight's homework is from the thin green workbook that students have in their possession.  They are to do all of the problems on pages 26 and 27, except for #'s 5 & 6 on p.27.

Friday, 10/9/15: Preparing for Next Week's Performance Task

Sorry about the missed post yesterday.  I was out for a high school articulation meeting.

Our first performance task (first test) will be Thursday, 10/15 and Friday, 10/16.  It is primarily on operations with scientific notation, Lesson 2-4.  (The students have the pages for Lesson 2-4.)

No homework was assigned for the weekend; however, on Monday I will verify that the students completed yesterday's assignment, a photocopy entitled "5-4 Exercises," problems 13-36.

Wednesday, 10/7/15: Continuing to Strengthen Operations with Scientific Notation

Our first performance task is now the week of Oct. 12.  It is primarily on operations with scientific notation, Lesson 2-4.  (The students have the pages for Lesson 2-4.)  We are now reviewing for this performance task, having worked on the necessary prerequisite skills of operations with scientific notation.

No homework was assigned for tonight; it would be counterproductive.  I continue to need to use our class time wisely.

Tuesday, 10/6/15: Continuing to Strengthen Operations with Scientific Notation

Our first performance task is now the week of Oct. 12.  It is primarily on operations with scientific notation, Lesson 2-4.  (The students have the pages for Lesson 2-4.) 

Tonight's homework is a third worksheet on scientific notation.  It is labeled worksheet #3.  Students are assigned problems 1-8 for tonight.

Monday, 10/5/15: Strengthening Operations with Scientific Notation

Our first performance task is now the week of Oct. 12.  It is primarily on operations with scientific notation, Lesson 2-4.  (The students have the pages for Lesson 2-4.) 

Tonight's homework is a second worksheet on scientific notation.  I told the students to label it worksheet #2.  Students should try problems 1-8.  If they have difficulty with it, know that I will be reviewing it in class tomorrow.  (This is Lesson 2-4 of the textbook.)

Friday, 10/2/15: Reviewing Operations with Scientific Notation

Our first performance task is now the week of Oct. 12.  It is primarily on operations with scientific notation, Lesson 2-4.  (The students have the pages for Lesson 2-4.)  We are spending our class time getting students stronger with scientific notation, and working on operations with scientific notation.

Tonight's homework is a photocopy that I gave to students today, with scientific notation problems.  Students are to do problems 13-28 of this photocopy.

Thursday, 10/1/15: Reviewing Lesson 2-4, Operations with Scientific Notation

We have our first major test, a performance task, on October 8 & 9 next week.  It is primarily on operations with scientific notation, Lesson 2-4.  (The students have the pages for Lesson 2-4.)  We are spending our class time getting students stronger with scientific notation, and working on operations with scientific notation.

Tonight's homework is from page 13 of the thin workbook that students have, problems 1-8.  Scratch work needs to be shown on notebook paper.

Wednesday, 9/30/15: Lesson 7-3, Inverse Functions

No homework was assigned tonight; I needed the whole period to present this material well.  Thursday's homework will be p.239 (8-10).

9/30/15: Whiteboard Practice with Scientific Notation

We are strengthening student understanding of operations with scientific notation.  I need students powerful with this, and I needed every minute of class time.  We quickly corrected last night's homework and then practiced the scientific notation.  No homework was assigned tonight, but you can expect homework Thursday evening.

Tuesday, 9/29/15: Lesson 4-4, Proportional vs. Nonproportional Relationships

Tonight's homework is p.119 (1-4).

Monday, 9/28/15: Checking / Review of Recent Homework

No homework was assigned tonight.  I need the full period tomorrow.

Thursday, Lesson 9/24/15: Lesson 4-3, Graphing Using the Slope-Intercept Form of a Linear Equation

Tonight's homework is p.112-113 (1-3, 5).

Wednesday, 9/23/15: Lesson 4-2, on Slope (Rate of Change) and Y-Intercept (Starting Value)

Tonight's homework is p. 106 (1-6).

Tuesday, 9/22/15 Practicing Graphing Using Slope-Intercept Form of a Linear Equation

Tonight's homework is from a photocopy I've distributed to the students:  it is Section 5-1 on top and the problems are #'s 1-20.  It is on powers; students should expand the powers (write all of the individual factors, or numbers in the multiplication problem) and simplify them.

Monday, 9/21/15: Lesson 4-1, Representing Linear Non-Proportional Relationships

Tonight's homework is p.100 (1-5).

Friday, 9/18/15: Finishing Lesson 3.3 on Slope and Unit Rate

Tonight's homework is p. 89-90 (7-12).  Students, you should be able to do 7-10.  If you need to, review the examples in the section and / or log-in to your textbook resources at my.hrw.com .  Please take problems 11 & 12 as a challenge to play with--see what you can come up with, and we'll discuss these Monday.

Thursday, 9/17/15: Lesson 3.3, on Interpreting Unit Rate as Slope

Tonight's homework is p.82 (7&8) and p.88 (1-2).

9/16/15: Lessons 3.2 & 3.3: Rate of Change, Slope, Unit Rate

All of the three concepts in the title above are tied together--basically the same.  (Unit rate always has a denominator of 1.)

We are completing Lessons 3.2 and 3.3 by this Friday.  The outcome is that students can find the slope (rate of change or unit rate) off of a graph, off of a table, and off an equation.  Because this is heavy-duty material, I wanted to use today's class time to present the foundations well.  Homework would be counter-productive tonight; no homework was assigned tonight.  You can expect it to resume Thursday night (tomorrow).

Tuesday, 9/15/15: Quiz 1-2, on Powers and Scientific Notation

Students took Quiz 1-2 today in class.  Tonight's homework is p.28 (1-3).  NOTE:  While they have the background skills, students may have difficulty with the problems tonight.  That is why I only picked three.  I want them to "play" with the problems the way one would attempt to solve a puzzle, and see what they can get correct on their own.  We will review this tomorrow in class.  The reason that I am doing this is that students will need to be independent during the standardized testing.  There is growth-value in this assignment.  While I do want students to look at every part of this assignment and work with it, I don't want students to take any more time than about 30 minutes, maximum, on this assignment.   Nor do I want them stressed.  Again, we will look at it in class Wednesday.

Monday, 9/14/15: Review for Quiz 1-2, on Powers and Scientific Notation

Our next quiz is tomorrow, Tuesday, 9/15, on Lessons 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, and 2.4, on powers and scientific notation.  We used today to review the weekend's homework, a parallel practice quiz.  Between last Friday and today, we worked through every problem.  Since we don't have a second practice quiz for practice tonight, I gave students a second copy of the existing practice quiz.  Students should practice it a second time for homework tonight.  Since we went through every problem, they should already know the answers and key scratch work.

I will be in my classroom at 7:35 a.m. tomorrow, for any last questions before tomorrow's quiz.

Friday, 9/11/15: Preparing for Tuesday's Quiz on Exponents and Scientific Notation

Tonight's homework is the practice version of Quiz 1-2.

Our next quiz is Tuesday of next week, 9/15, and it is on Lessons 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, and 2.4 (exponents and scientific notation).

Thursday, 9/10/15: Lesson 3.2, on Rate of Change and Slope--Part 1

Tonight's homework is p.82 (1-6).

Our next quiz is Tuesday of next week, 9/15, and it is on Lessons 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, and 2.4 (exponents and scientific notation).

Wednesday, 9/9/15: Lesson 3.1, on Representing Proportional Relationships

Tonight's homework is p.76 (1-5).

Our next quiz is Tuesday of next week, 9/15, and it is on Lessons 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, and 2.4 (exponents and scientific notation).

9/8/15: Introducing Relations (Proportional Relationships)

Today we begin introducing the material in Lesson 3.1  We will be into that lesson fully tomorrow (Wednesday).

Per.1:  No homework was assigned tonight.  I realized too late at the end of the period that you didn't have the proper text pages in your notebooks, students.  I apologize for the error.  Tomorrow you will get the pages and you can then do this page for minor extra credit (see below for the other two classes):

Per.3 & Per.4:  Your homework is p.82 (1-4).  Please do your scratch work on notebook paper, not the book, and be ready for tomorrow's warm-ups with the upside-down T.

Our next quiz is Tuesday of next week, 9/15, and it is on Lessons 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, and 2.4 (exponents and scientific notation).

Friday, 9/4/15: Reviewing Scientific Notation Homework and Distributing Math Log-In Information

We distributed the log-in information for the math online resources associated with our text, at my.hrw.com .  However, we were not able to do so in Per.1, as our internet was down at that time.  I'll distribute the log-in information next week.

There is no assigned homework for the Labor Day weekend.  We will pick up with Lesson 3.1, representing proportional relationships, on Tuesday, 9/8.

Our next quiz is on Lessons 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, and 2.4 (powers and scientific notation), and it will be Tuesday, 9/15.

Best wishes for a great Labor Day holiday!

Thursday, 9/3/15: Lesson 2.4, on Operations with Scientific Notation

Our next quiz will be Tuesday, 9/15, on Lessons 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, and 2.4 (covering exponents and scientific notation).

Tonight's homework is from a photocopy that I distributed:  Section 5-4, problems 25-36.  It is okay for students to use a calculator on this particular assignment for the multiplication / division part.

Wednesday, 9/2/15: Lesson 2.3, on Scientific Notation with Negative Exponents

Tonight's homework is p.50 (1-15).

Tuesday, 9/1/15: Quiz 1.1 on Lessons 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3

Tonight's homework is from the thin green workbook:  p.9 (1-24, 33). 

Monday, 8/31/15: Final Review for Quiz 1.1

Tonight's homework is a practice version of tomorrow's quiz, all problems.  Students, late today we found some mistakes in the key--if in doubt ask me.

Our quiz on Lessons 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3 will be tomorrow, Tuesday, 9/1/15.  I will be in my classroom at 7:35 a.m. Tuesday morning in case students have any last-second questions.

Friday, 8/28/15: Reviewing Lessons 1.1 to 1.3 Homework, and new Lesson 2.2 on Scientific Notation

Tonight's homework is p.44 (1-6).

We will have a quiz on Lessons 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3 on Tuesday, 9/1.  We will have a parallel practice for homework Monday, 8/31, and I will be available in my classroom before school at 7:35 a.m. Tuesday should any students have last-second questions that they want answered.

Thursday, 8/27/15: Working to Strengthen Present Understanding of Real Numbers

Tonight's homework is p.27 (1-15).

Wednesday, 8/26/15: Preparation Work & Correcting Lesson 2.1 Work

Our Back-to-School Night is this Thursday, 8/27, at 6:00 p.m., in the oak tree area.  I'll be putting out signups for the fall conferences.  (Sometime next week I will send home an information flyer about my own fall conferences, should parents not be able to come this Thursday evening.)  Parents, I'm looking forward to meeting you!

Tonight's homework is in the thin workbook that students have.  It is p.7 in that workbook, problems 1-17.  Students should be doing their scratch work on notebook paper, not just in the book.

Our second quiz is planned for Tuesday, 9/1, on Lessons 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3.  Our first quiz is a memorization one this Friday, 9/28.  Students will have to write the first fifteen perfect squares by memory, and the first five perfect cubes by memory.  (The eighth grade teachers saw that many students were not internalizing these despite a lot of exposure to them,, and they're important.  That's why we're having this first quiz Friday.  We practiced today (so students know EXACTLY what I'm looking for) and students should have an A+ on their first quiz.  (It's a pass/fail quiz.)  So students need to make sure that they come in ready this Friday.  Parents, if you are reading this, your son or daughter has a small workbook to accompany the textbook.  There are terrific re-teaching worksheets in there.  While we don't have class time to assign them, you can definitely have your student work these extra practice pages and see me for the answers.  Once again, your student should be looking at Lessons 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3.  Thank you!

Tuesday, 8/25/15: Exponent Rules

Our Back-to-School Night is this Thursday, 8/27, at 6:00 p.m., in the oak tree area.  I'll be putting out signups for the fall conferences.  (Sometime next week I will send home an information flyer about my own fall conferences, should parents not be able to come this Thursday evening.)  Parents, I'm looking forward to meeting you!

Tonight's homework is p.37 (1-17).

Our first quiz is planned for Tuesday, 9/1, on Lessons 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3.  Parents, if you are reading this, your son or daughter has a small workbook to accompany the textbook.  There are terrific re-teaching worksheets in there.  While we don't have class time to assign them, you can definitely have your student work these extra practice pages and see me for the answers.  Once again, your student should be looking at Lessons 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3.  Thank you!

Monday, 8/24/15: Comparing Real Numbers Written in Different Forms

Periods 1 & 4:  Tonight's homework is p.25 (12-21), on Lesson 1.3.

Period 3:  No homework was assigned for tonight, but you can work p.25 (12-21) for 5 points extra credit.

Our first quiz is planned for Tuesday, 9/1/15, on Lessons 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3.

Friday, 8/21/15: Classification of the Real Numbers

Periods 1 & 3:  Your homework, due Monday, is p.19 (14-22).

Period 4:  No formal homework is assigned for the weekend, but you can study examples from section 1.2, and look at working some problems from p.19 (14-22) and then checking the selected answers section that you have.

Thursday, 8/20/15: Practicing Roots

I was out for a meeting today.  The students had a class work assignment on finding roots, and students checked their answers and turned in their papers before leaving class today.

No formal homework is assigned tonight, but students received an extra-credit puzzle today.  To solve it, the triangular pieces need to be cut out, correctly arranged (each equation matching a correct solution), and then the whole taped together.

Wednesday, 8/19/15: Square and Cube Roots

We are planning our first quiz, on Lessons 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3, Tuesday, 9/1.

Tonight's homework is p.13 of the text, problems 28-32, and p.2 of the workbook, problems 1-9.  (Students received the workbook today.  They need to be carrying them back and forth daily--they are very light weight.)

Tuesday, 8/18/15: Continuing Lesson 1.1: Converting Decimals to Fractions

Tonight's homework is problems 1-6 of the photocopy I gave out to students today (title:  "WS: Decimals > Fractions), AND p.13 of the text, problems 24-27).

Parents, please keep an eye on your student's "assignment sheet."  This is inside a clear plastic sheet protector I gave to your son or daughter last week.  Please note that the student should be recording the percent correct when we correct the homework the following day.  This is your way of monitoring your child's progress coming into our quizzes.  Time does not allow me to record their individual scores daily; when you look at the portal you will see that the homework is only shown as credit or no-credit.  Please monitor the assignment sheet daily to see how successful your student is on the homework.  If you see your son or daughter struggling, please get them in to work with me!  I am available at nutrition daily (except for the one week of the month when I have duty), at lunch daily, and after school Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, until 3:30.

Monday, 8/17/15: Beginning Lesson 1.1, on Converting Fractions to Decimals (Real Numbers)

Tonight's homework is p.12 (1-6) & p.13 (20-23).

Friday, 8/14/15: Textbook Material Distributed

Today we distributed pages 1-28 of the 8th grade Math textbook, and the entire student answer section, along with glossary, and index.  Parents, students may write on the text pages.  We will be distributing small chunks of the text to correspond with our current coursework as we progress through the year.  Students need to bring that small chunk (in this case, pages 1-28), back and forth from school and home each day.  The selected answer section, glossary, and index may be kept at home.  Ideally, the chunk (pages 1-28 presently) stays in a 3-ring binder.  Today we encountered problems with the holes being punched too close to the perforations.  While the 3-ring binder is preferable, "Plan B" is to keep the current chunk clipped in a manila file folder.  At the end of each of the major five units, we will empty the binder of all work.  I will file that for you, and students will receive all of their work back shortly before the standardized testing.

This weekend's homework is a vocabulary preview lesson.  Students are to look up the definition for each of the following, and give three examples for each.  They may use the Internet (just Google the term), or search within Youtube, or use the paper glossary they took home with them today.  The definitions and examples should be written on a separate piece of notebook paper.  Here are the terms:

Rational number
Irrational number
Square root
Cube root
Perfect square
Perfect cube

Thursday, 8/13/15: Higher Education

Today we finished most of a slide presentation I'd prepared with regards to higher education.  This discussion is crucial, as it sets up what we are doing this year in the context of high school and college work.

No homework was assigned tonight.

Wednesday, 8/12/15: Welcome & Course Syllabus

Welcome back, students and parents!  I am looking forward to working closely with you to make this a terrific year!

The purpose of this blog is a simple one:  to let you know what homework was assigned for the day.  It is my practice to put the homework information up every day, hopefully earlier in the day rather than later.  (The latest that I post is around 6:45 p.m., but that could be a possibility if I have extensive meetings after school.)

If homework is in the form of a worksheet, I will try to have a version of it available through the parent portal--however, my work load may not allow it for the day.  The student may have to get the worksheet from me upon his or her return to school, and of course, he or she will get full credit for it--as long as it is turned in in a timely fashion.

If a student is absent, I encourage him or her to check this blog for the homework, or check with a peer!

The homework for tonight is for students to review the course information with their parents.  Parents, you have an optional homework assignment, where you have a chance to tell me all about your child.  I learn great things about my students this way!  See the last page of the course information packet, which should have come home with your student today.