Topic 1 Test Review

Topic 1 test will be given tomorrow, December 13th.  The answers to the review sheet are posted below.

Unit Rate and Unit Price

We have begun talking about unit rates and unit prices.  We will be working with the iPads tomorrow to look up prices on different items and determining the best buy for each.

Rolling right along

We have now  begun Topic 1.  The learning targets for topic 1 are listed below:

1.1   Students will be able to represent ratios in 3 different ways and give 3 equivalent ratios for each.
1.2   Students will be able to use equivalent rates to determine unit rate.
1.3   Students will use proportions to solve real-world ratio problems.

This is what we have covered so far. 

Happy Thanksgiving

Not much going on this week.  We are doing MAP rewards in math classrooms Monday and Tuesday of this week.  If a student increased their score or met grade level then they receive 2 days of watching movies.  I hope each of you have a terrific Thanksgiving.  I absolutely love this time of year!!

Wild Week

I apologize for not posting in several days.  It has been hectic around here with Explore results, MAP testing, Veterans Day programs, etc.

We have been going over the EXPLORE results with each student this week.  Those results will go home with students some time next week.  We also took the MAP test and looked at data for each student as well.  Students will receive an award on Monday and Tuesday of next week if their score improved or they met grade level.

We will re-take Topic 6 test on Friday.

Extended Response

Here is a copy of the extended response that we worked on in class today.

6-3 Extended Response

Michael is looking to buy a new house.  He and his real estate agent have looked at several houses’ and Michael believes that he has found the one he wants.  He finds a 3 bedroom 2 bath home with 3500 square feet.  The cost of the new home is $145,595.

A.)                        If Michael wants to put a 15% down payment on the home, how much money will Michael have to pay as his down payment?  Explain

B.)                          Michael decides that 15% is too much money for him to put down right now.  He determines that he can only spend $12,000 on a down payment.  What percent down payment will Michael make?

Week of October 15th

This has been such a busy week that I have not had time to post to the blog.  I apologize.  We have continued working on changing fractions to decimals and have even started changing the decimals to percents.  We took a quiz over the 10 most common fractions on Wednesday and was thrilled by how well the students performed.  The pictures below are of the activity that we did on Tuesday.

Honor Roll

Pictured below is the list of my students who made the Honor Roll for the first 9 weeks.  I am super proud of all of my students for their hard work to start the school year. 

Don't forget that Topic 5 test re-take is tomorrow.  Practice worksheets must be turned in in order to take the test.

Also, Topic 6 Section 1 homework is due on Friday as well as the back-side of the bell-ringer sheet.  Have a great Wednesday evening!!

"Life in the Middle"

Tonight was the first-ever parent night at GCMS.  It was a pleasure getting to meet with parents and guardians.  It was a tremendous night, and I want to thank all of those that attended. 

Report cards went home today.  Those need to be signed and returned to their first period teacher.

Time is flying by, and I can't believe that we are already in the 2nd nine weeks.  We have lots of things to cover between now and Christmas. 

Students received packets today for Topic 6 sections 1 and 2.  These packets will be their only copy and it contains notes, guided practice, and homework assignments.  Topic 6 Section 1 homework is due by Friday.

Welcome Back!!

Oh how I would love to go back there.  Anyways, I hope you enjoyed your fall break.  Today we began working on our practice worksheets for our test re-takes on Thursday.  These sheets need to be completed and turned in by Thursday in order to be able to re-take the test. 

Topic 5 Exam

Today we took Topic 5 Exam.  I was not too pleased with our grades (overall).  The following picture explains the procedure for re-taking the exam.

1 week left

We are only one week away from the end of the nine week grading period.  It is very important that all assignments be turned in before the end of the nine weeks.  Check out the Infinite Campus Parent Portal to see your child's grades and missing assignments. 

Test over Topic 5 next Thursday!

Have a great weekend!

8 Days 'til Fall Break

I hope you had a great 3 day weekend.  Today and tomorrow, middle school students are taking the EXPLORE test, which is based off of the ACT.  It is a predictor as to how they will perform when they take the ACT.  It also allows the students to become familar with the format of the test and the time management aspect.

In class today, we took a look at our quizzes that we took on Friday and performed quiz corrections.  IF time allowed, we begain dividing integers.  Time is flying by, as we only have 8 more school days until fall break. 

Thursday Homework

Homework for Tonight:  5-2 Worksheet

Quiz tomorrow!

Multiplying

Today we examined what happens when we multiply numerous factors that are integers.
 For example:  -2(3)(-4)

Our conclusion was that when we multiply an odd number of negatives together, our answer will result in a negative.  However, when we multiply an even number of negatives together, our product will result in a positive.  We will keep this in mind as move forward throughout Topic 5.

Good luck to our football team tonight as they battle against Marshall County.  GO EAGLES!!

Multiplying Monday

We have begun our new Topic over multiplying and dividing rational numbers.  Today, we reviewed our rules for multiplying by playing a game using the cards. 

Rules for Multiplying:
Signs the same- product is positive
Signs different- product is negative

Pictures below are students working together to multiply integers.

Topic 4 Test Class Averages

Test #1 (Taken Friday, August 31st)

1st Period:  73%

2nd Period:  70.5%

3rd Period:  68.5%

4th Period:  74.5%

7th Period:  74.3%

Total:  72.2%

Test #2 (Taken Wednesday, September 5th)

1st Period:  78%

2nd Period:  74.3%

3rd Period:  78.4%

4th Period:  76.8%

7th Period:  76.3%

Total:  76.8%

As I told the students on Thursday, the common tests are designed to make the studnets think.  These tests are difficult and will require them to study.  I was pleased to see the grades go up.  This will most likely be the only time that I will allow students to re-take any test.  I decided that since this was the first time they have seen a middle schoool math test, I would allow them a second chance.

Have a good weekend and we will see you on Monday.  Only 3 weeks left before Fall Break.   

Test Re-Take

I hope you had a fantastic labor day weekend.  After much thought over the weekend, I have decided to re-take the test that was given on Friday.  I was very discouraged and disappointed with the scores.  Tuesday served as a test correction day, and looked at the most missed questions, as well as some test taking strategies.  We will re-take the test on Wednesday. 

On Thursday, we will begin a new unit on Multiplying and dividing rational numbers.

3 Day Weekend

I hope everyone has a great and safe 3 day weekend.  We will see you on Tuesday, as we will begin Test Corrections over the exam that we completed today. 

Looking ahead:  Topic 5 consists of multiplying and dividing integers.

Test Friday

We will be taking our first test on Frday.  Thursday will serve as a review day for the test.  My plan is to post the review questions on the website on Thursday.

Digits Program

Today, students were given a Digits workbook.  This book will be used in class (not everyday), and it may be taken home with them.  Students wrote down the website information into their workbook and their assignment book today.  The website is www.mymathuniverse.com.  The username is gcms.firstname.lastname and the password is: gcms2012.  On the website, the students will have access to the lessons that we go over in class, as well as practice opportunities. 

For a tutorial on how to navigate through the Digits program, please check out Mr. Catlin's website.  He has a video explaining the features of the website. 

We will have a test over Topic 4 this Friday.  Mid-term grades will be posted on Friday and will be sent out to parents next week. 

I can't stress enough the importance of students staying organized.  Turning in assignments, writing in their assignment book, and keeping up with the bell-ringer sheet is the key to success in my classroom. 

Here's to a great week!!

Rational Numbers

Today we looked at adding rational numbers.  To be more specific, positive and negative fractions.  Homework for tonight is to complete the worksheet we began in class.

Week 3- Adding Fractions

We began reviewing adding fractions today.  In the following days we will be adding positive and negative fractions, as well as positive and negative decimals. 

Homework:  complete the adding fractions worksheet if you did not complete it in class.

Happy Friday

We are still adding and subtracting integers today.  We did re-take the quiz we took on Wednesday and about 85% of my students have increased their scores from Wednesday.  All of the hard work is paying off.  Next week we will begin adding and subtracting rational numbers (fractions, decimals, etc).  Looking forward to next week and the great things that the students will do.

Subtracting Integers (Roadrunner Method)

We began subtracting integers today.  We watched a short clip of the old roadrunner cartoon.  We solve subtracting integers by using the "beep beep."  Another way to do this is:  "keep-change-change."  Below are some pics of the group work we did earlier in the day.

Homework tonight is the adding integers worksheet.  See ya tomorrow!!!!

Adding Integers

Today we took a short quiz to see how we were doing with adding integers.  For the most part we did pretty well, but I still see some problem areas.  Below, you will find examples of adding integers problems.

I apologize for them being sideways, but I can't figure out how to straighten them up. 

Week 2

I hope that everyone had a great weekend.  We are moving on along in class as we began adding integers today.  Hopefully your son or daughter has been filling out their assignment book and bringing it home for you to see and sign.  I'll be checking those on Friday.  I have a big day planned tomorrow as we continue adding integers.  Homework for Tuesday: 4-2 worksheet

Absolute Value and Opposites

I was very impressed with our first turn in of homework.  98% of my students were able to turn in homework today which is fantastic.  I am thrilled about the great start we have gotten off to.  Students should be writting down their objective and homework assignment every day in math class.  They are required to show their parents what they wrote down, and then the parent needs to sign each night.  I will check these on Friday for a grade. 

Today, we used personal marker boards to review rational and irrational numbers.  We then discussed absolute value and opposites.  We will have our first quiz tomorrow (Friday) over rational numbers, irrational numbers, absolute value, and opposites.

Have a great weekend!!

Rational vs Irrational Numbers

What a busy first 3 days of school.  It seems like things are going smoothly, and I have enjoyed all of my classes.  Today we discussed rational and irrational numbers.  We used the saying "Run In Where Nobody Is" to classify numbers.  Homework for tonight is to complete the classifying worksheet.  See you tomorrow as we talk about absolute value.

First Day of School

Wow!  What a terrific first day of school.  Today was a "get to know you" day.  The students participated in an activity called 20 Questions.  They were able to meet new classmates and talk about themselves and their goals.  We also discussed the class motto for the year:  "If you shoot for the moon and miss, at least you will land among the stars."  I personally believe in setting high expectations for each of my classes.  Even though we may not attain those expectations we still are making progress because we were trying our best.  We also talked how our attitude towards math changes TODAY!!  I hope the rest of the year goes as well as it did today. 

Coach Frick

Welcome to GCMS

Welcome to 7th Grade Math.  I'm Coach Frick, and I am looking forward to a tremendous year.  I hope you are as excited as I am.  See you guys on Monday!!