Week of December 17th

I can't believe this is the last week of the semester! It will go by quickly. Our unit test is on Wednesday, December 19th.

Dates to remember:

All missing work/corrections from TWMM are due by Tuesday, December 18th @ 3:45pm

The study guide needs to be completed by Tuesday, December 18th for our review day. The final due date for the study guide is Wednesday, December 19th with the unit test.

I will have two review sessions on Tuesday, December 18th. Before school 7:15am-7:45am and after school 3:15pm - 3:45pm. I will not be available before school on Wednesday due to a meeting at 7am.

No homework will be assigned over the break.


Monday: Finish TWMM Problem 3.2 (if time, start review)
    Homework: Finishing the study guide

Tuesday: Review Day (bring completed study guide)
    Homework: Use study guide to prepare for the unit test

Wednesday: Unit Test - Study guide due.

Thursday: Discuss goals for state assessment and math activity

Friday: No school

Have a wonderful break!!

Week of 12/10

The DMCT is finished and now we are working through Investigation 2 in our book, Thinking With Mathematical Models.

Monday: Problem 2.2
    Homework: pg.40 #36 and pg. 45 #63 due Wednesday

Tuesday: Problem 2.4 (we are skipping 2.3)

Wednesday: Investigation 2 Check-up and Equation & Area Practice
    Homework: Study Guide for Unit Test due Wednesday December 19th

Thursday: Problem 3.1

Friday: Problem 3.1 and 3.2
    Homework: Rational Numbers Worksheet due Monday (keep working on Study Guide)

Looking Ahead: Review Day is Tuesday, December 18th

                           UNIT TEST - Wednesday, December 19th

Week of December 3rd

Wow! This school year is flying by! We have 14 school days left this semester. 2 days will be spent taking the DMCT. The other 12 days will be spent in our book Thinking With Mathematical Models, including the unit test scheduled for December 19th.
Here is our schedule for next week. Please note we only have two homework assignments this week because of DMCT testing. If your child already passed the DMCT they will not take it again.

Monday: Bellwork Quiz and Investigation 1 check-up. Begin Investigation 2
    Homework: pg. 19 #19-26 Choose 4 due Wednesday

Tuesday: Problem 2.1/2.2

Wednesday: Problem 2.2
    Homework: pg. 33 #3 and pg. 35 # 6 a-c. due Monday
                         Please note - this homework is from the book, but I am giving students a copy of the problems so they do not have to rewrite them. I have also posted a copy at the top of the blog.

Thursday: DMCT day 1

Friday: DMCT day 2

Week of November 26th

We started a new book today, Thinking With Mathematical Models.

Monday: TWMM Problem 1.1
    Homework: pg. 12 #1 due Wednesday

Tuesday: TWMM Problem 1.1/1.2

Wednesday: TWMM Problem 1.2
    Homework: pg. 15 #6 due Friday

Thursday: TWMM Problem 1.3

Friday: TWMM Problem 1.3
   Homework: pg. 17 #11 due Monday

Have a great week!!

Samples and Populations Unit-Week of Nov. 19th

We will have the Investigation 1 Quiz next Monday, November 19th. This will be the end of the unit, when we return from Thanksgiving Break we will start a new unit.

I will let students know today that any missing work/ corrections are due by Tuesday, November 20th.

I will not assign homework over the break.

On Tuesday, November 20th we will take the Formative Assessment in the computer lab. This is a "practice" test for the state assessments. The test results let me know what concepts students understand and allow them the opportunity to practice test-taking strategies.

For this week (week of November 12th) I have changed the homework for Friday. Instead of the problem from the book the students will have a worksheet practicing percents. Many of them are still struggling with this in math class.

Week of November 12th

The students really enjoyed the election and exit poll last week. This week we are learning more about histograms and box and whisker plots.

Monday: S&P Problem 1.1 (except 3rd hour-we will start Tuesday)
    HW: pg. 22 # 27 a,b,c & pg. 23 # 31 due Wednesday

Tuesday: S&P Problem 1.1/1.2

Wednesday: S&P Problem 1.2
    HW: Make a histogram of the p.b. data due Friday

Thursday: Problem 1.3

Friday: Problem 1.3/ Review
    HW: pg. 24 # 33 due Monday

Looking Ahead:
 Monday, November 19th Formative Assessments in the computer lab
Tuesday, November 20th Investigation 1 Quiz

Have a great week!

Week of November 5th

This week is very exciting with the election! Our classes will be doing an exit poll in conjunction with Mr. Topliff's class. We will also spend time learning how to organize data.

Monday: Finish 2.3 determine a sample size for the exit poll
    Homework: Data Worksheet due Wednesday

Tuesday: Election Day - Exit Poll

Wednesday: Organize the data from the election
    Homework: S&P pg. 38 # 16&17 due Friday

Thursday: Finish Wednesday's activity - Electoral College Information

Friday: Either finish the activity from Thursday or start Problem 1.1
    Homework: Percent Worksheet due Monday

Have a great week!

Week of October 29th

The Moving Straight Ahead Unit Test is behind us and, overall, the students did very well! The grades are now entered in Power School.
 We are starting a new unit this week called Samples and Populations. We are doing this book a little out of order because of the upcoming election. We will start with Investigation 2 and learn how to sample a population and then go back to Investigation 1 sometime next week.
We have homework on Tuesday and Thursday because of our short week.

Monday: New book - Samples and Populations (S&P) Problem 2.1

Tuesday: S&P Problem 2.2
    Homework: pg. 36 #1-8 due Thursday

Wednesday: S&P Problem 2.3

Thursday: S&P Problem 2.4
    Homework: pg. 41 #26 & 27 due Monday

Friday: No School - Professional Development Day

Have a great week!

Week of October 22nd

Our unit test is on Wednesday so Monday and Tuesday will be spent reviewing with the study guide. On Monday I have asked the students to fill out a notecard with the skills they still need to work on for the test, including worked examples. This will show in the gradebook, but will not be included in the final grade.
All corrections and missing work are due by 3:45pm on Wednesday.
I will collect Moving Straight Ahead Books on Monday, October 29th.

Study Sessions this week: Monday from 3:15 to 3:45 and Wednesday from 7:15 to 7:45

Monday: Review Study Guide
    Homework: Practice problems from study guide (15 to 20 minutes)

Tuesday: Review Study Guide
    Homework: Practice problems from study guide (15 to 20 minutes)

Wednesday: Unit Test
    Homework: Integer Practice due Monday, October 29th

Thursday: Conferences 11-8

Friday: No School

Have a great week!

Moving Straight Ahead Unit Test

The Unit Test for Moving Straight Ahead is scheduled for next Wednesday, October 24th. The study guide was handed out in class today. I had the students write two due dates at the top:

Monday, October 22nd - "Rough Draft" due date - This means students need to bring their study guide with all the problems they know how to do completed. They need to be prepared to ask questions about the problems they don't understand.

Wednesday, October 24th - "Final Draft" due date - This means the study guide needs to be completed.

I am not assigning any other homework between now and Wednesday. I have told the students this is because I want them to work at least 15 minutes each day on their study guide. This is the best way to study for the unit test.

On page 1 of the study guide it asks the students to use their calculator. We will do this in class tomorrow (October 18th).

Other things to know:
The study guide is worth 25 points
No corrections are allowed on unit tests.
Any missing work/corrections for this unit are due October 24th.
We will begin a new unit on Monday, October 29th. I will collect Moving Straight Ahead and hand out the new book.
I have tentatively scheduled two study/review sessions next week - Monday after school (3:15 to 3:45) and Wednesday before school (7:15 to 7:45). I will let you know if this changes.

Week of October 15th

Today I am handing back the Investigation 3 quizzes. These quiz scores were not as good as the last quiz. I am setting up appointments after school this week for corrections. It is important that corrections are done this week because our Unit Test is next Wednesday, October 24th. I allow corrections on homework and quizzes, but no corrections are allowed on tests.

Monday: Hand back quizzes and finish problem 4.1
    Homework: Equation Practice Worksheet (show all steps) due Wednesday

Tuesday: Problem 4.2

Wednesday: Problem 4.2/4.3
    Homework: The study guide for the Unit Test will be handed out. It will be due with the Unit Test on October 24th

Thursday: Problem 4.3

Friday: NO SCHOOL

Have a great week!

We have spent a lot of time solving equations in Investigation 3. On Monday we will finish problem 3.5 and review before we take our quiz on Thursday (Wednesday is the Social Studies test). We will also start the last Investigation in this book this week.

Monday: Finish Problem 3.5
    Homework: Please note - these problems will help prepare students for the quiz
                        pg. 59 #12, pg.60 #22 and pg. 62 #24 a-c only due Wednesday

Tuesday: Review and questions over Investigation 3

Wednesday: Begin Problem 4.1
    Homework: Measure a set of stairs in your home (or at a friend's house if you don't have stairs). We will use this data in class on Friday. Please refer to page 71 of your book to see what the "rise" and "run" of the stair looks like.

Thursday: Investigation 3 Quiz

Friday: Continue Problem 4.1
    Homework: pg. 79 #8-12 due Monday

Looking Ahead: When we finish Investigation 4 we will have our first unit test. I will hand out a study guide approximately one week before the test. The study guide will be due the day of the test and will count for approximately 10% of the test grade. Students have been able to correct homework for 100% credit and quizzes for 50% credit (the points they missed). There are no corrections on tests. Please help make sure your child is prepared for the test and that they get any questions answered well before test day. We will have review days in class and I will set up 1 or 2 review sessions before or after school to help students prepare for the test.

Please let me know if you have any questions. Have a great week.

We got a great start last week learning how to solve equations. This week we will continue Investigation 3 and practice solving equations symbolically.

Monday: Finish Problem 3.3 and start 3.4
    Homework: Worksheet - Solving Equations due Wednesday

Tuesday: Problem 3.4

Wednesday: Problem 3.5
    Homework: pg. 59 14 & 15 due Friday

Thursday: Problem 3.5

Friday: Wrap-up Investigation 3 and practice solving equations
    Homework: Properties Worksheet due Monday.

Looking Ahead: Investigation 3 Quiz - Monday, October 8th

Have a great week!

We finished Investigation 2 last week and the students are getting their quizzes back to look at in class today. Overall, they did really well. The only struggle I saw was finding the coefficient (rate) and the y-intercept (starting point) in the equation. We will review this today and tomorrow on bell work and students are welcome to make quiz corrections (earning half credit).

Monday: Problem 3.1
    Homework: Properties Worksheet - due Wednesday
      **note - we are doing the matching portion in class, since I handed back quizzes today we did not have enough time to finish the matching. We will finish that tomorrow in class.

Tuesday: Problem 3.1/3.2

Wednesday: Problem 3.2/3.3
    Homework: pg. 57 #3, 4 & pg. 60 #18, 19 due Friday

Thursday: Problem 3.3

Friday: Problem 3.3 - maybe start 3.4
    Homework: Properties Worksheet due Monday

Have a great week!
Mrs. Anderson

Week of September 17th

We are working our way through Investigation 2 and we will have the quiz on Thursday. Tuesday's homework will be important preparation for the quiz.

Monday: No School

Tuesday: Problem 2.4
    Homework: Inv 2 Practice worksheet due Thursday *Correction - b should say y = -2x + 7

Wednesday: Problem 2.4

Thursday: Bellwork Quiz #3 and Investigation 2 Quiz
    Homework: pg. 35 #7 & pg. 38 #16 due Monday

Friday: Begin Investigation 3 Continue Problem 2.4

Have a great week!

Week of 9/10

We are starting Investigation 2 this week.

Monday: Problem 2.1
    Homework: Investigation 1 Practice Worksheet due Wednesday
                    **Cross off  #4b on the front page of this worksheet**
Tuesday: Problem 2.2

Wednesday: MAPS Testing
    Homework: pg. 31 #1 and pg. 33 #4

Thursday: Problem 2.3

Friday: Problem 2.4
    Homework: Fraction Practice Worksheet due Tuesday

Have a great week!

Week of September 3rd

I hope everyone had a great Labor Day Weekend! Last week we had a slow start and we are a couple days behind, but we will catch up this week and have our first quiz over Investigation 1.

Monday: No School

Tuesday: Finish Problem 1.3/ Start Problem 1.4
    Homework: pg. 14 #7 and pg. 22 #31 due Thursday

Wednesday: Finish Problem 1.4

Thursday: Start Investigation 2
    Homework: pg. 18 #20 & pg. 22 #33 due Monday

Friday: Investigation 1 Quiz and Bellwork Quiz

Have a great week!

Week of August 27th

We had a great week practicing fractions, decimals, and percents! We're ready to start our new book Moving Straight Ahead. On Monday we will go outside and record our walking rates as we start problem 1.1. Please note, homework this week (Monday and Wednesday) is from the book. Each student was issued their own book on Friday.

Monday: Begin Problem 1.1
    Homework: pg. 12 #1 and pg. 17 #16 and 17 due Wednesday

Tuesday: Continue Problem 1.1 - Start 1.2
      Picture Day

Wednesday: Continue Problem 1.2 - Start 1.3
    Homework: pg. 14 #6 and pg. 18 #22 A or B due Friday

Thursday: Continue Problem 1.3 - Start 1.4
    Parent night - hope to see you there!

Friday: Finish Problem 1.4 - Review for Investigation 1 Quiz on Tuesday, September 4th
    Homework: Order of Operations Practice due Tuesday

Please let me know if you have any questions!
Have a great week!
Mrs. Anderson

Week of August 20th

I really enjoyed meeting my students last week! We are off to a great start! This week we are reviewing skills and learning class procedures. Students will receive their first book on Friday, Moving Straight Ahead.

Monday: Set up notebooks (please ask students about this!) and learning styles quiz.
    Homework: Mean Worksheet ~What Dance Should You Do When Summer Is Over? Students must show all work. Due Wednesday.

Tuesday: Talk about Group Work ~ Fraction Practice: Addition and Subtraction

Wednesday: Fraction Practice: Multiplication and Division
    Homework: Fraction, Decimal, Percent ~ How I Spent My Summer Daze. Due Friday

Thursday: Converting Fractions to Decimals and Adding/Subtracting Decimals

Friday: Introduction to Moving Straight Ahead
    Homework: Variables and Patterns (7th gr book) review. Due Monday

Let me know if you have any questions!
Mrs. Anderson

Welcome Back!!

I am excited to start a new school year! Welcome to all my 8th graders! We started the class by finding out how much money the United States paid to the athletes that earned medals at the Olympics this year (and how much they collected in taxes).

Here is an overview of our schedule for the week:

Thursday: Introduction to 8th grade math
     Homework: Integer worksheet - "Why did the ant run across the cracker box?" Due Monday
Friday: Golf Activity - Learning how to problem solve. Discussion of class procedures and supplies needed for next week.

Please check this blog at least once a week, or better yet, subscribe so you receive and email every time I update the blog. I will post what we will doing that week, including tests and quizzes and homework information.

Thank you!
Mrs. Anderson