~ If you have a student in Algebra, ask them to tell you how the following pictures represent the Real Number System.
Students...
If you are in 8th Grade Math, just wait! You will be learning the same thing in about a week or so! :)
Every moment is an experience...an experience of observing, participating, learning, understanding, applying. This is true in math class as well. Join our math experience and be a part of the moments that shape our math learning.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Real Number Metaphors...An Algebra Moment
Parents...
~ If you have a student in Algebra, ask them to tell you how the following pictures represent the Real Number System.
Students...
If you are in 8th Grade Math, just wait! You will be learning the same thing in about a week or so! :)
~ If you have a student in Algebra, ask them to tell you how the following pictures represent the Real Number System.
Students...
If you are in 8th Grade Math, just wait! You will be learning the same thing in about a week or so! :)
Friday, August 26, 2011
Friday's Moments...
Students in the 8th grade math class got started on their first math assignment/project today.
As a group they first decided on a item for their project, then they got busy finding ten different prices for this item.
The final project (due Friday, Sept. 2)...an ad for the "ad agency".
Math concepts covered? Central Tendencies.
Ask your student what central tendencies are. :)
In Algebra class, students finally received their textbooks today!
What a great day!
We'd been busy taking pre-diagnostic tests, going over class expectations, and cooperative learning activities, that we are just now diving in the wonderful world of learning that awaits us in the 800-page text.
So much to discover!
As a group they first decided on a item for their project, then they got busy finding ten different prices for this item.
The final project (due Friday, Sept. 2)...an ad for the "ad agency".
Math concepts covered? Central Tendencies.
Ask your student what central tendencies are. :)
In Algebra class, students finally received their textbooks today!
What a great day!
We'd been busy taking pre-diagnostic tests, going over class expectations, and cooperative learning activities, that we are just now diving in the wonderful world of learning that awaits us in the 800-page text.
So much to discover!
Today focus: Variables, Expressions, and Equations
Monday, August 22, 2011
Gathering Real Life Data
Is it Strawberry Jam or a Centipede?
Licorice or Skunk Spray?
Juicy Pear or Booger?
What is the likelihood you'll get a good one?
One that tastes sweet and yummy and makes your heart sing.
Or...will it be one that makes you run to the trash can in an attempt to get the taste out of your mouth as soon as possible??
That was today's in-class assignment...to taste Bean Boozled Jelly Bellies.
Willing students selected a Jelly Belly and gave it a chew or two.
We will use the data for our Probability unit in November.
Here are the results...
It was Skunk Spray!!! Yuck!!!
Thanks students...and some USD 309 staff...for helping make our data collection a Beanboozled success!
Licorice or Skunk Spray?
Juicy Pear or Booger?
What is the likelihood you'll get a good one?
One that tastes sweet and yummy and makes your heart sing.
Or...will it be one that makes you run to the trash can in an attempt to get the taste out of your mouth as soon as possible??
That was today's in-class assignment...to taste Bean Boozled Jelly Bellies.
Willing students selected a Jelly Belly and gave it a chew or two.
We will use the data for our Probability unit in November.
Here are the results...
It was Skunk Spray!!! Yuck!!!
Thanks students...and some USD 309 staff...for helping make our data collection a Beanboozled success!
New This Year...Online Math Textbook!!!
It's a bird!
It's a plane!
No...not really.
But it is really cool!
This summer I have created our very own RVMS 8th Grade Math Textbook online!
You can access it ANYWHERE!
No more excuses that you forgot your book in your locker.
It has resources, assignments, and rubrics...
ALL at your fingertips.
It's organized like a notebook with tabs and everything!
Handy dandy websites are RIGHT THERE!
No more searching or trying to remember web addresses.
The only web address you need to remember is snipurl.com/mathtextbook.
It will get you there...
anytime,
anyplace,
anyhow,
anywho,
any which way but loose.
Check it out!!!
It's a plane!
No...not really.
But it is really cool!
This summer I have created our very own RVMS 8th Grade Math Textbook online!
You can access it ANYWHERE!
No more excuses that you forgot your book in your locker.
It has resources, assignments, and rubrics...
ALL at your fingertips.
It's organized like a notebook with tabs and everything!
Handy dandy websites are RIGHT THERE!
No more searching or trying to remember web addresses.
The only web address you need to remember is snipurl.com/mathtextbook.
It will get you there...
anytime,
anyplace,
anyhow,
anywho,
any which way but loose.
Check it out!!!
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Homework Completion and ZAPS
Reno Valley students can be ZAPPED this year...
if they don't get their homework in on time.
In math, I feel I must explain how homework is handled.
I have TWO types of homework.
It can be a little confusing, so I'll explain.
First, there is the graded homework where students hand in an assignment for a grade.
These can be ZAPPED.
Students will need to stay after school to finish these assignments that same day.
HOWEVER...
Some of our homework is reviewed the next day.
We go over the answers and how to solve the problems in class.
There is no way these assignments can be ZAPPED.
Students already have the answers!
Sooooo.....
These are called Homework Completion.
I check to see if each student has completed the ENTIRE assignment and is ready for class.
I give a 100% grade each time a student finishes HW Completion assignments just for doing what is expected.
But, I have to give a 0% for those students that don't come to class prepared with a completed assignment.
If you have any questions, please let me know. You can either comment on this post or zip me an email at tmccabe@usd309ks.org.
Friday, August 19, 2011
First Day...ALL 8th Graders
What a great great day!
Don't you just love the first day of school?
Everything is new and clean...
Friendships are reunited,
And it's a whole new year of learning new things!
LOVE IT!
Today we started with one of my favorite problems.
The Locker Problem.
There are 20 lockers in one hallway of Reno Valley Middle School. In preparation for the beginning of school, the janitor closed all of the lockers and put a new coat of paint on the doors, which are numbered from 1 to 20.
When the 20 students from Mrs. McCabe's class returned from summer vacation, they decided to celebrate by working off some energy. They came up with a plan: The first student ran down the row of lockers and opened every door. The second student started with locker #2 and closed every second door. The third student started with locker #3 and changed the state of every third locker door. The fourth student started with locker #4 and changed the state of every fourth locker door, the fifth student started with locker #5 and changed the state of every fifth locker door, and so on, until all 20 students had passed by the lockers.
Students worked on the problem together in their groups,
and some worked independently to find the answer.
We learned that...
1) there are many methods to solving the same problem.
2) it's okay to make mistakes.
3) and that everyone learns in a different way. Some are independent thinkers and need time on their own to think about the problem. Some like to talk about the math and work together with others.
To extend this lesson at home, ask your student which lockers remained open (hint: there are 4 open lockers). What kind of patterns do you see in your answer? How can this help you figure out which lockers will be open if there are 200 lockers in the hallway?
Have a great weekend!
See you Monday.
Don't you just love the first day of school?
Everything is new and clean...
Friendships are reunited,
And it's a whole new year of learning new things!
LOVE IT!
Today we started with one of my favorite problems.
The Locker Problem.
There are 20 lockers in one hallway of Reno Valley Middle School. In preparation for the beginning of school, the janitor closed all of the lockers and put a new coat of paint on the doors, which are numbered from 1 to 20.
When the 20 students from Mrs. McCabe's class returned from summer vacation, they decided to celebrate by working off some energy. They came up with a plan: The first student ran down the row of lockers and opened every door. The second student started with locker #2 and closed every second door. The third student started with locker #3 and changed the state of every third locker door. The fourth student started with locker #4 and changed the state of every fourth locker door, the fifth student started with locker #5 and changed the state of every fifth locker door, and so on, until all 20 students had passed by the lockers.
Students worked on the problem together in their groups,
and some worked independently to find the answer.
We learned that...
1) there are many methods to solving the same problem.
2) it's okay to make mistakes.
3) and that everyone learns in a different way. Some are independent thinkers and need time on their own to think about the problem. Some like to talk about the math and work together with others.
To extend this lesson at home, ask your student which lockers remained open (hint: there are 4 open lockers). What kind of patterns do you see in your answer? How can this help you figure out which lockers will be open if there are 200 lockers in the hallway?
Have a great weekend!
See you Monday.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
First Day...Take One!
Welcome back 8th graders!
What a great first day!
Met some new faces and had a good time playing Equate in math today.
Just look at that concentration.
Equate is basically the math version of Scrabble.
Using 9 number and operation tiles, students can make equations or expressions and connect them to those already on the board.
It takes a lot of thinking...
A lot of messing around with numbers
But when you find that perfect equation...
JACKPOT!
Big points!
What a great first day!
Met some new faces and had a good time playing Equate in math today.
Just look at that concentration.
Using 9 number and operation tiles, students can make equations or expressions and connect them to those already on the board.
It takes a lot of thinking...
A lot of messing around with numbers
But when you find that perfect equation...
JACKPOT!
Big points!
Looking forward to seeing all the 8th graders tomorrow!
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Monday, August 15, 2011
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Lessons from Tanganika
My boys and I had the opportunity to visit Tanganika last week.
Watching the animals interact with each other and in some cases, the public, was very interesting.
Their natural antics and curiosity about their surroundings got me thinking...
Watching the animals interact with each other and in some cases, the public, was very interesting.
Their natural antics and curiosity about their surroundings got me thinking...
Monday, August 8, 2011
F-I-S-H
Our focus that drives us every day is the FISH Philosophy! You may have heard about the Pike's Fish Market in Seattle, WA and how businesses are using these concepts to become huge successes! If it can work in the business world, it will also work in our math classroom.
Here's what it is!
F...Focus on Attitude!
Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference. Come to class everyday with a positive attitude! You'll see what a difference it can make and how much more you can learn!
I...Interject Fun!
We are going to make learning math FUN! What other alternative do we have? Not having fun isn't even an option.
S...Serve Others!
We work with others every day and will continue to do so for the rest of our lives. If we try to make another person's day by treating them respectfully and positively, they'll feel better and surprisingly, so will you!
H...Here and Now!
It is important to be in the moment...not off daydreaming or planning what to do afterschool or doing homework for another class. You will be MISSING OUT on all the fun!
Friday, August 5, 2011
What Do I Need for Math Class?
That is a great question!
Thought you'd never ask. :)
To be a successful student in math, you will need to come prepared every day.
This means that you will have all the necessary materials needed to do the job...in other words, to do math.
Here is a list of items that I require you to bring every day. Be sure to always check that you have the items before coming to class.
You won't want to miss anything just because you forgot something!
1. 3-ring notebook with dividers. This will be just for math.
We are going to build our own math book this year! We have a math textbook, but we don't use it much!
2. Notebook paper - This can be in either form...loose leaf or spiral.
3. PENCILS, PENCILS, PENCILS, and a pen to two.
4. Calculator.
We have some to use in class, but often times students prefer to have their own, right at their fingertips.
Thought you'd never ask. :)
To be a successful student in math, you will need to come prepared every day.
This means that you will have all the necessary materials needed to do the job...in other words, to do math.
Here is a list of items that I require you to bring every day. Be sure to always check that you have the items before coming to class.
You won't want to miss anything just because you forgot something!
1. 3-ring notebook with dividers. This will be just for math.
We are going to build our own math book this year! We have a math textbook, but we don't use it much!
2. Notebook paper - This can be in either form...loose leaf or spiral.
3. PENCILS, PENCILS, PENCILS, and a pen to two.
4. Calculator.
We have some to use in class, but often times students prefer to have their own, right at their fingertips.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
A Sneak Peak!
For some of you, this won't be your first glimpse into the 8th grade math world.
For others, welcome aboard!
I spent some time this week getting things in order.
Bulletin Boards...check!
New reading books on the shelves...check!
Desk organized...check!
Lesson plans...not so much.
Don't worry, I'll have a plan by the time you get here! :)
Cords untangled and matched up to appropriate equipment...check!
Technology hooked up and going...check!
Excitement for a new year...check!
Can't wait to see you all again after a summer of relaxing and fun in the sun!
Looking forward to a great year!
Mrs. McCabe
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