Stick To It Campaign!

We have started our Stick-To-It Campaign!

8th graders are gearing up for the state math assessment.
As we review all the concepts
We are keeping our minds focused with various stick-to-it reminders each day.

Questions to ask your students:
1.  What was the stick-to-it reminder today?
2.  What concepts did you review?
3.  Could you teach me about the concept?

System of Equations HowToons

It's total concentration...students creating their HowToons

We've Been Busy!

I can't believe that I've let a month pass before posting again!
I guess that shows we've been busy in the math classroom.

8th Grade News
8th graders have been busy learning how to solve one- and two-step algebraic equations.
We've also reviewed and honed our skills for solving problems dealing with circles.
Now we're working on percents.
Life gives us all kinds of problems and situations where percents are concerned.
Our goal is to master all (or most) of them, anyway!  ;)

Questions to ask your student:
1.  How does the "fishy method" work to solve percent problems?
2.  Show me how to solve the equation -4x - 8 = 12
3.  What are the formulas for working with circles?  Circumference of a circle?  Area of a circle?

Algebra News
We made it through Chapter 6 with all the various forms of equations:  slope-intercept, standard, and point-slope.
Now, in Chapter 7, we're solving systems of equations by graphing, substitution, and elimination.
To help us understand these three methods, students are creating HowToons to get the message across.

Questions to ask your student:
1.  How does slope-intercept form differ from standard form?  From point-slope form?
2.  What is your favorite way for solving a system of equations?  Why do you like this method over the other two?
3.  Which is the hardest method for you to use to solve a system of equations?  Why?

Sorting It Out

Students have been busy in math class.
After designing a staircase with a slope that met building codes,
They are trying to conquer the slope-intercept equation and how it matches up to graphs on the coordinate plane.

Today, students sorted through graphs, equations, table of values, slopes, and y-intercepts.

What is slope?
What is the y-intercept?
What does the equation look like in slope-intercept form?

Cockroaches Teach Us Algebra

As the cockroaches scurry along any given line,

Students must kill them using their weapon of choice

By writing the correct algebraic equation.

If more than 16 cockroaches get to running along the line

The cockroaches win!

A Slippery Slope

8th grade students are busy learning about slope.
Using an interactive website, they are creating their own understanding of how to find slope.
Guided by questions to help move their thinking,
Students are not only "hands-on" but "minds-on" as well.

When questions arose, and students got stuck,
Students knew they could have a mini session with Mrs. McCabe to help get their thinking back on the move again.

Dinner Table Questions:
1.  What is slope?
2.  How do you find slope?
3.  Where is slope found in the world outside of the classroom?

Time To Catch Up!

Wow!
We have been busy since returning back to school!
So what has been taking up our time?

8th graders have been learning their way around Pythagorean's Theorem.

Questions to ask your 8th grader?
~ What in the world is the hypotenuse?!
~ What are the other parts of the triangle called?
~ What is this famous theorem?
~ How do you use Pythagorean's Theorem?
~ What kind of triangle can this theorem be used with?

Algebra students are totally immersed in Functions.

Questions to ask your Algebra student:
~ How is a function similar to an equation?
~ Besides an equation, what two other ways can a function be represented?
~ Can you show me an example of a function?