Getting geared up for the final

Today we chucked all that linear function stuff we've been working on and started stepping back to get ready for our final. The Jacobs final exam is pretty simple: I take 2-4 questions from all of the old Jacobs tests and make one large final exam. So today I handed back their old tests and we started reviewing missed questions.

The final will be next Tuesday and Wednesday... tomorrow and Monday will continue to be review.

More on graphing lines

Yesterday and today we've spent working more with lines, in particular in the form y = mx + b. Yesterday was graphing them using the slope-intercept form (graph the intercept and build the line based on the slope) and today we created the equation from reading the graph. The kids also practiced transforming linear equations from the form Ax + By = C to y = mx + b. They DO have homework: transform and graph #s 53 - 60 on the sheet I gave them today in class.

On linear functions

Today we checked Set II, and I took up the Pre-Algebra unit tests that were due today at 11:30a. We then skipped over Lesson 2 in Chapter 3 and started Lesson 3... but ended up leaving that altogether! (Basically I did an introduction to graphing lines today...) Tonight's homework is to graph the four linear equations/functions that I wrote up on the board today at the end of class.

Continuing the conversation about functions

We started today by checking Set I from Lesson 1, Chapter 3 -- and then worked to complete Set II of Lesson 1. We're studying the "idea of a function" - Jacobs style. They'll want to finish this by Monday... in addition to completing the take-home Pre-Algebra Unit Test that they got yesterday and will be due on Monday as well.

On to volume

We checked the 2D area and perimeter, nailed down the surface area of the 3D shapes, and today they worked on finding the volume of those 3D shapes. If they finished that, no homework.

Geometry: The final unit

Geometry is the final unit for our Pre-Algebra review time and today we began by working through some "shape sheets" - sheets with pictures of each shape along with the appropriate formulas and practice problems. I'd like all Area, Perimeter, and Surface Area completed by tomorrow (homework). We'll work on Volume in class tomorrow.

Getting d=rty

Today we checked the one-step word problems that the kids had for homework last night (#s 1-9 from the packet) and then started talking about d=rt problems (distance = rate * time). Tonight's homework is to write up a d=rt problem of their own.

Homework tonight

In continuing to practice these equations, tonight's homework (from the same sheet)... 17-20, 45-48, 90-95, 136-138.

Lots of work on equations

The kids worked today on one, two and multi-step equations. Tonight's homework is a mixture of these.

On their latest handout, they should complete: #s 5-8, 37-40, 84-89, and 133-135.

Starting equations

Yesterday in Jacobs we continued our work in the Pre-Algebra unit by checking our distributing problems and then began a review of equations. Since we didn't have class today (Tuesday) we'll pick up on this tomorrow (Wednesday.)

Answers to Saturday, April 4 to Wednesday, April 8

Saturday, April 4
y^2 (y squared)

Sunday, April 5
6y + -18 or 6y - 18

Monday, April 6
22

Tuesday, April 7
8

Wednesday, April 8
-27

Math Brain Munching Bugs! AH!!!

Hello all! It has been over a week since I posted last. The week before Spring Break, well, you could tell that there wasn't a lot of time to blog about what was going on in Jacobs.

Anyways, I am enjoying my Spring Break immensely and I must not pander any longer -- there is serious work to be done. Your children may have mentioned the MBMB's, and now you must hear about them too. The note your children received prior to Spring Break:

Dear Jacobs Students & Parents—

To keep the Math Brain Munching Bugs away, one problem and one problem only must be done a day.

Think of a doctor’s orders to take a certain amount of medicine at certain times of the day. The Munching Bugs are just as severe.

Children have been known to return from Spring Break with only an empty frame of what their minds used to be!

These problems, done once a day, with their work and steps totally and completely shown and written down should significantly diminish the Munching Bugs’ effect.

Yours in the fight against MBMB ( or MB2 ) – matthew

Just in case (I know that nothing has happened to the MBMB sheet at your house), I have posted the sheets for Jacobs on our Class Docs here.

Look later this evening for answers up until today!

Happy de-bugging! :)

Into combining like terms

Today we checked homework and talked about combining like terms. Homework is #s 25-59 odd.

Onto translating

After checking our homework on plug-it-in from last night, we took some break notes on translating expressions, and then the kids started to work on their homework, getting to #40 on the sheets (labeled #12 in their notebooks) they got in class.

Plug it in, plug it in

We checked the rational number work from yesterday, took notes on plugging it in (expressions and variables), and the kids do have homework -- a sheet that they should do #s 12-36, multiples of 3.

Rational number work continues

We checked the homework from the weekend and then had ourselves a workday. See below for the problems that the kids worked on during class and that they will need to have completed for class tomorrow. (all these problems are from the rational numbers packet they've already got)

HW for tonight

Rational Numbers and Operations

Today was an intense day. We plowed through all four operations with fractions and with decimals, and the kids will need to complete 10 problems for homework -- see below for the specific problems.

Decimals notes

HW

Beginning Rational Numbers

Today we finished the NUMB3RS episode we were watching yesterday, checked our homework from yesterday on integers and took notes on rational numbers. Specifically, today we talked about conversion between fractions, decimals, and percents. Their homework tonight is #s 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 and #s 125-153 ODD in the rational numbers packet they got today.

Rational numbers

Fraction to decimal and back again

Percent To decimal and back again

HW