making sense of it all
Congratulations to En Ping!!!!! Part of the middle school pi day activities today included memorizing pi. Students were required to memorize the first 10 digits, but some students took the challenge to memorize more. Good job to all but a special pat on the back goes out to En Ping. Well done!
More information coming out about Pi Day – the kids wanted to see this one right away though!
Pi Day is fast approaching! Students are preparing to celebrate Albert Einstein’s birthday and Pi Day on Friday, March 14. All students should bring in a pi related food to share with their classmates. Most students have already signed up for what they are bringing – please don’t forget!!
We had our last quiz of the quarter today and will have our last test next week. Factoring is one of the most important units in Algebra 1 and students must be solid on the concepts. Please come to HOT on Thursday with me or Mrs. Saich on Thursday for extra practice. Students should also visit Edline to find the link to Online Practice Quizzes and Tests so that they can get immediate feedback on their skills.
Earlier this week I posted updated progress reports to Edline. Please log into Edline and take look to see if you have any missing assignments. If so, turn them in by Friday, March 21 as that is the last day of the quarter.
Dear Parents and Students,
Progress reports have been posted to Edline. If there are missing assignments, please turn them in as soon as possible. As this is the middle of the term, there are several quizzes and tests remaining before grades are officially posted at the end of the quarter. PLEASE take advantage of the opportunities extended to students for enrichment, extra credit, and assistance! As always there is Homework Opportunity Time on Mondays with Mrs. Saich and Thursdays with me… of course, if a student asks me to stay another night for extra help I am more than willing to stay!
Important items that you need to know:
Students received the Grade 9 Course Selection forms this week for high school. ALL students are required to turn this form into Mr. Munnerlyn by March 14, but the sooner the better as elective choices fill up quickly! I will be making an initial recommendation for math placement in Grade 9 on the forms this week. If you have questions, please contact me.
For those students that want to get ahead of the game, log onto your Moodle account for the latest and greatest POW!
Ms. DeCardy
Barbie Bungee Jumping was a great activity for the students to wrap up their intense study of linear functions. I’ll be asking some of my students to push themselves by trying to create a Voicethread about the project. They will be using Voicethreads a lot in high school science so I might as well give them the tools now. It’s probably best that I give it a go though before I ask them to jump in with both feet! Check out the Voicethread below to see it all unfold!
Semester one final exams are over! The students knew the importance of this test. As I told them, the test serves as one of the indicators for which math class a student should take once they enter high school. Our 8th grade students are all currently taking a complete Algebra I course. Students will either take Algebra again next year or they may be placed into Geometry. This decision is not made lightly and Mrs. Saich and I are already talking to students a lot about their goal for next year. I know this much is true: Algebra I is the foundation for all future math studies. Students must be solid with their Algebra skills in order to be successful in higher math. I am confident that the majority of our students would do well in Geometry next year, but some may have difficulty when they move on to Algebra II their sophomore year of high school. Some students would benefit from taking a second look at Algebra I their freshman year.
If a student takes Algebra I their freshman year of high school, they are not behind in math in anyway, shape or form. Their math sequence may look something like what you see below. At the high school in Pudong, students are allowed to “double up” on math their sophomore year so that they are able to take a higher level of IB math their junior year. Another option for some students is to take Geometry summer school after their freshman year in order to get into Algebra II/Trigonometry their junior year. My point is that there are always options for students. Their math career and sequence is not set in stone because of their freshman year placement.
I have talked with each student to let them know my first thoughts about what math they should take next year. Recommendations will occur in the spring and be finalized in May. If a student would like to work over the summer towards a higher placement, they should take the math placement exam the week before school starts next year. More information will be available during the 4th quarter about this process.
If you have questions or concerns about math placement, please contact me and I will walk you through the process!
All students will be taking the Algebra 1 semester exam on early next week so we are spending this week reviewing. Is simply reviewing the best way to study for final exams though? Studying for major exams is much more proactive than simply re-reading the textbook. I came across this approach on a study habits website and I think it’s a great addition to what we are doing in class. Don’t re-read everything. Instead, find out what you don’t know as well and focus your studies in that direction!
A: Approach/attitude/arrange
S: Select/survey/study!
P: Put aside/piece together:
I: Inspect/Investigate/inquire/:
R: Relay
E: Evaluate/examine/explore:
As you are studying for the test, remember to try and look at problems several different ways. If an eight year old can do this, so can you!! 
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