Friday, October 24, 2008

First Home Nugget of the Second Term Gives Us A Chance to Confront Adversity

Home Nugget #1 of the 2nd Term
Assigned on Friday October 24, 2008
Due on Monday October 27, 2008

From two double-sided sheets provided in class, all problems that are checked off. (Virtually all problems with the exception of a handful.) This is an opportunity to rethink and perhaps re-evaluate your approach to the topics covered in lessons 2-7, 2-8 and 2-9. [specifically, percent change, solving for a specific variable and weighted averages]

Students are also strongly encouraged to look over the test they got back today and determine both where they are proficient and areas that need further attention. Cornell notes are invaluable in helping to sort out concepts.  

While the results of our last assessment were initially discouraging, there were many factors at play that we can address immediately:
1. Students need to bring their own graphing calculators (minimizes computational errors that are unrelated to conceptual understanding)
2. Students should rethink their approach to rounding off and to converting between percents and decimal notations.
3. Students should not expect that all problems will be carbon-copies of problems we solve in class, rather that we develop problem-solving skills in class that they can then use to deal with novel situations. 

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Last Major Assessment of the First Term Covering Chapter 2

Home Nugget #27
Assigned on Wednesday October 22, 2008
Due on Friday October 24, 2008

TAKE HOME QUIZ 
All problems from double-sided sheet labeled Test Form 3. 
You are to show work/explanations for all problems on a separate sheet of paper. Five random problems will be graded for accuracy as counted as a 50 point quiz.


Monday, October 20, 2008

Gearing Up for A Last Term 1 Assessment on Chapter 2

Home Nugget #26
Assigned on Monday October 20, 2008
Due on Tuesday October 21, 2008

TWO PARTS:
1. Journal Entry #3 on sections 2-7, 2-8 and 2-9 of the Algebra 1 book. This is another letter/study guide to an absent classmate. However, using the guidelines provided in class, students are expected to craft a product superior to that of their 2nd entry.

2. In Algebra 1 book,

Page 134 #44 - 52
Page 136 #1 - 13


Sunday, October 19, 2008

Some Solutions to Help Get A Grip on Mixture Problems

We discussed in class on Friday that it would be useful to check as many solutions as possible when it comes to mixture problems to get a sense of whether you are on the right track or not. Since there are no even-numbered solutions provided in the book, I have included a bunch below.

#4: 15 pounds
#6: 0.20(5 - n) + 1.00n = 0.50(5)
#14: about 3.67
#16: 432g + 7.35(15 - g) = 177.21(15)
#18: 9 oz.
#20: table (good luck)
#22: 74
#26: 120 ml. of 25% solution, 20 ml. of 60% solution
#30: 40h + 30h = 245
#32: table (good luck)
#34: 15 seconds