Today students submitted two 50 point quizzes. One was a class participation rubric with which I will assess their level of proactivity in the class for the two and a half weeks we have been together. The other was a class notes rubric in conjunction with their class notes for September 22.
I continue to try and convince students that these kinds of non-traditional assessments are a huge help for those who are not fond of or simply good at, pencil and paper exams that are invariably given in class. Assessment should be comprised of how well the student is doing overall, not their skill in one area.
Home Nugget #12
Assigned on Friday September 25, 2009
Due on Monday September 28, 2009
In Algebra book,
Page 61 # 8 - 11, 14 - 26
Page 62 # 29 - 40
Page 64 # 54 - 58
FCAs
2 points: all problems are completed
2 points: evidence is provided for all problems
Friday, September 25, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Number Systems - Why Do We Need Them and How Do We Use Them?
Home Nugget #11 due 9/25
Assigned on September 24, 2009
Due on September 25, 2009
In Algebra book,
Page 51
# 22 - 27
# 32 - 37
# 48 - 59
Page 52
# 64, 65
# 69, 70
FCAs
2 points: all problems completed
2 points: evidence provided for problems
Assigned on September 24, 2009
Due on September 25, 2009
In Algebra book,
Page 51
# 22 - 27
# 32 - 37
# 48 - 59
Page 52
# 64, 65
# 69, 70
FCAs
2 points: all problems completed
2 points: evidence provided for problems
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Making Your OB Math Notes Work for YOU!
Today's blog title refers to a handout I provided and a subsequent conversation we had in class today regarding our math notes. I strongly encourage families to ask students to see today's handout and then reference the student's math notes to see where areas of potential improvement exist. The 8th grade team as a whole has been made aware that lots of students are having organizational issues and so it is worth remembering that in the math class students are also expected to maintain a binder.
For your reference the binder is comprised of five sections; four of which students should already be making use of. They are:
1. OB Class Notes - the most significant portion of the binder. Students should be working on these notes both in class and AT HOME. They are not traditional notes and require much more maintenance than students are perhaps accustomed to.
2. Home Nuggets - all home nuggets, including those that have been graded and handed back, as well as those that are not collected, should be found in this section.
3. Handouts - often I provide students with problem sets, additional practice, detailed explanations, rubrics and so forth. All of these handouts should be stored in this section.
4. Assessments - all quizzes and tests belong in this section.
5. Guide-To - this is a section that we have not yet explored, but it will essentially consist of 'guides' that the students put together for each chapter we cover in the text.
Furthermore, all papers within each section of the binder must have the date and student's name on the top right hand corner of the sheet. This way each section can be chronologically sorted from older materials to newer materials. At the end of each term, we will empty the binders of all materials, store them in manila folders and begin a new term.
Tonight, students are asked to work exclusively on their class notes for this week. Ultimately, students should be in the habit of working on notes every night. Again, kindly reference the handout provided today for suggestions on what should appear in the notes as well as the rubric I provided last week for how the notes are graded.
ATTENTION! All students were provided with printed instructions for how they and their families can log on to the snapgrades website. Kindly log in over the next few days and if issues arise, feel free to contact me.
Home Nugget #10
Assigned on Wednesday September 23, 2009
Due on Thursday September 24, 2009
Use both the handout provided today titled "How to Make Your OB Math Notes Work for YOU!" as well as the rubric I handed out last week to work on the class notes for 9/21, 9/22 and 9/23.
There are no FCAs today.
For your reference the binder is comprised of five sections; four of which students should already be making use of. They are:
1. OB Class Notes - the most significant portion of the binder. Students should be working on these notes both in class and AT HOME. They are not traditional notes and require much more maintenance than students are perhaps accustomed to.
2. Home Nuggets - all home nuggets, including those that have been graded and handed back, as well as those that are not collected, should be found in this section.
3. Handouts - often I provide students with problem sets, additional practice, detailed explanations, rubrics and so forth. All of these handouts should be stored in this section.
4. Assessments - all quizzes and tests belong in this section.
5. Guide-To - this is a section that we have not yet explored, but it will essentially consist of 'guides' that the students put together for each chapter we cover in the text.
Furthermore, all papers within each section of the binder must have the date and student's name on the top right hand corner of the sheet. This way each section can be chronologically sorted from older materials to newer materials. At the end of each term, we will empty the binders of all materials, store them in manila folders and begin a new term.
Tonight, students are asked to work exclusively on their class notes for this week. Ultimately, students should be in the habit of working on notes every night. Again, kindly reference the handout provided today for suggestions on what should appear in the notes as well as the rubric I provided last week for how the notes are graded.
ATTENTION! All students were provided with printed instructions for how they and their families can log on to the snapgrades website. Kindly log in over the next few days and if issues arise, feel free to contact me.
Home Nugget #10
Assigned on Wednesday September 23, 2009
Due on Thursday September 24, 2009
Use both the handout provided today titled "How to Make Your OB Math Notes Work for YOU!" as well as the rubric I handed out last week to work on the class notes for 9/21, 9/22 and 9/23.
There are no FCAs today.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Logical Reasoning, Counterexamples and Conditional Statements
Today's class started as do many classes, with me posing the question, "do we already know something about the topic that we are planning on investigating?" The student response was overwhelming. We quickly realized that we use these methods of exploring the world around us, particularly math scenarios, as a matter of habit.
Look over and work on your class notes tonight and every night! Someone who picks up your class notes should be able to tell immediately what happened in class that day and how the problems you solved contribute to to the theme of that day's class.
Home Nugget #9
Assigned on September 22, 2009
Due on September 23, 2009
In Algebra book,
Page 42 # 15 - 24
Page 43 # 31 - 38 and 40 - 41
Page 44 # 43, 47 - 49
FCAs
2 points: all problems completed
2 points: evidence provided for all problems
Look over and work on your class notes tonight and every night! Someone who picks up your class notes should be able to tell immediately what happened in class that day and how the problems you solved contribute to to the theme of that day's class.
Home Nugget #9
Assigned on September 22, 2009
Due on September 23, 2009
In Algebra book,
Page 42 # 15 - 24
Page 43 # 31 - 38 and 40 - 41
Page 44 # 43, 47 - 49
FCAs
2 points: all problems completed
2 points: evidence provided for all problems
Monday, September 21, 2009
Distributive, Commutative and Associative Properties
An email was sent out today to all parents and students who provided email contact information with the purpose of re-inviting families to log in to www.snapgrades.net in order to see 1st term standings for mathematics. Printed directions will also be provided this week for students to bring home so kindly ask for them as the week progresses.
Tonight's home nugget serves the function of allowing students to actually make use of the three math properties we acknowledged in class today. It will go a long way in making sense of the properties and putting them into context.
Home Nugget #8
Assigned on Monday September 21, 2009
Due on Tuesday September 22, 2009
In Algebra I book,
Page 30 # 36 - 45
Page 32 # 1 -3, 8 - 12, 18
Page 36 # 33, 34, 37 - 40
FCAs
2 points: all problems completed
2 points: evidence provided for all problems
Tonight's home nugget serves the function of allowing students to actually make use of the three math properties we acknowledged in class today. It will go a long way in making sense of the properties and putting them into context.
Home Nugget #8
Assigned on Monday September 21, 2009
Due on Tuesday September 22, 2009
In Algebra I book,
Page 30 # 36 - 45
Page 32 # 1 -3, 8 - 12, 18
Page 36 # 33, 34, 37 - 40
FCAs
2 points: all problems completed
2 points: evidence provided for all problems
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