Making Math a Corner “Stone” of Learning

Feb 03

ISATS are approaching!!

ISAT testing will be in three weeks. We are busy in the classroom preparing for the testing. That is one reason for completing various Investigation Activities from our book. The Investigations hit on a variety of topics that will be on the ISAT test. We are also working on Extended Response questions. The students have to solve the problem by showing the steps that they took (ie showing the 5 problems it might take to get the final anwer). Then the students have to write “what” they did and they reasons “why” they took those steps. We have been focusing on the writing in a T chart method. The students seem to have a good grasp on the concept!

Please check with your student that they have a calculator available to them the week of testing. The state of Illinois allows the students to use a calculator on all portions of the 7th & 8th grade math tests. We will be working on some of the components of our calculator prior to testing. I will have a couple of calculators available for use, but it would be advantageous if your child was familiar with their own calculator.

Feb 03

Feb 7-11 PRE-ALGEBRA

Homework Assignments, Pre-Algebra Comments Off

Monday–**Algebra Assessment Test** and ISAT Extended Response

Tuesday–Area of Parallelograms/Rectangles Activity andWS Proving why you must use right angles when doing area.

Wednesday–Area of Triangles Activity andWS. Proving why 2 identical triangles can form a parallelogram or rectangle: proving the formula of B*H/2

Thursday– Area of Trapezoids Activity andWS. Proving why 2 identical trapezoidscan form a parallelogram: also proving the why we need to add B1 and B2 to form the “new” base”.

Friday–Computer Lab for MSM program. You should be completing the Algebra and Equations topic and please progress to Algebra and Inequalities. No homework; enjoy your weekend!

Feb 03