Announcements:
August 31, 2016
The first set of grades have gone in. I struggle with putting in such few grades because it can distort where a student actually is. I know some of you are panicking and some are thinking "Wow! This is going to be easy". Both reactions could be the correct reaction OR the wrong reaction…time will tell. Students have taken 1 Concept Check and turned in one week of homework. This is not a true picture of the year. If the grades are lower than expected, ask your student what HE or SHE is going to do to fix it. I have given details in class on how to improve Concept Check scores. Encourage your child to take care of it. If the grades are high, ask your student why HE or SHE is doing well. Encourage them to stay on top of things. Right now, our kiddos are learning to take care of things on their own. If I see a problem, I will contact you.
8th Graders have their first big test on Tuesday, September 6th. 7th Grade's first big test will be the following week. The test will look almost identical to the Number Sense homework we have had the first couple of weeks. This test COULD change your student's grade dramatically…for good or for bad. Students will NEED to study the rules for adding/subtracting/multiplying/dividing fractions and decimals. Remember all my homework and solutions are available in Schoology:)
The first set of grades have gone in. I struggle with putting in such few grades because it can distort where a student actually is. I know some of you are panicking and some are thinking "Wow! This is going to be easy". Both reactions could be the correct reaction OR the wrong reaction…time will tell. Students have taken 1 Concept Check and turned in one week of homework. This is not a true picture of the year. If the grades are lower than expected, ask your student what HE or SHE is going to do to fix it. I have given details in class on how to improve Concept Check scores. Encourage your child to take care of it. If the grades are high, ask your student why HE or SHE is doing well. Encourage them to stay on top of things. Right now, our kiddos are learning to take care of things on their own. If I see a problem, I will contact you.
8th Graders have their first big test on Tuesday, September 6th. 7th Grade's first big test will be the following week. The test will look almost identical to the Number Sense homework we have had the first couple of weeks. This test COULD change your student's grade dramatically…for good or for bad. Students will NEED to study the rules for adding/subtracting/multiplying/dividing fractions and decimals. Remember all my homework and solutions are available in Schoology:)
August 25, 2016
We are almost up and running on Schoology. We still have a few issues, so I will continue to use this website primarily until we have ALL students on Schoology. Thank you for your patience.
8th Grade Parents… Our eighth graders will be taking the PSAT this year. Last year, our students took the test and received valuable information on their strengths and weaknesses and were provided access to Khan Academy tutoring videos in preparation for the SAT in high school. We are excited our students will have the opportunity again this year:) Please read the following flyer and let us know if you have any questions.
PSAT Flyer
We are almost up and running on Schoology. We still have a few issues, so I will continue to use this website primarily until we have ALL students on Schoology. Thank you for your patience.
8th Grade Parents… Our eighth graders will be taking the PSAT this year. Last year, our students took the test and received valuable information on their strengths and weaknesses and were provided access to Khan Academy tutoring videos in preparation for the SAT in high school. We are excited our students will have the opportunity again this year:) Please read the following flyer and let us know if you have any questions.
PSAT Flyer
August 16, 2016
Great parent resources as we head into Middle School Math!! I know many parents are overwhelmed with the math concepts students learn in the middle school years. It's not taught the same way and many have forgotten how to do these types of problems. Parents may be reluctant to help. BUT, the good news is 1) with Common Core, my math kids are the STRONGEST math kids I have ever worked with!! It's working!! and 2) you can be your student's most encouraging coach!!
Jo Boaler, from Stanford University, is one of the leading professors in helping parents, teachers, and students overcome the fear of math by debunking many of the ideas about who/what makes a good math student. I have used many of her strategies in class and have seen significant growth in my students. I am eager to spread the word and help you, the parents, to feel empowered, as well:) Click on the purple for links to the info.
Jo Boaler's Webpage for Parents: https://www.youcubed.org/parents/
How to help support your child in math (even if you don't know the math)
100% is not always good!! Interesting article about the importance of not telling your child, he/she is "smart"!
Math Norms - The REAL way to think about math learning.
The science behind what Jo Boaler has to say. She has really good short videos explaining how we can think about math learning differently, so students are more successful.
Great parent resources as we head into Middle School Math!! I know many parents are overwhelmed with the math concepts students learn in the middle school years. It's not taught the same way and many have forgotten how to do these types of problems. Parents may be reluctant to help. BUT, the good news is 1) with Common Core, my math kids are the STRONGEST math kids I have ever worked with!! It's working!! and 2) you can be your student's most encouraging coach!!
Jo Boaler, from Stanford University, is one of the leading professors in helping parents, teachers, and students overcome the fear of math by debunking many of the ideas about who/what makes a good math student. I have used many of her strategies in class and have seen significant growth in my students. I am eager to spread the word and help you, the parents, to feel empowered, as well:) Click on the purple for links to the info.
Jo Boaler's Webpage for Parents: https://www.youcubed.org/parents/
How to help support your child in math (even if you don't know the math)
100% is not always good!! Interesting article about the importance of not telling your child, he/she is "smart"!
Math Norms - The REAL way to think about math learning.
The science behind what Jo Boaler has to say. She has really good short videos explaining how we can think about math learning differently, so students are more successful.
August 1, 2106
Wow!! It's almost that time of year again!! If you're here, you must already be looking forward to school:) Okay, maybe just curious! Well, there are a few things you can be doing to get ready for school. Otherwise you will have some time after school starts to get these things going!
1. Gather items on the Middle School Supply List. For math, I would like to add another HIGHLY RECOMMENDED item…those REALLY cheap spiral notebooks. (They are only 17 cents at Walmart and Target.) Pick up about 10 while they're cheap!! I will expect you to keep your homework organized this year, and having these will be the easiest, light-weight way to do so. One 80-page notebook will serve as a place to do homework and keep quizzes for each unit. Oh! And we will learn to take notes in Notability…a stylus will be REALLY helpful!!
2. Create an account a Khan Academy, if you don't already have one. Those of you on the younger side may have to have your parents help you out here. PLEASE write down your username and password!! Oh, and have your name as part of your username, otherwise I can't tell who you are when you complete assignments.
3. Start a Mission for the grade level of your choice on Khan Academy to wipe out some of the summer cobwebs:) Brush up on fractions and decimals…we always begin with a review as they are two of the most important skills you need to be successful in 7th and 8th grade math.
4. Enjoy your last week and a half of summer!!
Wow!! It's almost that time of year again!! If you're here, you must already be looking forward to school:) Okay, maybe just curious! Well, there are a few things you can be doing to get ready for school. Otherwise you will have some time after school starts to get these things going!
1. Gather items on the Middle School Supply List. For math, I would like to add another HIGHLY RECOMMENDED item…those REALLY cheap spiral notebooks. (They are only 17 cents at Walmart and Target.) Pick up about 10 while they're cheap!! I will expect you to keep your homework organized this year, and having these will be the easiest, light-weight way to do so. One 80-page notebook will serve as a place to do homework and keep quizzes for each unit. Oh! And we will learn to take notes in Notability…a stylus will be REALLY helpful!!
2. Create an account a Khan Academy, if you don't already have one. Those of you on the younger side may have to have your parents help you out here. PLEASE write down your username and password!! Oh, and have your name as part of your username, otherwise I can't tell who you are when you complete assignments.
3. Start a Mission for the grade level of your choice on Khan Academy to wipe out some of the summer cobwebs:) Brush up on fractions and decimals…we always begin with a review as they are two of the most important skills you need to be successful in 7th and 8th grade math.
4. Enjoy your last week and a half of summer!!