Homework for Wednesday, November 5

Assignment: Slugville

Due Date: Thursday, November 6

Slugville is an assignment requiring students to find the central tendencies for a set of 16 numbers (it's a very small town) and identify which CT each of the three candidates is running their campaign on. That's the arithmetic.

But the fun part of this assignment is making it real. It's also a fun assignment to take part in with your child, starting now. The premise is that you look at the pros and cons of each slogan (based on the "average" of choice the candidate is using) and write those down. It's basically debate using data only. These will be turned in for use later ...

Eventually, everyone will randomly draw a candidate, with their partner in class, to write a 30-60 second blurb for. The teams will be evaluated by several unknown teachers (well, I know who they are ...) who will "hire" the winning team and pay them with one candy point. The teachers are tasked with selecting the team that makes the best use of the data in their favor, NOT necessarily the candidate they agree with. This is learning to read data and use it, but it's also about really seeing HOW advertising uses data for their own purpose and then learning to make educated decisions. 

Again, if you enjoy these ideas, see if you can help them jot down some pros and cons for each candidate's case. Have a conversation not about who is "right," but how to argue for whoever they end up representing, knowing that using the cons against the other candidates is also a strategy. All blurb writing will occur in class, so this is your chance to jump in and help out!

Meanwhile, the Central Tendencies test is tomorrow, November 6. 

By now, it should mostly feel "easy," in spite of their lack of experience with these calculations prior to a month ago. They expressed all week that it's feeling that way, so practicing a bit more before it's test time will help ease their nerves if they still have them. Again, here is The link (also available for students in the resource section of our math Google classroom) to an online flashcard set I created. It is available to use at any time and several students told me they have already tried it. Students check their answers by clicking on the card and may redo the cards as many times as they want to, no grade attached. Why not?!?!?

Practice for the Central Tendencies Test on November 6

Tonight's assignment:  CTs Kahoot

Due date: Wednesday, but no later than prior to the test on Thursday.

Practicing is how you get better at something. We all know that juggling a soccer ball or giving a speech take practice, and so does math!

 This link (also available for students in the resource section of our math Google classroom) is to an online flashcard set I created and is available to use at any time. Students check their answers by clicking on the card and may redo the cards as many times as they want to, no grade attached.

Your only task is to help them feel confident and prepared!

Homework for Monday, November 3

 Can you believe it's November already?!?!?!

Assignment: Central Tendencies Review

Due: Tuesday, November 4 (no later than Thursday, November 6)

This assignment looks exactly like Thursday's test ... but with different numbers and different questions. There will be no surprises on the test, which is how a test should be. If they know their central tendencies and how to manipulate them, things it's a predictable set of tasks. 

So, how can you help?

Check definitions, provide practice number sets, and help them load their Notes Books with good examples. I encouraged them (many times) to use their grid paper to solve the questions, but they are welcome to use the blocks in class as well. Whatever gives them confidence! And don't forget a cool bottle of water, comforting snack, or stuffed friend to sit alongside when they are testing!

Homework for Thursday, October 30

 OPTIONAL Assignment: Mathematical Tug-of-War

Due Friday and Friday only.

Part of life at NOVA is challenging yourself to learn, but it is also about enjoying our community. 

If students want to partake in an algebraic puzzle, then they can take advantage of this option tonight. It's a one night deal for credit, but feel free to help them work through the problem at any time for fun. This problem came from an old book called, "Math for Smarty Pants," which channels the solving math for fun mentality. 

Otherwise: Enjoy the Halloween party!

Homework for Tuesday & Wednesday

Assignment for Tuesday:  Factor Trees

Due Wednesday, October 29

How can you help? 

Check the resource sheet I included in the Google Classroom for how to build a factor tree. Feel free to take them through those steps as needed. We worked the number 20 in class to show that a) every number has a unique prime factorization and b) it doesn't matter the "route" you take to get there: starting with 4 x 5 or 2 x 10 gets you to the same place. Get the ball rolling and you'll get there!

*Hint - if the number is even I always start with 2 x because it decreases the size of the original number. And so on. ;-)

Assignment for Wednesday: Counting Pets

Due Thursday, October 30

This assignment really digs into actually reading and interpreting graphs; specifically bar graphs (histograms) in this assignment. It requires not just knowing what the central tendencies are and how to calculate them, but also how to read and understand what these graphs are telling you. It's part of our statistics work!

 So, how can you help?

*For this assignment, they will need to use both graphs. Make sure they figure out which one gives the information they need for each question.

*They should think about what the graphs do tell them and what they don't ... again, this requires truly reading the graphs for information.

*Ask about what we did in class today and how we practiced representing and reading the data points. BOTH graphs have data points, but they represent different things ... about pets.
*If a question cannot be answered, they should explain what additional information you would need to answer it. If they are stuck ask them to tell you what seems to be missing ... "Can you answer that? Why not?"

Catching up

 Sorry, I fell off a little bit last week, but am getting my bearings back now. What do you need to know?

Homework for Thursday, October 23 was Finding Factors

We are weaving in some early fraction concepts before digging in fully, so this assignment was to remind them of those skills. Overall, they did very well and we should be able to move along quickly.

Friday for Social Emotional Health, we talked a bit about making mistakes, forgiveness, being misunderstood, making friends, and being mindful. I kind of rolled a lot into the morning, but closed it with this short film if you'd like to watch it. I stopped the video halfway through and asked them what they thought of the boy's attitude. At the end of the film, we discussed what the boy had been feeling and what they thought now. I have used this film to emphasize empathy in past years, but it served its purpose for the hodgepodge that was my lesson today. I recommend it!

The Present

Homework for today, October 27:

Justa Middle School, due October 28.

This homework is another test of how they are doing with identifying the central tendencies of mean, median, and mode, along with the range of a number set. Students should continue to add clarifiers to their definitions in their Notes Books. For example, some students just added TODAY that there could be more than one mode in a number set or even no mode at all. We are still practicing with blocks on grid paper to test and visualize what those numbers mean. This is preparation for the inverse: can you look at a graph and identify those central tendencies from the data? That challenge is coming this week!

So, what can you do to help?

Continue helping them refine their definitions of those words. Have them put in examples they can refer back to: how is the median of an even-numbered set different from an odd numbered set? Some students like to continue the visual element by using the graph paper at the top of each page to show a graph like we have practiced in class. Hint: a graph represents a data set, so what IS that data set?

Stay tuned!

Homework for Tuesday, October 21

 Assignment: Perfect 10

Due: Wednesday, October 22

We are now learning about the central tendencies, or measures of center, and how they are used in math. Your child should now have the definitions of mean, median, mode, and range in their notes. 

We did a physical activity today that demonstrated how all of those CTs show up and represent data in a number set. Students each received a number of cubes and then lined up by those numbers, noticing how the mode showed up, where the median was in the line, and how the range was figured from the person with the least to the person with the most. Ultimately, to find the mean we did a sorting task with the cubes until everyone had the same amount in their hands. 

The key to understanding the central tendencies and how they represent and/or skew data is grounded in their ability to notice their differences. We will use graphs to see these differences and activities where they debate which one represents which data best. There are a lot of activities that we will do to experience what those words mean and how they both guide and mislead us. It's a pretty fun unit, if I do say so myself.

So, what can you do?

Check over their definitions of the words. Have them add examples (besides the ones I provide) that help illustrate each of them in number sets. This is just the beginning, so keep checking in. The graphing activities in this unit are even more difficult if they don't have the opportunity to talk about them outside of class, so please ask questions and see if they can explain them to you. 

But as always: do not DO the homework for them. Ask questions, but ask them what they are thinking. The more they do, the better it will stick. And have fun with this! 

Homework for Monday, October 20

 Assignment: Test Corrections

Due: Tuesday, October 21

It's here! The students have their tests in hand and the corrections sheet to make their corrections on. You have the email I sent yesterday and the student directions are on the homework sheet.

To note: 

*Test correction scores are a percentage of corrections made correctly. 

*This is a one-shot deal: this is a redo disguised as an assignment.

*Retests are parent/student choice and are not required.

What can you do to help?

Everything! Help them identify their mistakes, add new notes to their Notes Book, check online resources, and provide practice problems. You are there to support their growth; now is your chance to reinforce that learning. 

Please let me know if you need anything!

Post-Test Notes, October 15

 Today we had our first math test of the year. I had the students fill out an exit ticket and thought you might enjoy the summary of their thoughts:

15 people felt the test was easier than they thought it would be. That's great! It (hopefully) means that they can see how I teach beyond the 7th grade curriculum standards and, in fact, they learned more than I needed to test them on.

16 people thought the test was about what they expected. That's great! It (hopefully) means that there were no surprises and they felt we had covered the material well until they were prepared. Of course it could also mean that they didn't feel prepared but expected to feel that way. While this isn't ideal, it might mean they learned from this experience and can work towards feeling more prepared in the future. 

2 people felt the test was more difficult than they expected. One of them admitted to feeling nervous because it was a test. This is a normal feeling that will hopefully abate when they settle in and learn some new mindful tools. The second person was absent for most of our week of prep activities in class; never ideal. It could also be that they were overconfident or didn't get their homework turned in for feedback? We shall see!

I also asked for feedback on the testing classroom atmosphere: (some voted for more than one)

12 people would have liked quiet (instrumental) background music

3 people would appreciate white noise

15 people like their testing room perfectly quiet, as it was today

7 people liked the idea of softer lighting

My takeaways from this feedback is a) can I work with Mr. Gacek, for the next test, to let the music and quiet people take the test in their preferred environment. My guess is that although it will mean switching rosters around for that day, he will be perfectly game. And b) When the students move into their preferred spaces for the test, I can have different spaces differently lit for them to choose from. Some students had no comment, so they will be flexible!

Test Results will be entered after conferences in order not to skew the results of what they have worked on so far. RETESTS will be discussed on Monday, October 20, and you will receive that information at the same time via a form to sign on that day when they are doing test corrections for homework. Yes, they may retest! We all learn at different paces and our intentions are to keep them all moving at their own pace. 

Meanwhile, don't forget Quiz Bowl this Friday starting around 9:15!  Mo ;-)

Conference Week Info

Monday Assignment: Decimal Choice Form

Due: Tuesday, October 14

How can you help? 

*Have your child bring their Math Notes book home and help them fill it with reassuring reminders. 

*Have them take as many of the Google form quizzes as help; only one will count as their grade, so they do not need to "complete" all of them. 

Wednesday, October 15:  Decimal Unit Test

Topics: 

*addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of decimals

*ordering of decimals and identifying numbers by place value

*applications or knowing which operations to use to solve "problems"

How can you help?

*Have your child bring their Math Notes book home and help them fill it with reassuring reminders. 

*Go over anything they are concerned about. Provide practice problems, review the division links in their math Google Classroom.

*Help them to find a snack, a stuffed animal, or a fidget that helps them to settle for during the test. 

*Make sure they bring their Math Notes book with them! Write a little "you can do this" note inside! ;-)

*There is no homework on math test days

Friday, October 17:  Our first Quiz Bowl!

This is our 6th grade questions (some trivia included) game. It is a lot like team Jeopardy and fun to watch. We will begin around 9:15 and you are welcome to attend for any or all of it!

Quiz Bowl happens about every 5 weeks. If you cannot make this one, there will be others. Hope to see you there! ;-)