Do the impossible
Posted in algebra 1, geometry, pre-algebra on May 31st, 2009
As we finish off the year, in Pre-Algebra, I have students working on dimensions. Here’s a sheet I just finished to help them apply formulas for finding Area and Perimeter of 2-D shapes Volume and Surface Area of 3-D shapes
Posted in algebra 1, pre-algebra, what can you do with this on May 25th, 2009
On September 23rd, 1999, the Mars Climate Orbiter lost contact with NASA engineers. After an exhaustive search to reacquire the signal until the 25th, the Orbiter was assumed to have been destroyed as it entered Mars’s atmosphere or to have bounced off and “re-entered heliocentric space.” Software guiding the Mars Climate Orbiter assumed a set [...]
Posted in algebra 1, geometry, pre-algebra on May 21st, 2009
I ordered, on suggestion of a former teacher of mine, a set of books called The Art of Problem Solving which comes in the basic and advanced varieties. I’m planning on using them as supplements to class as well as required work for kids on the math team. Concise, full of examples, and easy to [...]
Posted in pre-algebra, what can you do with this on Jan 25th, 2009
We’re doing percents of in Pre-Algebra tomorrow. For a good high impact visual review I think this will be helpful to project up onto the board. I am good at making geogebra manipulatives, but I still stink at what you do with ‘em once they’re up on the board. Dan mentioned his trouble in using [...]
Posted in algebra 1, pre-algebra on Jan 19th, 2009
I’m teaching inequalities this week in Algebra. Here are the files I’ll be using. We’re going to solve compound inequalities, and learn how to graph inequalities like y < 3x – 5. I spent forever on the presentations getting the animations / number lines. Anyway, here are the goodies.
Posted in pre-algebra on Jan 14th, 2009
How do you get kids to be good at estimating? How do you get them to make appropriate conclusions from fractions, decimals, and percents? My theory right now begins with some basic memorization. So I’m having all my Pre-Algebra students memorize all the fractions with denominators up to 10. Including the sevenths – which they [...]
Posted in pre-algebra on Jan 11th, 2009
Our next chapter is all about ratios, proportions, and percents. We’re going to start by studying ratios, rates, and unit rates. Here’s my presentation. Find the presentation files in my equations/proportions folder as a .pdf and .tex (source). After last week, our first in three (thanks to Portland’s Snow Fest 2008), I’m trying to use [...]
Posted in algebra 1, geometry, pre-algebra on Jan 7th, 2009
I just finished a bunch of plans and worksheets. Sometimes when you feel out of it, getting a bunch of planning done makes me feel like I’m back on top of the game. Check out the new goodies in my box.net folders. and Hope you enjoy.
Posted in pre-algebra on Dec 3rd, 2008
I had a little breakthrough while I did some planning for tomorrow. I’ll be teaching LCMs in Pre-Algebra. And I am wondering about the value of me solving problems at the front of the class. If the goal is really just to convey the steps, perhaps I should focus more on the explanation and less [...]
I don't speak for my school district.
