Computers and trying to log on to the Holt website

We had the computers in the classroom today, so some students had the ability to get onto the Holt math website and log in.

my.hrw.com


Today in class we wrapped up some retake tests and I will be evaluating the results and looking at them  to see if there is more intervention (practice problems) needed.  :)

Chapter 2-2

Today we wrapped up variables and moved on to math vocabulary.  We don't always realize it, but math has it's own language and meanings.  For example, if they want you to find the answer to a problem they (the book people) might say: evaluate, simplify, find the product, the quotient, sum, difference, value, or any other list of terms. 

Also words such as: plus, sum, total, altogether are addition words with just as many others being used for subtraction, multiplication, and division.  Throw that on top of kids not always liking to read and you can see why it's so important to focus on the terms used in math on daily basis. 

Tomorrow we are going to try to get on the computers in each period and check out the online textbook and resources, if you haven't already, please do so.  I am going to start recommending watching the video clips on the site the night before the lesson is being taught to help increase understanding. 

The site is: my.hrw.com 

Mr. Flaten

Algebra

Today we started looking at variables and expressions in class. 

Problems such as y=15, find the value of y + 30

We had four main vocabulary words today: algebraic expression, variable, constant, and evaluate. 

The videos from the website helped out and I am learning how to post them on this blog, but until I can link them, please log in to the my.hrw.com page and find the tab for videos.  They are listed by section, today we did 2-1 and will work on 2-2 tomorrow. 

Note: we are getting our practice problems done in class, so there hasn't been much or any work at home.  Please also check the website options of "interactive quizzes" for more practice if you'd like. 

I also sent out a mass email to let everyone know the tests were sent home with students.  I am posting them in the gradebook tonight.  If your child has a 1 or 2 they will be doing some retake problems from the sections they did not meet the standard on.  Those grades will be posted this weekend. 

Thanks,
 Mr. Flaten

Chapter 1 Test

Greetings Parents,
 Today we handed back Chapter 1 tests.  You will notice that there are two grades on the test, one for each standard.  First, we have Number Sense (NS).  This was from the whole number division problems on the test.  Also, you will see Expressions and Equations (EE).  Your child should be bringing home their test today to show you. 
  I graded each concept separately. 
            1. Division     
            2. Exponents
            3. Order of Operations
   Also included were some mental math problems and estimating.  If he or she had too many wrong in any area I assigned practice problems and am doing reteaching through Friday.  On Friday we are doing a quick retake on just the sections that were a struggle and that grade will replace or remain the same as the test grade. 

This week we are continuing on starting some algebra concepts.  If you are following the online book with your child's password and username it is Chapter 2.  WEBSITE: my.hrw.com

Wednesday: Chapter 2-1
Thursday: Chapter 2-2
Friday: Chapter 2-3

Please encourage them to watch the online videos to help understand the concepts even before we start them in class.  Enjoy your week!

Online resources are starting up!

The kids have their usernames and passwords in their assignment notebooks.  Go to my.hrw.com and type it in, play around and see what there is to offer. 

Also, tomorrow we are starting order of operations, if you want to click on videos and find the three that are for 1-4.

As always email me if you have questions.  john_flaten@msd.k12.wi.us

Math schedule for Sept. 17-21

Monday: Lesson 1-3 Exponents

Tuesday: Quiz on sections 1-1, 1-2, 1-3  Estimating, Long Division, and Exponents
                ONLINE USERNAMES AND PASSWORDS TO STUDENTS!  :)

Wednesday: Lesson 1-4 Order of Operations

Thursday: Lesson 1-5 Properties and Mental Math

Friday: Review Day, Chapter TEST will be on Monday, Sept. 24th.

Number munchers!

Next week we are going back to the book and continuing Lesson 1 by talking about exponents and other exciting things.  I will post our daily schedule later on this weekend.

If you remember number munchers, here's some fun stuff to play.

http://numbermunchers.org/

Enjoy!
Mr. Flaten

Pretests and Schedule for the week, also websites are hard :)

This week we are doing, or have done, the following:

Monday: 6th Grade course Pretest
Tuesday: Section 1-1 Rounding and Estimating
Wednesday: Section 1-2 Dividing multi-digit numbers
Thursday: Basic Skills Test Day 1
Friday: Basic Skills Test conclusion

The pretest is designed to see how much growth is made over the school year before we teach the concepts and then after we teach the concepts at the end of the year.  There is also a mid year test to see progress as well.

The Basic Skills Test is a compilation of skills that should be known entering middle school math.  This is a more comprehensive test for us to see needs and also start helping to relearn those concepts to help the students be as successful as they can be.

Next week we will be continuing chapter one from the Holt book.

Still working on passwords and entering students into the computer for you to log in and see the online features.  I will tell students in class when this happens and also post here.

Finally, still working on the website thing, it's like a new language for me, but I'm learning.

Just for fun:

Website!

Over this weekend I'll be working on putting together a website for the school year with permanent links to the textbooks and also easy to find information about my math class.

I'll give out the address in class next week and also post it here so you can bookmark both if you wish!

The website will serve as a more stable page for those important links and the blog will be weekly, or more than that, updates about class and cool things I wish to share.

Thanks,
 Mr. Flaten

Today's introduction game was a version of "Pig"  Ask your child how to play this probability game. 

Today in class we rotated for math and I got to share a little bit about me.  Towards the end of the day I showed a class an online game that is a twist on connect four.  The point is it get five in a row, by placing a marble in an empty space and then rotating a grid. 

Here it is:
Pentago online strategy game (Connect Five)

It's called pantago.  Enjoy. 

New School Year 2012-13

First day of school has come and gone yet again.  It was fun to see and meet new students and parents that I will be working with this school year.  We are working out of two different math books and will start with Holt Mathematics and about half way through the year switch over to Big Ideas Math.  I will post and send home more information as the technology piece is in place and you can start exploring the content of both.

Looking forward to a great school year of successes and some minor struggles that we will learn from.  :)

Mr. Flaten

You can check out the websites in the meantime:

Holt Mathematics actual book link (needs user and password) COMING SOON!
Holt Course 1 (old book, not quite lined up with new book, but good info)
Big Ideas Green Book