Winter Break!

Hello all! No homework over winter break. Though practicing on Khan is a good idea, especially for those trying to graduate on time. 

Be safe and have a Happy Holidays! See everyone at 8:45 a.m. on Monday, January 9, 2017!

Math Week 12-19-16

ALL: Middle of the Year NWEA Math testing on Wednesday and Thursday. This test gives us a diagnostic look at how students have progressed in their learning so far this year.

7th: We finish adding (and subtracting-- which we learned doesn't really exist) integers.

8th: We will review knowing and understanding measures of center.

HOMEWORK UPDATE 12-19-16

ALL: (DUE: 12-23-16) 6000 more math points earned on Khan Academy between 12-18-16 and the end of the day on 12-23-16!

Homework Update 12-14-16

7th: ( Due 12-16-16) Handout pg 22-23

8th: ( Due 12-16-16) Handout--Two step equations #1-14

Alg: See Mr. Papczun

LINK FOR 8th grade on 12-14-16

Equations-Algebra Four link: http://www.shodor.org/interactivate/activities/AlgebraFour/

Homework Update! 12-12-16

7th: ( Due 12-14-16) Write two riddles. One for each of the following terms:

1. additive inverse  

2. absolute value

8th: ( Due 12-16-16) Handout--Two step equations #1-14

Alg: See Mr. Papczun

Math Week 12-12-16

7th: We are learning about how to use integers. Our focus is adding and subtracting with integers. We also continue to review additive inverses and absolute value.

Practice game: Space Race


8th: Students practice solving two-step equations. 

Need to Help Solving Two-Step Equations: Math Antics Video

Here is a link for an on-line practice app that gives a visual balance model for solving equations. Great practice! Model Algebraic Equations

Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day

Are you a problem solver?  Are you compelled to understand how things work?

Come join Argonne National Laboratory in exploring the world of Engineering and the endless possibilities a career in this exciting field offers. Women in Science and Technology, in conjunction with Argonne Education, present "Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day". This day gives young female students a unique opportunity to discover Engineering careers alongside world class scientists and engineers.

Participants will be able to enjoy motivational presentations by fellow female engineers, tour Argonne’s cutting edge research facilities, connect with a mentor, engage in hands on engineering experiments, and compete in a team challenge. Plus free lunch! Come unlock the doors to your future with "Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day".

Register for your chance to win a day at Argonne with the following link: http://www.anl.gov/education/learning-center/community-outreach/introduce-girl-engineering-day

SNOW AND COLD!

Reminder to all students and parents/guardians! It is getting cold and snowy out there! Students go outside for recess unless it gets extremely inclement. Students should be dressed for the weather in hats, coats, mittens, etc. Also, with snow comes the temptation to throw snow. Please remind students not to throw snow at school for the safety of all of our students and staff. If you have any further questions please contact the main office at Ray.

Math Week 12-5-16

7th: We finish up from last week's Data Week with a test and homework to get the data for our science fair projects complete. We then turn our focus to integers--positive and negative whole numbers (and zero!). What are they? How do they work? What does it mean to be "more negative"?

8th: We also finish up from last week's Data Week with a test and homework to get the data for our science fair projects complete. We then turn our focus to how equations can be written from stories and how stories can be generated from equations. We also remind ourselves what it means to balance an equation.

Homework Update 12-5-16!

ALL: (DUE: 12-10-16) 6000 more math points earned on Khan Academy between 12-4-16 and the end of the day on 12-3-16!

7th/8th:(Due 12-12-16) Science Fair Data Collection and Data Display (your graph of the data collected). Mr. A will be available from 3:45 to 4:45 in 304 this Wed. 12-7-16 to give help and advice to anyone who needs it! Examples and rubric below:

Science Fair Data Collection and Graph Rubric

Category--	Beginning-1	Developing-2	Proficient-3	Advanced-4
Data  Collection	Student has a table/chart or hands in some data but in may not be organized.	Student has a table/chart that shows what was measured. Units might be included.	Student has a clear table/chart that shows what was measured and how it was measured. Units are included.	Student has a clear table/chart that shows what was measured and how it was measured. Units are included. Table/Chart shows some analysis of the data.
Graph	Student has a graph.	Students has a graph of their collected data. The graph may be labeled and/or  titled with units included.	Students has a graph appropriate to their collected data. The graph is labeled and titled with units included.	Students has a graph appropriate to their collected data. The graph is labeled and titled with units included. Student includes multiple graphs that show comparison of data and/or graph(s) clearly answer the project question.

Video Help and Examples: 

This channel CreateScienceProject is very good; however, Video 7 (shared here) is most about science fair data:

Data and graphs with them:

ScienceBuddies

NOAA

Alg: Handouts: 

8th--pg 50-51

7th--When are equations true?

UChicago Tutoring Reminder!

Hello Parents and Students,

The UChicago drop-in tutoring program for middle school math that runs from 3:45 to 4:45 will have its last day for this calendar year on Monday, December 5, 2016. The UChicago students will be on break. They will return in January and tutoring will resume on a date TBA.

Sincerely,

Mr. Albrecht

lalbrecht@cps.edu

Math Week 11-28-16 is DATA WEEK!

7th/8th: All students will be learning about data displays. We will look at how data is displayed and why we display it the way we do. We are having Data Week to get ready for Science Fair--knowing students will need to display and interpret data for their projects. Specifically this week, we will focus on three topics: misleading graphs, circle (pie) graphs, and scatter plots. Lots of helpful links and videos below.

Types of graphs from Skills You NEED: http://www.skillsyouneed.com/num/graphs-charts.html

Which graph to use and when from Turtle Diary:

Creating Circle Graphs from TeacherVision: https://www.teachervision.com/tv/printables/SISA00191_3.pdf 

Pie Graphs from Khan:

Misleading Graphs from Passy's World of Mathematics: http://passyworldofmathematics.com/misleading-graphs/ 

Homework Update!

ALL: (DUE: 12-3-16) 6000 more math points earned on Khan Academy between 11-27-16 and the end of the day on 12-3-16!

7th/8th:(Due 12-2-16) Handout--Survey Your Classmates about their pets. (Also Bonus!-- find a misleading graph in the media! Hand in a misleading graph you found in the media with a description of how and why it is misleading for 20 extra credit points!)

Alg: Mr. Papczun's week

UChicago tutoring program update

Hello Parents and Students,

The UChicago drop-in tutoring program for middle school math that runs from 3:45 to 4:45 will have its last day for this calendar year on Monday, December 5, 2016. The UChicago students will be on break. They will return in January and tutoring will resume on a date TBA.

Sincerely,

Mr. Albrecht

lalbrecht@cps.edu

Math Week 11-21-16

This is a short week. With the Thanksgiving Holiday, students will only be in school Monday and Tuesday. 7th graders will finish our thinking and learning on scale factor with tasks about how we use scale factor to understand and use maps. 8th graders will practice with translating real-world tasks into equations.

I hope everyone has a safe and happy Thanksgiving Holiday!

Homework Update for the Week 11-21-16

ALL: NO KHAN OVER THANKSGIVING!! Have a safe and happy holiday!

7th:(Due 11-28-16) 

PROJECT: Create a Scale Model

You should build a model, draw a map, or create a blueprint of something you are interested in. Make a model of a building you think is cool. Create a diorama of a scene from a book or movie you enjoy. Make a map the neighborhood, or your walk to school. Create a blueprint of your bedroom. Use grid paper, legos, or whatever creative idea you choose. EXAMPLES ON MR. A’s BLOG.

You will need to determine and show the scale factor between the actual thing you model and the model you create and demonstrate an understanding through a written description of how you determined the size of objects or drawings in your model based on the actual thing you are modelling.

Please talk to Mr. A before Thursday if you do not understand any part of this project!

Rubric:

	Beginning-1	Developing-2	Proficient-3	Advanced-4
Design and Construction	Design and construction are incomplete.	Scale model shows evidence of hasty construction.	Scale Model shows evidence of careful craftsmanship to scale.	Scale Model shows evidence of very careful craftsmanship and the design is to scale and detailed.
Scale Understanding	Does not know how to find scale to construct a model.	Knows how to find scale of a model but is unable to put it to use.	Knows how to find scale of a model and puts it to use.	Knows how to find scale of a model and puts it to use. Describes the process of finding scale to construct the model.

Examples:

Video Help: 

8th: None!

Alg: 7th graders need to complete the scale model project above. 8th grade students will do handout: Make a Box-and-Whisker Plot

Math Week 11-14-16

7th: Students continue to use similar figures and proportionality to find indirect measures. We also learn how to use the idea of similar figures to find scale factor. The students will then apply an understanding of scale factor to create scale drawing and models. 

Video help from Virtual Nerd here.

8th: Students use the idea of a balance to solve linear equation in one variable. Solid resource to develop student thinking around this idea is here.

Homework Update for week of 11-14-16

ALL: (DUE: 11-19-16) 6000 more math points earned on Khan Academy between 11-13-16 and the end of the day on 11-19-16!

7th:(Due 11-28-16) 

PROJECT: Create a Scale Model

You should build a model, draw a map, or create a blueprint of something you are interested in. Make a model of a building you think is cool. Create a diorama of a scene from a book or movie you enjoy. Make a map the neighborhood, or your walk to school. Create a blueprint of your bedroom. Use grid paper, legos, or whatever creative idea you choose. EXAMPLES ON MR. A’s BLOG.

You will need to determine and show the scale factor between the actual thing you model and the model you create and demonstrate an understanding through a written description of how you determined the size of objects or drawings in your model based on the actual thing you are modelling.

Please talk to Mr. A before Thursday if you do not understand any part of this project!

Rubric:

	Beginning-1	Developing-2	Proficient-3	Advanced-4
Design and Construction	Design and construction are incomplete.	Scale model shows evidence of hasty construction.	Scale Model shows evidence of careful craftsmanship to scale.	Scale Model shows evidence of very careful craftsmanship and the design is to scale and detailed.
Scale Understanding	Does not know how to find scale to construct a model.	Knows how to find scale of a model but is unable to put it to use.	Knows how to find scale of a model and puts it to use.	Knows how to find scale of a model and puts it to use. Describes the process of finding scale to construct the model.

Examples:

Video Help: 

8th: (Due 11-18-16)-- Handout: Scale Problems (balancing equations)

Alg: See Mr. Papczun for homework

7th/8th grade survey link for 11-7-16

https://goo.gl/forms/MYX1SIwHDqUZVbV53 

Report Card pick-up and Parent-Teacher Conferences on 11-9-16

Hello all!

No school for students on Wednesday this week. Seventh and eighth grade teachers will meet with parents in the cafeteria from 11:45 to 6:00. 

Homework Update!

ALL: (DUE: 11-5-16) 6000 more math points earned on Khan Academy between 11-6-16 and the end of the day on 11-12-16!

7th:(Due 11-10-16) 

Foldable for the vocabulary:
1. Congruent
2. Similar
3. corresponding sides
4. corresponding angles
5. Similar figures
6. Scale factor

Example:

8th: (Due 11-10-16) 

Create an anchor chart like Mr. A would do in class that explains and models the distributive property

Alg: (Due 11-10-16)
Handout: Rule of Four Handout