First off, this week the 7th and 8th graders at Ray start a partnership with The Revival (Hyde Parks' improv theater). Through a generous grant that Ray won from Ingenuity, we are starting an arts integration project where we are combining the process and practice of theater/improv with the mathematical practice standards. This first week will feel very much like a theater class as students get comfortable with performing, ensemble, and the "yes and..." philosophy. In the coming weeks we will start explicitly connecting the theater/improv thinking with math thinking. Jeff Gandy from The Revival will be co-teaching with me Mondays and Wednesdays for the next 12 weeks.
Second, the 2nd quarter ends this week. All outstanding or missing assignments need to be in by the 3:45, Tuesday, 1-31-17.
Last, 7th grade starts a unit on area. The standard for 7th graders is that they can find area and surface area of any composite shape, including shapes involving circles. Great video to review what area is:
8th grade continues with y=mx+b. Mr. A will show how we can use an understanding of linear algebra to think about any thing that can be measured.
