Week 17 - End of Semester 1

 This week marks the end of the third grading period as well as the semester.  6th grade students have a project due on Friday  and Pre-Algebra students have a unit test and math journal check on Thursday.  These assignments could have a large impact on final grades.

6th Grade Announcements & Homework
This week we will be working on our scale model projects.  On Monday, we will do an example in class where we will measure the dimensions of a miniature cereal box, sketch it, apply a conversion factor, and sketch the model.  Students will need to bring in their own object on Tuesday to repeat the same activity.  Students will have time in class on Tuesday - Thursday to complete their individual projects.  On Friday, we will have a gallery walk for students to see each others work.  Over the winter break, students can earn extra credit by building an actual scale model of their object.

Monday (12/13): Scale Model W.S.; bring in project object
Tuesday (12/14): Scale Model Project (measurements and sketch)
Wednesday (12/15): Scale Model Project (calculations and sketch)
Thursday (12/16): Scale Model Project (complete poster)
Friday (12/17): Optional Extra Credit - Build your scale model

Pre-Algebra Announcements & Homework

This week we will be working on rate problems (person-day problems and distance problems).  On Wednesday, we will be reviewing for the test.  On Thursday we will take the test.  Students will receive the results of their tests on Friday.

Monday (12/13): Work Rate Problems
Tuesday (12/14): Distance Rate Time W.S.
Wednesday (12/15): Review W.S.
Thursday (12/16): No HW (Test and Math Journal Check today)
Friday (12/17): No HW

Week 16 - Two More Weeks Until Break!

On Saturday, nearly the entire math department (Ms. Helguera, Ms. Vickery, Ms. Langner, Mrs. Young, Mr. Butler, Mr. Runkle, Mr. Mintz, and I) met at John Muir at 5:45am to drive down to the Asilomar math conference.  I attended three sessions in the morning and two in the afternoon and came back with many great ideas that I will work into the classroom.  Even though we had to get up very early in the morning and return after dark, it was a Saturday well spent and we are hoping to improve our instruction.


This week, we are getting back to normal.  It's a normal 5-day week with no substitutes or assemblies and both the 6th graders and Pre-Algebra students have a quiz on Friday.


6th Grade Announcements & Homework

This week we will be continuing our study of proportions.  We will begin by writing proportions from word problems.  Next, we will be looking at similar figures and writing proportions from the drawings.  The quiz on Friday will cover writing and solving proportions.

Monday (12/6): Writing Proportions W.S.
Tuesday (12/7): Problem Solving W.S.
Wednesday (12/8): Similar Figures W.S.
Thursday (12/9): Quiz 8 Practice Problems
Friday (12/10): No HW (Quiz today)

Pre-Algebra Announcements & Homework
This week we will be continuing our study of percents.  We will see how they are used in calculating commission, sales tax, profit, and simple interest.  The quiz on Friday will cover those topics.

Monday (12/6): WB 6-6 #1 (5%), 2 (8.5%), 3, 4, 5, 7
Tuesday (12/7): TB Pg. 308 #4-7, #11-14
Wednesday (12/8): WB 6-7 odds
Thursday (12/9): Review WS
Friday (12/10): No HW (Quiz today)