Week 7

This is the last push before the first break.  Keep up the good work, everyone!

I will be working at the District Office on Wednesday 9/24 with other 6th grade teachers in the district grading the first unit test (the district wants all teachers of the same course to grade together, so that we can calibrate and ensure that assessments are being graded consistently).  I dislike being out of the classroom, but this is an important (and mandatory) absence.  The substitute teacher will be Mr. Ayala, a former Muir teacher of nearly 40 years whom I trust will be an excellent teacher in my absence.

6th Accelerated (https://sjusd.app.box.com/s/4da00xgz3wfsxk92o874)
As I will be grading the Unit 1 Tests on Wednesday 9/24, students will receive their scores when I return.

Since we had some technology issues on Friday, I have given everyone an extension: Presentation Materials will be due at the end of the day on Monday 9/22.  I have reserved the laptop cart for Monday.  Presentations will occur on Tuesday 9/23.

Our next unit will be on pictorial division.  This is a brand new topic, so your children might be coming home showing you something different from what you have learned in the past.  The common core standard for this topic is as follows:

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.6.NS.A.1
Interpret and compute quotients of fractions, and solve word problems involving division of fractions by fractions, e.g., by using visual fraction models and equations to represent the problem. 

While we all grew up dividing fractions by multiplying the reciprocal (and students definitely need to know how to do this fluently), the standard states that students must be able also to use visual fraction models.  Students need both.  They can use the algorithm to check their answer (and I recommend this).  But the visual model explains why the algorithm works.

If you want some help or extra videos (each one is about 5 minutes long) for yourself or your child, here is what I recommend (it's free to watch, but now you have to register an account):
Interpreting Remainders When Dividing
Dividing Fractions by Whole Numbers
Dividing Mixed Numbers by Fractions
Dividing Fractions by Fractions

7th Grade (https://sjusd.app.box.com/s/fvpzcxpzao0bdhrp86pg)
This week, we will be preparing for our first unit test, which is on Thursday, September 25.  Students will receive a Study Guide and Review on Monday and Practice Test on Wednesday.  If they want a head start, they can download and print their own from the Box.  Since I will be out on Wednesday, I would recommend students to come to Office Hours on Monday 9/22 after school in my room for a special review session.  I am also available during lunch on Monday and Tuesday.  We will begin our second unit (Equations, Expressions, and Inequalities) after the October break.  The Unit 1 Tests will be graded on October 14 after the break, so students will receive their results afterwards.

Below are the skills from Unit 1 with the corresponding practice WS and answer keys.

1. Add Integers (Sum It Up | Answers)
2. Subtract Integers (What Should You Do When you Can't Sleep | Answers)
3. Add/Subtract Positive Decimals (Decimal List Addition and Subtraction | Answers)
4. Add Positive/Negative Decimals (Hidden Message | Answers)
5. Subtract Positive/Negative Decimals (Subtracting Rational Numbers | Answers)
6. Multiply/Divide Integers (Multiplying and Dividing Integers | Answers)
7. Multiply Decimals (Multiplying and Dividing Decimals | Answers)
8. Divide Decimals (Multiplying and Dividing Decimals | Answers)
9. Multiply Fractions (Multiplying and Dividing Fractions | Answers)
10. Divide Fractions (Multiplying and Dividing Fractions | Answers)
11. Divide Integers with a Remainder (Division Fraction Answer Practice | Answers)
12. Integer Gard Game (Unit 1 Review page 4 | Answers)
13. Number Line Reasoning (Unit 1 Review page 1 | Answers)
14. Unit 1 Study Guide | Answers

Week 6

Math Center
Monday, September 15 is our first Math Center.  This is open to all students of all grade levels.  Invitations to select students went home on Friday and students who return the signed permission slip will earn a Muir Dollar.  Everyone who attends will receive 5 Extra Credit Points.  Monday's topic is adding and subtracting positive decimals.  It will be held in Room 802 from 3pm - 4pm and will be taught by Mrs. Tamura and Mrs. Maciel.  Hope to see you there!

Grading Period 1
This week marks the end of the first grading period.  Remember to turn in all assignments no later than Friday for it to count on the Progress Report.  Also, this Progress Report is simply an official courtesy: only semester grades are final and considered for GPA calculations and awards.  The Progress Report is to help parents and students have a snapshot checkpoint of grades at a point in time.  You can always see the most current grades on the Infinite Campus Parent Portal.

6th Accelerated (https://sjusd.app.box.com/s/4da00xgz3wfsxk92o874)
This week, there are 3 big ticket items: a project, preparing for the the first unit test, and taking the first unit test.  On Monday, students will be given the project description (checkpoints due throughout the week and final submissions and presentations due on Monday, September 22), a Unit 1 Study Guide, a Unit 1 Practice Test, and an individual checklist of Unit 1 skills and whether or not the student has mastered it (data taken from performance on past assessments; maybe the skill was not mastered at the time of the assessment, but has now!).  Students will have Monday - Thursday in class to decide how they will use their time: working on the project or preparing for the test.  I will be available to help everyone as they work.  The Unit 1 Test will be administered on Friday, September 19.  I will be out of the classroom on Wednesday, September 24 at the District Office to calibrate grading the test with other 6th Accelerated teachers.  Students will receive their results when I return on Thursday 9/25.

Students may submit Powerpoint / Keynote presentations (or other digitals files) to their appropriate Work Submission Folder on Box.

https://sjusd.app.box.com
Username: s+ ID number @sjusd.org
Password: MMDDYY

7th Grade (https://sjusd.app.box.com/s/fvpzcxpzao0bdhrp86pg)
This week, we will extend our understanding of integers to multiply and divide positive and negative integers and rational numbers.  Our Unit 1 Test will be on Thursday, September 25.

Week 5

This week, we continue our studies regarding integer and rational number operations.  We will have some visitors (teachers, math coaches, and other district personnel) come in to observe math classrooms this week some time.  Don't be alarmed if/when adults come by.

This Friday marks the end of the first grading period, so all work to be counted must be submitted this Friday.  Friday is also our big school fundraiser - the Jog-A-Thon!  All classes will be a bit shorter so that all of them meet before lunch.  The time after lunch will be devoted to the Jog-A-Thon - running and walking outside to get some good exercise, have fun, and raise money.

6th Accelerated (Class documents available at https://sjusd.app.box.com/s/4da00xgz3wfsxk92o874)
Since we wrapped up adding and subtracting rational numbers, this week we move on to multiplying and dividing integers and rational numbers.  On Wednesday, we will begin graphing on the coordinate plane and identifying reflections across the x- and y- axes.  Although we are not dedicating significant time on remediating skills such as subtracting integers and rational numbers, students will see these problems in the daily warm ups.  If your child needs more practice, below are some resources from kuta:

Adding and Subtracting Positive and Negative Fractions
Adding and Subtracting Positive and Negative Decimals

We will have a quiz on Friday that includes review material (adding and subtracting rational numbers) as well as this week's new material of multiplying rational numbers and graphing points and their reflections on the coordinate plane.  It will be an individual quiz (not partner like last week).

7th Grade Common Core (Class documents available at https://sjusd.app.box.com/s/fvpzcxpzao0bdhrp86pg)
This week, we will extend our understanding of subtracting integers to subtracting rational numbers, including decimals and fractions.  We will be practicing all week and will have a quiz on Friday that includes review material (adding integers and rational numbers, subtracting integers) as well as the new material of subtracting rational numbers.

Week 4

This week, all classes will begin subtracting integers.  We'll be kicking it off on Tuesday with some story problems and modeling the story with mathematics.  On Wednesday and Thursday we will continue practicing and depending on the level of mastery as we proceed, we may either explore subtraction further by subtracting rational numbers or we may take a partner quiz on subtracting integers.

On Thursday, all students will be taking the computerized STAR test.  The test is adaptive so each student will have an individualized test where a correct answer will bring forth a more difficult question and an incorrect (or no answer) will lead to an easier question.  At the end of the test, students will receive an approximate grade level of mastery.  We will be taking the STAR test periodically (2 - 3 times during the school year).  There is no need to study for this test as it is cumulative math at all grade levels.

By now, you should have received the class syllabus.  It has information about our class.  If you would like to receive emails from me about reminders and key dates, please complete the form below to be added to the class email list.



Once again, notes and other class documents are available on box.

6th Accelerated:  https://sjusd.app.box.com/s/4da00xgz3wfsxk92o874
7th Grade:  https://sjusd.app.box.com/s/fvpzcxpzao0bdhrp86pg

Week 3

This year, SJUSD has partnered with box.com to share documents through network storage.  I'm taking the plunge, too, and am going to try to put classroom documents (notes, practice problems, assignments, etc.) online for you all to have access.  These are the links for the courses that I teach:

7th Grade Common Core: https://sjusd.box.com/s/fvpzcxpzao0bdhrp86pg
6th Grade Accelerated:  https://sjusd.box.com/s/4da00xgz3wfsxk92o874

6th Accelerated
This week, we will fortify our skills of adding integers and rational numbers (and our explanations for our algorithms) and begin lessons on subtracting integers and rational numbers.

We have a quiz on Friday!
Practice Quiz available in Box.

7th Grade
Last week, many students did an excellent job of mastering the skill of adding integers and explaining the process for doing so.  This week, we will dig deeper into addition with adding all kinds of rational numbers: positive and negative decimals, fractions, and mixed numbers.

We have a quiz on Friday!
Practice for adding rational numbers available in Box.

Week 2

This week, students will be taking home their textbooks.  According to the Williams Act, the school district is required to supply all students with a textbook.  The textbooks should stay home and be used as a possible resource if students are stuck.  We also may have homework from the textbook.  So, keep it at home and take care of it there!

We will also be taking the STAR test on the computer (or iPad, whatever is first available).  The STAR test is a computer-adaptive test: a correct answer on a question leads to a more difficult one and an incorrect answer leads to an easier question.  Additionally, if too much time is spent on a problem, a wrong answer is assumed and the student is moved on to the next question.  The results estimate the grade level proficiency of the student and we use this test to track overall progress throughout the year.

Everyone needs a math journal starting this week.  Please make sure that your child comes to school with a math journal (a notebook with graph paper inside).

6th Accelerated (Periods 2 and 6)
Students should have received their score from the MDTP placement test.  Some student schedules may change as a result of this test.  If your child's schedule is changing, you will receive a phone call from Mr. Chamberlin.

This week, we will be exploring the addition of integers and rational numbers.

On Friday, we will be taking our first quiz on Adding Integers and Rational Numbers.  There is a Practice Quiz here that is due at the beginning of class on Friday.

7th Grade (Periods 1, 4, and 5)
This week we will continue practicing the addition of integers and look for patterns to help us do this quickly.

On Friday, we will be taking our first quiz on Adding Integers and Rational Numbers.  There is a Practice Quiz here that is due at the beginning of class on Friday.

New Year, New Name

Welcome Falcon Families!

For those of you who know me from before, I used to be Ms. Li.  Last March I got married and have a new name: Mrs. Tamura.  I am so excited for this new school year.  A lot of things have changed, including the curriculum, the grading policy, and overall strategies for the school year.  We may have some bumps along the way, but I hope that we'll overcome them as we proceed in the right direction.

The first few days of school we'll be reviewing key concepts and vocabulary from the previous year and also getting organized.  Students in all of my classes must have a math journal that has GRAPH PAPER inside (not a regular notebook).  They will also need a folder to hold worksheets and pencils.  A dry-erase marker is also highly recommended.  If you are able to donate any of these supplies, it would be greatly appreciated!  If you need any of these supplies, please let me know and we will make it happen.  Organization day will be on Monday, August 18, so everyone has the weekend to grab (or see me for) supplies for the big day.  Thanks!

This year, I am teaching 6th Accelerated and 7th Grade.  Please check the section that applies to you or your child.

6th Accelerated (Periods 2 and 6)
In this course, students will be learning the common core standards for both 6th grade and 7th grade.  The intention is that they will take Algebra 1 as 7th graders and then Geometry as 8th graders.  It is a very challenging course and is reserved for the highest performing 6th graders.  To determine placement, we have looked at past CST scores, the Illuminate end-of-course test from 5th grade, and the Pre-Algebra readiness test that will be administered on Thursday, August 14.  Please be advised that student schedule may change after the results of the Pre-Algebra readiness test.

7th Grade (Periods 1, 4 and 5)
In this course, students will be learning the common core standards for 7th grade.  We will take last year's introduction to integers and extend it to operations with rational numbers for Unit 1.  Some students may just have me as their regular grade level 7th grade math teacher.  Some students have an additional period of Math Lab with the fabulous Ms. Vickery.  No matter what, it's going to be a fantastic year with everyone learning a lot.