math tasks

Grade 7
Lesson 14 Multiple Step Ratio Problems was revisited yesterday and today.  Lesson 15 the Gourmet Cooking and Problem Set #4 with blackberries with the focus being the relationship (story/context), unit rate as it is part of a table, graph, equation, and the story.
Grade 8
Slope is the focus.  Lesson 15 is a step by step up and over on a grid and counts are taken.  Slope is a number that represents how steep a line is.  Lesson 16 builds finding slope from two points on the line.  We used Khan Academy to build the formula as the packet uses different variables.

math tasks

Grade 7
Lesson 14 Multi-step Ratio Problems using real world situation such as baking, biking, and buying cars are the focus.  Mark-ups, discounts, original price, and sales price are common words.
Lesson 15 Equations of Graphs of Proportional Relationships Involving Fractions also uses word problems such as Gourmet Cooking where we deal with the cost of mushrooms and also making juice from berries.  Unit rates, tables, graphs, equations, and the context of the stories have many connections as we examine the proportional relationships.

The standards are :  7.RP.A.1, 7.RP.A.3, 7.EE.B.4a, 7.RP.A.2b and 7.G.A.1

Grade 8
Slope is the focus of our exploration.  Just prior to break vertical and horizontal line and their equations were the focus for Lesson 14.  Lesson 15 The Slope of a Non-Vertical Line established the counting method the steps between two points to determine number representing slope.  Lesson 16 delves a little further and the goal is to be able to find the slope using two points.
The standards are: 8.EE.B.5 and 8.EE.B.6

Khan Academy and the standard put in the search bar will lead you to resources for more practice.

T1 Science Reflection

Students had time (25minutes) in today's class to work on their T1 science reflections.  I've asked that students who haven't completed their reflection, do so for homework.

Students can choose at least one of the below to reflect about:
1) Science Notebook
2) Electromagnet Lab2
3) Egg Drop Project
4) Science Class in general

Students should answer both of these prompts:
A) What is working really well?
B) What do you need to work on to become an even stronger student
(suggestions include but are not limited: avoid socializing, meet with teacher more frequently, make corrections on graded work, ask more questions, try to participate more, change my seat, etc...)  Reflections should be posted on student PLP blogs.

Book Fair Thank You

To the Mystery Person(s) who purchased the 3 books on my science wish list at the book fair.  Many thanks to you!  I look forward to using them in lessons and with students!  Thank you for helping build our  science library!

Student Conference Sign-Up Letter

Click Here for a printable version of our student conference letter.

Electromagnet 2

Students will need to complete and hand-in the "Electromagnet 2" lab by 4:00pm Friday (11/17.)  This is an assessment of the knowledge and skills we've done up until now.  Ultimately, it will end up on student report cards for T1.

11/13 Weekly Email

Here is the link to our weekly email

math tasks

Grade 7
Ratios, including ones with fractions in the comparison, have been our focus as we look at unit rates.  Lessons 11 & 12 have been worked on and we are moving to Lessons 14 & 15 where we will have multi-step problems and graphs of proportional relationships.
Grade 8
Linear equations using two variables are expressed in standard form in Lessons 11 & 12.  The graphs of these relationships are being compared to tables.  Slope is the next topic we will be exploring.

math tasks

Grade 7
We are working with unit rates including those that have fractions in the comparison.  Lesson 12 the Tile project, blue & red race cars, and a Grocery Shopping project.

Grade 8
We are now exploring linear relationships in two variables and making graphs to represent them.  Lesson 12 Linear Equations in Two Variables has several tables to construct creating solutions to an equation and naming them as to which are x and y variables.  Students then use this information to construct their graphs.  The standard form of linear equations is explained in the Lesson 12 Summary.  Students are expected to enter this information in their vocabulary sections.

math tasks

Grade 7
Unit rates with fractions in the content are the focus with area, baking, traveling, and best buys being the real life connections.  We have worked in Lesson 11 and are not working with Lesson 12.
Grade 8
Two variables are being used in our exploration of linear relationships. We are working in Lesson 12 Linear Equations in Two Variables with tables and graphs on the co-ordinate plane.

Science Learning Log

Dear Families,

I am asking students to maintain a Learning Log in science class.  Learning Logs are homework assignments that should take students 10-15 minutes maximum to complete.  Learning Logs will be stored online in their google classroom but could be done on a sheet of paper if necessary.  On certain nights, students will be assigned Learning Logs for homework.  These nights they will be required to complete an entry.  However, more ambitious students/families can choose to complete an entry each night to push student learning forward.

Learning logs allow students an opportunity to reflect on their learning.  They answer the age-old question, "what did you learn in science class today?"   Students should write a minimum of 3 full sentences for each entry but, again, could do more if they are so inclined.  There are 5 questions included with the Learning Log instructions that guide student thinking.  There is also a model/example entry to help support students when making an entry.  My goal is to share this document with families and open a dialogue around student learning in science class.  I hope to use this throughout the year.

As always, please email or call me with questions, concerns or feedback..

Cordially,
Mr. DeCicco
893-5511

Math Tasks

Grade 7
Fractions are a focus as they pertain to unit rates.  The units of the ratios assist in making sense of the problems.  The structures maintain the generalizations:  the dependent (y value) is related to the independent variable (x value) as it is multiplied by the constant (k) to find the dependent value
y = k * x
and
the constant k is equal to the dependent variable (y) being divided by the independent variable (x) k = y/x
In Lesson 11 we have done the Example 1 with Julia & Izzy, defined a complex fraction in our vocabulary section, and done Example two with Meredith as we explored unit rates and word problems.  We also did the Grocery Store handout and decided Swiss cheese was the better buy.  In Lesson 12 we are continuing fractions and unit rates with more examples.  Example 1 on S.50 has us redoing the house.
The standards are : 7.RP.A.1, 7.RP.A.3 and 7.EE.B.4a
Grade 8
The Mid-Module for Linear Equations is tomorrow.  Students have review sheets we have been working on for the past two days.
Linear Equations are the focus of our work.  The formats are expanding as we use two variables to explore patterns associated with them. Distance = Rate * Time is a pattern we are using frequently recognizing the constant C = d/t is also the Rate this supports what we learned last year
y = k * x. 
The standards for the first half of the module are: 8.EE.C.7 and 8.EE.B.5