Wednesday, February 22nd

Sixth Grade

We began discussing ratios today and the class worked in pairs to find various ratios using class data. There is no homework.

Seventh Grade

Math - The class worked in pairs to play a Polygon Classification game. We will take some of the information we learned today to play the game for an assignment tomorrow. There is no homework in math.

Geography - We took notes over Chapter 13, Section 3 and part of Section 4. I also assigned a worksheet on finding information in a table.

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra - Finding perfect squares and square roots and factoring the difference of two perfect squares. If you have questions, please send me an email!

Algebra I - Multiplying and Dividing Rational Expressions Quiz. The class will finish the quiz tomorrow. If you are still having trouble, go over some problems tonight!

See you tomorrow,

Mrs. Swickey

Thursday, February 16th

Sixth Grade

Percent Word Problems. You are finding the percent of a number. Then, draw a picture or box illustrating the problem. If you have 60%, then you could draw a box and divide it into two parts. One part will be a little bigger than half and the other will be smaller. Then write inside the box the information from the problem. Try to be creative!

Seventh Grade

Math - Assignment #10 - Transversals.

Geography - We took notes over Chapter 13 Section 3 today. We will continue the section tomorrow. There is a country quiz on Monday!

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra: Assignment #16. Multiplying Polynomials.

Algebra I: Assignment #15. Multiplying rational expressions.

If you have questions, send me an email and let me know!

See you tomorrow.

Mrs. Swickey

Also, most of the class is retaking the conversions test tomorrow. Here are the rest of the test questions that we weren't able to review today:

Monday, February 13th

Sixth Grade

There is a test tomorrow over decimal, fraction, percent conversions as well as repeating and terminating decimals. Please go over your notes from class today and go through your conversions book!

Seventh Grade

Math - Tranversals and Parallel Lines worksheet 9-4. Only do the front side. Most students finished in class.

Geography - Chapter 13, Section 1 Guided Reading Worksheet.

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra: Classifying Polynomials by terms and by degree. Use your notes to classify each polynomial.

Algebra I: Rational Expressions. Simplify each expression by first factoring the numerator and denominator and then canceling any common factors (including common binomials).

Send me an email if you get stuck!

See you tomorrow,

Mrs. Swickey

Monday, February 6th

Sixth Grade

Today, the class took a 100 square grid and filled it in with different colors of tissue paper. The assignment is to write down each color used and determine the percent, fraction, and decimal for each of them. So if you used 15 yellow pieces, you would have 15%, 3/20, and 0.15 as your equivalents. Then, fill in the conversion table on the bottom with the correct equivalents. For the last column, use the first example as a guide to find the $ equivalent. (Hint: Look at the # of squares and the $ amount.)

Seventh Grade

Math - We discussed our Capture The Flag activity that we will do tomorrow and the students practiced using the giant protractors to "sight" the flags. Then, the class took notes on Angle Pairs. There is no homework.

Geography - The class took a country quiz today and then we began discussing Chapter 12, Section 3 - over Panama. The students were quite interested in how it was built and why.

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra: Many students struggled with how to solve equations with parentheses so we spent the class time today going over those again. There is no new homework, but everyone should have HW #10 done for tomorrow.

Algebra I: Dividing polynomials when there is a leading coefficient of x squared.

There are some excellent examples on how to do polynomial division on Purple Math.

See you tomorrow!

Mrs. Swickey

Monday, January 30th

Sixth Grade

Today, the class spent time making booklets for conversions. Each student will take the notes for converting decimals, fractions, and percents, as well as any related notes for these topics. There is no homework tonight, but there will be a handout coverting percents to fractions and vice versa.

Seventh Grade

Math - Today, the class tested their Penguin igloos a second time to see if they improved their designs. Then, while the igloos were testing, we finished watching Cool Runnings. There is no homework.

Geography - We did not have Geography class today because we had DEAR time in the gym. (Drop Everything And Read) There IS a country quiz tomorrow, so be sure to look up facts for a new country and be ready!

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra: Assignment 8. Combining like terms and using the distributive property. Remember, two items are like terms only if the variables are identical. If they are, then you can add the coefficients. Also, all constants (numbers without variables) are like terms. For example:

2xy + 3x + 4xy - 5x + 6

2xy and 4xy are like terms because the variables are the same. Always look at the sign in front of a term to combine. So 2xy + 4xy = 6xy

Next, 3x and -5x are like terms because they both have an "x" only. 3x - 5x = -2x

Finally, the 6 is not a like term with anything else because it's the only number by itself.

The answer would be:

6xy - 2x + 6

To distribute, remember that you are "giving" the number or variable on the outside of the parenthesis to everything inside. Be sure to multiply. Here is an example:

3(2x - 5y)

3 times 2x = 6x

and

3 times -5y = -15y

So the answer is:

6x - 15y

You cannot combine these since the variables are different, so that's it! Please email me if you have questions. I'm happy to help.

Algebra I - We started going over more complex factoring and working through the examples. I will pass out the assignment in class tomorrow.

See you then!

Mrs. Swickey

Monday, January 23rd

Sixth Grade

Today, the class worked on an assignment comparing decimals and fractions. To do this, remember to first change the fraction to a decimal by dividing the bottom into the top. Then compare this decimal to the other decimal. On the fractions that turn into repeating decimals, remember that you only need to write as many of the repeating number that will make it easy to compare to the other number. For example:

1/3 and 0.325

Change 1/3 to 0.333.....the three will repeat so I typed it 3 times since the other decimal has 3 numbers after the decimal. Now I can see that 0.333.... is bigger than 0.325 because the numbers in the hundredths places are 3 and 2. 3 is bigger so 1/3 is bigger than 0.325.

Seventh Grade

Math - This week during math and science, Mrs. Lassiter and I are team teaching a unit called "Save the Penguins". It is a unit essentially about heat transfer but we use all kinds of math, science, and engineering to teach the lessons. We are using both the math and science times to teach the unit. It is a great project! If any parents have questions or would like to know more, feel free to email me.

Geography - We took notes over Chapter 11, Section 4, today. There is no homework. There will be a test on Wednesday over Chapter 11 and a Country Quiz on Thursday over another Latin American country. Please be sure you are studying your notes this evening so you are ready for the review tomorrow.

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra - We did an activity on Simple and Compound Interest today. The homework is to complete the table on compound interest. You do not have to answer the Evaluation questions.

Algebra I - More factoring practice and factoring the greatest common factor. When you factor the GCF, what you are doing is looking for the largest number and the variables with the highest degree THAT EACH TERM HAS IN COMMON. Here is an example:

In the above example, you are looking at both terms. They both have a 3 in common so you will be pulling a 3 out. When you look at the variables, you are looking for what the terms have in common. The first term has x squared, but the second only has x with no exponent. So you can only take an x out. Looking at the y's, you see that the first term has just a y, while the 2nd term has y to the third. So you can only take a y out. So, you will be taking out 3xy from both terms. You have to think in terms of 'factors' and remember that factors multiply, so when you take a factor out, you are leaving what would be multiplied to get the number. So, when you take a 3xy out of the first term, you are just leave with 1x. When you take 3xy out of the second term, you are left with 2y squared. You get a 2 because 3 x 2 = 6. You can always double check by using the distributive property. You will get the original expression when you've done it right.

There is a video at this link from last year's blog that shows how to find GCF using another method. It might be useful.

Please email me if you have questions. I have the worksheet with me, so can help on specific problems.

See you tomorrow!

Mrs. Swickey

Tuesday, January 17th

Sixth Grade

Changing decimals to fractions. Remember, "IF YOU CAN SAY IT, YOU CAN WRITE IT!" First, say the number correctly using the right place value. The assignment includes only tenths and hundredths. Once you say it aloud, you can write it as a fraction using 10 or 100 in the denominator. Then, you must reduce the fraction if it can be reduced. Don't forget this step!

Seventh Grade

Math - Today, we worked in class on symmetry and messed around with some interesting shapes to create more shapes. There is no homework, but if you can recreate any of the shapes on the paper using ALL the pieces, I will give you 10 points extra credit.

Geography - We took notes over Sections 1 & 2 of Chapter 11 today. We will continue notes tomorrow. There is no homework!

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra - Percent of Change. Remember, first find the difference between the two numbers. Then divide that number by the FIRST number. The number that is FIRST on your sheet will go outside the box and the number you get when you subtract will go inside the box. Put a decimal point after the number inside the box and then add 4 zeros. Divide until you run out of zeros. Round to the third place after the decimal. Then, move the decimal two places to the right. This is your percent.

You must show all your work on notebook paper. You can use a calculator for assistance, but the long division must be on the paper or I will not accept it tomorrow.

Algebra I - Multiplying special case polynomials. Everyone did very well today. If you have questions, please email me!

See you tomorrow,

Mrs. Swickey