Monday, March 29th

Sixth Grade

Today, the class took a test. There is no homework! Tomorrow, we will begin on Lesson 86.

Seventh Grade

Grammar - We started Chapter 13 today - Formal and Informal language. Follow the directions for exercises A & B.

Literature - We read Chapter 5 of Tom Sawyer today. Tomorrow, there is a short quiz over Chapters 1-4 and the vocabulary words from Chapters 1-4.

Spelling - Unit 29. You will not have to do Vocabulary Connections this week. Finish the first two pages of the unit.

Math - Lesson 7-2. Changing fractions and decimals to percents. To change a decimal to a percent, move the decimal point two places to the left. To change a fraction to a percent, you can do a couple of things: 1. Make an equivalent fraction with a denominator of 100. The top number will be your percent. 2. Multiply the fraction by 100 over 1. Change the answer into a mixed number by dividing the bottom into the top and writing the remainder as a fraction.

To change a percent to a fraction. write the percent over 100 and reduce. For percents that are written as decimals, you can divide by 100 and change the decimal into a fraction and reduce. For percents that have fractions, change into improper fractions and divide by 100 (or multiply by 1 over 100) and reduce.

#2-24.

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra - Practice Test over chapter 8. There will be a test tomorrow! Be sure to go over each lesson in Chapter 8. You will NOT be able to use calculators on the whole test.

Algebra I - Distance Problems. There were a few problems that would give you a different equation for the times. Here is an example problem:

John took a drive to town at an average rate of 40 mph. In the evening, he drove back at 30 mph. If he spent a total of 7 hours traveling, what is the distance traveled by John?

First, we will decide to use T for the subscript for going to town and H for the subscript of driving back (assuming it means home). Then, set up the equations like this:



Then, you will substitute the two rates and the time statement into the equation like this:
I hope this helps! Just send me an email if you any questions.

See you tomorrow!
Mrs. Swickey

Wednesday, March 24th

Sixth Grade

We did not have class today because of the House Tournament. Congratulations Patrick House!
Tomorrow, Lesson 85 is due. We will have a practice test and a test on Friday.

Seventh Grade

This morning, the class took the Vocabulary test. We didn't have time to start reading Tom Sawyer, but will start for sure tomorrow!

There is a math test over Chapter 6 tomorrow, so be sure you are going over everything!

Junior Achievement was today too. The class learned about credit - what is good credit and what is bad and why. It was interesting!

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra - Lesson 8-7 #2-12. Simple Interest. (We are not doing the compound interest problems.)

Here are a few examples:

If you also have to find the new amount, just add the interest amount you get after multiplying to your principal. In the above example, that would mean adding $111.15 to $1,560.00 = $1,671.15

For problems 10-12, you will be finding the interest rate. (the percent) That will change what you do to get the answer, but you are still using the same formula: I = p x r x t

Here is an example:

For Algebra I, you are doing the same thing as yesterday. You will just have remainders. Remember to write the remainder over the divisor (what is on the outside of the division box). Whatever sign the remainder is, goes before the remainder. So, if you are left with -3, then write a minus sign, then 3 over whatever the divisor is.

See you tomorrow!
Mrs. Swickey

Tuesday, March 23rd

I'm sorry this is going up so late! It's been a long day.

Sixth Grade

Lesson 85. To do these problems, you will be changing a fraction to a decimal or a decimal to a fraction. If it wants a fraction answer, both of the parts of the problem need to be fractions and vice versa for decimal answers. The assignment is due on Thursday since we have a House Tournament tomorrow. Don't forget to wear your shirts and bring your point sheets!

Seventh Grade

Spelling - Unit 28 is this week's unit. These are some difficult words so be sure you are studying! You will need to complete the entire unit this week.

Vocabulary - There is a vocabulary test over Unit 13 tomorrow. Study tonight!

Grammar - The adjective worksheets are due tomorrow.

Literature - We began talking about Tom Sawyer today. We will start reading tomorrow! I know everyone is excited to start reading. I think the class will really enjoy it!

Math - We finished reviewing for the test over Chapter 6 - Ratios and Proportions. The test will be Thursday, so be sure you are going over the chapter and understand the concepts.

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra - Lesson 8-6. #1-9. Remember, each problem will have two answers - the original amount and the new amount. Here are a few examples:



Here is an example with fraction percents:


If your amount of change is an increase, you will ADD the increase amount to the original amount instead of subtracting as in the above examples.

Algebra I - Dividing Polynomials


Remember, you can click the pictures to see what it says more clearly!

See you all tomorrow!
Mrs. Swickey

Thursday, March 4th

Sixth Grade

Today, the class worked on the test review. Be sure to finish it tonight to be ready for the test tomorrow!

Seventh Grade

The most important thing to remember for tomorrow is YOUR RESEARCH PAPER IS DUE! Remember, it will count TRIPLE in your Language Arts grade so be sure to get it finished. I know some of you are waiting until the last minute to get some information together for it. That's going to show and your grade won't be as good. Please take your time tonight. Focus on the writing and making it your own - not by just changing a word or two, but by rephrasing it in the way YOU would say it. Also, look over the evaluation sheet I gave you. That will help you know what I expect.

Spelling Unit 26 is due tomorrow.

Math - Similarity worksheet.

Grammar - Adjectives chapter. Ex. A & C. Just write the adjectives and words modified in Ex. A and write the answers in columns for Ex. C.

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra. Lesson 8-1. #2-26. You all were great today!

Algebra I. Worksheet over elimination. Click on the picture to make it bigger!

Sometimes you will only have to multiply one equation by a number in order to eliminate one of the variables. Sometimes you will have to multiply both equations as in the following example.
Remember, if neither your x terms or your y terms are opposite signs, you will have to multiply by a negative number on one of the equations so that they will eliminate. (Lindsay, feel free to email me again if you get stuck! That goes for anyone else too.)

See you tomorrow!

Mrs. Swickey

Wednesday, March 3rd

Sixth Grade

Lesson 80. Tomorrow, we will have a test review and on Friday, the test. The end of the 9 weeks is Friday, so if you are missing assignments, you need to get those in!

Seventh Grade

Math - Map scale activity. Today, I gave the students laminated world maps and a list of cities to find the distance between. They used the scale on the map to discover how far it was from places like Mexico City to Philadelphia, or Cairo to Seoul. This fits in with the proportions chapter we've been working on.

We also had Junior Achievement today and it was a blast! The class continued with the budget game, making decisions that we adults make all the time. Go out to eat or save and eat at home? Choose the unlimited phone plan or a cheaper plan with fewer minutes? It was interesting to hear their choices when it was "their" money! They were so responsible!

Be sure to work on your research paper and if you want me to look over your bibliography, bring it tomorrow! The paper is due on Friday and is a BIG part of your grade. It will count TRIPLE in the Language Arts grade.

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra. Lesson 7-5. #2-10. Direct Proportion. I believe everyone in class was understanding how to do these. For those that were absent, set up the proportion with the information given. If it says something like, "15 apples cost $8. How much would 9 apples cost?" You would set it up like this:

Algebra 1. Lesson 6-11. #18-32. (All of the back but the word problems.)

Systems of Equations. Elimination. You can click on the picture to make it bigger. Remember, with elimination, you are going to add the two equations vertically, eliminating one of the variables. In order to do this, the terms with the variable to be eliminated need to be opposites. If they aren't already, as in the problem below, multiply by -1. Since both of the x terms were 2x, multiplying one equation by -1 makes that x-term now -2x. When you add -2x and 2x, they go away and you are left with -4y=4. Now you can just solve for y. Remember, sometimes you will be able to eliminate the y term and solve for x first and sometimes you will be able to eliminate the x term and solve for y.


I hope this helps!

Mrs. Swickey