Monday, February 28th

Sixth Grade

Literature - Tomorrow, there will be a Selection Test over "Lob's Girl". Also, don't forget that on Wednesday, we will have DEAR time! (Drop Everything And Read) Be sure to bring your book report books.

Spelling - Unit 24 is due tomorrow. Be sure you are studying the words!

Math - Lesson 67 - practice and....I can't remember! My plan book is at school. I believe it's #1-12, but I'm not sure. Call a friend if you don't know either.

Lesson 68 - practice and #5-16.

For Lesson 67, you are dividing mixed numbers. Remember, to divide mixed numbers, first make them improper fractions by doing the u-turn. THEN, change the division sign to multiplication and flip the second fraction. Then you can multiply the fractions and reduce or change back into mixed numbers if necessary.

For Lesson 68, be sure you are looking at the definitions for lines, rays, segments, perpendicular, etc.

Seventh Grade

Literature - Read Chapters 29 and 30 of Treasure Island. To follow along on Tumblebooks, click here. Put "Treasure Island" in the search bar and click on the 2nd book listed. Then click on Menu Options and chapters to find your place. The assignment is to answer the questions for both chapters.

Math - Lesson 69. Scientific Notation. Do practice and #4-10. Then do the integer addition and subtraction worksheets.

Remember the rules for adding and subtracting integers:

Adding integers: (If there is an ADDITION sign between the integers)

If the signs are the same, ADD and keep the same sign.

If the signs are different, SUBTRACT and use the sign of the bigger number.

Subtracting integers: (If there is a SUBTRACTION sign between the integers)

First, change the subtraction sign to an addition sign. Change the sign of the NEXT number. (If it was negative, make it positive. If it was positive, make it negative.)

Then follow the rules for adding integers!

For a number to be in scientific notation, the first number needs to be great than 1 and less than 10 - in other words, there needs to be only one digit (zero doesn't count) before the decimal. Move the decimal until it's in the right place. If you move it to the left, that's a positive exponent, if you move it to the right, it's a negative exponent. Add that new exponent to the current exponent. Here are two examples:

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra

Lesson 67 practice and evens. Using ratios to compare. This lesson is pretty much common sense. In order to compare two prices, you first have to find the UNIT price for each. To find the unit price, divide the price by the number of ounces, pounds, amounts, etc. Find out how much it is for ONE of whatever the measure is. For example:

The big box held 20 ounces and cost $4.20. The little box held 12 ounces and cost $3.60. Which is the better buy?

You would first divide $4.20 by 20 to get $0.21 for just one ounce of the big box. Then divide $3.60 by 12 to get $.030 for one ounce of the little box. The big box is the better buy because it's cheaper per ounce.

Algebra I

Lesson 67 - practice and evens. Solving simultaneous equations by elimination. Here are a few examples:


The second example shows what you would do if the numbers of one variable were the same number and same sign. You would just multiply one equation by (-1) to be able to eliminate one variable. Remember, sometimes you don't have to multiply the equations at all because you can already eliminate one variable by adding. Sometimes, you will have to multiply both equations, as in the first example, but have to multiply one of the equations by a negative number in order to eliminate. Remember, if the variable you are trying to eliminate doesn't have opposite coefficients, they won't eliminate!

See you tomorrow!
Mrs. Swickey

Wednesday, February 23rd

Sixth Grade

Literature - "Lob's Girl" questions. Thinking About the Selection #1-6. Analyzing Literature #1-3, and Critical Thinking and Reading #1-4.

Math - The class took a test today.

Spelling - Unit 24 is due next Tuesday.

Seventh Grade

Research Paper - Rough Draft is due tomorrow.

Math - Lesson 66. Practice and evens only. Remember, to find the circumference of a circle, multiply pi x the diameter. The book will tell you whether you leave pi as pi, use 3.14 for pi, or use 22/7 for pi. Regardless of which way you do it, you multiply the diameter and pi.

To find the area, you multiply pi x the radius SQUARED. If the radius is 3, then you multiply pi x 9 since 3x3=9. Also, remember that if you are given the diameter, first cut it in half to get the radius, then multiply THAT by itself. For example, if the diameter was 10, to find the area, you would divide 10 by 2 to get the radius of 5. Then, multiply 5x5 to get 25. Then multiply 25 x 3.14.

Eighth Grade

There is a test tomorrow for both classes. Below are the answers and explanations for the problems on the practice test that we didn't get to. If you have any questions, email me!

Pre-Algebra



Algebra I



See you tomorrow!
Mrs. Swickey

Tuesday, February 22nd

Sixth Grade

Spelling - Unit 23 was due today.

Literature - We began reading "Lob's Girl". We will finish tomorrow.

Math - Practice Test. The class can earn 50 extra credit points by finding problems from the book like each of the practice test problems, writing the Lesson and problem number, and working the problem. It's a lot of work, but 50 points is a lot of extra credit! Plus, it'll be extra practice on the problems that'll be on the test. Email me if you have any questions.

Seventh Grade

Math - Lesson 65. Ratio word problems with totals. Remember when you make your ratio box, that you include a third row for the TOTAL. Also, remember that the total under the ratio column will be the original ratio added together. So, if something has a ratio of 3 to 5. Then the total for the ratio would be 8.

Grammar - Subject/Verb Worksheets

Research Paper - The rough draft is due on Thursday. Remember these points:

Must be typed
12 pt type size
Arial or Times New Roman font only
Double Spaced
No extra spaces between paragraphs
Each paragraph must be indented
One paragraph per topic - there are 6 topics
One Introduction paragraph
One Conclusion paragraph

Also, remember not to write, "This paper is about...." or "Now I'm going to tell you about..." or things like these.

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra

Lesson 65 Evens only.


Algebra I - Lesson 65. Practice and evens.

See you tomorrow!
Mrs. Swickey

Thursday, February 17th

Sixth and Seventh Grade Progress Reports went home today! Eighth Grade will get theirs tomorrow.

Sixth Grade

Math - Lesson 65. Multiplying Mixed Numbers. Remember, when you multiply a mixed number, you first have to change the mixed numbers into improper fractions. THEN you can multiply across. For your answer, remember to change any improper fractions back to a mixed number and reduce if necessary.

Spelling - Remember that unit 23 is due next Tuesday!

Seventh Grade

Math - Lesson 64. Adding signed numbers. These are the rules:

When the signs are the same ADD and keep the same sign.

When the signs are different, SUBTRACT and use the sign of the bigger number.

For example:

(-25) + (+32)

Since the signs are different - one negative and one positive - subtract the numbers 32-25 = 7 and since 32 is bigger than 25, use it's sign which is positive. The answer is positive 7. (And no, you do not have to write a positive sign)

(-45) + (-80)

Since the signs are the same, just add. 45 + 80 = 125 and since the sign is negative, the answer is still negative. -125

Grammar - pp. 97-98. Exercises A & B. Identifying compound subjects and compound verbs. Just write the compound subjects and verbs. You do not have to write the sentences!

We will read in Treasure Island tomorrow!

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra - Lesson 64. Semicircles. When you have a shape that has a half circle (or two) on it and you need to find perimeter, remember to multiply 3.14 x the radius...that will give you the circumference of the half circle. To find the area of the half circle, multiply 3.14 x the radius squared, then divide that answer by two.

Algebra I - Lesson 64.

When you are solving addition inequalities, you will get the variable alone in the same manner as if it were an equation. So, if it was, x +3 < 5, you would just subtract 3 from both sides and have
x < 2

To graph them on a number line when the domain is stated, remember that real numbers includes everything, so you just use a solid line and arrow. You have to use the dots with integers since integers don't include all the stuff in between each number on the number line.

That's it!

See you tomorrow!
Mrs. Swickey

Wednesday, February 16th

Sixth Grade

Literature - There was a Selection Test today. No homework!

Spelling - Unit 23 is due next Tuesday.

Math - Lesson 63. Prime Factorization using Division by Primes or the Factor Tree. Remember that you are going to write the prime numbers that will multiply to give you the starting number. Here is an example of each:

Seventh Grade

Grammar - pg 95-96. Exercise and DWS. Follow instructions for both!

Literature - None.

Research Paper - I began passing back the outlines and going over them with each student. I will finish doing this tomorrow. The rough draft is due on Thursday, February 24th.

Math - Lesson 63. Symbols of Inclusion. Remember, you have to wait to multiply numbers that are stuck to parentheses before adding or subtracting to any numbers before that. For example:

12+3(10-8)

First subtract 10-8 and get 2. Then multiply 2 by 3 to get 6. THEN add 12 to 6 to get 18. Don't make the mistake of adding 12 and 3 first since the three is "stuck" to the parenthesis.

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra - Lesson 63. Practice and evens only. the first example is as follows:

Prince Charming traveled 60 leagues in 2 days. Then he doubled his rate. How long would it take him to go 300 leagues at this new speed?

First, find out what his speed is before he doubled it. The rate is in the first sentence, "60 leagues in 2 days". Write that as a rate and reduce it to # of leagues in 1 day. Then you will double that amount. Remember, you are doubling how many leagues he does in 1 day...don't double the days too! That won't help. See below:


The second example is much like the first except the rate is tripled. First you would find the rate statement and write the rate.

The machine could cap 500 bottles in 2 hours. If the rate of the machine were tripled, how many bottles could be capped in 10 hours at the new rate?

500 bottles in 2 hours is the rate - this would reduce to 250 bottles in 1 hour. To triple how fast the machine was going, you would multiply 250 x 3 = 750 bottles in 1 hour. Remember, don't multiply the time by 3 too! That'll give you the same rate that you started with. You want to increase the number of bottles in one hour. Then, you use the rate of 750 bottles in 1 hour to find the number of bottles capped in 10 hours.

For the third example, you are given two rates and asked by how much it increased from the first rate to the second rate.

Raul ran 6 miles in 2 hours. Then he ran 20 miles in 4 hours. By how much did his rate increase?

So...write both rates as miles per hour. 6 miles in 2 hours would reduce to 3 miles per hour. 20 miles in 4 hours would reduce to 5 miles per hour. So, the rate increased by 2 miles per hour.

Algebra I

Lesson 63 - practice and evens only.

To simplify square roots, you will not use a calculator. First, write the number under the square root sign as a product of prime factors (do the factor tree!). Then, for every pair of numbers that is the same, one goes outside the square root sign. For any singles, they have to stay inside. (Shelby says they were bad because they aren't perfect squares!) Here are some examples:


See you tomorrow!
Mrs. Swickey

Tuesday, February 15th

Sixth Grade

Literature - There will be a Selection Test over "Sarah Tops" tomorrow. Be sure you have reviewed the story and the essay question.

Math - Lesson 63. Polygons. Remember that the sides of all regular polygons are the same length. If you are given the perimeter of a regular polygon, you can divide the perimeter by the number of sides in the polygon. For example, if the perimeter of a regular pentagon was 150 cm, you could find out how long each side was by dividing 150 by 5 since all pentagons have 5 sides. The answer would be 30 cm for each side.

Spelling - No homework!

Seventh Grade

Literature - Chapter 25 questions from Treasure Island

Math - Lesson 62. Triangles. Remember that you can classify a triangle by its sides and by its angles.

By angles:

Right Triangle - One angle is a right angle. The other two angles will be acute.

Acute Triangle - All three angles are acute.

Obtuse Triangle - One angle will be obtuse. The other two angles will be acute.

By sides:

Equilateral Triangle - All sides are the same length. (All angles will also be the same measure - 60 degrees - and this will also be an acute triangle.)

Isosceles Triangle - Two sides are the same length - also the two angles opposite those two sides will be the same measure.

Scalene Triangle - No sides are the same.

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra - Lesson 62. Practice and evens only.

Algebra I - February 15th Worksheet - covers Lesson 62 and the previous few lessons.

Please email me if you have any questions!

See you tomorrow,
Mrs. Swickey

Monday, February 14th

Sixth Grade

We had our Spelling Bee today. Michelle won first place and Danya was the runner up. Congratulations, girls!

Spelling Unit 22 is due tomorrow.

Literature - We read "Try Sarah Tops" today. Answer the following questions:

Thinking About the Selection #1-6
Analyzing Literature #1-3
Critical Thinking and Reading #1-3

Math - Lesson 62.

Seventh Grade

We had our class Spelling Bee today. Megan won first place and Shaun was the runner up. Congratulations to both of you!

Spelling - Unit 23 is due Friday.

Math - Integers worksheet and Lesson 61 - practice and #1-19 only.

Literature - Read Chapter 23 on your own. Tomorrow there will be a quiz over events in the chapter.

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra - February 14th Worksheet. The first 5 problems cover the new concept taught in Lesson 60. The rest are review over the concepts from the last couple of lessons.

Here is an example of two-step equations with fractions:

In the above example, the three eighths was being ADDED to the two and one-fourth x. That is why we subtracted to get rid of it. If the three eighths was being subtracted, then you would ADD it to both sides to get rid of it.

Algebra I - Lesson 60. Practice and evens only. Be sure to look at the page in the lesson with the diagram.

See you tomorrow!
Mrs. Swickey

Tuesday, February 8th

Yesterday's assignments for all classes are as follows:

Sixth Grade

Spelling - Unit 21 is due tomorrow. The test will also be tomorrow. If you need to take a makeup test, we will do these tomorrow as well.

Literature - The class took a Selection Test on Tuesday. No homework!

Math - Practice Test. We worked through the first half in class. Here are the rest of the answers - email me if you have any questions!

Seventh Grade

See the last post to watch the videos of the practice test. This will be your only review! I will not go over questions in class unless you didn't understand something from the video.

You can also email me if you have any questions!

Literature - Chapter 22 questions. Be sure you are taking your time answering the questions and write the answers in complete sentences.

Spelling - Unit 22 is due on Friday. No Vocabulary Connections this week!

Research Paper - Since we were not at school today, the outline is due tomorrow!

Eighth Grade

Tuesday's assignment is the handout I gave you. Each has mixed review problems from the last several lessons as well as new problems from Lessons 57 and 58.

For Pre-Algebra, the new concept from Lesson 57 was just Mixed Number Problems where you first have to write an equation to solve.

For example: two and one half of what number is 7 1/3?

Write an equation: 2 1/2 x N = 7 1/3

Then solve by converting 2 1/2 and 7 1/3 to improper fractions. Now you'd have

5/2 x N = 22/3

Now, to get the variable (N) by itself, get rid of 5/2 by multiplying both sides by the reciprocal, 2/5.

22/3 x 2/5 = 44/15

That's it!

For Lesson 58, you are solving distance problems. Remember, every SPEED is a RATE that can be written in rate form.

Here is an example:

Harry could travle 350 miles in 7 hours.

What was his speed?

To find speed, you are finding how many miles in ONE hour? Or miles per hour...that is a rate!

Divide 350 miles by 7 hours to get 50 miles per hour.

How long would it take him to travel 800 miles?

To solve this, first write the two rates implied by 50 miles per hour. Then, choose the correct rate to solve the problem.

At the same speed, how far could he travel in 12 hours? Again, choose the correct rate to solve the problem.

Here are the two questions above worked out:

Algebra I

For the new concepts from Lesson 57, you are adding expressions that have negative exponents in them.

First, change the terms so that there are no negative exponents. Then, find a common denominator to add like you've been doing. These are pretty easy!

For the new concept from Lesson 58, be sure to use the diagrams to help solve the problems. Remember, the 100% box is ALWAYS your OF box. That will help you figure out the answers. I always write the 100% box second - it makes more sense to me - the book shows them written reversed, but it doesn't really change anything.

Here is an example from the book:

Kathy, John, and Susie have only 20 chickens left. If they began with 80 chickens, what percent of the original flock remains?

Since they began with 80 chickens, that is the original flock and accounts for 100% of the flock. Put that in the second box.

In the first box, you will divide it into two sections. Each section is always some % of a number.
Since we don't know the percent, but we know the number, in the top section, we write 20 is wp (what percent). We could write 60 is wp in the bottom section, but we are not concerned about this amount.

Now, you can read from left to write the equation:

20 is wp of 80

Then solve. Remember to write the answer as a percent.


See you tomorrow!

Mrs. Swickey

7th Grade Practice Test

Here are the videos! You can watch them over and over to be sure you understand how to work the problems. Be sure to email me if you have any questions. My email is in the sidebar. Over there ----->

Monday, February 7th

** To All Students **

If school is canceled this week, any assignments due the day school is canceled, will then be due on the day we return. Please don't use the possibility of being out of school as an excuse to not do your homework!

Sixth Grade

Literature - There will be a Selection Test over "Greyling" tomorrow. Please review the essay question I gave you today and be prepared to write the essay in class tomorrow.

Spelling - Unit 21 will be due on Wednesday. You do not have to do Vocabulary Connections for this unit, but you DO have to do the Challenge page!

Math - Lesson 59 and 60. On Lesson 59, do the practice and #1-10 only. On Lesson 60, do the practice and #4-15 only. This will be counted as one assignment.

For Lesson 59, you are just adding three fractions or whole numbers. You do the exact same thing as if it were two fractions or whole numbers - find a common denominator.

For Lesson 60, you are writing mixed numbers as improper fractions. This is a skill you must have in order to multiply and divide fractions.

Remember the u-turn! Multiply the denominator by the whole number and add the numerator. This is the new numerator. The denominator stays the same.

For example: 3 1/2 would change to 7/2 because 2x3 = 6 + 1 = 7 -- then put the 7 over 2 (denominator stays the same)

Seventh Grade

Research Paper - The outline is due on Wednesday. Remember, you will have 7 Roman numerals. The first is for the Introduction which will contain your thesis statement. The thesis statement is a generalization about your animal. After doing your research, you should have an opinion about your animal and you should be able to draw a conclusion about your animal. The other 6 Roman numerals will be the 6 categories you were researching. Remember, do not write complete sentences on your outline. Write brief phrases or single words. Use subtopics under each main topic by using capital letters - such as A., B., and C. If you need to expand these topics further, you can use regular numbers under these - 1., 2., etc.

Math - Lesson 59. Adding integers. Everyone did very well on these today! You must draw the number lines for now. I will let you know when you don't have to draw them anymore.

Spelling - Unit 22 is due on Friday. You will not have to do the Vocabulary Connections pages this week.

Eighth Grade

Both classes took a test today. No homework!

See you tomorrow,

Mrs. Swickey