SIXTH GRADE

Today, the class is dividing money. I'm not doing any examples on the blog because it's the same as dividing decimals by whole numbers. If you get stuck though, let me know and I'll help!

SEVENTH GRADE

Math: the class is finding factors, common factors, and greatest common factors today, as well as reducing to lowest terms. This is review for everyone, but let me know if you have trouble!

Geography: you are doing an atlas activity tonight!

EIGHTH GRADE

Pre-Algebra: today you are doing two step equations with variables on both sides. I made a video for you! It's uploading now...so check YouTube in a little bit or come back here!

Algebra: you are doing a review of expressions. Take your time and pay attention to the signs!

See you tomorrow!

Mrs. Swickey

SIXTH GRADE

Today, we worked on a class activity called the "Decimal Chain". Each student had a card with an answer and a decimal division problem on it. One person would go to the board, write their problem down, and everyone in the class would work the problem. The person who had the answer, would call out, "I've got...(the answer" and then go up to the board to write their problem down. It was fun, but still a bit on the noisy side! There is no homework.

SEVENTH GRADE

Math: Today, the class worked on a fraction equivalent page. On one side, you are finding the fraction that doesn't belong with the others in the row, and then picking out another fraction from the box below that DOES belong. On the other side, you are multiplying and dividing to find equivalent fractions.

Geography: Today, we continuing learning about climate zones. The homework for tonight is to make a poster, divided into 6 sections for each climate zone, and draw a picture of the climate zone. Be sure to use color!

EIGHTH GRADE

Pre-Algebra: Today, we worked in class modeling equations using tiles.

Algebra I: Today, the class worked with rational numbers to find the "Odd One Out" of each set of expressions.

SIXTH GRADE

The assignment for today is about decimal place value and figuring out how to rearrange a group of numbers and one decimal point to answer a series of questions. I made a video with an example of the kinds of things you will have to do. This requires some thinking and trial and error. Send me an email if you get stuck on anything! I'd be happy to help you figure it out.

SEVENTH GRADE

Math: We worked in class today on our new unit - Rational Numbers - which includes fractions and decimals. I wanted to see how the students interpreted fractions and gave them a couple of tasks. It helped me see where they might have misconceptions about fractions. I also discovered that they are pretty good at reducing fractions and seeing two equivalent fractions! That's terrific. We will need that skill for future concepts. There is no homework.

Geography: We began discussing our next unit, "What Not to Wear" which is mainly about climate and the environment. We had a brief discussion about the difference between climate and weather. There is no homework!

EIGHTH GRADE

Pre-Algebra: The assignment today has you solving equations in a sequence. First, solve the beginning equation to find what "a" equals. Then, put that answer where the "a" is in the next equation and solve for "b". Then, you take that answer and put it where the "b" is in the next equation and solve for "c". Continue to do this until you get to the end. If you did them all correct, your final equation will give you the same answer for "a" as the first equation did!

Algebra I: Today, we worked in class on various rational number concepts. It was an in class activity, so there is no homework!

Have a great weekend and I'll see you all on Monday,

Mrs. Swickey

SIXTH GRADE

Today, you are dividing decimals again. I made another video, but this is basically the same thing as yesterday...just a bit easier since you only have one non-zero digit on the outside. The video does have a piece of information that you all were dying to know today, so you have to watch to find out!

I'll embed it here when it's ready.

SEVENTH GRADE

Math: The class took a Performance Assessment today. No homework!

Geography: The class finished the performance assessment from yesterday. No homework!

EIGHTH GRADE

Pre-Algebra: Equations with fractions. I made a video for you. It will be below in a little bit!

Algebra I: Today, we worked on a Cartoon Corner page about perfect, abundant, and deficient numbers. Your assignment is to label each number in your set as perfect, abundant, or deficient. Email me if you have any trouble!

See you tomorrow!

Mrs. Swickey

SIXTH GRADE

Today, the class learned how to divide by a decimal number. I made a video to help with the homework. Do all 16 problems! I will embed the video below when it is uploaded.

SEVENTH GRADE

Math: Today, we practiced on how to answer integer word problems. There is a performance assessment tomorrow! It's hard to study for those, so just be prepared to answer similar questions.

Geography: The class worked on the Unit 1 performance assessment today. They will finish in class tomorrow. Basically, they are using the maps, graphs, charts, and pictures from the Atlas to answer a variety of questions. The students have to figure out which map, chart, etc., they need to use and it is a bit of a challenge!

EIGHTH GRADE

Pre-Algebra: Equations with a negative variable and two-step equations. I made a video for you with examples. I will embed it below when it finishes uploading.

Algebra I: The students who needed to retake the test, did so today. The other students had study hall time. We will continue working with Real Numbers tomorrow!

See you tomorrow,

Mrs. Swickey

SIXTH GRADE

Today the class played a math game - decimal division relay! It was kind of crazy, but fun at the same time. Each group got a division problem and each person could do just one step and then pass it on. It worked out pretty well, but a few teams struggled to get the division correct and had to start over. However, it was a good exercise and the class had fun! No homework.

SEVENTH GRADE

Math: Tonight, finish your posters with Assets and Debts for your fictional character. Decorate and color the posters. These are do tomorrow!

Geography: Finish making your map of a room. You do not have to color the room, but if you want to, that would be fine. I just need to be able to measure your drawings to make sure you've used the right dimensions. Tomorrow, there is a performance assessment. There is no way to study for this. You just have to be ready to find the information you need in your atlas quickly.

EIGHTH GRADE

Pre-Algebra: Division and fraction equations. I will make you a video in a few minutes and upload it here! This is a continuation of yesterday's assignment. Both parts are due tomorrow!

Algebra I: Today we went over the Unit 1 test from Monday. There is a retake tomorrow for those that struggled. We didn't get to go over all of the problems so here is a video with the rest. If you do not understand what you did wrong, please email me! It will take a bit to upload as the video is about 8 minutes long. I'll post it here when it's finished.

See you tomorrow,

Mrs. Swickey

SIXTH GRADE 

 Today, the class divided decimals by powers of 10. I made a video for you and it is uploading. I will embed it here when it is done!

Okay, here it is:

SEVENTH GRADE

Math - Today, you need to come up with a fictional character (such as the Easter Bunny, Mickey Mouse, etc.) and think about 4 assets and 4 debts that your character would have. Remember our class example: One of cupid's assets would be that he owns a flower store. Another would be that he makes people fall in love! Those are things you could say are his assets. His debts might be that he has to replace broken arrows or that he has caused broken hearts. Be creative and think of things your character would have that would be a positive asset and decide on a value for that asset. Then think of things your character might owe. Be sure to have 4 of each and tomorrow we will make a poster demonstrating them.

Geography - The class took the Land and Water Forms Quiz today. There is homework though! Be sure to do the Atlas Activity.

EIGHTH GRADE

Pre-Algebra: Today I taught the class basic equations. This begins our unit on equations. Remember, whatever you do to one side of the equation, you do to the other. I made a video and it is uploading.
Remember, you MUST show the steps, even if you can just tell what the answer is.

Here it is:

Algebra I: The class took a test today over Unit 1 so there is no homework!

See you tomorrow,

Mrs. Swickey

SIXTH GRADE

The assignment is dividing whole numbers by decimals. Remember to use the notes you took in your new Mini-Math books. I made a video and it is below! You are doing problems #1-20 and #33-36. The second question on #33 is extra credit.

SEVENTH GRADE

Math: Your assignment is the real world problems (applications) page. Be sure that you draw a picture of what is happening if you are stuck! Email with questions. You can click on the button at the right that says "Contact Me" to send me an email.

Geography: Your assignment is to determine how far it is between each of the ten pairs of cities I gave you in class. Use an index card to make a scale on the edge, like you did in the Atlas Activity last week. Then using pages 70-71 (the political map of Europe) from  your Atlas to find the distance between the cities. Then, make up two of your own. To do that, choose any two cities on the map (make sure they are on the same page) and figure out how far it is from one to the other. Do this TWICE. So, you will have two pairs of cities.

EIGHTH GRADE

 Pre-Algebra: Today, we discussed the importance of scientific notation and further discussed the meaning of rational and irrational numbers. The assignment for tonight is to look up six "things". Three of them have to really small and three have to be really big. For really big numbers, it could be the distance from here to the sun. It could be the weight of a planet. For really small numbers, you might look up how much an atom weighs....or how wide a strand of hair is. Once you find your things, write the number in both scientific notation and standard form. 

Algebra I: We began reviewing today for the first unit test. We will continue to review tomorrow and the class will have a handout to help them review.

See you tomorrow!

Mrs. Swickey

SIXTH GRADE

The class took a quiz today. The assignment is the Pinball Activity. Remember to write down three different paths you could take. I told a few students in class that they could go backwards too, but I changed that. Please don't go backwards to a number you've been to before on each path. Write down the path you took!

SEVENTH GRADE

There are tests in both classes tomorrow! Be sure you are studying for the Integers test in Math class and the Geography Test over Unit 1. In our textbook, you are only looking at the material in Chapter 1. There will also be two different maps on the test.

EIGHTH GRADE

Pre-Algebra: There is a test tomorrow over Chapter 1! Be sure you study all of your notes. The test will cover all of the rational and irrational numbers, placing them on a number line, and working with scientific notation.

Algebra I: The assignment today is combining like terms. You are doing the first column only of the remainder of homework #12 (this is the odd numbers from the bottom section). Then ALL of homework #13.

Remember, to combine the like terms, you first need to determine which ones are alike! They are only alike if the variables are identical. If one term is 3x and another term is 2x squared, they are not alike since the variables are different! One is just an x and the other is x squared.

-5x + 3y -9x -7y +10y

-5x and -9x are alike so you add the coefficients. -5 + -9 = -14, so this term is now -14x. 3y, -7y, and 10y are alike so you add the coefficients. 3 + -7 + 10 = 6, so this term is now 6y. The final answer would be: -14x + 6y OR 6y -14x (these are both the same thing!)

Please write if you have questions.

See you tomorrow!

Mrs. Swickey

SIXTH GRADE

Your video with the rest of the quiz review is uploading. It will take a little bit because it is 10 minutes long! Sorry....it is 7:25 right now. Check back in about 30 minutes and it should be ready. I will insert the video below when I see that it is ready to watch. I ran out of time on the last problem, so on #31, the order is:

0.2305
0.5032
5.0032
5.0323
5.3023

SEVENTH GRADE

Math: We began reviewing for the Integers test, which will .be on Wednesday. No homework except to review your notes!

Geography: We finished taking notes over bodies of water and then began reviewing for the Unit 1 test, which will also be Wednesday. The quiz over the land and water forms will be on Friday, so they need to be reviewing their notes and looking up example pictures on Google, when possible.

EIGHTH GRADE

Pre-Algebra: We began reviewing for the Unit 1 Test today. We will continue reviewing tomorrow and the test will be on Wednesday.

Algebra I: We did not have class today because of the Suicide Prevention training. We will be starting back up tomorrow!

See you then,

Mrs. Swickey

SIXTH GRADE

On Friday, I gave the students a review for a quiz. The review says the quiz will be on Monday, but I've changed it to Tuesday. We didn't have any time to start working on the quiz review. Everyone should do the review, as best they can, over the weekend. I will give you a completion grade for having done it. Then on Monday, we will go over the entire review together. The quiz will be Tuesday. This is our first quiz/test so please be ready on Monday to ask questions about why you missed a problem.

I made a video about the homework from Thursday. This assignment was about multiplying decimals when you had to add extra zeros in the answer. This could also help you on the quiz review! I will post it here when it is ready.

SEVENTH GRADE

Math: Today, the class worked on adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing integers altogether. Before, the problems weren't mixed up. It is very important that integer operations become as easy as math facts, so you will be seeing a lot of practice sheets on this! We will be having a test coming up this next week, so be sure you have the rules memorized and know when to apply them.

Geography: We took notes over bodies of water on Friday and went over the homework from Thursday. No homework this weekend!

EIGHTH GRADE

Pre-Algebra: Today, the class worked on exponent rules. Everyone understood it pretty easily, but I will make a video anyway. I will post it here when it is ready.

Algebra I: Distributive Property and Factoring. I will make a video and post it here when it is ready! Remember, you do not have to do the top 4 problems (that aren't using distributive property) and you don't have to do the bottom set of problems yet...those are the combining like terms problems. We will be doing those on Monday though, so don't cross them off!

See you on Monday,

Mrs. Swickey

SIXTH GRADE

Today, the class didn't have time for a new assignment. They did take a division timed test in class and completed the Fast Math problems that I put on the board each class. They had trouble completing the problems today and getting settled. There is no homework tonight, but we will be multiplying decimals again tomorrow!

SEVENTH GRADE

Math: Today the class learned how to divide integers. Remember, the rules for dividing integers are EXACTLY THE SAME as for multiplying integers. You always divide the numbers you are given. To tell what the sign will be, if the signs are the SAME it's positive and if the signs are DIFFERENT it's negative. (Hint: that will be on your Fast Math tomorrow!) The assignment is to complete the dividing integers page.

Geography: Today we talked about what scale is. We looked at the globes in our room as well as our wall map. Then, I gave each student a smaller world map and we found the scale on it. Remember, you are using the scale for miles to inches. The assignment is to measure the distance between the two cities on the handout in inches or half inches, then figure out what the real distance would be by using the scale. For example, if the scale was: 1 inch = 200 miles and the distance between two cities was 4 inches on the map, you would multiply 200 x 4 = 800 miles. That would be the real distance between the cities.

EIGHTH GRADE

Pre-Algebra:  Review of integers. Adding and subtracting. I made you a video! It'll be below as soon as it is uploaded.

Algebra I: There is no homework today. The class took a break today and we played some math games.

See you tomorrow!

Mrs. Swickey

SIXTH GRADE

Today you are working on multiplying decimals again. Remember that you are only doing #1-24 and then the Mental Math at the bottom is extra credit. I made a video for you if you are still confused on how to multiply decimals. It is still uploading. I will come back and insert the video when it's ready or you can check out my YouTube channel: swickey678.

Okay...it's done uploading! Here it is:

SEVENTH GRADE

Math: Today, we worked on multiplying integers. Here are the rules again:

If the signs are the SAME, the answer is POSITIVE.

(+2)(+8) = +16

(-3)(-5) = +15

Even when you multiply two negatives, the answer is positive.

Also, if you have more than 2 numbers that you are multiplying, you can count your negative numbers to tell what the sign of the answer will be.

If there is an ODD number of negative signs, it's NEGATIVE.

(-2)(-1)(-3) = -6

There are three negatives and three is an ODD number, so the answer is negative.

(+3)(+6)(-2) = -36

There is only one negative and since one is an ODD number as well, the answer is negative.

If there is an EVEN number of negative signs, it's POSITIVE.

(-4)(-2)(-1)(-2) = + 16

There are four negatives and four is an EVEN number, so the answer is positive!

(-3)(-4)(+3) = +36

There are two negatives and two is an EVEN number, so the answer is positive!


It doesn't matter at all how many positive numbers there are. Only the negative numbers matter!

Don't forget, you don't have to do the problems with the straight lines around the numbers. I believe it's #17-22 or something like that! If you aren't sure, ask a friend.

Geography: Today we talked about the solstices, the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn and how the seasons change based on the Earth's tilt. The homework is a worksheet with analyzing a diagram and reading a circle graph. Remember that when you make your circle graph, you can just eyeball the sizes of your pie sections. It just needs to be close!

EIGHTH GRADE

Pre-Algebra: The class finished their assignment in class today. No homework!

Algebra I: Evaluating expressions and writing expressions in words or algebraically. Email me if you have questions!

See you tomorrow,

Mrs. Swickey