Swickey678

Monday, January 30th

2012-01-30T19:17:00.002-06:00

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

2012-01-23T19:04:00.003-06:00

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

2012-01-17T20:03:00.002-06:00

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

Wednesday, January 11th

2012-01-11T19:25:00.002-06:00

Sixth Grade

Several students relaly struggled on the quiz yesterday, so today we spent time going over the quiz and analyzing the mistakes. The class will have a makeup quiz tomorrow and I will record the grade of whichever quiz has the highest grade.

Seventh Grade

Math - Today we talked about percents less than 1%. It was a little hard to understand just what it meant, but I think everyone started to grasp the concept. There is no homework! We will continue talking about very small percents as well as percents greater than 100 tomorrow.

Geography - Decision Making Skills - this is at the end of Chapter 10. Be sure to come up with a problem or situation in which you'd need to make a decision. Follow the steps for making a good decision. Also, the test over Chapter 10 is tomorrow! Be sure to study...and don't forget to know the 5 steps of the decision making process.

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra - Ratio and Proportion Word Problems. Everyone was doing really well today! If you have questions, send me an email.

Algebra I - Adding and Subtracting Polynomials.

Remember, to add polynomials, just drop the parentheses and combine like terms. If you need to subtract, or if there is a negative sign in front of one of the parentheses, then you need to first distribute the negative sign by changing all the signs in the parentheses after the subtraction/negative sign.

Here is an example:(4x + 5y - 15z) - (20x + 14y - 12z)

Here, you would just drop the first set of parentheses and distribute the second negative sign:

4x + 5y - 15z - 20x -14y + 12z

Notice that all the terms from the second parentheses have opposite signs. Then combine the like terms:

-16x -9y - 3z

Remember, though, that you must write the answers in descending order of the variable. The above examples do not have exponents, but you must write your answers so that the terms are ordered with the highest degree term first and descending from there.

As always, email me if you are stuck!

See you tomorrow,
Mrs. Swickey

Tuesday, January 10th

2012-01-10T19:45:00.003-06:00

Sixth Grade

The class took a quiz today. No homework!

Seventh Grade

Math - % of a Number Worksheet

Remember the proportion that you can set up with each one of these:

% /100 = is/of

If you don't know the percent, put a "p" where the % sign is. The bottom will always be 100 because every percent is out of 100. For the "is" and "of", you are finding that number that is with that word. For example:

What percent of 25 is 5?

p/100 = 5/25

The 5 is the "is" number because it says "is 5". The 25 is the "of" number because it says "of 25". Then solve using proportions. Since we were missing the percent, the answer would be a percent. If you aren't missing the percent, don't put a % sign next to your answer!

this example would be 100 x 5 = 500 divided by 25 = 20 ------ 20%

You can do 10 problems from the half size worksheet for extra credit. Be sure to do all 14 of the problems from the other worksheet.

Geography - We took notes over Chapter 10 Section 3 today. There will be a test on Thursday. Also, there is another country quiz on Friday. Be sure you are prepared for both!

EIGHTH GRADE

Pre-Algebra: Percent, Fraction, Decimal Conversions. You should all be pretty comfortable with these. Email me if you have trouble!

Algebra I: Classifying Polynomials by degree and by number of terms.

Remember, first find the degree of the polynomial by counting the exponents in each term. Whichever term has the highest sum of exponents tells you what degree it is. Here is a recap of the different degrees:

Constant ---- no variables with no exponents. Just a regular number.
Linear ------ no term has exponents that add to more than 1. (1st degree)
Quadratic ---- exponents add up to no more than 2. (2nd degree)
Cubic -------- exponents add up to no more than 3. (3rd degree)
Quartic ------ exponents add up to no more than 4. (4th degree)
Quintic ------ exponents add up to no more than 5. (5th degree)
6 or greater as the sum of exponents means you would say "6th degree" or "7th degree" - whatever the sum of the exponents.

After you find the degree, then count the terms in the polynomial. Remember, terms are separated by + or - signs.

Monomial - One term
Binomial - Two terms
Trinomial - Three terms
Polynomial - 4 or more terms

So, the expression: 2x + 5 + 3y would be a linear trinomial. (There are two terms with one variable with exponents of 1, so it's linear....and there are three terms so it is a trinomial.)

The expression: -5xyz + 2y would be a cubic binomial. (The first term has three variables with exponents of 1 each...so a sum of 3 for the exponents. That makes it cubic. There are just 2 terms, so it is a binomial.)

Email me with questions, if you have any!

See you tomorrow,
Mrs. Swickey

Monday, January 9th

2012-01-09T17:42:00.002-06:00

TO ALL PARENTS AND STUDENTS: I have updated Edline with all grades (with the exception of the State projects in 7th Geography). I have changed all missing work from asterisks (*) to zeros so these are now reflected in the grade. I will still accept late work as late as Friday, January 13th, but will deduct points. If you are missing something that you need another copy of, please tell me the specific assignment you need and I will get it to you.

SIXTH GRADE

There is a quiz tomorrow over decimal computation: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of decimals by whole numbers and decimals by decimals. There will also be some word problems on them as well as a balance scale and input/output tables. Please go over your review tonight as your test will look much the same! As always, email me if you have any questions.

SEVENTH GRADE

Math - The class took a quiz today over ratio and proportions. No homework.

Geography - The class took a country quiz today and began taking notes on Chapter 10, Section 3. There is no homework. There WILL be another country quiz on Friday, so start studying for a new country!

EIGHTH GRADE

Both groups took quizzes today so there is no homework!

See you tomorrow,

Mrs. Swickey

Monday, December 19th

2011-12-19T19:38:00.002-06:00

Hello! I know there's been a bit of silence on the blog lately. I apologize for that! If you have any questions about homework, missing or makeup assignments, or anything else related to my classes, please send me an email: b s w i c k e y AT s c b c s DOT o r g (Remove spaces and change at and dot to symbols)

Sixth Grade

Today we worked with decimals - place value, finding a number between two numbers, discovering patterns, etc. The page is called "Decimal Detectives". I also passed out a Decimal Poem that explains how to work with decimals in most situations. Then the students received a "mystery picture". You do not have to finish the picture tonight as there will be time in class tomorrow to work on it!

Seventh Grade

**For the class party tomorrow, remember to bring a $5 gift that anyone in the class would like. It is NOT a gag gift. A gift certificate is a great idea, but it can be a "thing" too. Your parents should have been contacted by our terrific homeroom mom about what to bring for the party. If you have any questions, send me an email and I'll ask our mom. Don't forget that tomorrow is a Mass day so wear your Mass uniform!

Math - Today the class worked on a handout where they found the best route for Santa to take around the world. There is no homework!

Geography - We began reading Chapter 10, Section 1 - about the different ancient civilizations of Latin America. There is homework tonight - answer the questions #1-5 for Section 1.

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra: The homework is Angle Relationships. You should use your notes to answer the questions.

Algebra I: Graphing linear inequalities. You were all doing very well in class. Keep it up and we'll go over it tomorrow.

See you then!

Mrs. Swickey

Thursday, December 7th

2011-12-07T19:10:00.002-06:00

Sixth Grade

There is no homework today. We have been working hard on decimals and filling out the decimals chart for how to work each type of problem. Today, the class learned how to divide with decimals. We were going over examples right until the end of class and I wasn't comfortable giving them the assignment without getting to work on it some in class. They will have time during class tomorrow!

Seventh Grade

Math - We have been working on proportion activities this week. Monday and Tuesday the class used proportions to find out how many "birds" (beans) were in their forests (cups). Today, each group received cut-outs of giant pencils and they used proportions, their own heights and pencil lengths to discover how big a giant would be to use the giant pencils. Most would be taller than our school! It was fun.

Geography - We continued taking notes on Section 2 of chapter 9 today. We also talked about the Nazca lines in Peru and watched a video about them. It's a fascinating mystery....giant line drawings, miles long in some cases, in the middle of the desert. Why? No one really knows!
The homework for today is to color (no marker please!) and label the outline maps of Central America and the Caribbean.

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra: The class got review worksheets on triangles and symmetry today. We will discuss any issues with them tomorrow as the boys had to leave class early for the Subiaco Academy presentation.

Algebra I: I'm not putting any examples on the blog, but please email me if you have questions! Just for your information, on #10, the train going from Reedley to Peoria is traveling 85 kilometers per hour not 8t! Sorry for the typo.

See you tomorrow!

Mrs. Swickey

Friday, December 2nd

2011-12-04T14:15:00.002-06:00

Sixth Grade

Adding and subtracting decimals. Remember, when you are adding or subtracting decimals, the most important thing is to line up the decimal points. By doing this, you are also lining up the numbers in their proper place values. Once you've done that, add zeros in all the empty places and then add or subtract as normal. Bring the decimal straight down into the answer. Also, when you have a whole number like 32, you will put the decimal point to the RIGHT of the number. For example:

32 changes to 32.

You could then add extra zeros after the decimal point. If you were subtracting 32 - 0.75, you would write it like this:

32.00
- 0.75

You'd then be able to subtract by crossing out the zeros and borrowing from the 2.

The assignment is the homework page, #1-22.

Seventh Grade

Math - Proportions Worksheet. On the first 6, you are checking to see if the two ratios form a proportion. To do this, you use cross products. So, if you had 5/6 and 10/12, you would check to see if it was proportional by multiplying 12 x 5 and 6 x 10. Since both of them equal 60, the two ratios are proportional.

When you are missing a number, you will still use cross products. For example, if you had

2/5 = b/15, you would cross multiply the two you can, the 2 x 15 and then divide that by 5.

2 x 15 = 30 divided by 5 = 6. So b = 6.

That was easy because you can tell using equivalent fractions. Sometimes the answer will be a mixed number though.

3/10 = 7/m

Here, you multiply 7 x 10 and divide by 3. 7 x 10 = 70 divided by 3 = 23 1/3

Write the remainder as a fraction.

Geography - Answer all the questions in the Activity Atlas on pages 162-167.

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra: We made prisms on Friday for use in figuring out surface area. We will continue on Monday. No homework!

Algebra I: Coin and Value problems. Remember, you are using substitution to solve these. First, determine the COUNT statement. How many of each thing do you have? How many quarters? How many dimes? How many tickets of each type? Then determine the VALUE statement. How much is each thing worth? What is the value of all the things?

Here is an example: Tommy had 35 nickels and dimes whose value was $2.75. How many of each type of coin did he have?

COUNT statement: He had 35 nickels and dimes. That means that all the nickels and dimes added up to 35. So, use the variables n and d for nickels and dimes:

n + d = 35

Value statement: The value was $2.75. Since each nickel is 5 cents and each dime is 10 cents, you would write it like this:

5n + 10d = 275

We took out the decimal points to make it easier. We put 5 in front of n, because the n stood for the NUMBER of nickels, so the value all of the nickels would be 5 times that number, 5n.

Now, we need to use substitution to solve. First, rearrange the COUNT statement so that you have what just n equals or just d equals. I'm going to move the d to the right side so I get what just n equals.

n = 35 - d

Now I can substitute that in for n in the value statement:

5(35-d) + 10d = 275

175 - 5d + 10d = 275

175 +5d = 275

5d = 100

d = 20

There are 20 dimes and that means that there are 15 nickels. Remember, the number of dimes AND nickels equaled 35, so I just subtracted 20 from 35 to get the number of nickels.

PLEASE email me if you need help setting up an equation!

See you Monday,

Mrs. Swickey

Wednesday, November 30th

2011-11-30T18:36:00.002-06:00

Sixth Grade

Today, we went over the assignments from the last two days - decimal place value and decimal rounding. The students were doing very well! We also practiced on saying decimal numbers, which can be tricky. There is no homework today because I copied the wrong sheet! Sorry, guys. I know you are sad.

Seventh Grade

Math - Converting fractions to percents. Remember that you can convert a "friendly" fraction to a percent by using an equivalent fraction with a denominator of 100. So, if the "friendly" fraction has a denominator that goes into 100, just make an equivalent fraction with 100 as the new denominator. The percent is whatever the numerator is. For example, 3/20 is a friendly fraction because 20 goes into 100. You would change 20 to 100 by multiplying by 5. So, multiply the 3 by 5 as well to get 15/100. That means that 3/20 is equal to 15%.

If your fraction isn't friendly, you can first check to see if it can be reduced to a fraction that IS friendly. If it still isn't, then you can change it to a percent by dividing the bottom into the top. Just drop the top down inside the box and divide. For the ones that don't work out evenly, you can write the repeating number with a bar over the repetend after moving the decimal point two places to the left. For example, if you tried to change 5/9 to a percent, you would divide 9 into 5. You would get, 0.5555555...... and on and on and on. So, you could move the decimal over 2 places, write one more 5 after the decimal and put a bar over that number. So, you would get 55.5% (with that 5 after the decimal with a bar over it...I can't do that without my mimio pad!)

Geography - There is a test tomorrow over Chapter 8. Be sure to study your notecards. Parents, today the students took notes on notecards instead of just notebook paper. Each notecard is an item they need to know for the test. The answer is on the back, so it should make it easy to study.

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra: Finish the volume of solids worksheet. Remember that to find the volume of a cylinder or prism, multiply the AREA of the base x the height. To find the volume of a pyramid or cone, do the same thing, but then divide by 3.

Algebra I: The class had a much deserved game day today after a lot of hard work on slopes and systems of equations. We still have a few topics to cover on linear equations and then we will start in on linear inequalities.

See you tomorrow!

Mrs. Swickey

Monday, November 28th

2011-11-28T19:23:00.002-06:00

It was great to see everyone today after a full week away for Thanksgiving! I hope all had a wonderful holiday. Just a reminder to all students and parents: Since today is the 4th Monday of the month, I will be posting grades to Edline. It is up to you (the student) to check your grades and missing assignments. Let me know if you need copies of anything. I will not be coming to you about your missing work. That is your responsibility!

Sixth Grade

Many students struggled with the fractions test before the break so today we went through all of the questions. There will be a makeup test tomorrow. I will average the two grades together. The students who did not need to retake the test worked on decimal place value. The worksheet is due Wednesday, but many finished today. We will continue working with decimals until Christmas break! (and probably after as well)

Seventh Grade

Math - Many students struggled with the discount, markup, sales tax test so we spent today going over the test and I was very happy with the attention that most of the class had during the review. The makeup test will be tomorrow so be sure you are going over your mistakes tonight and that you are ready tomorrow.

Geography - We read Chapter 8, Section 3. Do the identify and define words. Also, do the Atlas Activity - Canada 3. This is due tomorrow!

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra: Students continued working on the their shape posters. You must finish the poster tonight. Be sure you've included the perimeter and area of your shape. You must turn in your work! Also, color your poster using colored pencils or crayons. I need to be able to see the dimensions you used.

Algebra I: Many students struggled with the test, so we spent today going over the test. There is a makeup test tomorrow, so be sure you go over everything tonight!

See you tomorrow,

Mrs. Swickey

Seventh Grade

Thursday, November 17th

2011-11-17T19:24:00.005-06:00

Sixth Grade

Because the class took a test yesterday, today was a game day! The kids had a good time. There is no homework.

Seventh Grade

Math - We weren't able to take the math test today because of scheduling issues. It will be tomorrow. Be sure you are going over markups, discounts, and taxes. Please review tonight!

Geography - We held the states fair today and invited the other classes in the school to visit our classroom to see the projects. Everyone enjoyed looking at the projects and visiting with the 7th graders. I'm very proud of their hard work!

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra: The class began working on a poster project today. We will not have class tomorrow because of the Thanksgiving Feast. No homework!

Algebra I: Here are the answers to the rest of the review:

Wednesday, November 16th

2011-11-16T19:05:00.002-06:00

Sixth Grade

The class took a test today over fractions! No homework.

Seventh Grade

Math - There is a test tomorrow over markups, discounts, and taxes. Be sure you go over all of your notes and review for the test! Be sure you know HOW to find the final price of an item if it was marked up or marked down. Also, be sure you can find percent of markup or discount if given the original price and the new price. Remember, divide the change in prices by the original price. Please email me if you have questions!

Geography - Everyone's states' projects look fantastic! I'm so proud that everyone finished on time and did such a terrific job. We will be having the state's fair tomorrow where other classes will come look at our projects. Be proud of yourselves! They look great. And parents, if you are coming to the Thanksgiving Feast, please stop by our room and take a look.

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra: Area and Perimeter of complex shapes with half circles and triangles. Remember, to find the perimeter of a half circle, multiply pi times the radius. Then add that to the rest of the perimeter.

Algebra I: The test is going to be on FRIDAY instead of tomorrow! Please don't stress about it tonight. I talked to Mrs. Baer and you guys will come to Algebra I class at 10:10-11:00. I won't have Pre-Algebra that day, so there is time for you to take the test then. Tomorrow, we will continue to review! Be ready to work hard.

See you tomorrow,
Mrs. Swickey

Tuesday, November 15th

2011-11-15T17:48:00.002-06:00

Sixth Grade

There is a test tomorrow over Fractions! Be sure you have reviewed all of your notes. The topics will include:

adding and subtracting fractions
multiplying and dividing fractions
comparing and ordering fractions
making equivalent fractions
determining whether a fraction is greater than or less than 1/2
finding a fraction of a number

Seventh Grade

Math - Today, the class finished their activity from yesterday's class. No homework!

Geography - The State's Report is due tomorrow. Remember that it is a quiz grade so do your best! Also, today's assignment is the Atlas Activity - Canada 2.

Eighth Grade

We didn't have class today! See you tomorrow.

Mrs. Swickey

Monday, November 7th

2011-11-07T19:47:00.002-06:00

Sorry this is a bit late!

SIXTH GRADE

More practice problems on multiplying and dividing fractions. Remember, you only flip the second fraction on division! Also, you can't do ANY of the ones with mixed numbers without doing the u-turn and turning them into improper fractions.

SEVENTH GRADE

Math - Fraction, Decimal, Percent conversion worksheet. Remember, to change a fraction to a decimal, you divide the bottom number into the top. Also, when you divide, if you get a repeating number, you write that with a horizontal bar over the number that repeats. To change a decimal into a percent, you move the decimal two places to the right.

EIGHTH GRADE

Pre-Algebra - Reflections. Everyone was doing very well and working hard in class! Please send me an email if you are stuck.

Algebra I - Solving Systems of Equations by Elimination.

Here is a link to a post from last year with some examples:

Click here.

See you tomorrow!

Mrs. Swickey

Thursday, November 3rd

2011-11-03T17:52:00.003-06:00

Sixth Grade

Today, the class learned how to order and compare fractions. To compare fractions, you first need to check to see if the denominators are the same. You can't compare them if the denominators are different. If they are the same, then you just compare the tops. If they are different, find a least common multiple and change one or both of the fractions (just like you do if you were going to add them together) and then you can compare the tops. For example:

2/3 compared with 5/6

Since the denominators are different, I need to find a least common denominator. That would be 6, so I just need to change 2/3. It would change to 4/6. Since 5 is bigger than 4, 5/6 is bigger than 2/3.

To order fractions from least to greatest, you also need to have common denominators. So if the denominators are different, make equivalent fractions and then you can order them by the numerators.

Seventh Grade

To find the percent decrease, remember that you divide the amount of decrease by the original amount. So if you are going to find the percent decrease of 62 to 45, you would first subtract the numbers to find the amount it decreased. 62 - 45 = 17. Then divide 17 by 62. You would put the 17 in the box:

Add a decimal point and three zeros. Remember, you add the three zeros in case you need to round to the hundredth (nearest percent). Move the decimal point up and start dividing. In the above example, after dividing to three places, the answer was .274 - so I looked at the 4 to see if the 7 would go up or stay the same. Since 4 is less than 5, it makes the 7 stay the same. So, that makes .27 and then you move the decimal point two places to the right to make a percent. The percent decrease is 27%.

You are only doing 2-12.

Geography - You need to start researching the information for your states project. On Monday, you will be working on the backgrounds during Art class and the 3-D sculptures/designs during Geography class.

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra:

Translations. You all did a terrific job on these today! Email me if you have any questions.

Algebra I:

Systems of Equations - Substitution. Here is a link to a blog post from last year. The video shows you how to solve using substitution. Let me know if you have any questions!

See you tomorrow,

Mrs. Swickey

Monday, October 31st

2011-10-31T14:49:00.003-06:00

Sixth Grade

Today the class practice a little more on reducing fractions and writing mixed numbers as improper fractions. For homework, finish the two handouts.

Seventh Grade

Math - Percent of Change. Remember, you are only doing #2-9 on the worksheet tonight. Follow the steps for Method #1, but if that is confusing, here is another example:

So, in the example, I first found the amount of increase by subtracting the starting amount from the new amount. The amount increased $16. That goes on the top of the fraction. The bottom is always the original amount, which would be the starting price - $22. So I then divided 22 into 16. I added a decimal point and moved it into the answer. Then I added three zeros, just in case I needed to round to the nearest percent. Once I divided, I saw that I did need to round to the nearest percent. Even though I could keep dividing once I'd gone to the third place, I stopped so I could round it. Looking at the 7 in the third place, I saw that it was 5 or bigger which made the 2 round up to a 3. So, my new decimal was 0.73, which is 73%. That's it! Email me if you have any questions.

Geography - We read Chapter 7, Section 3 today - about the Midwest of the US. Answer the questions on the assessment - #1-4 and #7.

Eighth Grade

Both classes played an equations game today to help clarify and solidify slope and y-intercept. Everyone did a great job! No homework.

See you tomorrow!

Mrs. Swickey

Thursday, October 27th

2011-10-27T19:08:00.002-05:00

Sixth Grade

Do your best to answer the rest of the questions on the Cartoon Corner! We won't have math class tomorrow, so you have until Monday.

Seventh Grade

Math - Finding a discount. Remember, to find a discount, take the percent and first move the decimal two places to the left. (So, 15% becomes 0.15 ; 25% becomes 0.25 ; 40% becomes 0.4) Then, multiply that decimal by the dollar amount. Remember to move the decimal number over enough places. This amount is your discount. If you get an amount that doesn't look like money because it has too many decimal places, round to the second decimal place. For example, if you have multiplied the dollar amount and the decimal and you get something like 5.275, you would need to round to the second place. The 7 is in the second place, so you look at the 5. 5 makes the 7 go up 1 to 8. Now you have 5.28 and that can be written as money, $5.28. Once you have your discount, you can find the amount you pay by subtracting the discount from the original amount.

Geography - Finish reading Chapter 7, Section 2 and answer the assessment questions #1-4.

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra: Graph the 15 equations. Remember, an equation that only contains one variable will be either vertical or horizontal. If it a y equals equation, then it is a horizontal line and crosses the y-axis at the the number. So, y = -3 would be a horizontal line on -3 on the y-axis. For x = -2, that would be a vertical line, crossing the x-axis at -2.

Algebra I: Parallel and Perpendicular lines: Parallel lines have the same slope, so if you need to write an equation of a line that is parallel to another line, all you need from the other line is the slope. It will be the same. Sometimes, you can make up the y-intercept, but on others, you will have to find the y-intercept because it will tell you that your new line goes through a given point. Here is an example:

Write the equation of a line that is parallel to the given line and passes through the given point:

y = -2x + 4 ; (-2, 3)

Since it is parallel to the line, y = -2x + 4, you know it will have the same slope. The slope is -2. You don't know the y-intercept of the new line, but you do know a point the new line will go through. Use the slope and the coordinates of the point to solve for the y - intercept:

y = -2x + b

3 = -2 times -2 + b

3 = 4 + b

-1 = b

Now that you've solved for the y-intercept, you can plug that into the equation:

y = -2x -1

To write equations for perpendicular lines, you will do the same process. Just remember that the slope has to be the opposite reciprocal of the given line's slope.

EMAIL ME IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS! You WILL have class tomorrow!

See you then,

Mrs. Swickey

Monday, October 24th

2011-10-24T18:35:00.006-05:00

Sixth Grade

Today, the class worked on more fraction of a number problems. They were given a list of 12 problems and each student had to write a word problem for the math problem and draw a picture representing the answer. For example, if the problem was, "1/3 of 24", then the word problem could be something like:

1/3 of the frogs jumped into the pond. If there were 24 frogs, how many jumped into the pond? Then they would solve that to find that 8 frogs jumped into the pond and then draw a picture of 8 frogs in a pond.

You only have to do 10 of the problems. There are 12, but pick any ten to do.

Seventh Grade

Math - Today, we practiced more sales tax. Many students struggled with this assignment last week so there are 5 extra problems from the board to solve. Then, they are supposed to finish the decimal division worksheet.

Geography - Chapter 6 Test is tomorrow! Be sure you are studying your notes and the terms from each section.

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra:

Graphing from slope-intercept form.

Remember that the slope-intercept form of any line is: y=mx + b

m is the slope. So whatever is in front of the x, is your slope.

b is the y-intercept, which means that the line crosses the y-axis at this number.

To graph the line, you first put a dot at the y-intercept, so if your equation is y = -3x +4, then you would put a dot at + 4 on the y -axis. So, go up 4 and put a dot.

Next, you would do the slope. Since the slope is -3, that means it is -3 over 1. You would go DOWN 3 and to the right 1 and put a dot there. Do the slope again so you have three points (unless you are going down or to the right 6 places or more) and draw a straight line through them. Remember, if the slope is negative, that goes with the top number and you would go down from the y-intercept. If the slope is positive, you would go up from the y-intercept.

Algebra I - Writing the equation of a line with given information. First, you are writing equations of lines from graphs. This is the easy step. Remember, every equation of a line needs a:

1. Slope
2. y-intercept

So, if you are given a graph, you can find the y-intercept first. Then, find the slope with the points that are given on the graph. Remember that you must reduce fractions, but you can leave them improper. Here is an example:

In the above graph, the line crosses the y-axis at positive 3. So +3 is your y-intercept. Counting from the points you are given, you see that the "rise" is 1 and the run is 3. Since Slopeman would be skiing downhill, your slope is negative. So, you write your equation in slope-intercept form, plugging the y-intercept in for b and the slope in for m. y = -1/3x + 3

To write the equation of a line when all you are given is the slope and a point it crosses through, you have to find your y-intercept. This is an example of how you do it:

The third way you will be writing the equation of a line is when you are given only two points that the line crosses through. First, you need to find the slope by using the slope formula. Once you have the slope, then you can do the exact same thing as the example above, choosing one of the two coordinate points to plug in. Here is an example:

See you tomorrow!

Mrs. Swickey

Today, October 20th

2011-10-20T18:58:00.003-05:00

First, I want to apologize for not blogging this week. As you know, we've had parent teacher conferences each night and it's just been really busy! However, I definitely wanted to blog tonight to give examples on math in 7th and 8th grade. Unfortunately, my Mimio Pad is not working because it needs to be charged. The cord is at school! I have typed out the examples as best I can...I think it's still pretty clear, but please email me if you have questions!

Sixth Grade

The class was on a field trip today so I didn't have class with them. Your worksheets over fraction problems is due tomorrow.

Seventh Grade

Math - Sales Tax worksheet - Remember, you only have to do the front - #2-12. Find the tax AND the total. You will have two answers on each.

To find the tax, first you take the percent and change it to a decimal by moving the decimal point 2 places to the left. So if you have 7%, you would change that to .07 to make it a decimal. Once you have the decimal, multiply that by the dollar amount. Your answer is the tax. Be sure to round to the nearest cent (the second place after the decimal) if it doesn't look like money. So, if you have the following question:

Find the tax and the total on a new sweater that costs $49.75 with a tax rate of 6%. You would first change the 6% to a decimal by moving the decimal point two places to the left. (Remember, decimals are at the end of whole numbers.)

So 6% would become 0.06 and you would multiply that by $49.75. Once you multiply, you would have 2.9850 - the decimal goes between the two and the nine because there are 4 decimal places in the problem. But 2.9850 doesn't look like money.

You have to round to the 2nd decimal place. The 8 is the second place, so you look at the 5. Since it is a 5, it will make the 8 go up 1. So now you have 2.99 - you can drop off the 50. That now looks like money, so the tax is $2.99.

Remember, always think about if the answer makes sense. If you got the tax as 29.95 that wouldn't make sense because the item only cost $49.75! So to find the total, you would add $2.99 to $49.75 and get $52.74.

To solve one that has a fraction in it, you first need to change the fraction to a decimal and THEN change the % to a decimal. So, if you had 4 1/2%, you would first change that to 4.5%. Now you can move the decimal two places to the left to get 0.045 - that would be the decimal you would multiply by. Notice that there are three decimal places in this number now. PLEASE email me if you have questions!

Geography - For review over Chapter 6, complete the worksheets from each section. Many students finished in class or are almost done. Also, don't forget that if you haven't taken your country quizzes yet, you will have to do that tomorrow!

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra:

To tell if a line is positive or negative that's on a graph, you would look at the line from left to right. If it is going up, it's a positive line. If it is going down, it is a negative line. To tell from an equation (which is what you will do for the top half), you look at the number that is in front of the x.

For example, if you are given these equations:

y = -2x +4 ; negative slope because there is a -2 in front of x.

y = 5x -3 ; positive slope because there is a +5 in front of x. (remember, a number is positive if there is no negative sign)

y = -1/2x -7 ; negative slope because there is a -1/2 in front of the x.

So that's pretty easy!

To graph the ones that are circled, you have to use the table of values like you did yesterday. So, make a table and put in the numbers -2, 0, 2 for the x values. This part is exactly like yesterday's assignment. Then, once you have the values for y, graph the line on a coordinate plane.

To do the bottom half of the assignment, you are checking to see if the ordered pair is a solution to the equation. If it isn't a solution, then that point wouldn't be on your line on the graph. You don't have to graph to find out though.

Here is an example:

y = -5x+9 (2, -1)

To tell, you would plug in the values for x and y from the ordered pair. An ordered pair is always (x, y) - so the first number is your x value and the second number is your y value. Put them in the equation and see if you get a true statement.

So: -1 = -5 times 2 + 9

-1 = -10 + 9

-1 = -1

Since this is true, (2, -1) IS a solution and you would write YES. You must show the work though. Don't just write yes or no.

Here is another example:

3x + 4y = -20 (3, -5)

You would plug in 3 for the x and -5 for the y like this:

3 times 3 + 4 times -5 = -20

9 + -20 = -20

-11 = -20

Since this isn't true, (3, -5) is NOT a solution and you would write NO.

Please email me if you are still confused! I'll be happy to help through email.

Algebra I

For each equation today, you will find the slope and the y-intercept and then graph the line.

Remember, the slope is ALWAYS what is in front of the x. The y-intercept is ALWAYS the constant term after the x term. The line has to be written in slope intercept form, but you already know that the ones you are working with tonight are already written that way.

Here is an example of how to find slope and y-intercept:

y = -2/3x +5

Since -2/3 is in front of the x, -2/3 is your slope. You would write: m = -2/3

Since the constant term is 5, then your y-intercept is 5. You would write: b = 5

Now, to graph this, you would first put a point on the y-intercept and that means to put a point on the y-axis at that number. You would go up and put a dot at the 5.

Now, to do the slope, you look at it and see it is -2/3. That means the "rise" is -2. (If the slope is negative, the negative sign ALWAYS goes with the "rise".)

The run is 3 because it is on the bottom of the fraction. (If the slope is a whole number or NOT a fraction, the run will always be 1 because a 1 is always under a whole number.)

To graph the slope, you would put your pencil at the y-intercept, which is at the 5 on the y-axis in this problem, go DOWN 2 because your "rise" is -2, then go to the RIGHT 3 because your run is 3. Remember, you always RUN TO THE RIGHT. Now, put a dot at this point. You can do the slope again by going down 2 and going to the right 3 and putting another dot. Draw the line by connecting the dots.

Now, if your equation looked liked this:

y = x - 3, your slope would be 1, so you would write: m = 1

You know it is 1 because there isn't a number in front of the x, so it is understood to be 1!

If you had a problem like this:

y = -3x

your slope is -3, so you would write: m = -3

Since there is no number after the -3x, you have a y-intercept of 0! When you graph that, you would put a dot on the zero on the y-intercept, which is the origin and then go down 3 for the rise and to the right 1 for the run.

As always, email me if you have questions!

See you tomorrow,

Mrs. Swickey

Thursday, October 13th

2011-10-13T18:32:00.003-05:00

Sixth Grade

Today, we practiced adding and subtracting fractions on the white boards. I am very impressed with how well everyone is doing! You all had a terrific teacher last year. There is no homework!

Seventh Grade

Math - During math class today, we had to work on one of the ITBS tests. There is just one test left, so we will be all finished tomorrow! Be sure to have your dividing fractions worksheet done for tomorrow.

Geography - There was a test today over Chapter 5. No homework!

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra: There is a test over graphing data that shows positive, negative, or no correlation. Be sure you go over your notes from class today so you are ready for tomorrow!

Algebra I: More word problems - some with consecutive integer problems. Please email me if you are stuck! I will be more than happy to help you work through the problems.

See you tomorrow!

Mrs. Swickey

Wednesday, October 12th

2011-10-12T18:45:00.005-05:00

Sixth Grade

Today we practiced subtracting fractions. Everyone was doing really well! Here are some tips:

First, if you are subtracting a mixed number from a whole number (whole number on top without a fraction), then you have to borrow from the top whole number. Cross it off and write the number that is one less. Then make a fraction equal to one that has the same denominator as the bottom fraction. So, if the bottom fraction is 1/3, then you would make the new top fraction 3/3 so the denominators match.
When you have a mixed number minus another mixed number, you first check to make sure the denominators are the same (the ones I gave you today had all the same denominators). Then, if the top numerator is smaller than the bottom numerator, you have to borrow from the whole number. Remember, when you borrow in fractions, it's different. You get the new top numerator by adding the denominator to it. So if you had 1/3 as the top numerator and you had to borrow, then it would become 4/3 after borrowing. You get that because you are adding "1" to it infractions and 1 = 3/3, so you are adding 1/3 + 3/3 to get 4/3.

Here are a few examples:

Seventh Grade

Math - We tested today during math class. Don't forget that the dividing fractions worksheet is due tomorrow!

Geography - We reviewed for a test over Chapter 5. Study your notes and the Lewis and Clark video questions.

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra: We did an activity today in class using slinkys! Everyone finished and turned in their work.

Algebra I: No class today due to testing. You have the equations from words due tomorrow!

See you then...

Mrs. Swickey

Tuesday, October 11

2011-10-11T18:42:00.004-05:00

Sixth Grade

Adding Mixed Numbers with Different Denominators - Remember that the first step is to find a common denominator. To do this, you are looking for the first number they both go INTO...just like least common multiple. It will always be one of the numbers OR something bigger. It will NEVER be a number that is smaller than either of the numbers. So, if you have denominators of 4 and 8...your least common denominator cannot be 4 because 4 is SMALLER than 8. However, since 4 and 8 both go into 8, you can use 8 as your common denominator. Once you've found the common denominator, make equivalent fractions by seeing how you changed the denominator. If you didn't change the denominator, you don't change the numerator for that fraction. If you changed the denominator by multiplying by 2, then multiply the numerator by 2 to get the new numerator. Then add the numerators and simplify if it is an improper fraction. Here are a few examples - follow the colors for the steps:

Seventh Grade

Math - Dividing Mixed Numbers:

Remember that first you make the mixed numbers improper by doing the u-turn. Write whole numbers over 1. Then, you change the division to multiplication and flip the second fraction. Then you cross cancel where you can. Multiply across and change back into a mixed number if it is improper. Here are a few examples:

You can do all 30, but mark 5 as extra credit before class tomorrow. Or, you can skip 5 of your choosing...also mark which ones you are skipping before class.

Geography - Do the timeline activities on page 101. Remember, for your timeline, add 5 more events other than your birth. For the timeline of Canada, be sure you are including ALL the events listed in the paragraph.

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra: We didn't have class today due to testing, but your graphs of your experiments are due tomorrow.

Algebra I: Putting word problems into equations and solving. I will not see you tomorrow due to testing, so have these finished by Thursday.

See you tomorrow!

Mrs. Swickey

Monday, October 10th

2011-10-10T19:00:00.003-05:00

Sixth Grade

Math - Least Common Multiple. Remember, when you are finding the LCM, you are finding the first number your numbers go INTO. There is an endless number of multiples, so you want the smallest one that they go into. For example, if you want to find the LCM of 12 and 20, you would start with 20...your biggest number and do the multiples of it:

20, 40, 60, 80

Now, look at that list. Is there are number that 12 goes into? You might see that 12 goes into 60, but if you don't know that, you would need to do a list with the multiples of 12:

12, 24, 36, 48, 60

And then you'd see it.

So the LCM of 12 and 20 is 60.

Just so you know, I think I figured out what was wrong with my "cake" example today! I'll explain tomorrow.

The assignment is #1-22 on the homework page.

Seventh Grade

Multiplying Fractions - Remember, in order to multiply two fractions or mixed numbers, you first have to change any mixed numbers into improper fractions by using the u-turn. Then, cancel where you can by dividing a top number and a bottom number by the same thing. Then multiply across and then if your answer is improper, change into a mixed number by dividing bottom into top. Here are a few examples:

Geography - Read the rest of Chapter 5, Section 4 and complete the worksheet over the section. You do NOT have to do the section assessment in the book...just the worksheet.

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra: We did not have class today because of testing. We will resume class on Wednesday.

Algebra I: Solving equations for y. Everyone really seemed to get the hang of it today. Do the 10 problems I wrote on the board.

See you tomorrow!

Mrs. Swickey

Thursday, October 6th

2011-10-06T18:33:00.002-05:00

Sixth Grade

There is no homework. We played a math game today.

Seventh Grade

Math - We reviewed fractions today. The homework is to do the 10 problems from the board - adding and subtracting fractions.

Geography - We read Chapter 5, Section 2. Do questions #1-5 on the section assessment.

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra: Today the class developed experiments to show positive or negative correlations and began testing. We will finish testing tomorrow and graph the data.

Algebra I: Today we continued working with literal equations. If you don't remember how to solve for y, scroll down to yesterday's blog post and click on the Purple Math link. Then click on the second link on that page. There are several examples for solving for y there. For the tables, just plug in the values for x in the equation and solve for y. Let me know if you need help!

See you tomorrow,

Mrs. Swickey

Wednesday, October 5th

2011-10-05T19:15:00.007-05:00

Sixth Grade

Today, we reviewed how to turn improper fractions into mixed numbers and then how to add fractions with like denominators with both reducing and changing into mixed numbers. Here are some examples:

My Mimio Pad needs to be charged so I can't do anymore pictures! I'm sorry!

Remember that when you add two fractions, you are only adding the tops. The bottom stays the same. So after adding, if the top is bigger than the bottom, then you need to change it into a mixed number. Do that by "dividing bottom into top". How many times it goes in becomes your new whole number. The left OVER, is your new numerator. (It's left OVER so you put it OVER in the fraction.) The denominator stays the same. In the above example, I started with 12 over 5. Then I divided 5 into 12. It went in 2 whole times...that's my new whole number. I had 2 left over so put a 2 over the 5. Remember, the denominator will always stay the same!

So, after you do that, if your fraction can be reduced....be sure to reduce it!

Seventh Grade

Math - Today's assignment is to do the top part of the sheet I sent home. It's mental math multiplying or dividing with powers and multiples of 10. I shouldn't see ANY work since you are doing it all mentally! You do not have to do the bottom half yet.

Geography - We finished watching the Lewis and Clark video today and the class turned in the questions over the video.

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra: Finish graphing the Bike Weights and Jump Heights.

Algebra I: Literal Equations. My Mimio Pad needs to be charged and the cord is at school! I can't give you examples, but I found this website with examples on how to solve in formulas as well as how to solve for "y". The examples for solving for "y" can be found on the second page. Scroll to the bottom and hit "next". I hope it's a useful site! The pages you want are the first two links: Purple Math

See you tomorrow!
Mrs. Swickey

Tuesday, October 4th

2011-10-04T18:57:00.002-05:00

Sixth Grade

Today we worked on reducing fractions. The class already had a pretty good grasp of it so we spent some time going over what "relatively prime" means. Remember, two numbers are relatively prime if the only common factor they have is 1. So, even though the numbers 4 and 15 are both composite, they are relatively prime because their only common factor is 1. the factors of 4 are 1, 2, and 4. The factors of 15 are 1, 3, 5, and 15. So we say they are relatively prime - relatively is like "related to each other". The assignment is to complete the Relatively Prime worksheet for extra credit and then to do the back side with reducing fractions as well as the reducing fractions page where you make stars.

Seventh Grade

Math - Today the class worked on division estimates and quotients. Remember to estimate, you first need to round the numbers to compatible numbers. So, if you are supposed to divide 4782 by 83, you could round the first number to 4800 and the second to 80. Then you could divide 4800 by 80 easily - it's 60. If you rounded 4782 to the nearest thousand, you would have 5000 divided by 80. That isn't easy to do. The estimates are handy because you can then see if your actual answer is correct. In this case, it would be: 57 r 51. That's close to 60. You know the first number will be 6 or something close because your estimate was 60 - you can use that to narrow your guesses when dividing.

The assignment is to do #1-12 only - estimate each answer first in the left column of your paper. Then do the division on the right column.

Geography - We watched part of a National Geographic Video on Lewis and Clark today. While watching, the class answered questions relating to the video. Everyone did a terrific job listening and not disturbing others. We will finish the video tomorrow!

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra: Today we did another graph activity on Whale Weight. Everyone finished the first part in class. The second part is to graph the actual data.

Algebra I: Today we worked on an activity where the students would discover the weight of my car by measuring the footprint of each tire as well as the tire pressure. Using that information, the students could see how much weight each tire supported and adding those together, how much my car weighed. Each person needs to finish the calculations and you must show your work on your paper! No calculators allowed.

See you tomorrow,
Mrs. Swickey

Monday, October 3rd

2011-10-03T18:48:00.003-05:00

Sixth Grade

Last week, there were several students having trouble with factor trees. Today, I showed them a more visual way to do the trees - with squares of different colored construction paper. One color is for composite numbers and another color is for prime numbers. The starting number is another color too, although it is also composite. Everyone liked the color square factor trees.

The homework is to do the 10 numbers I wrote on the board using the squares. Once you have the tree done with the squares for each number, write down the factor tree on paper and write out the prime factorization.

Seventh Grade

Math - Today, the class worked on "Item Analysis". I passed out a paper where I had worked out 10 addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division problems. I intentionally made a mistake on 8 of them. The purpose is for the students to find the errors, explain in a sentence what the error is for each problem, and rework the problem correctly.

Geography - I finally told everyone the purpose of the pictures today! The class made passports that they will get stamped after passing a Country Quiz for the countries in each unit. I will update the blog with deadlines for the quizzes, because the students will do them when they are ready. Since our current unit is on the United States and Canada, there will only be 3 country quizzes this unit. The deadline to have them both done is the end of the nine weeks. Each quiz will consist of the same 10 questions. The students wrote them down today, so they know what facts to look up.

We then read Chapter 5, Section 1. The homework for today is the handout over the section.

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra: Today we worked through a lesson about Skin Weight. It sounded a bit gross, but was still interesting. A person's skin weighs about 1/16th the total body weight. I gave them a table with various weights and skin weights and the class used the info to finish the table and complete a graph using the information. Most everyone finished the table in class, but will need more time to graph the information. Tomorrow, we will talk about whale weight!

Algebra I: Today, the class worked on Item Analysis. I gave them 10 equations worked out. They had to analyze my work to see where I made mistakes and write in a sentence what the mistake was. Then, they had to rework the equation correctly. There are 2 correct equations!

See you tomorrow,
Mrs. Swickey

Thursday, September 29th

2011-09-29T19:37:00.002-05:00

Sixth Grade

Prime Factorization by using the factor tree or division by primes. Remember, to find the prime factorization of any number, you first think about what numbers go into it. If you are doing the factor tree, you don't have to focus on only prime numbers. For example, if you have to find the prime factorization of 32, you can start with 8 x 4 - neither of those are prime, so you would keep going, 8 is 2 x 4, then that 4 is 2 x 2. The first 4 is also 2 x 2. So you end up with 2 x 2 x 2 x 2. To do this with division by primes, you'd first divide 32 by 2, then you'd have 16 and you'd divide it by 2, then you'd have 8 and you'd divide it by 2 giving you 4 so you divide one last time by 2 to get 2. That's 5 2's altogether, so you still get 2 x 2 x 2 x 2.

Now...if that explanation is confusing or you are still stuck, you can email me tonight or ask me in class tomorrow.

Seventh Grade

Math - Computation Review. Remember, I don't want you getting help on this. Just do your best so I can see how much you remember.

Geography - There is a test tomorrow over Chapter 4 so be sure to study tonight!

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra: Decimal and Fraction Computation Quiz is tomorrow.

Algebra I: Equations Test is tomorrow. Be sure to look over all your notes and go back through the blog looking for examples.

See you tomorrow!
Mrs. Swickey

Wednesday, September 28th

2011-09-28T18:35:00.003-05:00

Sixth Grade

Today we talked about prime and composite numbers. We then figured out all of the prime numbers from 1-100. There is no homework today. We will do factor trees and prime factorization tomorrow!

Seventh Grade

Math - The class took a test today and what a doozy it was! No one finished during math class and had to finish taking it during Geography.

Geography - Do the Chapter 4 Review. Review Key Terms, Main Ideas, Map Activity, and #3 of the Writing Activity. Just make a chart with two columns. In the first column put the similarities and in the second, put the differences.

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra: Do the 20 decimal and fraction computation problems. There will be a quiz on Friday!

Algebra I: Fraction and Decimal Equations. Below are a few examples of each kind:

See you tomorrow!
Mrs. Swickey

Tuesday, September 27th

2011-09-27T18:48:00.002-05:00

Sixth Grade

Today we talked about reducing fractions. Remember that to reduce a fraction, you need to divide both the top number and the bottom number by the greatest common factor. Find what they have in common, and divide top and bottom by that. Be sure to check your new fraction to see if it should be reduced too. The assignment is the half-sheet with fractions to reduce.

Seventh Grade

Math - We reviewed for the test over bar graphs, line graphs, stem-and-leaf plots, box-and-whisker plots and central means of tendency (mean, median, mode, and range). PLEASE study your notes tonight and remember that anytime you graph something, you must always have a LABEL on all parts of the graph. I don't want to take points off of a beautiful graph because you left the labels off...so don't forget!

Geography - Chapter 4 Section 3. Do #1-4 on the Section Assessment.

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra: You need to have your design finalized and your poster finished with all measurements, costs, etc., done.

Algebra I: We worked on more equations and learned how to simplify fraction equations. No homework!

See you tomorrow,

Mrs. Swickey

Monday, September 26th

2011-09-26T19:18:00.002-05:00

Sixth Grade

Math - Today we worked on a couple of concepts. First is naming and placing mixed numbers on a number line. Second is the divisibility rules. We can tell if a number can be divided by certain numbers by following these rules:

A number is divisible by:

2 if the number is even - or ends in 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8

3 if the sum of the digits in the number can be divided by 3. (For example, the digits in the number 135 add up to 9; 1 + 3 + 5 = 9 and since 9 can be divided by 3, so can 135.)

5 if the number ends in 0 or 5

6 if the number is divisible by 2 and 3

9 if the sum of the digits in the number can be divided by 9. This is the same kind of rule as for 3 above.

10 if the number ends in 0.

The assignment is a number line worksheet and to find the numbers that can go into the 10 numbers that were written on the board.

Seventh Grade

Math - Today, we worked on a class activity that connected math and Geography. There is no homework!

Geography - We continued the math activity and then read Chapter 4, Section 2. Do the define and identify words.

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra - The class continued working on their cell phone holder projects today. Be sure to have posters for tomorrow to finish up the holders and presentations.

Algebra I - Equations with multiple steps. Remember that the answer is no solution if you end up with a false statement, such as 5 = 3. Email me if you have questions!

See you tomorrow,
Mrs. Swickey

Friday, September 23rd

2011-09-24T18:24:00.003-05:00

Sixth Grade

Today we worked more on factors and greatest common factor. The assignment is to do Supplemental 20 (I think) from the Saxon 76 book. We will use the book on occasion this year to supplement what we are learning in class. Here are a few examples of how to find greatest common factor:

To find the GCF of the numbers 12 and 20, you first list all the factors of 12 and 20. Remember, a factor is a number that goes into another number.

12 - 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12

20 - 1, 2, 4, 5, 10, 20

Since the number 4 is the biggest on both lists, 4 is the greatest common factor. Remember when you list the factors, each number has a partner that multiples to give you the number. For example, 1 x 12 = 12, 2 x 6 = 12, and 3 x 4 = 12. Sometimes, a number will be its own partner. If you listed the factors of 16, you'd have 1, 2, 4, 8, 16. 1 x 16= 16, 2 x 8 = 16, and 4 x 4 = 16. You only need to list a number once though.

Seventh Grade

Math - More practice with averaging. Football Teams worksheet. Answer all of the questions on the front and then include the median, mode, and range of each list of data on another sheet. So, you will have median, mode, and range for the offense players' heights and weights as well as the median, mode, and range for the defense players' heights and weights.

Geography - Using the maps in the Atlas at the back as well as the maps at the beginning of Chapter 4, find, label, and color as instructed the landforms and water forms listed on the handout.

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra: The class began a project on Friday to design a cell phone cover. They worked on their designs, made calculations, discussed cost of materials, and spent the entire class time working hard and planning. On Monday, they will finish their designs and begin working on their presentation posters. Don't forget to bring posters on Monday! I will have students from other classes vote and rank the designs and the winning design will then be made by Ms. Freeh and myself for each student in that group!

Algebra I: We practiced equations as a group today. Each student came to the board to work out equations. There is no homework!

See you on Monday,
Mrs. Swickey

Thursday, September 22nd

2011-09-22T19:28:00.002-05:00

Sixth Grade

Today we began our unit on fractions. We spent some time working on fractions with a program on my computer and then worked with some tile pieces. Then we talked about factors. There is no homework tonight, but there will be tomorrow!

Seventh Grade

Math - We made another box-and-whisker plot as a class and then everyone made their own. The assignment was to finish the handout and everyone finished in class.

Geography - The class finished up the Atlas Activity and then we went over it together. Then we read Chapter 4, Section 1. The assignment is to answer questions #1-5 from the section assessment.

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra: We reviewed multiplying and dividing fractions today and worked together on problems on the board. There is no homework tonight!

Algebra I: Mixed Review of equations. Please see yesterday's post for example equations. The following is an example where you have to get the variable on the same side of the equation:

See you tomorrow!
Mrs. Swickey

Wednesday, September 21st

2011-09-21T18:22:00.003-05:00

Sixth Grade

Today the class took a computation quiz. There is no homework!

Seventh Grade

Math - Today, we continued working with stem and leaf plots and the class took notes on how to make a box and whisker plot. There is no homework today!

Geography - Today, the class worked in pairs on the Activity Atlas for Unit 2 over The United States and Canada. Tomorrow, we will finish up the activity and begin Chapter 4.

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra: Today the class practiced some more with adding fractions with unlike denominators. In class, they worked on reducing fractions to lowest terms. The assignment is the adding fractions worksheet.

Algebra I: We began our section on equations today. The assignment is the worksheet with two-step equations. Here are examples of the four types of equations you will see on the assignment:
As always, let me know if you need help!

See you tomorrow,
Mrs. Swickey

Tuesday, September 20th

2011-09-20T17:59:00.004-05:00

Sixth Grade

There is a quiz tomorrow over computation - adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing. Also, there will be addition and subtraction word problems. Just take your time and be careful with borrowing and carrying. Everyone knows how to solve these problems, but errors creep in, so don't rush!

Seventh Grade

Math - Stem and Leaf Plots. This is another way to organize a set of data. You have a line drawn between the "stem" and the "leaves". The stem can represent different things, but today, we used the stem to represent multiples of 10. So, a 1 in the stem stands for 10, a 2 for 20, etc. The leaves come from the remainder of the number - in this case - the ones place. So, 25 would be represented on a stem and leaf plot with a 2 on the left side of the line and the 5 on the right side. There is always a key to show you what the plot represents. Here is an example for the following set of data:

Scores on a test: 65, 68, 72, 74, 74, 76, 80, 85, 88, 88, 90, 92, 95, 99

Since the range is between 65 and 99, I'll make my leaves multiples of 10 from 60 - 90, by using the numbers 6, 7, 8, and 9 on the left of the line. Then, for each number in the data set, I'll put the ones place on the right of the line. Always put a number for each number listed in the data set. Even though there are two 74's, you would put a 4 twice after the 7.

After you finish drawing your stem and leaf plot, answer the questions #1-6 on the bottom. (Skip #7)

Geography - There is no homework! The class took a test today.

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra: Adding and Subtracting Fractions. First, find a common denominator and make equivalent fractions. The add or subtract. If the top numerator is smaller than the bottom numerator, borrow from the whole number and change the top numerator by adding the denominator to it. Here are a few examples:
Please email me if you are stuck! I am happy to help you if you are confused by one.

Algebra I - There was a quiz today. No homework!

See you tomorrow,
Mrs. Swickey

Monday, September 19th

2011-09-19T19:08:00.002-05:00

Sixth Grade

Today we discussed how to solve addition and subtraction word problems. Homework is addition and subtraction problem solving worksheets.

Seventh Grade

Math - Mean, Median, Mode, and Range. If you forgot your notes, here is how to solve each:

Mean - This is the same as the average (mean ole average!). Add the numbers and divide by the number of numbers. Round to the nearest whole number or nearest cent.

Median - Write the numbers in order from least to greatest. The median is the middle number. If there is an even number of numbers, the median is the average of the middle two numbers. For example:

5, 6, 6, 7, 9, 13, 14, 14, 15, 16

In the above list, the 9 and 13 are the middle two numbers. Add them together - 22 - and divide by 2. The median is 11.

Mode - The mode is the number that occurs most often. There can be more than one mode if more than one number occurs the same number of times. Sometimes there isn't a mode if there are no numbers that occur more than any others.

Range - This is the difference between the greatest and the smallest number.

Geography - There is a test tomorrow over Chapter 3. Be sure to study! The essay will be to write about the similarities and the differences between a direct democracy and a representative government.

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra: Decimal Computation Review.

Algebra: Study for the Distributive Property and Combining Like Terms Quiz tomorrow. Go over the worksheet that we graded today and email me if you have any questions!

See you tomorrow,
Mrs. Swickey

Thursday, September 15th

2011-09-17T21:00:00.002-05:00

If you haven't heard yet, Mrs. Lofties was named Catholic School Teacher of the Year for the Archdiocese! We are all so proud of her as she is so deserving. Congratulations Mrs. Lofties!

Sixth Grade

Today, we continued working on division. Some students practiced with multiples of 10 and others worked on 2 digit divisors.

Seventh Grade

Math - I passed out a set of questions related to the two double bar graphs the class made on Wednesday. The students answered the questions by interpreting their graphs and recognizing which graph would contain the information they needed. Everyone finished in class and turned it in.

Geography - We read Chapter 3, Section 4. The class copied down and filled in graphic organizers on economic and political systems. You need to finish reading the section and fill in the graphic organizer for types of government. Then, define the words at the end of the section.

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra: We reviewed decimal place value, comparing, ordering, and rounding decimals. The homework is to complete the worksheet on these topics.

Algebra I: More practice on combining like terms and distributive property. Remember to distribute the negative sign if that's all that is in front of a set of parenthesis! As always, email me if you have any questions.

See you on Monday!

Mrs. Swickey

Wednesday, September 14th

2011-09-14T18:55:00.003-05:00

Sixth Grade

Today we practiced on division by 2 digits. Just do the front of the worksheet I sent home and please don't stress if you are struggling! I will help anyone who needs it tomorrow - or you can email me if you get stuck.

Seventh Grade

Math - Finish both double bar graphs tonight! One is on total number of students in each grade for both last year and this year. The other is on number of boys and girls per grade for this year. Remember the following parts:

Label the x-axis
Label the y-axis
Title the graph
Include a key

Make sure the distance between each set of bars is the same. Also, make sure the interval on the y-axis makes sense.

Geography - Chapter 3, Section 3. We spent time discussing what culture is today. Then define the words at the end of the section.

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra: We spent our time in class continuing the lesson from yesterday and discussed the number of calories burned in 5 minutes, 10 minutes, etc. We then graphed the results and discussed parts of a graph. The only homework was to do the multiplication necessary for #4 on the Cartoon Corner page.

Algebra I - Combining Like Terms and Simplifying Expressions. Here are some examples:

I hope that helps! If not, please email me.

See you tomorrow!
Mrs. Swickey

Tuesday, September 13th

2011-09-13T18:15:00.002-05:00

Sixth Grade

In math class today we graded yesterday's assignment and went over some of the answers. Then, we spent some time playing a math/reasoning game. There is no homework!

Seventh Grade

Math - Today the class learned about double-line graphs. The homework is to make a double-line graph with the data set I passed out today. You are either graphing the high and low temperatures from July 2010 or from July 2011 in Oklahoma. It will be interesting to compare the two groups of graphs tomorrow! We will make a double-bar graph tomorrow using some school data.

Geography - Today the class made another population density map - this time being more specific. Instead of just two colors, there are five to separate out the densities a little more. We will then compare the two maps in class tomorrow. We also read Section 2 of Chapter 3 about Human Migration. Be sure to do the identify and define words tonight as well.

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra - Today we worked on a "Cartoon Corner" from one of my Mathematics magazines. We were figuring the average size of a step for the class and then determining how many steps it would take to burn 24 calories. Be sure to answer part of question #4 (how many calories burned in a day.) We will do some more figuring tomorrow. The class is definitely using their computation skills!

Algebra I - Today we graded the homework from yesterday and the class took a short quiz over the material. Then we played a math/reasoning game. There is no homework!

See you tomorrow,
Mrs. Swickey

Monday, September 12th

2011-09-12T18:17:00.002-05:00

Sixth Grade

Today the class practiced more division - with money and then with averaging. We had a little fun finding the average class height and discussing why it's reasonable. Then we worked a little on division word problems and figuring out what the remainder might mean. There are two pages for tonight - one is front and back, division with money and averaging - the other is one-sided and contains 8 word problems. We did two of these together.

Seventh Grade

Math - Today we began working with graphs and made a bar graph by picking 10 random states and graphing the population density of each. Be sure to finish your graph by tomorrow.

Geography - We continued our discussion of population density and other population factors by reading Chapter 3, Section 1. We also used our population density information to color a map of the US. Tomorrow, we will color another map with more detailed information. Tonight, finish coloring the map and be sure to define the words at the end of Section 1.

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra - Computation Review. Many students finished in class, but some need to complete the problems at home.

Algebra I - pg.60-61 handout: #7-24 ALL, 36-88 EVENS. For #36-46 remember that you are multiplying the number on the outside by both of the things on the inside.

-3(-5 - 2x) = 15 + 6x (-3 times -5 = 15 and -3 times -2x = +6x)

For #48-58, you are doing the reverse and "pulling out" or factoring out what the two terms have in common. For example:

3x + 9

Both terms can be divided by 3 so they have a 3 in common. Divide each term by 3 (that's the same as saying "factor out" or "pull out" a 3) and put the 3 on the outside of the parenthesis. What's left inside is whatever is left after dividing by 3. The answer would be:

3(x + 3)

3x divided by 3 = x
9 divided by 3 = 3

Remember, you know you factored right if you use distributive property and get the original expression.

Email me if you have any questions!

Mrs. Swickey

Friday, September 9th

2011-09-10T14:25:00.004-05:00

Sixth Grade

Today was a short class due to the House meeting in the afternoon, so we spent our time grading the papers from Thursday and practicing a different way to multiply large numbers. There is no homework!

Seventh Grade

Math - Math class was short today due to the House meeting, so we spent the time going over Thursday's test. While most everyone did fairly well, some students got confused and make several mistakes. Because of this, I'm allowing anyone who wants to, to retake the test on Monday and I'll average the two grades together. The retake will be basically the same except the numbers will be different. Here are the explanations for the test:

1. The 3 is in the hundred trillions place.

2. The 2 is in the billions place.

3. The 9 is in the hundred millions place.

3 (second one - I numbered wrong!). The 7 is in the hundred thousands place.

4. To write the number in words, it would look like this: three hundred forty-five trillion, twelve billion, nine hundred eighty-six million, seven hundred five thousand, one hundred five.

5. The 3 is in the millions place.

6. The 6 is in the ten thousands place.

7. The 9 is in the trillions place.

8. To write the number in words, it would look like this: five hundred seventy-nine trillion, one hundred eighty-two billion, one hundred forty-three million, seven hundred sixty thousand, five hundred seventy-one.

9. This property is the Associative Property of Addition. Notice that the order of the numbers doesn't change, but what is in parentheses does. This shows you that it doesn't matter which two numbers you add together first, you still get the same answer.

10. This is the Commutative Property of Multiplication. Remember that commutative property shows you that it doesn't matter what the order is, the answer is still the same.

11. This is the Identity Property of Multiplication. Remember that "identity" means the number doesn't change....so whenever you multiply a number by 1, the number stays itself.

12. This is the Zero Property. Here, you see that anytime you multiply a number by zero, the answer is always zero.

13. This is Commutative Property of Addition. Again, commutative means that the order doesn't change the answer. You are flipping the order that you add, but it's still the same.

14. This is the Distributive Property. Remember that "distribute" means to "pass something out" and here, the 2 is getting passed out to the 5 and the 7.

15. This is the Identity Property of Addition. Remember again, "identity" means the number stays itself, so Identity of Addition is showing you that every time you add zero to a number, the number doesn't change.

16. This is Associative Property of Multiplication. Here, the order of the numbers doesn't change, but what is in parentheses does. This shows you that multiplying numbers in a different order, doesn't change the answer.

17. The additive identity is zero because you can add zero to any number and it doesn't change.

18. The multiplicative identity is one because you can multiply one by any number and it doesn't change.

19. Identity means that the number stays itself.

20. Here, just choose a property that makes a lot of sense to you and explain it!

Geography - The class took a test today over Chapter 2. No homework!

Eighth Grade

Both classes took tests today. There is no homework!

See you tomorrow,
Mrs. Swickey

Thursday, September 8th

2011-09-08T18:26:00.005-05:00

I was so happy to see so many parents last night at Back To School night! I enjoyed visiting with familiar faces as well as meet some new-to-me parents as well. I'm looking forward to a terrific year. As always, feel free to write me at any time if you have any questions or concerns about your child's school work!

Sixth Grade

Today the class worked some more on multiplication. We worked with numbers with zeros and the class is already really good at these! Then, I gave them a timed multiplication test and passed out their assignments. The multiplication page is for a grade but the division page is not. I am just wanting to see what they can do, so parents...don't check this paper (or at least, don't have them correct mistakes) or allow them to check their work with a calculator! I just want to see where their division skills are.

Seventh Grade

Math - There was a test today, so there is no homework!

Geography - There is a test tomorrow over Chapter 2. Be sure to study tonight and go over all the "identify and define" words from each section. Also, be sure you know all the climate regions and examples and the different kinds of natural resources and examples.

Eighth Grade

Both classes have a test tomorrow! Be sure you are going over all of the examples we did in class today.

Pre-Algebra - Since we didn't finish the last few topics, here they are along with the answers:

Integers - Adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing. Be sure you understand all the rules! If you understand one of the answers below, just email me! I'd be happy to explain.

Next, you will have some order of operations problems. Here are a few examples and again, if you don't understand an answer, email me! Remember that you ALWAYS have to do multiplication and division BEFORE any addition and subtraction.

Last, you will have a few evaluating problems. Remember to plug in the number that each letter stands for and then simplify the problem.

Study hard and I'll see you tomorrow!
Mrs. Swickey

Wednesday, September 7th

2011-09-07T17:06:00.002-05:00

Don't Forget!!! Tonight is the PTC meeting and Back to School Night The PTC meeting starts at 6:00. I hope to see everyone there! Parents only, please.

Sixth Grade

Today in math, the class played a dice game to practice addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division facts as well as addition skills. They loved it and were very engaged! Then, I gave them another handout to practice multi-digit multiplication.

Seventh Grade

Math - There is a test tomorrow! The topics will include:

Place Value

Scientific Notation with positive and negative exponents

Properties of Numbers

Order of Operations

Be sure to go over the properties of numbers and scientific notation especially! These are completely new topics to 7th grade.

Geography - Most of the students finished the Review and Assessment for Chapter 2 today. Be sure to do the Main Ideas, Map Activity, and Critical Thinking. There will be a test on Friday over Chapter 2.

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra - There will be a test on Friday. We started discussing some of the topics on the test and will continue tomorrow. The class also played a dice game to practice adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing integers. It really strengthened their skills!

Algebra I - The class continued working on the handout from yesterday. Today's topics included determining whether a given number is a solution to an equation, writing equations given a word sentence, and evaluation with absolute value. I don't have the problem #'s with me right now so ask a friend if you can't remember which ones to do or email me later! I'll be at school this evening and will be sure I bring home the assignment numbers.

See you tomorrow!

Mrs. Swickey

Tuesday, September 6th

2011-09-06T20:36:00.002-05:00

Sixth Grade

Today the class practiced their multiplication skills with 4 digit by 1 digit and 2 digit by 2 digit. The homework is a worksheet You need to do all of the 4 digit by 1 digit problems and then the first two rows of the 2 digit by 2 digit on the bottom.

Seventh Grade

Math - We continued working with Order of Operations today. There will be a test on Friday over all the skills learned so far. The homework is a worksheet over order of operations.

Geography - There is no homework today as the class took a quiz over landforms and water forms.

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra - More practice with Order of Operations. The class also practiced integers today. the homework is an Order of Operations worksheet.

Algebra I - Translating statements into expressions and evaluating expressions. The assignment is #29-60 on the handout.

Write if you need help!

See you tomorrow,
Mrs. Swickey

Friday, September 2nd

2011-09-04T18:29:00.003-05:00

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Labor Day weekend! The homework for Friday is as follows:

Sixth Grade

On Friday, we practiced more addition with menu math. I passed out two different take out menus and listed 3 "orders" on the board. Each student needs to calculate the cost of each order. Then, you must make up an order of your own and ask 2 family members to make up an order. Remember, you must choose at least 2 items. You can use whichever menu you'd like. Be sure to write down the items you and your family members choose.

Seventh Grade

Math - Order of Operations worksheet. Remember to always do multiplication or division first - whichever is first from left to right. Then you can do addition or subtraction - also whichever is first left to right. If a number is "stuck" to a parenthesis, that means you have to multiply the number by whatever is in the parenthesis.

Geography - There is a quiz on Tuesday over the 50 land and water forms. Be sure to study them as sets from each day. The test will consist of 5 sets of matching the definition to the land or water form. Then, you will have to identify 10 landforms or water forms from pictures.

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra - Order of Operations worksheet. Remember to first simplify anything in grouping symbols, then simplify the exponents. Then, multiply or divide - whichever is first left to right. Then add or subtract - whichever is first left or right. Be sure you are also following the sign rules for adding and subtracting signed numbers.

Algebra I - Order of Operations worksheet - continued. The problems are more complex so take your time and show your steps. You will make more mistakes if you do not write down the steps as you work each problem.

As always, write if you need help!

See you on Tuesday,
Mrs. Swickey

Thursday, September 1st

2011-09-01T19:07:00.003-05:00

DON'T FORGET TO WEAR YOUR HOUSE SHIRTS TOMORROW! WE ARE HAVING THE SORTING CEREMONY FOR THE 5TH GRADERS AND OUR NEW STUDENTS! SHOW YOUR HOUSE PRIDE!

Sixth Grade

Today the class worked a little more on adding and subtracting by working with larger numbers and a lot more regrouping. Then, I showed them Pascal's Triangle and the class figured out several patterns in the triangle. Ask them about it if they didn't show you yet! Most students finished the homework in class. It was a page of adding and subtracting larger numbers.

Seventh Grade

Math - Today the students took an open note quiz on the properties of numbers. Then they re-evaluated the pre-test they took before our balance activity. Tomorrow we will begin evaluating exponential expressions and square roots. No homework.

Geography -Today we began the list of water forms. The students wrote down the definitions. Remember to study all the landforms and water forms for the quiz on Tuesday! We then read part of Chapter 2, Section 3. Finish reading the rest of the section tonight and define the vocabulary words. Then, draw a picture of each climate (see descriptions on page 36) using colored pencils or crayons, and regular pencil only. No ink or markers and be sure to use blank paper!

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra - Today, we talked a bit more about the Trillion Dollar activity from yesterday. Then we began discussing order of operations. There is no homework tonight, but expect some tomorrow!

Algebra I - We reviewed the order of operations today. The key thing to remember is that multiplication and division must be done in the order they come in. They hold equal places in the order. So, if you have a division to the left of multiplication, the division is first. The same holds true for addition and subtraction. If subtraction is first from the left, then it is done first.

I didn't bring the homework sheet home with me to blog the problems you are doing. If you don't know, ask a classmate. (I remember that you have to do evens from #44-84).

If you have any questions.....EMAIL ME.

See you tomorrow!

Mrs. Swickey

Tuesday, August 30th

2011-08-30T18:54:00.002-05:00

Sixth Grade

Today, we began our review of computation with an addition activity - Code Numbers. We added up the value of our names by assigning certain numbers to each letter! We had some fun ordering the class by value and then reordering after figuring our middle names. Tonight, be sure to redo the number code for the school's name: "St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School" Remember to have values for each word and then a total for the whole name. Then, choose one family member and do the value of their name. Be sure to write the family member's name down so I can check your work!

Seventh Grade

Math - We began our Balancing Act activity today and will finish it tomorrow. It is a way to demonstrate and visualize the properties of numbers with a balance. No homework tonight!

Geography - The class took notes on the next ten landforms. Please start studying the landforms now so you don't have to cram on Monday night! There will be a quiz over all 50 on Tuesday. We also finished reading Chapter 2, Section 1. Do the define and identify words from the Section Assessment and complete the worksheet over Section 1.

Eighth Grade

Both classes received the Metric Mania worksheet to practice conversions in the metric system. Just follow the instructions written in the boxes at the top of the page. If you are converting TO a smaller unit, you will multiply or move the decimal to the right. Count the spaces it takes to get from one unit to the other. If it's 3 spaces, then you multiply by 1,000. 10 x 10 x 10. Each space is a power of ten. If you are converting TO a larger unit, you will divide or move the decimal place to the left.

See you tomorrow!
Mrs. Swickey

Monday, August 29th

2011-08-29T17:02:00.002-05:00

Sixth Grade

Today was our game day! Everyone had a great time playing math games. They were learning and using math skills even if they didn't think of it that way. Tomorrow, we will begin reviewing computation skills.

Seventh Grade

Math - Properties of Numbers. The class took a BUNCH of notes today on the different properties. Everyone should have a list with a description and examples of each property. The homework is worksheet identifying examples of each property.

Geography - Today we discussed landforms. The class took notes on the first 10 landforms. Each day this week, we will add 10 more landforms or water forms. Next Tuesday, there will be a quiz over all 50, including identifying pictures of land and water forms. We then read part of Chapter 2, Section 1. We will finish reading the section tomorrow. There is no homework due tomorrow, but start studying the first 10 landforms!

Eighth Grade

In both classes I reviewed how to multiply and divide in Scientific Notation. Students who failed the worksheet from last week must redo it. Those who didn't fail have the option of redoing it. There is also a new worksheet with 10 more problems to work. Remember, on the division problems, just divide and round to the tenth. You don't have to keep dividing!

Scroll to previous days to find examples of multiplying and dividing. Remember to look in both Pre-Algebra and Algebra I.

Email me if you have any questions!

See you tomorrow,
Mrs. Swickey

Friday, August 26th

2011-08-27T16:52:00.002-05:00

Sixth Grade

The class took their first today. There is no homework! Monday, we will have our first Math Games Day. It should be a lot of fun.

Seventh Grade

Math - Today, we worked more on Scientific Notation. The class completed a worksheet that mixed positive and negative exponents. Everyone finished in class and turned it in, so there is no homework!

Geography - The class took a test over Chapter 1. No homework!

Eighth Grade

Both groups worked on sets of numbers some more. Everyone has the same handout. Pre-Algebra, stop at #55. Algebra I, you must complete the whole page.

For the section where you have to "describe" the various sets. Just write out what the definition is. For example, to describe natural numbers, you would say something like, "Natural numbers include all the numbers that you say when you start counting, like 1, 2, 3....and continues in the same pattern."

Also, remember that absolute value (when you have a number between two straight lines) means that whatever is inside the lines, is positive. Absolute value is basically "How far away is the number from zero on the number line?" If there is a negative outside the lines, it stays there.

Email me if you have any questions! b s w i c k e y A T s c b c s DOT o r g
(No spaces...symbols instead of AT and DOT)

See you Monday!
Mrs. Swickey

Thursday, August 25th

2011-08-25T19:15:00.005-05:00

Sixth Grade

There is a test tomorrow! Please be sure to study for it. You will be tested over the following concepts:

Place Value up to hundred trillions, including reading numbers aloud (Be sure to look over the place value chart that you wrote out and take your time as you read the numbers.)
Expanded Notation with and without exponents
Rounding Numbers up to the ten thousands' place
Ordering Large Numbers from least to greatest

There will also be a couple of mystery extra credit questions!

Seventh Grade

Math - Expanded Notation with negative exponents. Remember, negative exponents do NOT make the number negative. Negative exponents indicate DECIMAL place value. So, if a number is less than 1, such as 0.000057, you would move the decimal to the right 5 places so that the number is now between 1 and 10. Then, you would write x 10 to the negative 5th power. The most important thing to remember is that if a number is LESS THAN 1, when it is written in scientific notation, it will have a negative exponent. When the number is GREATER THAN 1, it will have a positive exponent.

To change a number from scientific notation with a negative exponent into standard form, you will be moving the decimal to the left. That is how you would make the standard form number less than 1.

Here are a few examples:

Geography - There is a test tomorrow over Chapter 1. Be sure to study tonight! Go over all of the define and identify words, the 5 themes of Geography, and understand the differences in maps.

Eighth Grade

Today, both classes learned about different sets of numbers. Here is the chart that you all copied today:

Click on it to make it bigger.

Pre-Algebra - Use the chart to classify the numbers in 1-10 on the handout. For example, if you are supposed to classify -3, you would see that the first set it is a member of is integers...then it is also a member of rationals and reals. You would write those three sets on the line.

Algebra I - Complete the handout. Be sure to write all of the sets each of the numbers listed in #1-10 is a member of and then put them on a number line as indicated in #11-12. On the back, remember that absolute value is always POSITIVE. It indicates how far the number is away from zero on the number line. So, the absolute value of -3 is 3 and the absolute value of 3 is 3.

See you tomorrow!
Mrs. Swickey

Wednesday, August 24th

2011-08-24T18:23:00.004-05:00

Sixth Grade

Today we reviewed the topics that we've covered so far. There will be a test on Friday. Tomorrow, we will continue going over some things, making sure everyone understands place value, expanded notation, rounding, and ordering. After the test, we will have our first game day! There is no homework tonight, but you DO need to start studying and having your parents help you get ready for the test.

Seventh Grade

Math - We continued working on Scientific Notation today. Yesterday, we were converting from standard form into scientific notation and today, we did the reverse.

To convert from Scientific Notation to standard form, you just need to move the decimal to the right the number of places indicated by the exponent. Remember, you aren't just adding that many zeros. If there is already a number after the decimal point, you have to count that too. Here are a few examples:
Everyone finished the worksheet from yesterday and worked ten more problems converting in Scientific Notation. There is no homework!

Geography - The test over Chapter 1 will be Friday. Today, be sure to finish the Chapter Assessments - Reviewing Key Terms, Main Ideas, and Map Activity. We will review for the test tomorrow.

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra: Today, the class took notes on dividing in Scientific Notation. The homework is to complete the worksheet with both Multiplying and Dividing in Scientific Notation. The part that might be confusing is what to do with the exponents. Remember, in multiplying you ADD the exponents and in dividing you SUBTRACT the exponents - TOP minus BOTTOM. Here is an example of dividing:

Algebra I - Finish the Cartoon Corner - #2 and #4. Just follow directions!

See you tomorrow,
Mrs. Swickey

Tuesday, August 23rd

2011-08-23T19:22:00.003-05:00

Sixth Grade

Today, we practiced writing numbers in expanded notation with exponents a little more and then the class showed me that they are pretty good at rounding! The homework is more rounding practice. On the worksheet, it has a number on the left and two blanks to the right. At the top of the page it tells you to round to the 10's and then to the 100's. First, round the number on the left to the 10's and put that in the first blank. Then, round the number to the 100's and put that in the second blank. You will do the same thing for the bottom except round to 1,000's and 10,000's. Here is an example:

Round to the tens' place Round to the hundreds place

1. 672 670 700

First, the number in the tens place is a 7. The number to the right is a 2 and a 2 doesn't make it go up, so we round to 670. Then, to round the hundreds, you see that the 6 is in the hundreds place. The 7 is to the right of the 6 and a 7 makes it round up 1, so you round to 700.

As always, send me an email if you have questions!

Seventh Grade

Math - Today, the class learned how to write numbers in scientific notation. Remember, the point is to write really big numbers more efficiently (quickly and without taking up much space on the paper). Here are a few examples:

The key is to first put a decimal after the first digit (this will make your number between 1 and 10). It can't be 10 or bigger and it must be at least 1. Then, you will always write "times 10" to some exponent. You know what the exponent is by counting the number of places the decimal moved. That is shown with the arrows above. In the first example, the decimal moved 6 places and in the second example, it moved 7 places.

Do #1-10 only on the worksheet I passed out this afternoon. We will discuss how to do the second half tomorrow.

Geography - We read Chapter 1, Section 3 today. Define and identify the words and people from the Section Assessment. Then, finish the Atlas Activity worksheet "Getting To Know Your Atlas" 1A and 1B.

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra

Today, we continued working on scientific notation. Most of the class completed another handout practicing the skill in class. Then, we did some mental math exercises and took notes on how to multiply in scientific notation.

Algebra I

We went over how to multiply in scientific notation some more and then took notes on dividing in scientific notation. Finish the back side of the worksheet from yesterday as well as the 5 extra multiplying problems I wrote on the board today. I didn't bring home the MimioPad today so I can't make up any examples. I'm sorry! Remember that to divide in scientific notation, you first divide the base numbers. Then SUBTRACT the exponents - top - bottom. Pay attention to the signs. Then, check to see if the new base number is between 1 and 10. If not, you will need to move the decimal over one place to the right. That's a -1 in exponents, so add -1 to the exponent and you are done.

Email me if you have any questions!

See you tomorrow,
Mrs. Swickey

Monday, August 22nd

2011-08-22T20:02:00.003-05:00

I'm sorry this is a little late!

Sixth Grade

Expanded Notation with Exponents. Remember that when you write expanded notation, you can do it several ways. We learned how to multiply the number in each place by its place value. You can do the same thing in a shorter way by using exponents. Here is an few example:

You can click the picture to make it bigger. In the above example, you multiply the number in each place by 10 to an exponent (or a power). You can tell what the exponent is by the place value. Since the 1 in the example is in the hundred thousands place and 100,000 has 5 zeros, your exponent is 5. You can also count how many numbers comes after the 1 - there are 5. It's the same thing. Remember, if a place has a zero, you don't have to write that one down. You can skip it. For the ones place - where the 4 is in the example - remember that your exponent will be 0.

If you have any questions, feel free to write! I'd be happy to help if you get stuck.

Seventh Grade

Math - We finished solving the problem, "Can you write a googolplex in a lifetime?" The students had to convert their times into just seconds, add them up, multiply 60x60x24x365x78 to find out how many seconds there are in a lifetime. Once we had that number, we could tell that there is no way to write a googolplex! Even if you wrote every second of your life, you couldn't even write a billion zeros.

Geography - We read Chapter 1, Section 2. The only thing you need to do is add your definitions to your list from Section 1.

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra - Scientific Notation worksheet. Look back at the examples I gave for Algebra I last week if you need help - or just email me!

Algebra I - Multiplying in Scientific Notation. Remember to look at your notes! First, multiply the base numbers. Then, add the exponents. Now...examine your new number. Is it in scientific notation? If it isn't, move the decimal to fix it. Then, add how many times you moved it to the exponent. Here is an example:

See you tomorrow!
Mrs. Swickey

Friday, August 19th

2011-08-19T18:01:00.003-05:00

Sixth Grade

Today, we spent some more time on place value. We worked on numbers up to hundred trillions and this group is so enthusiastic! I'm enjoying teaching them so much. We also began working on expanded notation and the class got their first homework assignment today. They need to write 12 numbers in expanded notation. The numbers only have 5 digits in them, so that everyone could get used to this form of expanded notation. If you've forgotten, this is what you should do:

57,362

(5 x 10,000) + (7 x 1,000) + (3 x 100) + (6 x 10) + (2 x 1)

You write each digit in parenthesis and multiply it by the place it is in. Since 5 is in the ten-thousands place, we write 5 x 10,000, and since 7 is in the thousands place, we write 7 x 1,000.

Please email me if you have any questions! Remember, my email has changed. I'll fix it in the box at the right at some point...but it is: b s w i c k e y AT s c b c s DOT o r g
(There are no spaces and use the @ symbol for AT and the period . for DOT)

Seventh Grade

Math - We continued working on saying large numbers today, took two more math facts tests and began discussing large numbers. We talked about a googol and a googolplex and whether or not you could write either number. The class was able to write a googol and I timed them. Next, we'll find the average class time and try to determine if a person could write a googolplex in a lifetime! Next week, we will begin working on scientific notation....how to write very large and very small numbers efficiently.

Geography - We read Section 1 today and watched a short video about latitude and longitude. Write the definitions from #1-2 of the Section 1 Assessment and then complete the Section 1 worksheet for homework.

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra-Today, we finished solving the problem, "Can you write a googolplex in a lifetime?". It was rather interesting to figure out just how many zeros a person can write in the average lifespan. Then the class took a short quiz over Scientific Notation to see what they remembered. It was pretty confusing for most everyone so we will be spending the next several days working on converting numbers into scientific notation and then back to standard form.

Algebra I - Today, we went over the scientific notation quiz I gave them yesterday. Most everyone had some idea as to how to do them so we practiced in class for awhile and then I gave them a homework assignment. It is the Scientific Notation worksheet B. Here are a few examples - the first picture shows numbers written in scientific notation being converted to standard form. The second shows standard form being changed to scientific notation. You can click them to see them bigger.

See you tomorrow!

Mrs. Swickey

Thursday, August 18th

2011-08-18T19:26:00.005-05:00

Sixth Grade

Today, the class took a subtraction timed test and a multiplication timed test. Then, they took a place value quiz...I'm still assessing what the students know so this quiz was not for a grade. We then talked about really big numbers and the students were very enthusiastic about a googol and googolplex! (They are REALLY big numbers.) We also did some mental math exercises that they all loved. No homework!

Seventh Grade

Math - In math today, I assessed their knowledge of place value by having them say big numbers aloud. They also took addition and subtraction timed tests. Then we did some mental math exercises. For example, I would say, "Think of the number of US states. Divide that number by 5. Subtract 3. Hold up that many fingers." It gets the students thinking about math and making connections mentally. Then we played another numbers game called "buzz". Parents, ask your children about it! "Buzz" is fun and not only incorporates a lot of math skills, but also improves their listening skills. If they don't listen to their classmates, they can mess up! No homework.

Geography - In Geography, we continued reading in the textbook about the themes of Geography. We will start on maps, longitude and latitude tomorrow. No homework!

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra - Today we worked on some place value exercises and the class took a quiz. I am assessing what they already know and what they need to work on so this quiz was not for a grade. We then discussed really big numbers including a googol and a googolplex. (A googol is a 1 with 100 zeros after it. A googolplex is a 1 with a googol of zeros after it!) The class is trying to figure out if they could write out a googolplex in a lifetime. They discovered that they could write a googol in about 70 seconds (class average). We will take that information to see how many googols they could write in a lifetime and if it comes close to a googolplex. Tonight, they need to figure out how many seconds there are in an average American's lifetime. (We know the average American lives 78 years.) Remember students, you must show your work and not just hand in an answer tomorrow!

Algebra I - The class took a quiz on scientific notation today. I am assessing what they already know and what they need to know right now so this quiz was not for a grade. We then watched the Powers of 10 video on You Tube and the class was amazed. If you've never seen it, you should watch it! There is no homework.

See you all tomorrow!
Mrs. Swickey

Wednesday, August 17th

2011-08-17T19:25:00.002-05:00

We had a great first day of school! I was so happy to see everyone again and to meet some new students. We are glad you are here!

Please note, as we looked at the dress code, I told the girls that you had only 2 shirt options: red polo shirts, or white oxford shirts or blouses. This is what the dress codes says, but Mr. Gungoll told us after school that you ARE allowed to wear the white polo shirts as well. (This will be clarified in assembly in the morning.) Just remember to be modest and wear white undergarments underneath.

Sixth Grade

We had a great first day in math today! The class had an excellent discussion about rules and being respectful to each other and then we did a place value activity. We even had time for an addition timed test. We will be doing timed tests over the other operations tomorrow. There is no homework!

Seventh Grade

We are off to a great start! We met our mass buddies this morning and everyone did very well with them. Thank you! Then, we spent the rest of the morning discussing procedures, rules, and consequences. The class helped to develop the list of rules and they did a terrific job. We went over the dress code so that everyone knows what they are expected to wear each day. The class also practiced opening their lockers and everyone is catching on so quickly! During Geography class, the students wrote as many countries they could remember, and the names of all the continents and oceans. I am impressed by their current knowledge and hope to make them even more of the world around them.

Eighth Grade

We did not meet today because all the middle school classes stayed with their homeroom teacher until lunch. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow! Be sure you have your summer math homework.

Have a great evening,

Mrs. Swickey

Tuesday, May 17th

2011-05-17T18:11:00.005-05:00

First, I want to apologize for the long blog silence! There's been so much going on lately, that the blog has been put on the back burner for awhile. Here are the assignments for today:

6th Grade

Literature - Worksheets to go with the myth, "Arachne". There is a selection test over Arachne tomorrow too.

Spelling - No homework. Unit 34 was due today.

Math - Lesson 101. This was assigned yesterday but is due tomorrow.

7th Grade

Spelling - Unit 35 is due on Friday.

Literature - Read Demeter and Persephone and answer the questions: TAS #1-9 and AL #1-4. Also, there are worksheets over "Town Mouse & Country Mouse" and "The Fox and the Crow". Since there was no homework assigned in other classes, you can choose one of the above two assignments to skip using the homework pass given out to everyone today. There is a Selection test over the two fables though. Be sure to read them again!

Math - Practice Test 19. Here are the rest of the answers:

8th Grade

Algebra I - There is no homework today! We spent the class time going over the practice test.

See you tomorrow!
Mrs. Swickey

Pre-Algebra Practice Test

2011-04-25T19:32:00.006-05:00

For 6th and 7th grade, scroll down to the next post. Your practice test answers are there.

Monday, April 25th

2011-04-25T17:53:00.005-05:00

I apologize for the blog silence the last few weeks! I will be getting back to it this week.

6th Grade

Literature - We read some of "The Phantom Toolbooth" today. No homework.

Spelling - Unit 32 is due on Wednesday this week and you do NOT have to do Vocabulary Connections

Math - Finish the practice test. Here are the rest of the problems worked out:

Seventh Grade

Literature - Read The Village Blacksmith on pages 430-433. Answer the following questions:

Thinking About the Selection #1-5

Understanding Literature #1-2

Grammar - Exercise B on page 191-192. Just write the correct word.

Math - Finish practice test 17. Here are the rest of the problems worked out:

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra - Practice Test. The rest of the problems will be in the next post. (Which, when listed, will be above this one.)

Algebra I - Practice Test. We will go over it tomorrow.

See you then!

Mrs. Swickey

Wednesday, April 13th

2011-04-13T19:12:00.001-05:00

Sixth Grade

Literature - Answer questions for "The Stone" and draw a picture of an event from the story. Be sure your picture is in color. Do not use ink pen or just pencil. The questions are: Thinking About the Selection #1-7 Analyzing Literature #1-2 Critical Thinking and Reading #1-3 Spelling - Unit 30 is due next Tuesday. It is a unit review so be sure to study the list I sent home today! Math - Supplemental 84.

Seventh Grade

Literature - Write an essay about the following: Think of a place you know really well. Imagine what it would look like in 50 years. Write an essay that compares and contrasts how the place looks now and how it would look in 50 years. Remember, comparing means that you write how they are similar. Contrasting means you write how they are different. Focus on the setting. Describe the PLACE. Math - Lesson 86. Use the chart you made in class or the chart on page587 to answer the questions. Remember, each box is completely inside the boxes around it. That means that ALL counting numbers are whole numbers. Grammar - pp. 174-176. Exercise B. Follow instructions exactly.

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra - Lesson 85. Practice and evens. Algebra I - Lesson 84. Practice and evens. See you tomorrow! Mrs. Swickey

Monday, April 11th

2011-04-11T18:19:00.005-05:00

Sixth Grade

Spelling - Unit 29 is due tomorrow! Be sure you have finished and are ready for the test. Literature - Write the news story about discovering a new medicine. Be sure to follow instructions on the handout! Remember, you are a reporter and need to write an article about a new medicine that was discovered that cures some disease. Math - Lesson 83. Order of Operations. Remember, you always do anything in parentheses first. Then, find any multiplying OR dividing and do those next. Multiplying and dividing should be done in order from left to right. So if a multiplication is before division, multiply first. If division is before multiplication, divide first. Then, after you done with multiplying and dividing, add OR subtract next. Again, if addition is before subtraction looking from left to right, ADD first. If subtraction comes before addition, subtract first.

Seventh Grade

Spelling - Unit 30 is due on Friday. This is a unit review so the only way you will know what words will be on the test is to study the home master sheet that I passed out today. Please study the words! Literature - We read part of "Rip Van Winkle" today. No homework. Grammar - page 173. Exercise A. Identify whether each is a run-on or a complete sentence. Math - Lesson 84. Algebraic Terms. Remember, to combine like terms (or collect as the book calls it), you will find the ones that are JUST alike. Here are a few examples. The ones that are alike are underlined in the same color. Also, remember that the sign in front of each term goes with it. So if a term has a minus sign, the term is negative.

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra - Worksheet with solving equations. Remember, you are always trying to get the variable by itself on one side of the equation. Here are a few examples.

Algebra I - Parallel and Perpendicular Lines Worksheet. Remember, two lines are parallel if they have the SAME slope. Two lines are perpendicular if they have OPPOSITE RECIPROCAL slopes. For the first section, inspect the slopes of each equation. If they are the same, they are parallel. If they are BOTH the opposite AND reciprocal of each other, then the lines are perpendicular. If they are neither of the above, then it is neither! For the second section, you will be graphing a line given the information. If it says to graph a line that passes through a given point that is parallel to another line (they will give you the equation to the other line), then you will first put the given point on your graph. Then, find the slope of the other line by looking at what is in front of the x. DO the slope from the point you graphed. Here is an example: Graph a line that passes through (-2, 3) and is parallel to: y=-3x+4

Here is another example.

Graph a line that passes through (-2,5) and is perpendicular to y=-1/2x+7

You would first plot the point (-2,5) and then figure out the slope. Since it has to be perpendicular, you notice that the slope of the other line is -1/2. The opposite of that would be 1/2 and then the reciprocal of 1/2 is 2. So your new line would have a slope of 2. Go up 2 and over one from the point you graphed. That's it!

If it is parallel to the y-axis, then the line will be vertical, just like the y-axis. If it is parallel to the x-axis, then it will be horizontal, just like the x-axis.

If you have any trouble, email me!

See you tomorrow!

Mrs. Swickey

Monday, April 4th

2011-04-04T19:12:00.004-05:00

Sixth Grade

Literature - Answer the questions for the story, "Breaker's Bridge":

Thinking About the Selection #1-9
Analyzing Literature #1-3
Critical Thinking and Reading (Read and follow instructions.)

Math - The class took a test today. No homework!

Spelling - Unit 28 is due tomorrow. Please study for the test!

Seventh Grade

Spelling - Unit 29 is due on Friday.

Vocabulary - Write 10 sentences with Unit 9 words -due tomorrow. The unit is due on Thursday.

Literature - Finish reading the story, "The Old Demon" and answer the questions:

Thinking About the Selection #1-8
Analyzing Literature #1-3

Math - There is a test tomorrow. Please go over your practice test tonight.

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra - Lesson 80

Algebra I - Lesson 80

See you tomorrow!
Mrs. Swickey

Wednesday, March 30th

2011-03-30T16:40:00.004-06:00

Sixth Grade

Spelling - The unit was due today. No homework!

Literature - The class took a Selection test today. No homework again!

Math - Lesson 79. Area and Perimeter of a parallelogram. Remember, to find the perimeter, just add up the outside edges. To find the area, multiply the base (the bottom side) times the height. You can always find the height by finding the part that is a right angle to the base.

Seventh Grade

Spelling - Unit 28 is due on Friday.

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

Language Arts - No homework! There was a vocabulary test today.

Math - Lesson 79.

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra Practice Test for Lessons 61-70. The test is tomorrow!

Here are the rest of the answers:

Algebra I - Practice Test for Lessons 61-70. Here are the answers for the whole test. If you don't understand how I got an answer, feel free to email me! I can help you tonight.

See you tomorrow!
Mrs. Swickey

Monday, March 28th

2011-03-28T17:37:00.003-06:00

Sixth Grade

Literature - Finish reading "The Dog of Pompeii" and answer the following questions:

Thinking About the Selection - #1-7
Analyzing Literature - #1-4
Critical Thinking & Reading - #1-2

Spelling - Unit 27 is due on Wednesday. You do not have to do Vocabulary Connections this week! Be sure to study because the test is on Wednesday too.

Math - Lesson 77 - Liquid Measure. Use your Big G's to help answer the questions!

Seventh Grade

Math - Lesson 77. Percent of a number. Remember, first write an equation. Here are some examples:

Literature - All Summer In a Day worksheets.

Spelling - Unit 28 is due on Friday.

8th Grade

Pre-Algebra - Lesson 78. Opposites. Remember, every two negatives cancel out. If you have a negative left, the number is still negative. It makes no difference if there are positives. What counts are the negative signs.

Algebra I - Lesson 77 practice and 2-16 evens. Lesson 78 practice and 18-30 evens.

For Lesson 78, you are solving rational equations. Remember, multiply each term by the common denominator and cancel out the denominator. Here are a few examples:

See you tomorrow!
Mrs. Swickey

Monday, March 21st

2011-03-21T18:22:00.002-06:00

Sixth Grade

Literature - We read "Eleven" today. Answer the following questions:

Thinking About the Selection #1-8
Analyzing Literature #1-4
Critical Thinking and Reading #1-3

Spelling - Unit 26 is due on Thursday. No Vocabulary Connections this week!

Math - Lesson 73. Remember, to change a a fraction to a decimal, divide the bottom number into the top. Always drop the top number down into the division box, add a decimal and zeroes, then divide. To change a mixed number into a decimal, first make it an improper fraction and then divide the bottom into the top - adding a decimal point to the end and extra zeroes.

Seventh Grade

Spelling - Unit 27 is due on Friday.

Vocabulary - Unit 8 is due Thursday. 10 sentences are due tomorrow.

Literature - We read "The Sneaker Crisis" today. Answer the following questions:

Thinking About the Selection #1-7
Analyzing Literature #1-3
Critical Thinking and Reading #1-2

Math - Lesson 74. Remember, to write the equations as fractions, change the "of" to multiplication, and the "is" to an = sign. Don't change the order of the words and numbers. For example, 50 is what fraction of 250, would change to 50=f x 250

Then, you would divide both sides by 250. That means the 250 goes away on the right side and is written underneath the 50 on the left side - like a fraction. Since you want a fraction and not a decimal, just reduce!

Practice and evens only.

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra - Lesson 74. Practice and evens.

Algebra I - Lesson 74 - Practice and evens.

See you tomorrow!

Mrs. Swickey

Monday, March 7th

2011-03-07T18:47:00.001-06:00

Sixth Grade

Spelling - Unit 25 is due on Wednesday. Be sure you are studying for the test too!

Literature - We began reading "Auntie" and will continue reading tomorrow. Don't forget! Book reports are due on Thursday - NOT Friday. Everyone got a Book Report Data Sheet today.

Math - The class took a test today. No homework!

Seventh Grade

Spelling - Unit 26 is due on Friday.

Literature - We began going over what will be on the Treasure Island test on Thursday. We will continue to review on Wednesday. Also, book reports are due Thursday!

Grammar - pp. 102-103, Exercises A & B. You just have to write the subjects.

Math - Instead of having math class today, we made Mardi Gras masks! No homework.

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra - Lesson 71. Practice and evens. Everyone understood our new concept easily so I won't put any examples up.

Algebra I - Lesson 71. Practice and evens. You were doing very well today with these, so I won't do any examples, but if you have trouble, email me!

See you tomorrow,
Mrs. Swickey

Wednesday, March 2nd

2011-03-02T18:59:00.002-06:00

Sixth Grade

Literature - We had DEAR time today! (Drop Everything And Read) The class really enjoyed it and everyone read for about 30 minutes. I was so glad to see so many enjoying their books!

Spelling - Unit 25 is due next Tuesday.

Math - Lesson 70. Remember, the first number is the "left or right" number. The second number is the "up or down" number. If the number is negative, then you would go left if it's the first number, or down if it's the second number. If the number is positive, then you would go right or up.

Seventh Grade

Literature - We listened to a chapter using Tumblebooks today. We are just a few chapters away from finishing! (whew!)

Spelling - Remember, Unit 25 is due on Friday.

Research Paper - We discussed the Bibliography today. It needs to have your four sources listed in alphabetical order by the first word in the entry. (Each entry should be numbered as well.) Your source cards should be able to be copied straight onto your bibliography. Remember, you should have two books, one website, and one encyclopedia. Also, you need a title page for the front of the paper. You can still have a title on the top of your first page. Lastly, you can include a picture page after the Bibliography. It is not required, but might be fun to include!

Math - Practice Test 13. Finish the practice test and we will go over it tomorrow.

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra - Lesson 69. Adding integers. Follow the rule I put on the board! (If you scroll back a few days, I posted the rules for 7th grade. Ignore the rules for subtracting for now....we'll get to that in a few days.) Do the Practice, 14-30 evens, and the Integer worksheet.

Algebra I - Factoring. Practice and #4-18 all. Remember, if you aren't sure if you are correct, you can always FOIL or make the table to see if you get what you started with. Here are a few examples:

See you tomorrow!
Mrs. Swickey

Monday, February 28th

2011-02-28T18:27:00.005-06:00

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

2011-02-23T16:42:00.006-06:00

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

2011-02-22T18:28:00.003-06:00

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

2011-02-17T18:27:00.002-06:00

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

2011-02-16T18:04:00.004-06:00

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

2011-02-15T18:44:00.002-06:00

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

2011-02-14T18:52:00.003-06:00

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

2011-02-09T16:08:00.007-06:00

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

2011-02-09T14:17:00.002-06:00

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

2011-02-07T18:59:00.002-06:00

** 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

Pre-Algebra Practice Test 13 Problems

2011-01-31T19:33:00.003-06:00

Pre-Algebra --- Here you go!

By the way...I somehow managed to get home without a copy of your practice test. I have most of it on my computer except for the shapes for #6-10. Since we have already done #6-8, I just can't do #10 on the blog. Skip it. Let me know if you have any questions. You can always email me!

Here's the rest:

Monday, January 31st

2011-01-31T18:54:00.005-06:00

For all students: Any homework assigned today is due the day we return to school as we will most likely not have school tomorrow.

Sixth Grade

Literature - "Greyling" worksheets.

Spelling - Unit 20 is due tomorrow. Also, study for your test!

Math - Lesson 58. Adding mixed numbers. Remember to find a common denominator first! And don't forget to add the whole numbers.

Seventh Grade

Literature - None. We read chapter 21 in Treasure Island.

Grammar -- pp 93-94. Exercise C and DWS. Follow directions!

Math - Lesson 58. Practice and #1-16 only.

Spelling - Unit 21.

Research Paper - We will work on the outline when we come back to school. No homework, unless you still need to do research!

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra - Your test problems will go up in about 30 minutes. (That's at about 7:30 - so check back!)
Algebra I - Here are your practice problems. I didn't actually do the graphs as you know how to plot points, but I've done the table of values for you.

Let me know if you have any questions!

See you....whenever the snow stops flying.

Mrs. Swickey

Wednesday, January 26th

2011-01-26T19:36:00.001-06:00

Sixth Grade

Math - Lesson 56.

Spelling - Unit 20 is due next Tuesday.

Literature - The students finished giving book reports today.

Seventh Grade

Spelling - Unit 20 is due Friday.

Literature - The students continued giving book reports today and we read some from Treasure Island.

Math - Lesson 55.

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra - Worksheets over Order of Operations and Scientific Notation.

Algebra I - Lesson 54, practice and #1-14. Simultaneous Equations. Here is a video!

See you tomorrow!
Mrs. Swickey

Monday, January 24th

2011-01-24T20:07:00.001-06:00

I'm getting a late start tonight, so I'm not going to do any math examples. Send me an email if you are confused about something!

Sixth Grade

Literature - Book Reports were due today! Several of you didn't have them finished. Be sure to complete the book report and have it ready tomorrow. It will be 10 points off.

Math - Practice Test 10. Finish up the last few problems. We will go over them tomorrow.

Spelling - Unit 20 is due tomorrow. Please finish the unit and study!

Seventh Grade

Math - Lesson 53.

Literature - Book reports were due today. Several of you didn't get them finished, so please work on them tonight!

Spelling- Unit 20 is due on Friday. You are doing the entire unit this week.

Eighth Grade

Lesson 53 for both classes.

See you tomorrow!
Mrs. Swickey

Tuesday, January 18th

2011-01-18T18:37:00.004-06:00

Sixth Grade

Literature - You will NOT be having a test over The Golden Goblet tomorrow because we did not have enough time to review for it today. We will continue reviewing tomorrow and the test will be on Thursday.

Math - We went over questions from Lesson 51. I taught the new concept from Lesson 52 and the students worked those problems not done on Friday. Everyone should have turned in lesson 52. There is no homework!

Seventh Grade

Spelling - Unit 19 is due on Friday. You do not have to do Vocabulary Connections this week.

Literature - Read Chapter 18 in Treasure Island on your own tonight.

Language Arts - We began discussing the research paper today. Everyone chose the animal they plan to research. You will need to go to the public library and check out at least two books on your animal. Tomorrow, we will go down to the library and look up the animals in encyclopedias. I also sent home a list of due dates for the paper. Keep these handy as they will tell you when your notecards, etc., are due.

Math - We went over the new concept from Lesson 51 today. This lesson will be turned in tomorrow. We then began going over the last test. Many students did poorly, so we are going through the tests and the students are writing down their mistakes. We will continue going over the mistakes tomorrow and there will be a makeup test on Thursday.

Eighth Grade

Lesson 50 - Scientific Notation. To write numbers in scientific notation, remember that you will ALWAYS have a number greater than 1 and less than 10 first. So, put the decimal point after the first non-zero digit in your number. Count how many places you moved the decimal to get there. That is the exponent you put on the 10. Here are four examples. The two examples on the left are large numbers, so you are moving the decimal point to the LEFT. The exponent is positive.
The two examples on the right are small numbers, so you are moving the decimal to the RIGHT. The exponent is negative.

When changing numbers from scientific notation to standard form, you are doing the above in reverse. If the exponent is postive, move the decimal point to the right. (If the exponent is positive, your standard number will be larger than what you started with.)
If the exponent is negative, move the decimal point to the left. (If the exponent is negative, your standard number will be smaller than what you started with...remember, if it has a negative exponent, then the number is less than 1.)

Algebra I - Lesson 50. You don't need help! Super easy.

See you tomorrow!
Mrs. Swickey

Wednesday, January 12th

2011-01-12T18:40:00.002-06:00

Sixth Grade

Literature - Quiz Time worksheet for Chapters 13-16. Due tomorrow.

Spelling - Unit 18 is due next Tuesday! I sent home a Home Study Master so you will have the words. Remember, this is the only way you will know which words are going to be on the test! Also, if you have a parent sign the sheet and bring it back next Tuesday, you will get 10 extra credit points!

Math - No homework! The class took a test today.

Seventh Grade

We did not have Literature or Language Arts today as we took class time to work on a service project. The students met with their houses to decorate posters for the upcoming Ministry Fair for the parish.

Math - Investigation 5. Everyone should have finished #1-3. We will finish it tomorrow. No homework!

Eighth Grade

Both classes took a test today. No homework!

See you tomorrow,
Mrs. Swickey

Tuesday, January 11th

2011-01-11T19:50:00.005-06:00

Sixth Grade

Literature - We finished reading The Golden Goblet today! If you were absent, please finish reading the book. No homework!

Spelling - Unit 17 was due today and the class took the test. For those absent, do your best to be ready to turn in your unit and take the test when you return.

Math - The class worked on a practice test today. There is a test tomorrow!

Seventh Grade

Spelling - Unit 18 is due on Friday. It is a review unit, so please study the Home Study Master I sent home yesterday.

Literature - We read chapter 16 today. For those who were absent, do your best to catch up on the reading.

Grammar - No homework!

Vocabulary - The unit was due today. If you were absent, do your best to have it finished when you return.

Math - The class took a test today. No homework!

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra

Practice Test

Here are the answers for #15-21

Algebra I -

Here are the rest of your answer from the practice test:

Algebra I - GCF/LCM Video

2011-01-10T19:51:00.001-06:00

Here is a video on how to find Greatest Common Factor and Least Common Multiple of expressions with variables using the birthday cake method. I hope it is useful!

Monday, January 10th

2011-01-10T17:59:00.002-06:00

Sixth Grade

Literature - We read Chapter 15 today. If you were absent, you will need to read this chapter! It was very exciting. No homework.

Spelling - Unit 17 is due tomorrow. Remember, you do not have to do the Vocabulary Connections! The test is also tomorrow, so please study.

Math - Supplemental 50. This was turned in during class so there was no homework.

Seventh Grade

Spelling - Unit 18 is due on Friday. I sent home a Home Study sheet today. This is the only way you will know the words that will be on the test, so please study from this list! If your parent signs the sheet, and you return it on Friday, you will get 10 extra credit points.

Grammar - pg. 81. DWS only. Worksheet over Conjunctions and Interjections.

Literature - Find 5 similes in the book from Chapter 1-15 and describe what the simile means. For example, in chapter 15 there is a phrase that says, "the creature flitted like a deer". Because the phrase uses the word "like" to compare the creature to the deer, it is a simile. The phrase means that the creature was running quickly and in an agile way, like a deer would. You could also find a comparison using the word "as". We read part of chapter 15 but will finish it tomrrow.

Vocabulary - Unit 7 and cards are due tomorrow! (You've known this since last week.)

Math - Practice Test 9. There will be a test tomorrow. Please go over the practice test from today.

8th Grade

Pre-Algebra. Lesson 48. Fractional equations. Remember to write the word phrase replacing the word "of" with a multiplication sign and the word "is" with an equals sign. Any number missing (such as "what number" or "what fraction") is where the variable goes. Then solve the equation.

Algebra I. Lesson 48. Polynomials. Remember, to add polynomials, just drop the parentheses and combine like terms. If you need to subtract, or if there is a negative sign in front of one of the parentheses, then you need to first distribute the negative sign by changing all the signs in the parentheses after the subtraction/negative sign. Here is an example:

(4x + 5y - 15z) - (20x + 14y - 12z)

Here, you would just drop the first set of parentheses and distribute the second negative sign:

4x + 5y - 15z - 20x -14y + 12z

Notice that all the terms from the second parentheses have opposite signs. Then combine the like terms:

-16x -9y - 3z

That's it!

Check back later this evening. I will be posting a video on how to do the birthday cake to find LCM and GCF with variables. (as per a request)

See you tomorrow,
Mrs. Swickey

Thursday, January 6th

2011-01-06T19:29:00.002-06:00

Sixth Grade

Spelling - Unit 17 is due on Tuesday. You will NOT have to do the Vocabulary Connections since you won't get your books back until tomorrow.

Math - Lesson 50. Rounding decimal numbers. Remember, to round decimal numbers, you still look at the number to the RIGHT of the place you are rounding. If THAT number is 5 or greater, then the number in the place you are rounding goes up. If it is 4 or less, then the number in the place you are rounding stays the same. What is different is, all the numbers AFTER the place you are rounding can now GO AWAY since it is after a decimal point. Also, when rounding to the nearest cent, remember you are always rounding to two places after the decimal. That means you look at the THIRD place after the decimal to see what you do to the second number after the decimal.

Seventh Grade

Grammar - pg. 80 Exercise C and DWS. Follow the directions.

Literature - Answer the Chapter 14 questions.

Math - Lesson 49 - Adding Mixed Measures. Everyone was doing so good with these today! If you need help, ask me tomorrow.

Spelling - Unit 17 is due tomorrow and the test will be tomorrow. Be sure to finish your unit. You do NOT have to do the Vocabulary Connections.

Eighth Grade

Both groups are to do Lesson 47.

Algebra I, remember when you are doing a problem that says a certain number is INCREASED BY a certain percent (for example, 150%) you have to add 100% to the percent. So, for example, if 48 is increased by 150%, find 250% of 48 by multiplying 48 x 2.5 = 120

See you tomorrow!
Mrs. Swickey

Wednesday, January 5th

2011-01-05T19:12:00.002-06:00

Sixth Grade

Literature - We finished reading Chapter 14 today. Answer the questions over the chapter that you copied down from the board. Be sure to use 3-4 sentences to answer #1.

Math - Lesson 49. Decimal number line - this was pretty simple for everyone so I won't do any examples. (Good job, today!) The other half of the lesson involved dividing by a fraction. Remember the phrase with the corresponding arm movements: "Change the division sign to multiplication and FLIP the second fraction!"

For example, if you have a stack of books that is 18 inches high and each book is 3/4 of an inch thick, how many books are in the stack? This is just a division problem. Divide 18 by 3/4.

You'd write: 18/1 x 4/3

18 x 4 = 72

Then divide by 3.

24 books.

Seventh Grade

Spelling - Don't forget, unit 17 is due on Friday! Study and finish the unit.

Grammar - pp. 78-79, Exercises A & B. You can do these in columns. Make the center column the conjunction and the other two columns the things that are connected. Remember, it might be just two words connected by the conjunction or it might be prepositional phrases, or even sentences.

Literature - Finish reading Chapter 13 and answer the questions from the board. (There were only 2 with the first question having two parts....so essentially, that's three questions.)

Math - Lesson 48. Fraction - Decimal - Percent equivalents.

Remember these rules:

To write a fraction as a decimal, divide the bottom number into the top.

To write a fraction as a percent, you can first change it to a decimal and move the decimal point two places to the left. OR you can multiply the fraction by 100% and simplify.

To write a decimal as a fraction, say the number PROPERLY and write that as a fraction. Then reduce.

To write a decimal as a percent, move the decimal point two places to the right.

To write a percent as a fraction, write the number over 100 and simplify.

to write a percent as a decimal, move the decimal two places to the left.

Eighth Grade

Both classes need to do Lesson 46.

See you tomorrow!

Mrs. Swickey

Tuesday, January 4th

2011-01-04T19:10:00.006-06:00

Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas break and enjoyed the holidays. It was good to see everyone again as well as welcome a few new students to St. Charles.

Sixth Grade

Literature - We read from The Golden Goblet today, but there is no homework.

Spelling - Unit 16 is due tomorrow. Be sure you have finished the unit and studied for the test!

Math - Lesson 48. Dividing by a decimal number. When you divide by a decimal number (there is a decimal number on the OUTSIDE of the division box), then you first have to move the decimal point OVER. Move it the number of times it takes to make that a whole number. You might move it one place, two places, or more. THEN, move the decimal in the number inside the box the SAME number of places. It doesn't matter if the number inside the box becomes a whole number or not. You just need to move the decimal over as many times as you did for the number outside. Then, move the decimal up into the answer and divide like normal.

Here are a few examples:

Seventh Grade

Spelling - Unit 17 is due on Friday. You do not have to do the Vocabulary Connections pages this week! Remember, you can earn 10 extra points by having your parents sign the Home Study sheet you got today.

Literature - We read part of Chapter 12 today. Finish reading the chapter, but do not worry about answering any questions because I accidentally copied the answers instead! That's why some of you were so confused by the handout.

Vocabulary - Unit 7. We discussed the words today. Write sentences using 10 of the words. The unit and cards are due next Monday.

Math - Lesson 47. Powers of 10. Remember, powers of 10 are not MULTIPLES of 10 (10, 20, 30, 40...), but are when you multiply 10 by itself, like 10 x 10 = 100, 10 x 10 x 10 = 1,000 and so on. You can write powers of 10 with exponents. 10 to the power of 3 means 10 x 10 x 10. 10 to the power of 4, means 10 x 10 x 10 x 10 = 10,000. Also, you know how many zeros to put after the one because of the exponent. An exponent of 4, means to add 4 zeros.

Here are a few examples using powers of 10:

When you divide by powers of 10, you do the opposite - move the decimal to the LEFT the number of places as the exponent.

8th Grade

Pre-Algebra. Lesson 45. Volume.

Remember, the formula for Volume for rectangular prisms and cubs is just
length x width x height
The formula for volume of other right solids (unusual shapes), is:

Area of the base x height

Here are two examples:

Remember, when finding the area of the base, divide the shape into rectangles, squares, or triangles as needed. Then find the area of each of these shapes. Don't forget to divide by 2 when finding area of a triangle! Then, add the areas of the smaller shapes to find the area of the entire base. THEN, multiply that by the height given in the problem.

Algebra I - Lesson 45. Mean, Median, Mode, and Range. You do not need examples today!

See you tomorrow!
Mrs. Swickey

Wednesday, December 15th

2010-12-15T19:44:00.007-06:00

Sixth Grade

We did not have math class today so there is no homework!

Spelling Unit 16 will be due on January 5th - that is the WEDNESDAY after the break.

Literature - We just read from The Golden Goblet. We are getting closer to finishing!

Seventh Grade

For the Christmas party on Friday, remember to bring a gift worth $5.00 or less. Make sure it could be for a boy or a girl and that it is something YOU would like to receive. NO GAG GIFTS.

Literature - We read from "A Christmas Carol" today and the homework is TAS #1-8 and AL #1-3, for Act I. These questions are in the middle of the play, after Act I and before Act II.

Math - Lesson 46. Practice and #1-15 only.

Spelling Unit 16 is due on Friday!

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra. Here are the problems to the practice test worked out - with answers!

See you tomorrow!
Mrs. Swickey

Tuesday, December 14th

2010-12-14T19:27:00.010-06:00

Sixth Grade

Math - Lesson 47. Subtracting fractions with regrouping. Remember to borrow from the whole number and add the denominator to the numerator to make the new numerator. Here is an example:

Seventh Grade

Math - Lesson 45. Practice ONLY - AND - Supplemental 45. Dividing by a decimal. Remember to move the decimal over however many times it takes to make it a whole number (to the number on the outside). Then, move the decimal over the same number of places to the number on the inside. Move the decimal up and divide like normal.

That's all! We read more of "A Christmas Carol today, but there isn't any homework. (You will have it tomorrow though!)

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra - I will post all of your answers tomorrow night. Instead of just posting the answers, I'm working out the problems for you. Please check back!

Algebra I - Here are the answers, with each problem worked out - remember, you can click each picture to make it bigger and easier to read:

Monday, December 13th

2010-12-13T18:33:00.002-06:00

Notice to all parents and students:

A list of missing assignments were passed out today to those students who have incomplete work. All assignments are due by FRIDAY, December 17th.

Sixth Grade

Math - Lesson 46. Mentally multiplying decimal numbers by 10 and 100. Remember, to multiply a decimal number by 10, just move the decimal to the right ONE place. To multiply a decimal number by 100, move the decimal to the right TWO places. If you have to, fill in empty places with zeros.

Spelling - Unit 15 is due tomorrow! You will be having a test too, so be sure to study.

Literature - We read Chapter 12 of The Golden Goblet. No homework!

Seventh Grade

Spelling - Unit 16 is due on Friday.

Literature - We began reading "A Christmas Carol" today. We will read the play this week and watch the movie on Friday! No homework.

Math - For math this week, we are doing the "Save the Penguins" unit that Mrs. Lassiter and I taught to the 8th graders last week. The materials are on loan, so while the unit really ties into the Physical Science of 8th grade, we wanted to give the 7th graders the same opportunity while we have the supplies. It's going to be a lot of fun! There will be some math homework this week, but not as much.

Eighth Grade

During our class time today, The Grinch was here, so there is no homework!

See you tomorrow!
Mrs. Swickey

Monday, December 6th

2010-12-06T18:19:00.002-06:00

Sixth Grade

Math - Lesson 43. Dividing decimals by whole numbers. Remember, the rule here is: DEAL WITH DECIMALS FIRST. Move the decimal point UP into the answer. Then, divide like normal. If you have a remainder, remember, you do NOT write it as a mixed fraction or as a remainder. Instead, add an extra zero to the end of the number inside the box and drop it down. Keep dividing from here.

Spelling - Unit 14 is due tomorrow! Since I didn't get your books back to you until Friday, you do NOT have to do Vocabulary Connections this week. Please remember to study for the test!

Literature - No homework! We read from The Golden Goblet today.

Seventh Grade

Literature - We read from Treasure Island today. No homework!

Math - Practice Test 7. Please finish the practice test tomorrow!

Grammar - No homework.

Spelling - Pretest today - remember, if you keep your pretest with the take home study sheet, have the study sheet signed by a parent, and bring it back on Friday, you will get 10 bonus points in Spelling! Since there are not that many grades in Spelling, this will really help.

Eighth Grade

This week, Mrs. Lassiter and I are working together with the 8th graders on a heat transfer unit called, "Save The Penguins". Today, the class learned that aluminum foil is NOT a good way to keep a soda pop cold! You should be wrapping those pops up in a WOOL SOCK. Weird, huh?
Tomorrow, you will learn more about radiation, convection, and conduction as we test out some materials.

See you tomorrow!

Mrs. Swickey

Thursday, December 2nd

2010-12-02T18:20:00.002-06:00

Sixth Grade

Math - Lesson 43. Simplifying, comparing, and ordering decimal numbers. Remember, anytime you have a decimal number that has zeros at the end, you can drop off those final zeros. For example:

0.0300 is the same as 0.03 or simply .03

To compare two decimal numbers, you can do two things. One is add zeros at the end to make the decimal places the same and compare the numbers after the decimal point. For example:

Compare: 0.092 0.92

You can add a zero after the 0.92 to make is 0.920 (It's the exact same number.)

Now, you can compare the numbers after the decimal. In 0.092, you see the number 92. In 0.920, you see the number 920. Since 920 is bigger than 92, then 0.92 is bigger than 0.092.

The other method is to write the numbers vertically as if you were going to add. Line up the decimal places like this:

0.092
0.92

Now look at the places as columns. In the ones place, both numbers have a zero. So you move on to the next place to the right - the tenths place. The top number has a zero in the tenths place and the bottom number has a 9 in the tenths place. That means that 0.92 is bigger since 9 is bigger than 0.

You can use either method above for ordering numbers too.

Literature - The students are giving their book reports so there is no homework!

Seventh Grade

Spelling - Unit 14 is due tomorrow. Be sure you are finished and don't forget to STUDY!

Literature - We read some from Treasure Island today. No homework.

Grammar - pp. 71-72. Exercises A, B, and DWS. Follow instructions on exercise A. For exercise B, you only need to write the compound preposition. You do not have to rewrite the sentence. For DWS, follow instructions.

Math - Investigation 4. #5-12.

To make a stem and leaf plot, you first have to decide what the interval on the stem will be. Since all of the numbers are two digits, the stem should probably be 10's. The leaves are the numbers to the right of the line. Each of those numbers, along with the stem number, stand for one of the numbers in the list. So, if there's a 2 on the stem and a 4 as a leaf, that number is 24.

To find the range, subtract the highest number from the lowest number.

To find the mode, look for the number that occurs MOST often.

To find the median, locate the middle number. You can do this by counting how many numbers there are. If there is an odd number, divide your number of numbers by 2 and round up. So, if you had 27 numbers, 27 divided by 2 is 13 1/2, so your median is the 14th number. If you have an even number of numbers, find the middle TWO numbers and average them. (add them and divide by 2)

You find the quartiles in the same way, only you are using one half of the numbers. For the first quartile, find the middle number of all the numbers LESS than the median. To find the third quartile, find the middle number of all the numbers GREATER than the median.

To make the box and whisker plot, use the example in the book as a guide to setting up your plot.

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra. Lesson 44 practice and #5-20.

Algebra I. Lesson 44, practice and #8-22.

See you tomorrow!
Mrs. Swickey

Tuesday, November 30th

2010-11-30T19:02:00.002-06:00

Sixth Grade

Due to the Science Fair, there is no homework in Literature or Spelling! The students did take the Spelling pretest, but they will get their books back tomorrow to begin working on the unit.

In Math, the assignment is Supplemental 40 - Sets A and B. Lesson 42 from yesterday will be turned in tomorrow.

Seventh Grade

Due to Science Fair, there is no homework today! For tomorrow, you will need to have your Literature questions for Chapter 7 of Treasure Island and Math Lesson 38 - practice only and all of Lesson 39.

Spelling - Remember, Unit 14 is due on Friday.

Eighth Grade

Both classes took a test so there is no homework!

See you tomorrow,
Mrs. Swickey

Monday, November 29th

2010-11-29T18:46:00.002-06:00

Sixth Grade

Literature - We read from The Golden Goblet today. The homework is Quiz Time for Section 3 (chapters 7-9).

**Remember** Book Reports are due on Wednesday (You get an extra day because of the Science Fair.) You need to have the Book Report Data Sheet, Book Summary, and Extended Activity.

Spelling - I have not assigned a new unit yet. We will do a pretest for Unit 14 tomorrow.

Math - Lesson 43.

Seventh Grade

Literature - We read from Treasure Island today. The homework is the Chapter 7 questions.

**Remember** Your book reports are due on Wednesday. You need to have a Book Report Data Sheet with your reflection and the essay. Please take the time to write a good, thoughtful essay. I will be grading more strictly this time.

Grammar - There is an adverbs test tomorrow. Remember your notes that you took during the review today - you will earn 5 bonus points for having them tomorrow!

Math - Lesson 38 - practice only. (We did these together.) Lesson 39 - ALL. We are behind in 7th grade math so we will work a few lessons together when feasible.

Eighth Grade

Both groups worked on a Practice test today. There will be a test tomorrow.

See you then!
Mrs. Swickey

Thursday, November 18th

2010-11-18T18:51:00.003-06:00

Sixth Grade

Literature - Questions over Chapter 8 of The Golden Goblet.

Math - Practice Test 7.

Seventh Grade

Literature - Questions over Chapter 4. Draw a picture of something that happened in Chapter 5. (no gruesome pictures, please!)

Spelling - Unit 13 is due tomorrow! Be sure to finish the unit and study for the test.

Grammar - Adverbs Worksheets.

Math - Lesson 35 - Practice problems only!

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra - Lesson 41. To find the overall average, first find out how much all the numbers add up to and then divide that by the number of numbers. Here is an example:

The average of the first four scores was 87. The average the next 6 scores was 75. What was the overall average?

You can set up the problem like this:

# of Scores x Average = Total

4 x 87 = 348 (The total tells you how much the scores
added up to.)

6 x 75 = 450

Now total the two totals. 348 + 450 = 798

Since you now have a total of TEN scores, divide 798 by 10. You can just move a decimal one place to the left when you divide by 10. The answer would be 79.8.

Algebra I - Lesson 41.

Addition of like terms. To add terms in rational expressions, first, rewrite each term so that all the exponents are positive. Do this by moving your variables with negative exponents across the fraction bars and changing the exponent to a positive. Now, look at all the terms. If the variables and their exponents are identical, then you have like terms. Add the coefficients in the numerator only. Remember, it's like adding fractions - you only add the numerators and keep the denominators the same.

Two-step problems. These are simple evaluation problems with an extra step. For example:

If x - 5 = 20, what is the value of x - 4?

First, solve the equation to find the value of x. Add 5 to both sides and you see x = 25. Then, use that answer to evaluate the expression, x - 4. So, you have 25 - 4 = 21.

See you tomorrow!
Mrs. Swickey

Wednesday, November 17th

2010-11-17T17:45:00.006-06:00

Sixth Grade

Literature - We finished another chapter from The Golden Goblet! I will give you the questions for the chapter tomorrow.

Spelling - The class took a pretest today over Unit 13. The unit is due next Tuesday.

Math - Lesson 40. Place holder zeros. Remember, you must use place holder zeros when subtracting decimal numbers. Also, remember that you have to line up your decimals when you add or subtract. When dividing, you don't have to line them up, but you will need to add in zeros as place holders in the answer. Here are a few examples:

That's it!

Seventh Grade

Math - We had Junior Achievement during math class today, so there is no homework!

Literature - We read from Treasure Island and then the class had DEAR time (drop everything and read). No homework!

Spelling - Unit 13. Be sure you are working and studying the unit and words!

Eighth Grade

Pre - Algebra. Lesson 40. To solve multiplication or division equations, always do the OPPOSITE of what is happening to the variable. So if the variable is being multiplied by 5, divide both sides by 5. If the variable is being divided by 3, multiply both sides by 3. Remember that when a variable is being multiplied by a fraction, you solve by multiplying by the RECIPROCAL of the fraction. (It's the same thing as dividing by the fraction, but saves you a step.)

Algebra I - Lesson 40. Simplifying expressions with negative exponents. I will do a few examples, but remember that when you move variables across the fraction bar, it changes the exponent from positive to negative, or from negative to positive. If the problem asks you to write the answer all in the numerator, I think it's easier to move everything up first and then simplify. Here are some examples:

See you tomorrow!
Mrs. Swickey

Monday, November 15th

2010-11-15T18:25:00.005-06:00

Sixth Grade

Literature - Questions over Chapter 7 of The Golden Goblet.

Spelling - Unit 12 is due tomorrow! Please be sure you have completed the unit and studied the words.

Math - Lesson 38. To add and subtract decimal numbers and whole numbers, you still write the numbers lining up the decimal points. Remember, to write a whole number with a decimal point, you put the decimal point to the RIGHT of the whole number. So, 12, becomes 12.

Then line up the decimals and add or subtract!

For the problems about squares, if you are given the perimeter, you can find the length of one side by dividing by 4. (A square has four sides that are all the same.) So, if a square has a perimeter of 20 inches, then each side is 5 inches long. (4 sides at 5 inches long each means a perimeter of 20 inches.)

Now, suppose you wanted to find the area of square when you are given the perimeter. If the perimeter is 24 inches, first divide by 4 to find out how long each side is. For this square, each side would be 6 inches long. To find the area of a square, remember that you multiply side times side - or in this case, 6 inches x 6 inches. So the area is 36 square inches.

Seventh Grade

Vocabulary - Unit 5 and the cards are due tomorrow! Please be sure you have finished the unit.

Literature - Treasure Island Chapter 2 questions.

Grammar - pg. 68, exercise B and DWS. For DWS, remember that you are underlining the adverb used ONCE and the word the adverb describes TWICE. For exercise B, just follow instructions.

Math - Lesson 33. Comparing and Rounding Decimals. Remember, when you order decimals from least to greatest, you can do two different things, but for either method, you first need to write the decimals up and down as if you were adding (lining up the decimal points). For the first method, start with the largest place and compare all the numbers in that place. If they are the same, move on to the next place and compare those. Keep going until you have your order. Here is an example:

The other method is to fill in empty places with zeros and compare the numbers after the decimal point. Here is an example of that:

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra. Lesson 38. Coordinate Plane. This new concept for this lesson is a review over graphing points on a coordinate plane. Everyone did an excellent job remembering how in class today.

Algebra I - Ratio problems. To do the problems that aren't word problems, you simply cross multiply and solve the resulting equation.

For word ratio problems, I will do an example:

See you tomorrow!
Mrs. Swickey