Monday, April 19th

First, I know it's been awhile since I've posted and I'm sorry for that! I will be more consistent for the rest of the school year.

Sixth Grade

Lesson 92 - Expanded notation with exponents. To do these, you are going to do the same thing as regular expanded notation replacing the powers of 10 (10,000, 100, 100,000) with the number 10 and an exponent. How you know what exponent to use is to count the number of numbers after the digit. For example, in the number 56,000, you would write (5 x 10 to the 4th power), by writing the 4 as an exponent to the 10. You know it's 4 because there are 4 digits after the 5. Then, you would also write + (6 x 10 to the 3rd power) with the 3 as an exponent to the 10 since there are 3 digits after the 6. (I can't do exponents with regular typing on the blog!

Also, don't forget that when you raise a fraction to a power (a fraction to an exponent), you are multiplying the fraction by itself however many times indicated by the exponent.

Seventh Grade

Literature - There is a quiz over Chapters 10-15 of Tom Sawyer tomorrow. Be sure you are studying the vocabulary.

Grammar - pages 177-181. Exercises A & B. Follow instructions. Remember, it is a misplaced modifier if there is a phrase that is out of place and describes something it shouldn't describe.

Spelling - This week's unit is #32. Be sure you are working on it and studying each night!

Math - Lesson 7-9. Percent decreases. Remember, you first find the amount of change by subtracting the two numbers. Then, write it over the original number, which will be the first number listed. Make this equal to p over 100. Here is an example:



For the problems on the second page, you will be writing the cost on the bottom of the first fraction. You do not know the loss, which in these problems is the same as the change. Make it equal to your percent over 100. Here is an example:


Your assignment is #2-18.

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra. Study your Geobooks tonight because there is a test tomorrow over the material in it!

Algebra I - We have been working on the placement test for the last week. We will continue working on it this week and I will be giving assignments that review the material on some days.

See you tomorrow!

Mrs. Swickey

Tuesday, April 6th

Sixth Grade

Today, the class helped Mr. Brady from the church office with a project. The class turned in the Supplemental assignments from last Thursday, but there was not time for a new assignment!

Seventh Grade

Spelling - Unit 30. This unit is a review over Units 25-29. The entire unit is the assignment this week.

Vocabulary - Unit 14. We discussed the words for the unit. Write each vocabulary word on an index card with the definition and on the back of just TEN of the cards, either draw a picture that relates to the word, find clip art that fits the word, or cut out a magazine picture that illustrates the word. The cards are due on Thursday.

Literature - Define the vocabulary words from Chapters 5-9. Due tomorrow. We will read Chapter 9 tomorrow and you will be answering questions.

Math - Lesson 7-3. Percents greater than 100% and less than 1%. Remember to follow the exact same rules from changing percents to decimals to fractions! Do all the front page and evens on the back to #42.

Eighth Grade

Pre-Algebra - We began chapter 9 today which is two dimensional geometry. Each student made a GeoBook which will contain drawings and information about the various topics covered this chapter. Today's lesson was 9-1. Do #2-9 on the front. Use the information you wrote down in your Geobook to help you answer the questions.

Algebra I - Finish the second half of the assignment from last Wednesday. Solving quadratic equations by factoring. Also, complete the first page of the papers I passed out today. More quadratic equations. Do not do the second page. You can do it tomorrow!

Remember these steps:

1. Get all of the terms on one side of the equation and zero on the other side.
2. Factor out any common factors. If all the terms are divisible by two, factor out a two. If all the terms have at least one "x", factor out an x.
3. If you still have a trinomial, factor it into two binomials. Then set each binomial equal to zero and solve for the variable.

If the coefficient of first term is greater than 1, you will have to use it to factor as well. I don't have the mimio pad with me to do an example. If you are still having trouble, you can ask me tomorrow.

See you then!
Mrs. Swickey

Monday, March 29th

Sixth Grade

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

Seventh Grade

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

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

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

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

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

#2-24.

Eighth Grade

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

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

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

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



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

See you tomorrow!
Mrs. Swickey

Wednesday, March 24th

Sixth Grade

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

Seventh Grade

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

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

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

Eighth Grade

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

Here are a few examples:

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

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

Here is an example:

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

See you tomorrow!
Mrs. Swickey

Tuesday, March 23rd

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

Sixth Grade

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

Seventh Grade

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

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

Grammar - The adjective worksheets are due tomorrow.

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

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

Eighth Grade

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



Here is an example with fraction percents:


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

Algebra I - Dividing Polynomials


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

See you all tomorrow!
Mrs. Swickey

Thursday, March 4th

Sixth Grade

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

Seventh Grade

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

Spelling Unit 26 is due tomorrow.

Math - Similarity worksheet.

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

Eighth Grade

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

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

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

See you tomorrow!

Mrs. Swickey

Wednesday, March 3rd

Sixth Grade

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

Seventh Grade

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

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

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

Eighth Grade

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

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

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


I hope this helps!

Mrs. Swickey