Senteo Clicker Test
This was an interesting experience. I believe the Senteo clickers had positive responses and negative responses from the students, but the majority of students really liked them. It offered students immediate feedback concerning their test questions. The largest negative response from students was that they couldn't change their answer after they hit enter on the clicker. With these different concerns and other similar ones in mind, I allowed students to turn in an extra sheet with how to solve the problem correctly that the Senteo said was wrong. If students missed the question for reasons concerning the Senteo clicker, then this was addressed with hand grading. I believe most students made at least 1 mistake with the clicker on accident. With students using the clickers more in other classes, I don't see this being as large of a problem as we progress through the year. The overall average for all classes was about an 86, which is pretty good in my eyes for permutations and combinations.
Mystery Robbery - 1st 2 weeks of Pre-Algebra
If you haven't noticed, there have not been any new notes, videos, or homework assignments in a while. We have recently started an investigation into a Mystery Robbery of some CD players at a FAIL-safe storage. We are using different counting techniques to determine who may be the robber from the different witness statements we have received. Students will be coming home with a few problems for the weekend to stay fresh on the counting tricks we have learned. After we finish this investigation next week, we will move more into our normal class setting and relate this to different probability problems. We will have a test on the material covered in the investigations and their relation to probability in about 2 weeks. The problems in this mystery are pretty challenging, but they are a great tool to increase problem solving abilities. If your child has problems with homework this weekend or next week, I encourage you to have them make a list or tree diagram and use this to justify using a counting trick by multiplying. I hope this helps and I believe the kids are enjoying the mystery story.
End of the 1st Nine Weeks
Today marks the end of the first nine weeks. Students have been doing a great job this year completing homework and even a better job asking questions. I encourage every student to ask questions. Normally if you have a question about something, there is someone else with that same question, or they haven't encountered a situation similar to this and their question will be answered before it is encountered. Last Tuesdays test averaged at around an 85. I believe most problems that were missed were of minor errors, because no problem was significantly (with 95% confidence) missed more than another.
Three Girls Appearing Together - Solved..
The first part of this problem intuitively makes one put numbers in sets of 3 or triples. Say 1, 2, and 3 are triples, then 1 can never be seen again with 2 or 3 and 2 not with 1 or 3 and so on. If you can picture a graph of this situation, it involves 1 being combined with any number 2-15, and 2 with any number 1 and 3-15. This picture actually becomes what is called in graph theory, a (k15) complete graph, if you connect each number with it's possible other numbers with a edge. The total number of ways can hence be counted by counting every edge divided by 3, the number in the set. This is n(n-1)/6. This comes to 35 possible triples for n=15 the number of girls. Any given day can have a maximum of 15/3=5 new triples. So the total days needed is 7, 5 for each day, 7x5=35. The next step is slightly more tedious, as stated earlier. How do we find 35 different pairs? Going back to the complete 15 vertice graph, any triangle formed by connecting 3 numbers will represent a possible triple. Perform this until all possibilities are exhausted recording each as you go. Performing this systematically to produce each day would make the final step of showing possible pairs for a particular day much easier. If anyone wants a picture of this and a possible 35 set pairing, just send me an e-mail.
Three Girls Appearing Together
I recently discovered a problem that involved 15 girls in a house. The 15 girls had to appear each day in a set of 3, but could never come out with the same girl twice. The fist question is the most obvious, how many days will the possibilities be exhausted? The next question is a slightly more rigorous one; what are the sets? Of course, if you can find how many days it will take to exhaust the possibilities, then the sets won't be very hard to find. I'll post my answer next week sometime; perhaps someone can correct me if I'm wrong. :)
Open House
Thanks for coming to open house. If you didn't make it, here is the PowerPoint presentation I used to facilitate the discussion. The only thing I can think of that was mentioned outside the PowerPoint was concerning Pre-algebra students need for 4 high school math credits. Algebra in 8th grade will count as a high school credit, but not as one of the four math credits needed to graduate. If you have any questions feel free to e-mail me and I'll answer to the best of my ability.
Second Test and Open House
The second test average wasn't quite as high, an 88. The great part about that grade though is students seemed to understand their mistakes. We went over test questions students had problems with and common mistakes I saw on the test. We will be solving equations until the end of this nine weeks, so students will be involved with the same problems from the previous chapter but solving them. The upcoming and previous chapters are probably the most abstract concepts in pre-algebra for students.
I will be hosting open house on Wednesday, September 25 from 5:30-6:00. I will post what is discussed on the website for anyone who will not be able to attend. I'm slightly worried about spacing in the room if I have at least one parent come from 110 students. It may be a squeeze so if you want a seat, show up early! I look forward to seeing everyone there.
The Math Team Starts September 17!
If you'd like to be a part of the Wildcat Math Team, we will begin practice on Wednesday September 17 from 3:30-4:30. Be sure to have your parents pick you up promptly at 4:30 as though I have choir soon after. If you are interested, here is the link to the math team invitation to all students broadcasted in the morning during announcements. I hope everyone has a great weekend.
Test and Original Joke from Student
The first test for this year was a huge success! The overall student average was about a 93. The standard deviation was also very small (a good thing). I also had a student try to have me sign a petition to keep her from serving a detention. What was she thinking? I had a student come up with a great joke Wednesday after we discussed primes also. Here it goes, and if you say it with a little snap, it's much better:
If you were a number, you would be prime because all you ever think about is yourself! Jordan
ExploreLearning.com
Students should go to www.explorelearning.com, create a login name and password, and type in the class code below that corresponds to their class period. We will be using this site periodically throughout the year, so students should create a log in and password that is easy to remember.
|
Period |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
5th |
|
Class Code |
8JFdC9QNH |
8FPdtpjKH |
8GLxfGczH |
8HJJRhWgH |
School Wide ThinkLink Testing
Students will be taking a math test today designed to help teachers find areas of focus for individual students and specific classes. We will take this test three times during the year to monitor progress. The results will not affect pre-algebra students class grade. This test is only for school use and is not placed on your students permanent record. Let me know if you have any questions regarding the test.
Good teaching is one-fourth preparation and three-fourths pure theatre. Gail Godwin
Names by the Third Day
The start of the year has been great! I believe I know most every students name today. I passed out papers and didn't even need help. :) I did use the process of elimination in two classes however. I thought the double names would hurt me, but I think they have actually helped as though others have the same single name. Students still do not have homework; they will begin the first assignment tomorrow using patterns and order of operations.
"Large" Yet Silly Mistake
I must apologize for a large silly mistake. If you picked up a supply list for my class, it states to purchase a 3" binder. This is too large. I strongly suggest returning this for a 2" binder if you have already purchased it. I sent out an e-mail yesterday stating this fact. I apologize again and I look forward to next week.
Welcome to Pre-Algebra
Welcome parents and students, I hope you are as excited as I am about the upcoming year. We will be beginning the year off with order of operations and the distributive property. I would like to start the year off with a quote from Williard Quine.
Life is what the least of us make the most of us feel the least of us make the most of.
Don't forget these upcoming dates:
- August 7 - Meet Your Teacher Day 1-3:00 PM
- August 11- First Student Day
- September 1 - Labor Day
- October 10 - End of 1st Nine Weeks