Topics for September 16th

Today We Discussed:

Today we talked about using tests as a teaching tool.  I asked students to consider, but not answer, the rhetorical question of "Did you give your best effort studying for the Chapter 1 Test?"  I emphasized that the goal of the test is to see how student are progressing in our Algebra class, and to see where they needed more instruction or practice.  I also asked them to think about what changes they might make for future assessments, and explained the value of performing test corrections to figure out what they did wrong and correct their misconceptions.

We did not cover new material today as it seemed like an opportune time to revisit the topics of absolute value, absolute value in the context of the order of operations, and another look at the Properties of Equality.

Sections Covered in Textbook:

We did not cover any new material today.  We revisited:
1)  1-3:  Exploring Real Numbers - emphasis on Absolute Value (pages 17-22)
2)  1-8:  Properties of Real Numbers (pages 54-58)

Resources & Tutorials:

1)  What is Absolute Value?

Assignments:

1)  Worksheet on Properties of Equality and Absolute Value.  
2)  Chapter 1 Test Corrections due Wednesday.

Topics for September 11th

Today We Discussed:

Today we finished up our study of variables, expressions, properties of equality, and order of operations.  We will be using these skills and vocabulary all year long.

Sections Covered in Textbook:

The Chapter Test will cover sections 1-1 through 1-8 (Pages 1-58)

Resources & Tutorials:

1)  Review Game Worksheet
2)  Review Game Worksheet Answers 

Assignments:

Study for Chapter 1 Test.  You may use our jeopardy game handout as a review sheet.  See links above for the worksheet and the answer key.  Good luck to all!

Topics for September 10th

Today We Discussed:

Today we laid the groundwork for all the properties of equality.  The properties are a set of truths that act as rules to allow us to rewrite numbers and equations to make them easier to solve.  We also use the properties to justify the different steps we take to simplify expressions and solve equations.  Students also made a set of notecards that can be used during any quiz or test this year.

Sections Covered in Textbook:

1-8: Properties of Real Numbers (pages 54 - 57)

Resources & Tutorials:

1)  Video page for the addition, subtraction, multiplication and division properties.
2)  What is the substitution property of equality?
3)  Summary sheet of Properties from Math-Aids.
4)  Notes organizer from today's class.

Assignments:

1)  Worksheet on properties of equality
2)  Finish properties note cards
Planning ahead - Chapter 1 Test on Thursday.

Topics for September 9th

Today We Discussed:

We continued our discussion of the distributive property, and related it to playing a card game.  The dealer MUST deal cards to ALL players in a game.  We also used the distributive property to make large multiplication problems more simple.  Finally, we discussed terms, like terms, and other related vocabulary.

Sections Covered in Textbook:

1-7: The Distributive Property (pages 47 - 52)

Resources & Tutorials:

1) What is the distributive property?
2)  What are like terms?

Assignments:

1)  Pages 50-51 #'s 15-69 1st column, 76, 78, 80
2)  Prepare property notecards
Planning ahead - Chapter 1 Test Thursday

Topics for September 5th

Today We Discussed:

Today we discussed the distributive property  of multiplication over addition and subtraction.  We also used the distributive property to multiply large numbers using mental math.  We also discussed how to combine algebraic like terms, and expanded our algebra vocabulary.  We revisited translating phrases into algebraic expressions with the addition of the distributive property.

Vocabulary: distributive property, term, constant, coefficient, like terms

Sections Covered in Textbook:

1-7: The Distributive Property (pages 47 - 52)

Resources & Tutorials:

1) What is the distributive property?

Assignments:

1) Quiz corrections due Monday.

Planning ahead:  Chapter 1 Test next Thursday

Topics for September 4th

Today We Discussed:

Today we took our first quiz of the year.  How did it go?  Did you properly prepare?  If not, what improvements can you make for the future?  Students will be allowed and expected to complete quiz corrections for partial credit.  Quizzes are meant as assessment and learning tools.  Students should always be asking, "How can I do better?".

We moved on to multiplying and dividing real numbers today.

Some basic sign rules for multiplication and division:

+ · + = +      + / + = +
+ · - = -      + / - = -
- · + = -      - / + = -
- · - = +      - / - = +


Vocabulary: Identity property of Multiplication, Multiplication Property of Zero, Multiplication Property of -1, Inverse Property of Multiplication, multiplicative inverse, reciprocal

Sections Covered in Textbook:

1-6: Multiplying and Dividing Real Numbers (pages 37 - 44)

Resources & Tutorials:

1) How do you multiply and divide numbers with different signs?
2) What are Multiplicative Inverses?
3) What is a reciprocal?

Assignments:

1) Pages 41 - 43 #'s 16 - 67 (1st column only), 86, 87, 99

Topics for September 3rd

Today We Discussed:

We continued our discussion of adding real numbers (both positive and negative) using a number line and integer chips.  Our rules for addition are:

• If the signs are the same, add and keep the sign.
• If the signs are different, subtract and keep the sign of the number with the larger absolute value.  

Stated another way...

For subtraction problems, first change to addition by adding the opposite, then follow your addition rules!  

                  6 – 10 =

              6 + (-10) =  

Subtract 6 from 10 and keep the negative sign because |-10| > |6|

Therefore, the answer is – 4. 

Sections Covered in Textbook:

1-4: Adding Real Numbers (pages 24-31)
1-5: Subtracting Real Numbers (pages 32-36)

Resources & Tutorials:

1) How do you add two negative numbers?
2) Rules for Adding Integers
3)  How to rewrite a subtraction problem as addition

Assignments:

1)  Adding and Subtracting Rationals Worksheet  #'s 1-32 1st column only.
2)  Study for Chapter 1 Quiz Tomorrow (Sections 1-1 through 1-3)