Monday, September 29, 2008

Problem of the Week - September 29, 2008

There are 20 people in a room. If everyone shakes hands with everyone else, how many handshakes will take place?



Start by working on the problem. Can you convince a skeptic that your answer is correct? Can you generalize? What if there were 100 people in the room?


Try different strategies. Look for good representations. Justify your reasoning.

This problem is due on Monday, October 5th. Please complete it on a separate sheet of paper.

Due Monday, October 6th.

Math Reflection

1.) Finish 1.5 if you did not do so in class.

2.) Complete the front and back of the first page in the fraction packet.

3.) Email me the following responses at Skanchwala@bmsonline.org

a.) Describe the steps you would take in making a graph to show the relationship between two related variables.

b.) How do you decide which variable should be on the x-axis and which should be on the y-axis?

c.) What are the advantages and disadvantages of representing a relationship in a table, graph, written report?

See page 29 in your math book for these questions.

All Due Wednesday!

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Interpreting Graphs

ACE - p17

#4, #6-9, #26

OPTIONAL -

#24, #27

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Making Graphs

1.) Read 1.2

2.) Finish Graph from class if you have not already

3.) ACE p15, #1-3 and #18-19

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Ace

Ace - Number 5, and 13-17

Pow due Wednesday

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Rafting Project

Rafting Project is due tomorrow.

POW!

Monday, September 15, 2008

Rafting Project

1.) Rafting project - Fill out Table with New Coordinates. Make a number line on graph paper with new coordinates and letters labeled. Make sure the coordinates are spaced to scale.

2.) Obama and Mc Cain Pow due Monday, Sept 22.

3.) Full Rafting Project due on Thursday!

POW for Sept 15

Name ___________________________ Date ________________
Problem of the Week
September 15 – 19, 2008
The chart below shows the number of “mentions” we’ve seen of each issue by each candidate during this campaign season as of the afternoon of Thursday, September 4 (before McCain’s Convention Speech.) Use this data to answer the following questions.

Obama McCain
Iraq War 3571 2234
Economy/Budget 1827 1503
Abortion 790 505
Health Care 642 509
Environment 424 317
Immigration 350 324
Globalization 208 151
Education 115 47
Civil Rights 7 3

“Issue Coverage Tracker”. Washington Post. http://projects.washingtonpost.com/2008-presidential-candidates September 4, 2008.

According to the table, what percent of the total number of “mentions” between the two candidates have related to education? Express your answer to the nearest tenth.


Which candidate has devoted a higher percentage of their issue “mentions” to the issue of health care?



What is the positive difference in the percent of total “mentions” devoted to the Iraq War and total “mentions” devoted to the Economy/Budget? Express your answer to the nearest tenth.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Patterns, Tables and Formulas

Design 3 patterns on graph paper. Use color to make them pretty. (similar to what we did in class)

Make a tables for each pattern (3 total). Fill it in 1-5 and then a variable for any given number.

Try to come up with a formula for each table, using numbers, variables and symbols. Think algebraically!

Due Monday.

Remember: POW is due on Monday also.

Monday, September 8, 2008

Autobiography, Window Panes and POW

Due Wednesday:

1.) Autobiography (if you have not already turned it in). See previous post for guiding questions.

2.) Window Pane Problem. Hint: There are between 20 and 30 unique window combinations.

Due Monday:

1.) Chicken and Pig Problem of the week. See below:

Pigs and Chickens
Maria went to her grandmother's farm for Thanksgiving. Her grandmother raised pigs and chicken. Maria noticed that there were a total of 26 heads and 68 feet among them. How many pigs and how many chickens did her grandmother have?

Thursday, September 4, 2008

First Week's Assignment

Your homework for this week is as follows:

1. Visit the blogspot with a parent and have them read the introduction and answer the questions about you. They can email me the answers at Skanchwala@bmsonline.org or you can print out a copy and turn it in to me.

2. Write your math autobiography (Due Sept. 17). Include your goals for the year. Here are some guiding questions:

How do you feel about math, and why?

What topics come easy to you and what do you find difficult?

What do you want others to learn about you as a learner of mathematics?

What supports your math learning?

What gets in the way of learning math?

Introduction

Dear 7th grade families,

I would like to introduce myself to you as your child’s math teacher this year and tell you a little bit about how math will be structured this year. First, a bit about me: I taught Spanish and Math Seminar for three years at the Little Red Schoolhouse in New York City before coming to the Berkeley Montessori School. This is my second year teaching here, and I absolutely love it! I have also taught math-reasoning course at the Center for Talented Youth through Johns Hopkins University and at the National Young Scholars Program. I am looking forward to another great year here at BMS!

This will be an exciting class, and your child will be engaging in math in a variety of ways. I have the highest of expectations of each student, because I believe that all students are capable of learning math. The curriculum I will mostly draw from is called The Connected Mathematics Project. This curriculum is very rich in connections, and is organized around interesting problem settings. Some of the mathematical content goals that we will explore include Number, Geometry, Measurement, Algebra, Statistics and Probability.

Our first unit is called Variables and Pattern, which is an introduction to algebra, specifically looking at variables, tables, graphs, and how to use symbols as representations.

The goals for the unit include:

- Identify variables in situation
- Recognize situations in which changes in variables are related in useful patterns
- Describe patterns of change shown in words, tables, and graphs
- Construct tables and graphs to display relationships between variables
- Observe how a change in the relationship between two variables affects the table, graph, and equation
- Use algebraic symbols to write equations relating variables
- Use tables, graphs, and equations to solve problems
- Use graphing calculators to construct tables and graphs of relationships between variables and to answer questions about these variables


I’d like to get to know your student as quickly as possible this year. Would you please answer the following questions and email them to me by Monday? My email is Skanchwala@bmsonline.org


About My Student



My child’s name (please print) _____________________________



My name ________________________________________________



1.) What is important for me to know about your child?









2.) How does your child feel about math?










3.) What do you feel is the most important aspect about teaching and/or learning math?





Please refer to the blog www. http://bms7math.blogspot.com/ for any ongoing announcements and for daily assignments. Should you have any questions feel free to email me at Skanchwala@bmsonline.org.



I look forward to a great year!

Sincerely,
Sheila Kanchwala
BMS Middle School Math Teacher