News

6th Grade Math – Mrs. VonFeldt and Mrs. Evans

We will continue our study of algebra this week, beginning with learning how to deal with fractions in equations. We can remember that a fraction is just another way to write any number. If we use our newly developed process, we can solve any equation. We can do anything to an equation as long as we do EXACTLY the same thing to both sides of the equation. We UNDO what has been done the variable by doing the inverse operation. We can check our solutions by plugging the solution in place of the variable and checking the math. We will extend what we have learned about equations to inequalities. The following are two videos that cover the basic solutions of all one step equations. Please have your student watch them if they are needing help.

7th Grade Math – Mrs. Evans

In 7th math this week we will spend one more day practicing finding the surface area of prisms and then we will begin to find the volume of prisms. The following is a video about finding the volume of prisms:

8th Grade Math – Mrs. Evans

This week we will begin to solve systems of equations using substitution. We will then review chapter 7 and have a chapter test. Here is an example of how to solve a system of equations:

Algebra – Mrs. VonFeldt

Last week, we learned to factor quadratic expressions with a leading coefficient of 1 (x^2 + bx + c). This week we will factor expressions with a leading coefficient that is not 1. The process we use is called “factoring by grouping”. The Khan Academy video below is a great demonstration on how to use this method:

Once a quadratic is factored, it can be solved using the Zero Product Property which states that if two or more factors have a product of zero, then at least one of those factors must be zero. Quadratic equations are useful in so many real world situations such as projectile motion, bouncing balls, free falling objects, and even architecture.

No school on Friday!

6th Grade Math – Mrs. VonFeldt and Mrs. Evans

We will be reviewing our lessons from Chapter 7 on Monday and do an assessment on Tuesday. With this chapter we have set a strong foundation to build on as we move into Chapter 8 and learn about equations. We have focused pretty heavily on vocabulary in Chapter 7 so to have the ability to discuss algebra most effectively. Here are some of the important vocabulary words that your student should master for success:

7th Grade Math – Mrs. Evans

In 7th math this week we are investigating CIRCLES! On Friday of last week discovered the famous number, PI by dividing circle circumferences by their diameter. This week we will use formulas to find the circumference and area of circles. The following are the formulas that your student should memorize regarding circles:

8th Grade Math – Mrs. Evans

This week we are moving into algebra. We are simplifying and solving equations. We will also learn how to solve equations that have variables on both sides of the equation. An important concept to keep in mind for these problems is that you will keep the same value if you do EXACTLY the same thing to both sides of an equation. This is called keeping an equation balanced. Here is a video to help you:

Algebra – Mrs. VonFeldt

This week, we begin Chapter 8: Polynomials and Factoring. This week we will review how to combine like terms to create a simplified expression. Then students will explore binomial multiplication with algebra tiles and learn to multiply using the standard algorithm, sometimes remembered as FOIL:

6th Grade Math – Mrs. VonFeldt and Mrs. Evans

We are working in Chapter 7 in which we are learning a little about algebraic expressions. We are learning how to identify the parts of algebraic expressions, combining like terms and evaluating expressions for a given value. Here is a great video introducing algebra.

7th Grade Math – Mrs. Evans

In math this week, our 7th graders will be finishing their investigations of angle relationships, triangles and scale drawings. We will start with extending what we have learned about the angles created when two lines intersect to what we get when parallel lines are intersected (transversals). On Tuesday, we will be reviewing the material in this module and then we will test on Wednesday. After that we will begin investigating circles and discover PI!

It is important for students to memorize the different angles so that they can identify them easily and correctly. Here are some of the important angle relationships that they should know:

8th Grade Math – Mrs. Evans

This week we are finishing up our study (in Chapter 6) of volume of geometric shapes. On Monday and Tuesday, students will present their sculpture projects to the class. We will then move on to algebra. We will extend what we learned in 7th grade and at the start of this year.

Algebra – Mrs. VonFeldt

This week, we finish our study of exponents and exponential growth/decay with a test at the end of the week. Students should be able to simplify exponential expressions, as well as identify and write an equation for an exponential function from a graph or a table. Exponential growth and decay are important functions to understand. They help us evaluate investments, identify population growth or decline, predict bacterial growth, and study many other important scientific phenomenon.

HAPPY CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK!

THIS TUESDAY IS THE LAST WINTER SPORTS DAY FOR MIDDLE SCHOOLERS

6th Grade Math – Mrs. VonVeldt and Mrs. Evans

We are in the heart of Chapter 6, learning about how to convert between different units. Last week we covered units of length, capacity and mass, using both the metric system and the customary system. Here is a great visual aid that can help you and your students make changes between metric system units. Because the metric system is a base ten system, converting between units is a simple as multiplying or dividing by a power of ten (moving the decimal to right or left).

7th Grade Math – Mrs. Evans

In math this week, our 7th graders will continue to write, model, solve and graph inequalities, extending into two step inequalities. Solving inequalities follows, basically, the same process as solving equations. There are two major differences: first the solution of an inequality is a set of numbers rather than a single number and second, when you are in the process of solving an inequality and you multiply or divide each side of the inequality by a NEGATIVE number, you must flip the inequality sign for it to remain true. Here is a video that can help students with inequalities:

8th Grade Math – Mrs. Evans

This week we will finish Chapter 5 with a fun project in which we will have to solve transformation problems in an escape room. In Chapter 6 we will take our study of geometry in a new direction with the review of circle geometry. We will use the diameter and radius of circles to find the circumference and area. Here are the basics of a circle we will cover this week.

Algebra – Mrs. VonFeldt

This week, we will practice solving linear systems of equations using graphing, substitution, elimination, and rewriting. By the end of the week, students will be able to identify the best method to use for any set of lines. We will focus on how to use these concepts in many types of real-world comparisons. The Khan Academy video below explains how to solve systems using the elimination method:

Friday, Jan 27th is the final day in the first semester. Wow! We are learning so much!

Tuesday will be another Winter Sports Day so we will not have math. Additionally, we will be MAP testing one day this week. Please encourage your student to do this week’s homework practices so they finish the semester strong!

6th Grade Math – Mrs. VonVeldt and Mrs. Evans

We will begin chapter 6 this week. In chapter 6 we will learn how to make conversions between different types of units within the customary system and the metric system. Here is a step by step way to make conversions, by using a conversion factor:

7th Grade Math – Mrs. Evans

In math this week, our 7th graders will extend what they have learned about writing and solving equations to writing and solving inequalities. One of the primary differences between equations and inequalities is that the solution to an equation is one value while the solution to an inequality is a set of values. Here is a summary of how you solve a two-step inequality:

8th Grade Math – Mrs. Evans

This week we will be learning about how shapes can be translated and rotated around on a coordinate plane. These are the skills that are used by graphic designers and in making video games and movies! We will be developing our understanding of the difference between similarity and congruence. Here is a Khan Academy video to help understand about shape translations.

Algebra – Mrs. VonFeldt

This week we will begin to solve systems of equations. Just as in other types of systems, (circulatory system, operating system, etc.), algebraic systems are functions that work together for a common purpose or common solution. We will consider two linear equations. The point of intersection is the solution, as is shown in the image below. There are multiple strategies we can use to solve systems. This week we will focus on the substitution and elimination methods.

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Tuesday is our first Winter Sports Day! See you on the ice or snow!

6th Grade Math – Mrs. VonVeldt and Mrs. Evans

We will continue to learn about percentages this week. Last week we discovered how percents are just another way to write a fraction, decimal or mixed number and that we can convert between one form of the number and another with simple steps. We will want to be able to take these steps fluently and without error so that we can use percents effectively. This week we will use percentages in word problems. We will find the percents of quantities and will find a quantity, given the portion that is a percent. All of these problems are related and we use them in every day situations. Ask your student to help you when you encounter percents in life (at the store or at home). Here is a good video to help students determine how to find a percent.

7th Grade Math – Mrs. Evans

In math this week, our 7th graders will continue to learn how to write and solve equations. We are learning a process to solve equations that we are going to use on simple equations and then extend it to more complicated equations. This video shown below. Notice that each step is clearly shown and worked below the previous step. This helps us to be careful and avoid mistakes. Please encourage your student to develop a good PROCESS rather than focusing on finding the solution.

8th Grade Math – Mrs. Evans

We will continue our study of geometry in 8th grade math. We have been using known relationships between angles to find missing measures or to find variables involved with the missing variables. The first step in all of these problems is to determine what the relationships are between the sides and angles of figures. We must ask ourselves questions such as: Are the lines parallel or perpendicular or intersecting? Is there a transversal? Is the shape a triangle and if so, what kind of triangle? Are the angles vertical or corresponding, supplementary or complementary? Once we have thought through these questions we are ready to MAKE SENSE OF THE PROBLEM. It becomes like a little puzzle! This week we will extend these concept to coordinate systems. We will compare figures to determine if they are similar or congruent by comparing their corresponding angles and sides. Please have your student practice in IXL.COM if they are having a difficult time remembering these relationships. Practice will definitely help!

https://www.ixl.com/

Algebra – Mrs. VonFeldt

This week began with the class solving absolute value equations. Absolute value is defined as a number’s distance from zero, hence, it is always a positive number. That means if |x| = 7, the solution is either +7 or -7. This is the first situation we have encountered where x has two solutions.

At the end of the week, we will solve two variable inequalities. Solutions will now be represented on a coordinate plane as a group of ordered pairs as is shown in the image below from mathwarehouse.com:

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6th Grade Math – Mrs. VonVeldt and Mrs. Evans

We begin the new year with a plunge into our study of percentages, which is covered in Chapter 5. Percents are a special way to write a rate that compares a number to 100 as is indicated by its name (per cent = per 100). We will learn how to convert between percents, decimals and fractions. We will take the percent of a number, recognizing that when we hear “of”, we can replace it with a multiplication sign. Here is a comparison between ratios (fractions), decimals and percents.

7th Grade Math – Mrs. Evans

In 7th grade math, we will begin the new year moving into a study of algebra. We will learn to simplify expressions by combining like terms, distributing and factoring. We will then establish an approach to solving simple (one-step) equations in which we will UNDO step by step. When solving equations, we will be keeping the equations balanced by making sure we do the same thing to both sides of the equation. Here is an illustration showing which terms are “like” and which terms are “not “unlike”. You can only combine like terms.

We solve equations by undoing what has been done to the variable while keeping the equation balanced.

8th Grade Math – Mrs. Evans

We begin our new year by moving into the study of geometry. This week we will learn new vocabulary involving angles and their relationship to each other. We will use the relationships to determine missing measures. We will investigate intersected lines, transversals and triangles. Here are some illustrations to help you and your students visualize these angles.

Algebra – Mrs. VonFeldt

Chapter 5 is all about solving inequalities. In the next few weeks, we will take all the concepts we have covered this year and apply them to inequalities, starting with one variable inequalities. You use the same rules to solve an inequality as an equation with one exception: when you multiply or divide by a negative number, you must reverse the inequality symbol. We will be graphing solutions on a number line and consider the difference between the boundary point being part of the solution or not part of the solution. See the image below that uses an open dot for greater than (boundary point is not a solution) and a closed dot for less than or equal to (boundary point is a solution).

6th Grade Math – Mrs. VonVeldt and Mrs. Evans

Last week we continued to learn about equivalent ratios, rates and unit rates. A unit rate is a special rate in which we compare to ONE of a thing. The denominator in a unit rate is ALWAYS one. We can turn any rate into a unit rate by dividing the numerator by the denominator. We use unit rates so we can compare rates, such as determining which car is moving faster or which bag of marshmallows cost more per gram of marshmallow. After we practiced finding and using unit rates to solve problems, we investigated how to represent equivalent rates on a graph. This is a very useful skill as we can read graphs quickly to interpolate and extrapolate information. Here is an example of how we can switch from a rate to a unit rate:

This week we will review Chapter 4 and take a test to see how well we understand. Then we will work a special Christmas project in which we will plan all the elements of a big party!

7th Grade Math – Mrs. Evans

In 7th grade math last week, we continued to practice using percentages to describe changes and to solve problems involving percent markups (like tips and taxes) and percent markdowns (like sales on Christmas shopping). We had a test on all of Unit 2 (covers both Modules 3 and 4) on Friday. Here is how we can find percent change:

This week we will develop some new vocabulary for our study of algebra which we will dive into fully when we return from Christmas break.

8th Grade Math – Mrs. Evans

Last week we will finished our “ladder assessment” in which students worked their way up a ladder of skills with increasing complexity and are discovering that they are great climbers! We then enjoyed applying what we have recently learned about squares and roots with the Pythagorean Theorem. We had a quick review of rates and unit rates (see 6th grade math above for an example of how to turn a rate into a unit rate). We will learn to solve proportions using cross multiplication and inverse operations. This week we will use proportional thinking to understand similar shapes and do a fun project in which we will scale up a gingerbread house and build it out of cardboard.

Here is a useful RAP song about the awesome Pythagorean Theorem:

Algebra – Mrs. VonFeldt

Last week, students finished Chapter 4 on writing linear equations. They now know how to write and evaluate slope-intercept equations, point-slope equations, and standard form equations. Each form is useful, depending on what initial information is given in the problem. Students should be able to take any linear function and put it in another form by rewriting.

This week we will go back to graphing equations with a fun project. Students will graph and color in a series of intersecting lines to create a “stained glass” poster. Merry Christmas everyone!

6th Grade Math – Mrs. VonVeldt and Mrs. Evans

This week we begin Chapter 4, in particular, we will investigate and extend our understanding of ratios and rates. A ratio is a comparison between two quantities and a rate is a comparison between two quantities that have different units. We use rates and ratios in everyday life, like when we discuss the cost per pound of apples or the miles per gallon that our cars are capable of giving. This week, challenge your 6th grader to notice rates all around them! Here is a summary show the difference between ratios and rates:

7th Grade Math – Mrs. Evans

In 7th grade math this week we will begin to use percentages in more complicated and useful ways that we have in the past. As percentages surround us, this will be a very applicable set of lessons. We will need to be able to move between fractions, decimals and percentages fluently in order to work these lessons well. Here is a review of how make these simple transitions:

8th Grade Math – Mrs. Evans

This week we will continue to practice using the laws of exponents that we learned last week. We will also learn how to write very large and very small numbers using scientific notation. We will then practice using roots and squares in expressions. We will finish the week with a heavy quiz on Friday. Here is a good video about scientific notation:

Algebra – Mrs. VonFeldt

This week we continue to use linear equations in all ways. We will learn how to write equations in different forms such as slope-intercept, standard, or point-slope form. We will also look at how to rewrite equations to go from one form to another.

It is important to learn to apply linear equations to real-life situations. A slope represents the growth of the function or a rate of change. Examples include miles travelled per gallon or a cost per unit. The y-intercept represents where a functions begins. Examples include one-time fees paid or the amount in a savings account before monthly saving. We will continue to include problem solving examples to demonstrate how Algebra is applicable to real life.

6th Grade Math – Mrs. VonFeldt and Mrs. Evans

This week in 6th grade math, we will finish our study of Chapter 3 with a test on Monday and a graphing activity on Wednesday. On Tuesday, the sixth graders will miss math due to their service project. For students who need help for the test, here is a reminder of graphing on the coordinate plane:

7th Grade Math – Mrs. Evans

In 7th grade math this week we will take the test on Module 4 that we did not have time for last week. We will not have a long class on Monday due to the Human Food Chain, but we will do a little review and then have a double session on Tuesday to do our tests. We will have a proportional relationship activity to do on Wednesday. An email went out to all 7th grade math students with videos to help them review for the test.

8th Grade Math – Mrs. Evans

This week we will learn how to manipulate exponents using the exponent laws. These are important rules to memorize so that we can use them fluently. We will have a quiz on these rules on Wednesday. Here is a brief synopsis of the rules shown by sciencenotes.org:

Algebra – Mrs. VonFeldt

This week we will review how to graph equations in slope-intercept form wrapping up with a fun turkey activity on Wednesday. Have a safe and healthy Thanksgiving!