Functions

Many students seemed to enjoy our new game called "Guess My Rule." We used the game to learn more about functions and about how to write function rules. Some of the students who had their hands up often were Keegan B, Mary O, Bryan C, Chris G, Dana S, Kraig R, Mack R, Peter F, Tyler H, Riley S, Jesse S, Danielle S, Ashley M, Scott D, Keegan D, Quin W, Brett C, Kyle J, Marissa N, Molly D, Mike M, Ashlyn M, Steve S, Jordan T, Martin H, Tyrone C, Jeff B, Chad W, Levi G, and Sierra K. I'm sure that I accidentally left out many names because so many students were eager to participate. We will continue to play the game throughout the year!

Check out this picture. Can you find the function rule for this one?????? Post the function rule as a comment!

Inequality Posters

I was impressed by the posters submitted. I had a great time looking through them! I hope you enjoy seeing many of your posters in the main hallway by the office. Here is some student work.

Soma Cube

Soma Cube is a 3-D puzzle. Its seven pieces form a 3x3x3 cube when assembled properly. Some students try it out when there is an opportunity. These are pictures of some of the students who found a solution!

An Ending and a New Beginning

It is hard to believe that the first quarter is over! I am very proud of the work that the 8th graders completed this quarter. From logic, journals, notes, quizzes, and tests to homework you prove to be hard workers. Make sure to check out the homework bulletin board this week to see the Homework Superstars for the 1st Quarter.

Progress Reports will be going home with students for parents to sign this week. Signed reports are due back on or before Monday, November 19th for a homework grade. To help understand how grades are figured for Math 8, I am including the course information pages 1 and 2 for your review.

To compute your 1st Quarter Average:

1) Add. the HW ave. + the Quiz ave. + the Quiz ave. + the Test ave. + the Test ave. = TOTAL

2) Divide. TOTAL divided by 5 = 1st Quarter Average

My Grade Book is available with up-to-date assignments and grades. Check it out! I look forward to hearing student and parent comments and questions on how My Grade Book works. I am still learning how useful a tool it can be!

Communicate!

While working on the "Light Me Up!" Activity, it was neat seeing how well eighth graders can show their work. Some of you are still learning how to work through the procedures solving algebra problems. Showing your work allows you to communicate to me what you were doing and thinking when solving a problem. If you have errors on a problem, we can easily see and correct where the mistake is. Showing your work also allows you to communicate what procedures you do very well. A few of you are still stuck saying "Augghh! Do we have to show our work?" The answer is YES!

The answer is just a small part of the problem. You need to work on all aspects of a problem to be a good problem solver. Not only should you strive to show ACCURATE and correct work, you want to show your REASONING and thinking for the problem, and COMMUNICATE that information to others.

Check out these papers that your classmates completed!

Logic Requirement

Many 8th graders are completing logic puzzles at a surprising rate. Keep up the good work. Remember that it is our goal that every 8th grader completes 10 each quarter of the school year. If you don't have yours done yet, there is still time.

Logic is a REQUIREMENT, not extra credit. Zero puzzles completed gives you a quiz grade of 50%. One puzzle is a 55%; Two is a 60%; Three is a 65%, and so on... Ten is a 100%. You do get extra credit for MORE puzzles.... Eleven is a 101%; Twelve is a 102%; Thirteen is a 103%; Fourteen is a 104%; Fifteen is a 105%. Above fifteen counts towards the next quarter's requirement.

Special recognition goes to Shania V. and Emily F. Both have completed 60 logic puzzles already this first six weeks! Yes, that's right, SIXTY logic puzzles each. The closest to that number in last year's class for a WHOLE quarter was in the 40's. Excellent Work!!!!

Which puzzles do you like the best? Remember to cast your vote for your favorite logic puzzle before time runs out!

Word Wall

You can thank Miss James for making the Word Wall available this week:)

The Word Wall has important terms discussed in this unit on Equations and Expressions. Today's Warm Up included the Word Wall! I hope that you all found it useful as you worked in class on your review packets (due tomorrow in class). The review packets will help you study for the Unit Test on Equations tomorrow. You will be able to use the Word Wall on the Test.

The Unit Test will give you an opportunity to show off how GREAT you eighth-graders are at SHOWING YOUR WORK!

5 Week Progress Reports

You received your 5-week report from me today in class. Take it home and have a parent/guardian sign the report. Comments/questions are welcome from parents and students. Return it to me no later than Monday, October 15th for homework credit. To help you understand how averages are determined in Math 8, please refer back to the course information handed out to you on the first day of school.

Parents, you can find a copy of this course information paper attached to the parent letter sent home with your eighth grader for you to sign the first week of school. I will try to scan it on to this post as soon as I can figure out how to do that!

My Grade Book

Your parents may have received a classword and password to access your grades for math class. My Grade Book is up and running. It is updated through Friday, September 28th---the same as the reports you received in class today. What a great way to show off the good work you are doing to the people at home who care about you!!! Grades will be updated frequently.

On to Equations...

Wow! I was very pleased to see how well you all did on the first test of the year. Some of the names of impressive work include...

Sierra K, Stephanie B, Keegan D, Kyle J, Steven S, Marissa N, Alen Q, Zach R, Courtney W, George M, Sierra E, Peter F, and Chris G.

Way to go Eighth Graders!

Parents, make sure to ask your eighth grader what integers are and what they are used for.

Integers

Today, we finished the week by making a "foldable." This helps organize the integer operation rules that we have practiced. Keep this handy in your homework folder or 3-ring binder to use any time you need a reminder of the adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing integer rules.

Logic Madness

Over the past few days the 'Who's Finished' bin has been absolutely jam packed with Logic Links, and more recently Perplexers, so congratulations to all of you on a job well done!!!
Almost everyone has turned in a few puzzles and some of you have turned in quite a few of them. So I just want to take a moment to give a special shout out to those of you who have completed 15 or more puzzles, and therefore are done with logic puzzles for the first ten weeks! And they are:

Jeff B.
Savanah B.
Stephanie B.
Emily F.
Ricky N.
Jordan T.

Also of note are those who only have a couple more to go in order to have 15 completed puzzles! They are:

Jai A.
Jason H.
Nicole W.

Great Job everybody and keep up the good work!!!

~Miss James

A New Face!

I hope you all had a great summer!
I just wanted to take a moment to introduce myself to you all. My name is Angela James and I am going to be joining you for the next 7 weeks. I'm really excited to be here in Groton and I'm looking forward to working with all of you.
As some of you may know I'm a student teacher from SUNY Geneseo, which is just outside of Rochester in case you were wondering. I grew up in a small town similar to Groton and I love it. Some of my favorite past times include camping, fishing, arts and crafts, and reading.
Well, I look forward to getting to know you all these first few weeks!
See you all in class!
~Miss James

The First Week

It was nice to see everyone back at school this week ready to work! The first day we discussed expectations and class information, and also welcomed Ms. James to the classroom. The last two days students have impressed me by stepping up to the challenge of some difficult problems called logic links. Great job, students!

Welcome Back!

I hope that everyone enjoyed the vacation. I look forward to starting the school year and meeting the new eighth grade class.