Made 4 Math #11 - Diamond Foldable and EOC Review

Although this isn't the first foldable I've ever used, it's the first one I put any effort into designing. I stole the idea from Nora Oswald's Discriminant Foldable. I liked the way she folded hers so that it formed a diamond. I printed out a blank one to attempt writing examples in the boxes. I wanted two per box so I was trying to decide the best way to fit them into each box. I went ahead and folded it to make the diamond. When I unfolded it, I now had to even spaces to write in. Success!

I altered the original foldable by adding the diagonal lines as separators and as a guide to folding. They don't fold exactly right but it  works for me. I used this for solving equations: multi-step, variables on both sides, distributive property, and fractions. I did two examples each, one with integers and one with decimals and we used two different colors- one on the outer flaps and one on the inner.

Here's the results.

And here is the file.

Next up, I created a 50 question Powerpoint that serves as an end of course review for Algebra I. The first 40ish questions are straight from our EOC exam except with different numbers. The last 10 or so are some overarching themes from Algebra that I want students to pick up. I finished this when I was tired so it might not be the most excellent thing you've ever seen but I think it could be really helpful.

We are having a schoolwide movement to try out the L to J program which basically works like so. I use the powerpoint once a week and ask 2-3 questions randomly from it. As a class, we graph our results. No grades. Just graphs. We do this every week and it exposes students to things we will learn or have already learn continuously throughout the year in order to improve retention. We celebrate all time bests of the students as individuals and as a class. Students start to look forward to our 'weekly competitions' and attendance and test scores improve. Miraculous, right? I'm not really bitter toward this, I like the idea, a lot actually. I'm bitter that I procrastinated making these powerpoints this summer and now have it piled up on my never-ending-should-already-be-done list.

But at least I have accomplished one out of three.

Here are some cute things I bought at Wal-Mart- everything under $7 and nothing that I actually need or have a plan for.

And here are my binders with glittery stickers in my favorite colors that were on sale at Hobby Lobby.

Last but not least, I made this gift for my teacher friend by using a Sharpie to write on a Dollar Tree mug and then bake it at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Hand-wash only! Then I filled it with suckers. Simple and sentimental. And cheap. :)