7.29.2014

#TMC14 Algebra 2 Session


Thursday-Glenn Waddell

What can be a connecting thread through Algebra 2?
  • Color coding units
  • Family of functions
  • All equations first, then graphically
  • Consistency of vocabulary
  • (h, k) forms



Students have to write every function in all three forms: standard, vertex, and intercept. Then identify all key features, intercepts, AoS, asymptotes, end behaviors, vertex, translation from parent function, domain/range, and stretch/compression factor. If it does not exist, write that and explain why.

No canceling! You are either making one or making zero with equations.



For intercepts, be specific. Make students write "Let x = 0, therefore y = __. (x, y)"

Developing rational functions in (h,k) form justifies long division. We use long division to convert rationale into (h,k) form.

(Insert plug for Nix the Tricks) Your past teachers taught you a rule that has now expired. 

Trouble with domain and range? Have students use Desmos to write their names with lines.

Display a free virtual TI on your SMART board. Desman is a good intro to Desmos.

It's not the math that's changing, it's the picture. You are applying the same thing over and over.

Use Desmos sliders to show the difference between -2x^3 and (-2x)^3. And to graph all functions and transform at the same time.


Use onlinetonegenerator.com to create tones from trig functions.

Use "rate of change" more than you use "slope". It matters for trig.

Modeling Resources: http://m3challenge.siam.org/about/mm/

Friday- Jonathan Claydon

Break functions into two clusters. First, linear, quadratic, radical, square root (mix in inequalities). Second, log, exponential, rational, polynomial. Start with solving basic types of the first four. Then cycle back and do intermediate types. Cycle back a third time and teach advanced types. Six weeks of equations and four weeks of graphs, the whole semester. End with conics, sequences, and series.

Start January with second cluster. Use graphs to motivate higher algebra. Inverses, transformations, quadratic formula, systems, complex numbers. Complex numbers are what happens when we force the algebra. When two graphs don't intersect, inverting the first graph and finding the intersection gives you the imaginary number solutions. Students use graphs to validate their algebraic answers.

Use data from data.worldbank.org for growth and decay for modeling. Compare countries and growth rates to interpret graphs and motivate extension questions. Use credit card bills and real estate websites for exponentially.

Resources: infinitesums.com/alg2 Open the calendar in Dropbox for pacing guide. DIY guide for goals and practice problems. Independent practice for just problems. All assessments, including finals and finals review are posted. Financial formulas: log gives number of months to pay off, second gives mortgage payment.

Project Ideas: function panels, estimation wall, fact sheets after each concept.

Doesn't do homework, does interactive notebooks, used estimation180 or visual patterns.org for daily warm ups.

Saturday- Glenn Waddell

Modeling

It's our job to pick problems where variables can be idealized with a mathematical formula.

Take graphing stories and extend it. What can we ask? Volume vs time

What is the area under the curve? (Triangle shape) What is the rate of filling? At that rate, how long would it take to fill the school?

Absement is the absence of displacement, or the filling of the container. A hydraulophone is a real world example.

Try teacher.desmos.com for more class activities

#TMC14 My Favorites


My Favorites is a session where teachers share their favorite things in 5-10 minutes.

Rebekah Peterson @RebeckaMozdeh
  • Friday Letters- warm-up as usual or write me a Friday letter (decorate a mailbox); respond to every letter; opens up lines of communication for quieter students
  • Mathematician Spotlight- one per unit, corresponds to unit; students post biographical information; restate a quote, defend their position on the quote, find three bits of interesting information
Sara Martin @Sarah3Martin
  • Window Math- weekly problems written on window; bigger prize for less correct answers, smaller prize for more correct answers 'cheaters'
John Mahlstedt @jdmahlstedt
  • Write the date as a math problem
  • Tell your students how awesome you are- literally! Answer questions about yourself. Fill in the blank notes to match. :) Bonus Questionssss
Christine Sullivan @mathiechris
  • Planbook.edu
  • Online plan book allows you to attach standards, links, activities, worksheet, etc
  • End of year, comparing standardized test results to attached standards allows you to identify gaps and weaknesses
Bob Lochel @bobloch
  • Meaningful Adjacencies Icebreaker- 5 favorite tv shows; order your cards so you are closest to the most people who share matches; maximize solutions; 3 minute video
Glenn Waddell @gwaddellnvhs
  • Turn a styrofoam cup upside down and slit the top. Use an old smartphone to place inside  and record your teaching.
Justin Lanier @j_lanier
  • Favorite blogger- John Holt from1968; 5th grade teacher in Colorado; wrote books of daily
  • reflections, "How Children Learn" and "How Children Fail"; helped start homeschooling and unschooling movement;
  • Three lessons: 1. Look around. 2. Teach (and admit the) crazy. 3. Trust children.
Michael Pershan @mpershan
Jenn Crase @fibanachos
  • Part to Whole relationship
  • Factor Product relationship
  • Using visual models to understand equations
  • Middle school level
Pam Wilson @pamjwilson
  • Chalk Talk- everything is written instead of spoken
  • Students have to process in a different way
  • Students can write with highlighters in the dark with black lights
  • Ghosts in the graveyard
  • Plickers- app where students hold up QR codes and teachers take a picture and the app records the responses. Excitation!
Max Ray  @maxmathforum
  • Grant with EnCOMPASS
  • Aug 5-8 hybrid face-to-face online institute
  • Software that collects student work and analyzes and categorizes parts
Heather Kohn @heather_kohn
  • Partner Reading for Comprehension-partner 1 reads aloud; partner 1 questions/comments; partner 2 clarifies
  • Cut and Grow- take a student writing sample and they choose one sentence to edit; cut out the part that is wrong and rewrite
Andrew @froynboy
  • Animal rubric 
  • Seating chart arranged in 90s hip-hop groups
  • Character picture on desk
  • Project is researching their character and presenting
  • Play parts of song to call on groups
  • Highest grade wins the unicorn award
  • Video game themed tests
Cindy Johnson @johnsonmath
  • Conic cards!
  • Sorting!
Meg Craig @mathymeg07
  • Equation Editor 3.1 prints and copies better
  • Make shortcuts for symbols
  • Create your own autocorrect for common fractions, radicals, etc
  • Link goo.gl/TKlAz6
Sebastian Spear @Sebastian_S
  • 99-card game; any number of players; center deck; avoid being the player that pushes the center deck over 99; no winners, one loser; cards add value to center deck
  • Zilch-red negative, black positive; your hand must add up to 0; start with four cards and students make pairs; then change to five cards
Anthony Rossetti @aanthonya
Jasmine Walker @jazmath
  • Tabletop Twitter-posters; each student has a market; answer question; respond to people with @, and create your own hashtags
  • Quadrilateral Dating Game-speed dating structure; "meet" quadrilaterals and record traits
Hannah
  • Cell phone problem solution- warning on the first day; get out an envelope and put phone in it until the end if the day; if they refuse, sign a card saying they accept the consequences

Bob @bobloch
  • Favorite movie genre correlation regression

Shelli @druinok
  • StatKey; app that can convert between data displays, etc
Kathryn Belmonte @iisanumber
  • Students true colors personality survey; 15 minutes; four categories; rank groups of adjectives to determine color

Dylan Kane @math8_teacher
  • Five triangles problem; want students to have mathematical insights over being able to do a lot of steps
Glenn Waddell @gwaddellnvhs
  • Buy your own domain-powerful way to represent yourself as a professional in a public space
  • Lunar pages donates free domain
Julie @jreulbach
  • Laminate plicker QR codes and attach to interactive notebooks
  • hinge questions where each multiple choice answer maps to a specific misunderstanding for differentiation

Sam @samjshah

John  @Jstevens009
  • Would you rather...math? Link
  • Needs help with new ideas
  • Goal of 100

7.28.2014

Made 4 Math: Felt Footies and Bulletin Board






Another idea I've stolen from Pinterest is felt footies for my students desks and chairs. This is to prevent scratching up the freshly waxed floor as well as making it quieter when students are moving around.


I bought felt from Hobby Lobby, 4 for $1 and I used one sheet per chair and per desk. I cut one sheet into fourths. So I have 18 desks and 18 chairs which means I need 36 sheets of felt. That only ends up costing me $9 which is MUCH cheaper than the tennis ball idea.

Of course I had to buy neon colored rubber bands because beige ones are soooo boring. I wrapped it about 4 times and my felt footies were created! Don't they look like tiny little shepherds?



I covered my bulletin board in 12x12 scrapbook paper by stapling them up in alternating rows. Then I made a border out of teal duct tape. I heart chevron!!



7.23.2014

#EduRead Why I Stopped Putting Grades on Papers

This week's article is "Why I stopped putting grades on papers".

My Thoughts
  • I like the idea of promoting discussion and conversation but I feel like I'm being dishonest by waiting until later to post the grade. 
  • I asked Ashli "For students who do no have access to the online grade book, how did they ever know how they were doing in the class?" Her response "I was fortunate that my school had computer labs that students can use before/after school and during lunch in addition to the laptop cart in my room (it was shared between the math department but kept in my room), so that wasn’t a problem I dealt with. In the past I had posted quiz scores using students ID numbers on the wall and updated them about once a week."
  • I never know exactly what kind of feedback/comments to give. According to the archive, we prefer provoking questions rather than comments.
  • I've been thinking about using Frank Noschese's quiz idea where students check their work and write their own feedback and then turn it in, so that the teacher assigns a grade later (I'm assuming?). Do these methods align? (lol just reading the archive where Shelli mentions this too...hooray)
  • What I've read so far is a list of common errors and making a key where students categorize their errors or we can just mark symbols or numbers to save time. I like the idea of a bookmark. Couldn't this go in our INBs?
  • I've been thinking about Bowman's sbg intro using angry birds and I've been thinking, why can't I just grade like that? It seems so simple.
  • It's like I have all these assessment ideas in my head floating around and I just somehow need to tie them all together. More on that later, I suppose.

7.21.2014

Made 4 Math: Notebook Holder and Light Switch






I plan to use this file holder as a notebook holder for my interactive notebooks. I plan on making one for each prep so there is room for all four. I spray painted and added washi tape to the bottom edge.



I bought this customized light switch from Etsy for 5ish dollars including shipping. It's made with vinyl and it was shipped the night I ordered it. It comes with the screws to install. Love it.


I hung a few streamers above my air conditioner and I love how they move with the air. It's like a little curtain!