Ride Janie Ride

My homebase, in combination with Mrs. Ohlander's homebase, have organized a fundraiser for the Ride Janie Ride foundation. This is an organization which raises money for people stricken with blood cancers. Two of this year's recipients have connections to our school district. Donations will be collected in homebases through April 23rd. For more information on Ride Janie Ride visit ridejanieride.org.

Funny Video

While searching for a video to show my students about the Quadratic Formula, I found one of my old favorites. I bet this kid got an A for this video!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cAs1YBELmA&feature=fvw

Week of 3/8

ISATS ARE OVER!!

After testing all last week, we are ready to move into the final stretch of 8th grade.

In Algebra we are just starting Chapter 10 which continues our study of Quadratic Equations. Students will be spending time working with the graphs of these functions.

In Math we are picking back up with Linear Functions. This will include a review of what we covered before ISATs, as well as some newer material.

Have a great week!

Update

This week in Algebra we have started factoring. This is definitely one of my favorite topics to teach students. I love to watch them think!!

In math, we will begin an introduction to Linear Functions tomorrow. We will study this more in depth after ISATS.

Congratulations to the Scholastic Bowl team for their victory Monday over Burr Ridge! The team won 301 to 64. Anyone is welcome at our next home match Monday, February 22nd.

I am back!!

Boy, this was a short week for me!! Monday I started feeling sick and I spent Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in bed. I made it back to school on Friday, with A LOT of work to catch up on. I was lucky enough to have Mrs. Guinand, Lakeview's former math teacher, as my sub, so I knew math was being taught in my absence!! I have caught up on entering grades except for the quiz that was taken on Friday.

Many students have missing homework assignments, while most are only worth 3 points, they add up quickly. Remember that as long as they are turned in before the chapter test, points will be given!! Those zeros don't have to stay zeros, so check your grades and turn in your late work!!! A lot of times students just skip a few problems, but they don't get completion points unless the assingment is complete!

In math next week we will finish up the chapter on geometry in measurement. Hopefully we will get through the Pythagorean Theorem and Linear Functions before ISATS. I big task, but I think we can do it.

In algebra we are working on Exponential Functions. This is one of my favorite topics in algebra. We will be finishing this chapter next week with a PROJECT!!!

Have a great and HEALTHY weekend. Hopefully I will fully recover by Monday.

Week of 1/15

In Algebra this week we have been getting back into full swing after our final last week. We have started our study of exponents, focusing on operations with exponents. Next week we will move on to exponential functions and applications.

In math we have moved into a chapter on geometry and measurement. Students will be using their equation solving skills daily in this chapter. With only a six or so weeks until ISATs we are moving full steam ahead!!

Have a great weekend!

High School Recommendations

You all should have received a registration packet from the high school over winter break. Within the packet you can find course descriptions for the classes that your child will be taking next year if they are attending Downers Grove South. I will be sharing my recommendation for math with students this week. Please take a moment to talk to them about my recommendation and contact me with any concerns.

**Algebra students will be receiving their recommendations after they take their final.**