Mr. Goldie’s New Blog

Algebra 2 finished ellipses today and will take the quiz tomorrow.  We should have time to take the quiz, take questions, and start hyperbolas.

 Pre-Algebra took the quiz on slope today and it was a mixed bag.  The kids who were here and did their homework did pretty well, though they’ll need some more exposure to it; however, the kids who were absent or didn’t do their homework really will be lost.  We’re depending on them knowing how to add and subtract integers (many students STILL don’t know how to do that, and we’ve reviewed it many times)  and know how to work with the FRACTIONS that result.  The kids with the skills are the ones that are getting it done!

Algebra 2 got a start on ellipses, but did not finish them.  We should finish them and get the homework assignment and some time to work in class tomorrow.

Pre-Algebra finished 8-4, Slope, and got the assignment and some time in class to work.  FEW students are making the effort to begin their work in class.  Students should be reminded that wasting ten minutes in each class is one HOUR a day, and 180 hours every year!!

Students should be reminded that HOMEWORK still needs to be done, weekend or not.  If you take Friday night off, then Sunday night should be time for homework.

In EVERY class only one or two people did their homework, as evidenced by their quiz scores, and THAT is unacceptable.  As a teacher, I often make the choice to go on rather than conditioning students to expect to control the pace of class through their inaction; however, in the second semester the work we are doing is more challenging — and going on dooms the student to not understanding ANYTHING in the rest fo the chapter.

Homework is the KEY to succeeding in math — and the students at the top are doing it every night!

In Algebra 2 we took a quiz over 8-2, took questions on 8-2, then covered circles, Chapter 8 Section 3.  Quizzes weren’t too bad, though no one got all six right (not even I did — I was doing them in my head and went too fast on the last one!).  However, it is evident to ME who is doing homework and following along — I just hope the students getting the low quiz scores are as perceptive, as I’ve harped on it as much as I am going to (for THIS week :P).

Pre-Algebra corrected and collected 8-1 today, took the quiz and questions for 8-2, then finished up 8-3 — with some time to work in class.  Unfortunately, most of the kids didn’t do their 8-2 homework, and during the time given to begin 8-3 tried to finish their 8-2 work instead.  So now, instead of the 8-3 quiz on Monday, I’ll give time to work on 8-3 THEN start 8-4, and they’ll take the 8-3 quiz on Tuesday.

Today was the first day of the new semester.

All classes took a quiz on skills they should be carrying over from last semester.  On the whole, the Algebra 2 classes did very well, while the Pre-Algebra classes need to master the skills they have been taught.

All the classes took an assessment of their mastery of the times tables.  The Algebra 2 students again did very well, with very few taking the full 3 minutes; again, only 2 or 3 students in each class of Pre-Algebra are able to complete the assessment in the 3 minutes.  Keep in mind that a student who KNOWS their multiplication facts by rote can complete them in a little over a minute.  We’ve got a lot of room for improvement!!

Algebra 2 began 6-1, taking extra time to teach note-taking skills.  The goal is to learn how to distill the most important information into the notes, rather than copying them verbatim.  (After all, THOSE are on my class website!)

Pre-Algebra B classes worked on an arithmetic worksheet to prepare them for the work they will need to do on the 6-1 homework.

Students who are not working can expect a call home within the week.   This is no time to relax — it’s a new beginning, so make the best of it!!

Algebra 2 finished 5-3 in class and will have a skills worksheet during the short day tomorrow.

Algebra 1 finished 11-4 and began working on it in class.

Pre-Algebra is working on the cumulative skills assessment and will continue working on it tomorrow during the short day.

Algebra 2 finished 5-2 and began working on it in class.

Algebra 1 did the worksheet on the arithmetic necessary to master 11-4.

Pre-Algebra finished 5-9 and began working on it in class.

Algebra 2 began 5-2 but did not finish it.

Algebra 1 had time to work on 11-2 in class today.

Pre-Algebra finished 5-8 and had time to work on it in class today.

Algebra 2 covered 5-1 and homework was assigned.

Algebra 1 covered 11-2, and homework was assigned.  We will have time in class tomorrow to work on it.

Pre-Algebra began 5-8 but did not finish it.

All classes took the Galileo exam in Algebra today.  It is good practice for the AIMS test, and will count as quiz points (where it is an opportunity for extra credit points if one scores above the average).

We will be back to work Monday.