Day 24 October 5th

Good morning and good day to you!

7th GRADE MATH

We continued working towards 7.EE.B.4.  This common core strand has 7 sub skills in the Khan Academy set.  

These tasks include:

1) two step equation word problems (THIS WAS TOUGH AND WE WILL COME BACK TO IT)

2) two step inequality word problems (THIS IS TOUGH AND WE WILL COME BACK TO IT)

3) one step inequalities (T.4 easy breezy for us)

4) two step equations (S.6, this was a challenge for us especially with negative numbers but we did it)

5) two step equations with fractions and decimals (Coming soon, like S.6)

6) Find the mistake: two step equations (we will tackle this before we go back to word problems)

7) two step inequalities (Current challenge from class, T.7, we practiced for 10 minutes)

First of all, great job!  We are learning what skills we need to tackle these dreaded word problems.  We have been building up using IXL tasks and class discussion.  

I will demonstrate a few examples and things we learned from Khan Academy so you can work on T.7 today so you can get more familiar and more comfortable with the tasks.

In the first picture, during STEP 2, we were surprised to find when we divide by a negative number, the inequality sign switches directions?!!! WHOA!

In the second picture we discovered that the < and > sign has a line underneath which means greater than or equal to, less than or equal to.  

To make more sense of this when the symbol is filled in or a colored in dot we use the symbol < or > with a line under it to include that number.

We use < or > symbol and the "O" circle not filled in we would think "NO" it doesn't include that number.

In the example above, b<3  our number line would have to show that if b is greater than 3, we can't include 3.  So our symbol or starting point on a number line would have a "O" to start us off and point to the right.

We will tackle this idea more on Thursday but get work on one of these on Wednesday as well as giving you time to get caught up on your IXL tasks.

HOMEROOM: 

We discussed the upcoming count day, what you need to do to check in on Wednesdays, and congratulations, you have no school on Friday.

I discussed that importance of looking at the assignment details in Unified.  Being a little more detail oriented can save you a lot of grief.  I modeled checking your assignment details in Unified so you build these habits in your daily school activities.

8th GRADE MATH:

I am listing the IXL skills that we worked on in order to build up for the 8.EE.B.5 "NEW" skills we are working on:

1) 3rd Grade U.1

2) 7th Grade S.6

3) 7th Grade S.2

4) 7th Grade C.6

5) 7th Grade V.2

6) 8th Grade Y.1 (some of you did 7th grade Pythagorean Theorem, that didn't show graph work or should have seemed strange to you because we didn't talk about that in class.) So like we talked about in Homeroom, be sure you have the correct assignment by looking at the assignment details in Unified.

Today:  we reviewed what we were aiming for from a Khan Academy question, we reviewed that we need to be able to solve for slope, choose any two points from a table or a grid to find the slope.  I am giving you time to catch up on IXL but I didn't see much effort to do these assignments after class.  I decided that in order to help you, we will start to look at Edgenuity in Math.  Go through the Warm Up, Introduction and Summary.  This will give you more teaching on the topic and hopefully add clarity for you to dive in and understand the content better.  

So... 8th Graders, catch up in IXL today and work on the Edgenuity items.  

Be sure you check in on Wednesday and read the assignment details for that day.  

Day 21, 22 and 23 September 30, Oct 1 and 2

 

I will keep this blog post short.

HOMEROOM: we talked about each other's talents and what you were working on in September as an artist.  On Friday, we simply wanted to make sure everyone knew how to upload assignments and was checking Unified regularly for getting caught up and again offer support so you don't get frustrated.

MATH: Wednesday was simply about organizing your assignments and checking them off your list until you are caught up.  Thursday we went over the NEW skills for 7th and 8th Grade.  

7th Grade: we simply found the story problems were the hard part, it seemed like the other skills were pretty manageable so we will make sure we own those skills first then come back to the story problems.

8th Grade: we found that the proportion wording is weird and is throwing us off.  We are going to make sure we understand proportion tables and how to apply any two points on grid line can be used to solve the slope on a graph.

You can find your assignment from this in IXL under 1 October New Skill.  As always, don't work for more than 30 minutes.  When you get frustrated or your score starts to drop, get a hold of me and I will help you forward again.

SCIENCE: Also simple, on Wednesday, you made a checklist and used your time to get caught up.  On Friday, I emphasized getting your Big History Project assignment done first even though it is due on Oct 6th.  You can get make up work done after that.  I left you with an hour and a half to work on it.  

That's the week.  Enjoy the weekend and see you on Monday!

Day 18, 19 and 20 September 25th, 28th and 29th

https://youtu.be/9YuS_Fdv4yU

I feel the words "caught up" have a lingering theme.  You should be caught up by the end of this week and learn the ways of the force to maintain this amazing feeling from now on!  

Some of you are realizing it is a pretty cool feeling that allows for more personal time, freedom, reduced stress and of course gives you more opportunity to focus on your artistic talents.

Last week was a big "let's get caught up" theme and this week is no different.  I minimized assignments, shortened classes to support you on this.  

This month we are going to be "RESPONSIBLE" so, being caught up is a big responsibility and will be a huge relief go forward.

Recap from Friday to Now:

SCIENCE

On Friday we went over the Ten Questions from the video and reviewed what we found.  We also paid particular attention to things like the kinds of scientists working on the York mystery.  We discussed the types of tools and the steps of the scientific method they used.  

Your objective by Friday October 2nd is to write the Big History Review assignment in Unified.  Get your parents signed up for Class Dojo and Create your Excel Spreadsheet for Science. Finish and upload any assignments you otherwise need to finish.  

You have a self paced checklist to make as well and turn in tomorrow for your attendance.  

You have the entire week to ensure you are done.  This is ample time to be caught up.

MATH

I just didn't assign anything else.  I simply went over the assignments that need to get turned in and explained how to do it.  

Your self paced assignment is to create a list of what you have left to do from Unified, go do it, then turn in your list of what is left to do and what day you plan to do it.

Turn in this list by the end of the day.

7th Grade and 8th Grade we should be caught up and ready to do the NEW skills on Thursday.  I gave you over an hour on Monday to get caught up and you have Wednesday to do this as well.

HOMEROOM:

FRIDAY Get caught up, we told everyone what they were missing.

MONDAY and TUESDAY We discussed what Yom Kippur is and what it means to celebrate this Jewish Holiday.  We also want to use the end of the month to share what artist skills you have been focusing on.  What are you currently working on or completed in the month of September.  
We have been and will be sharing these all week during Homeroom.  Can't wait to see your talents! 

That's it!

Get caught up.  Be caught up.  Stay caught up.  

You survived the first month of online learning! Whew!  Now it is time to up our level of Responsibility and Master this online learning thing until it is no more.  

So until next time... get caught up and.... See ya! 

Day 16 and 17 September 23rd and 24th

 https://youtu.be/bHcBOlJgbdI

Hooray!  Hooray to those that stayed on top of things and got your work done.  Hooray to those that toughed it out today and were able to get caught up or are now really close!  We want to avoid the word "procrastination".  I feel like I invented the word but over time, I am learning to conquer its evil ways!

Some of you got caught in the procrastination fever and it probably wasn't so fun today.  However, we can now embark on grade level things and it won't seem so foreign.  

What you may now realize is that WE do indeed want to help.  WE will also do whatever means necessary to keep you on top of your game and making sure YOU show out your potential.  Failure is not an option with me because I believe in you.  Effort means a massive amount to me.  

You Can Do This!  Let's enjoy that success together.

RECAP of Wednesday and Thursday-

HOMEROOM

Simple, my message in Math (IXL) PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE get caught up.  Wednesday or Self Paced Day is not a sit back relax thing!  Ask questions if need by and get after it.  

10 of you took that to heart in Math and were gifted with a Free Day on Thursday in Math AND in Homeroom too.  Some of the 10 still need a bit more coaching and stuck around for 30 minutes to raise your grades.  Mad Respect to you!  

9 of you felt the pressures and longevity a bit more today.  If you didn't practice IXL and show some catching up from yesterday.  You felt the long full homeroom and long full block of Math until you got caught up.  

On the positive side:  I was proud of you for pushing through it and asking questions.  

In the future:  Let's try to avoid that forced study hall scenario.  Remember you are artists first.  You have crazy, sick talents I can only dream of.  Let's enhance that, focus on that but your class work comes first.  If you stay on top of it, I can spend more time working on making Math and Science more artist like instead of chasing you down to keep up.  

MATH

I won't repeat what was stated above.

These were your assignments I wanted you to focus on:

NEED Skills:  We NEED these skill to be able to tackle the NEW skills of...

7th Grade: 7.EE.B.4

8th Grade 8.EE.B.5

So your IXL builder assignments were:

7th Graders: 

1) 5th Grade U.1

2) 7th Grade S.6

3) 7th Grade S.2

4) 7th Grade C.6

8th Graders:  

The only difference from 7th Grade was that you need to prove mastery of the grid.  So your 1# assignment was 3rd Grade U.1

2) Same as 7th Grade

3) Same as 7th Grade

4) Same as 7th Grade

TODAY:  we fell behind our intended goal.  We were supposed to tackle the NEW.  That would be impossible and just downright frustrating to you because without knowing the NEED skills and proving mastery of it, the NEW would be miserable.

So... On Monday we will get into the NEW again.  

7th Graders:  I assigned IXL NEED Skill R.11  This type of math popped up in S.6 when dealing with two-step equations.  We will make sure you are masters of the distributive property.  This will make the NEW skill easier to manage and understand.

8th Graders:  I assigned IXL NEED Skill V.2 We found out on Monday that when we tried to tackle the NEW again, we found other things we have to know first.  One of those things was the ability to calculate the slope of a graph or grid.  This is a must because we need to read the slopes of two different grids and tell what it means.  

Tackle those and let's look at that NEW skill I gave you on Monday.

SCIENCE

Both classes we kicked off the Big History Project and you should have watched a 15 minute segment of the 48 minute video.  You were not only supposed to watch this video for 15 minutes but also look for the answers to the 10 questions from the video.  Play video detective or what we call ACTIVE learning.  

On your self-paced day you were expected to finish the remaining 30 minutes of that video and be ready for class.  

We will see tomorrow what your found out.

COMING UP:

Class Dojo for parents to get information

Khan Academy Log In 

Edgenuity Log In

That's that, so until next time, stay caught up and....... See ya!

Day 15 September 22

Terrific Tuesday to ya!

HOMEROOM

Simple: Get your calendar turned in and your interview/research assignment done by tomorrow and you are all set.  If you are already done, congrats you have time to yourself.  Be sure to use your time well and be caught up in all of your classes.

Message from Lew:  I don't want you to learn for more than 20-30 minutes from me on one topic.  I don't want you to do work on your own for more than 30 minutes in class block.  This would mean 40-60 minutes of learning for that subject.  You would have an extra 45-60 minutes of your own time to do as you think best with the idea of not having homework to worry about.

WHEN IT GETS TOO HARD ASK FOR HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!

SCIENCE

We moved forward in Science today with the Big History Project diving into our first activity.  Today you will watch the 1st video.  Remember the activity asks you to only watch a certain 15 minutes of the video.  Watch only that today while trying to answer those questions listed in the description.  Tomorrow you can watch the rest of the video and be ready for class discussion on Friday.

In 7th Grade Mr. Lew showed you the REALLY COOOOOOL WAY TO DAB!!!

Day 14 September 21

Monday Madness is here!

I spilled boiling hot coffee on me first thing today and all over our kitchen counter to kick things off.  However, life goes on and here we are.

HOMEROOM

We didn't cover any new topics but brought up a few announcements:  

1) Our focus in conversation is sagging a bit.  We need to be mindful of good online communication.  Keep texting relevant to the speaker and part of the conversation of the class.  

2) Online etiquette involves turning on your mic to talk and participate.  Turning on your camera is still a bit of an issue for some folks.  If you need to step away that is fine but get out of the mindset that you have your camera off during the entire lesson.  If we were at school under normal circumstances your face would be available to look at.  That should be the same with online learning or our communication just lags and isn't as good as it should be.

3) I will no longer be calling you up in TEAMS to join the class.  Unless you are new last week then I will give your more grace.  At this point, you should have finished your calendars in Office and show be getting to your classes on time.  

4) Getting caught up- We have 1 hour and 45 minute learning blocks for Math.  The class will not last 1 hour and 45 minutes.  When class is over, you should have time to either stay on and ask questions, get help or complete the tasks on your own independently.  We are avoiding giving you homework in this way so you can excel at your artistic talents.  Please use the time to get caught up.  

Assignments to finish:

1) Your calendar should be done and submitted in Unified for Getting Organized

2) Your interview and research assignment should be turned into Unified on Wednesday

MATH

7th Grade:  We went back into Khan Academy NEW Skill 7.EE.B.4 to see where our comfort level is now since we have been building up NEED skills.  We are finding the writing expressions from a story still to be a challenge but we will continue to work on that.

Today I again modeled "metacognition" with the challenging question for our NEW skill by using Paint 3D and drawing my thinking one word, phrase or sentence at a time so I can have a clearer picture in my mind what the question is calling for.  After following this strategy, you can usually see how to solve it.  

Assignments to finish:

1) all 5th grade U.1 skills should be done (late)

2) all 7th grade S.6 skills should be done (if this is hard, starting asking for help)

3) all 7th grade S.2 skills should be done

Today:  Work on the 1 Khan Academy Question posted in Unified

Today:  IXL Skill 7th Grade C.6 (NEED)

8th Grade:  We also went in Khan Academy NEW Skill 8.EE.B.5 to see where our comfort level is since building up NEED skills.  We mostly found ourselves confused and much of the metacognition stuff I was modeling came down to understanding how to read a slope first and calculate it.  This is a NEED skill now.  So, in order to tackle the NEW, we still have a few things to sort out first.

Assignments to finish:

1) all 3rd grade U.1 skills should be done (late)

2) all 7th grade S.6 skills should be done (if this is hard, starting asking for help)

3) all 7th grade S.2 skills should be done

Today:  Work on the 1 Khan Academy Question posted in Unified (NEW)

Today:  IXL Skill 7th Grade C.6 (NEED)

Wednesday IXL Skill 7th Grade V.2 (NEED) solving for slope, we will start our discussions in class Thursday based on how you do with this on Wednesday.

**SEE BELOW THE NEW SKILL QUESTION**

7th Grade

NEW 7.EE.B.4

At the beginning of the season, MacDonald had to remove 555 orange trees from his farm. Each of the remaining trees produced 210 oranges for a total harvest of 41790 oranges.

1) Write an equation to determine the initial number of orange trees (t), on MacDonald's farm.

2) Find the initial number of orange trees on MacDonald's farm.

***For this question, draw your thinking, come up with an equation and solve.

This question has 3 parts.

Each part is worth 5 points.

8th Grade

New 8.EE.B.5

The unit rate of change of y with respect to x is the amount y changes for a change of one unit in x.

The table below represents a proportional relationship with a constant unit rate of change of y with respect to x.

Which describes a greater unit rate of change of y with respect to x, the equation y=7.6x or the table?

x	1	2	3	4
y	8	16	24	32

Choose 1 answer:

• A

  The table

• B

  The equation

• C

  The unit rates are the same.

8th Grade your question has two parts.  1) solve the answer A, B or C to the best of your ability.

2) Draw your thinking as you go and submit your drawing so we can see your metacognition skills for solving these kinds of problems.

Each part is worth 7.5 points each.

Day 11, 12 and 13 September 16-18

 It's the weekend!  Hooray!

YOU CAN CONTINUE TO JUST READ ALONG OR FEEL FREE TO HEAR/SEE A VIDEO OF THE CONTENTS BELOW, JUST CLICK THE LINK.

https://youtu.be/zQFFA3uVZlY

Teachers are just big kids at heart too and love their free time and chillaxin'!  Speaking for myself, I try to avoid homework on Fridays.  Speaking of homework, you shouldn't have any...  If you find yourself behind:  1) you were have technology issues 2) found other things to do 3)need help but didn't bother me enough in TEAMS text 4) who knows but the dog ate your homework trick won't work.  

I am focused on teaching you what we need to know for the day quickly to understand it and give you time to practice on your own or ask for help.  You are now blessed with time.  Use it well and if you need more coaching on something, put me to work and make me earn my teacher dollars.  I don't intend for you to have work to do after the class block has ended.  Please use the time to get caught up and it should be easy to stay caught up after this to stay that way.  

3 day Recap

HOMEROOM 16-18th

We talked about using the technology you have in your school Office to help you plan your day.  This isn't a school thing, this is more of a LIFE kinda thing.  All successful people and professionals of their craft plan ahead, get to things on time and ready for what's next.  Today we showed you how to create your weekly school schedule for the rest of the year in the Calendar app.   Your task:  Create your school schedule.  You can use the August 30th blog posting for a look at your schedule to help you.

**I also posted a blog about how to do this with Google Calendar which is very similar to Microsoft Calendar, in March or April.  Use the table of contents on the right to help you get there faster for an example.  

Wednesday was the day to get this done, so if you haven't done so, be sure to turn something into your homeroom teacher before Monday.

Thursday we did more breakout rooms from Tuesday except with the 8th grade hosting.  I was very impressed with how quickly you picked up on this idea and how helpful you were with each other.  See the blog from Tuesday to see the assignment.  

Friday we focused on being able to upload an assignment and your fellow peers took the reigns and shared what they know.  I also have a March or April blog post on this using Paint 3D the way it was showed today to upload assignments.  As long as you know where to click in Unified to submit your work the old blog will work for you!

MATH 

We are noticing things we NEED to know before we can tackle the NEW grade level stuff and be successful.

7th Grade we focused on getting caught up in our IXL work and gave extra coaching after class.

Your tasks:

1) IXL- 5th Grade U.1 Writing variable expressions

2) IXL- 7th Grade S.6 Solving two-step equations

3) IXL- 7th Grade S.2 Writing equations from words

8th Grade is almost the same except we are working with grids so your 1st task is the only one that is different from 7th grade.

Your first skill was 3rd Grade U.1 Reading Grid Points

Wednesday was a chance to work on those skills above

Thursday was giving you more support, letting you know what to work on, checking in on you to see if you understood or needed help and another day to get these done.

Friday- if you don't have those assignments done yet you need to be done by Monday or you are behind and the NEW grade level math will be hard to understand.  Please use the weekend to get caught up.

**While helping students on NEED skill 7th Grade S.6, we came across a few trickier questions.

1) U + 51/3 = -6 (in this one you solve the division of 51/3 first, this one is more of 3-step equation)

2) G/4 - (-43) = 52 (need skill coming up, working with addition, subtraction and negative numbers)

3) 81 = 9(g +6) (this one requires prior knowledge of the distributive property, need skill coming up)

4) U-37/ (-8) = -7 (this one caught Ol' Mr. Lew off guard!, this seems like an order of operations kind of thing, PEMDAS anyone?!)

FEAR NOT!  TOGETHER, WE CAN DO ANYTHING!  These Rum Raisin like questions will soon become your common easy breezy scoop of vanilla, scoop of chocolate/don't waste my time kind of questions before you know it!  Maybe they already are and your fellow classmates would LOVE to pick your brain about it!

SCIENCE

Wednesday log into your Moby Max and Big History Project account and be ready for Tuesday.

Friday log into your Moby Max and Big History Project account with proof by sharing your screen and then have an early start, have an A+ on your assignment for doing that and then have a nice early start to your weekend.  

If you are having trouble with passwords, we will iron this out on Tuesday.  

Go be you and enjoy your weekend!  If you aren't caught up, try to set a timer and commit to working 30 minutes at a time and you will get there.

Until next time... See ya!

Day 10 September 15th

Good day to all!

CLICK LINK TO HEAR/SEE RECAP OF TODAY'S EVENTS OR JUST READ BELOW

https://youtu.be/Yj9wjHKeJWU

HOMEROOM

Today in homeroom with great attendance by the way, we expanded on our inspirational Mt. Rushmore. Each 7th grader hosted a break out room, 8th graders interviewed those 7th graders.  The details of the assignment are shown below.

BREAKOUT ROOM TASK

Hello 7th and 8th Graders 

This week we are building in ways to get to know each other better.  It is difficult in online format to meet people your age and make connections like you would if you were at school in person. 

Today we will get into the things that you care about, inspired you and generate interests you might not otherwise have thought about. 

 

We will conduct breakout rooms today (Tuesday September 15) and on Thursday September 17.  Today 8th graders will choose 3 breakout rooms.  In each room you will join in with possibly other 8th graders and ask the 7th graders hosting the breakout rooms.  Who is on their inspiration Mr. Rushmore and ask the host about 1 of their Mt. Rushmore you are curious about and why that person inspires them. 

We will keep the breakout rooms open for 40 minutes.  It might take some time getting used to knowing how to do this, so I added 10 minutes to adjust.  Try to spend no more than 10 minutes in each of the breakout rooms you choose. 

8th graders:  From the 3 breakout rooms you will: 

1) Write the names of the 3 hosting students you went to and the name of the breakout rooms. 

2) Choose one of the host students and one of their Mt. Rushmore people they talked about.  Report what that 7th grade host said on why that person is inspiring to them.  I suggest taking notes on your meetings with those students.  Act is if you are a reporter learning about a new story. 

3) From the 3 breakout rooms you went to, pick one of the Mt. Rushmore people you know little or nothing about.  Conduct your own research about one of those people that interest you and report 3 things about them that would likely be inspiring to people.   

4) Tell us what research source you used to find out about the person you choose. 

This will be your homeroom assignment for the week.  Post your results in Unified Classroom.  If you do not have access to Unified/Powerschool to do this, let your homeroom teacher know. 

7th Graders send your work to Mr. Lew 

8th Graders send your work to Ms. Beyer 

 

On Thursday, the roles will switch.  8th graders will host the breakout room and the 7th graders will be asking questions.   

 

 

 

 

Hosts for Tuesday and their inspirational Mt. Rushmore picks 

P.H.

1) Harry Styles 

2) Ariana Grande 

3) Barack Obama 

4) Michelle Obama 

 

A.M.

1) Leonardo da Vinci 

2) Sensei Jon Davis 

3) Vincent van Gogh 

4) Pablo Picasso 

 

K.R.

1) Barack Obama 

2) Rosa Parks 

3) George Floyd 

4) Martin Luther King Jr. 

 

M.S.

1) Barack Obama 

2) Ellen DeGeneres 

3) Trevor Noah 

4) Brie Larson 

 

P.H.

1)  Martin Luther King Jr.      2)  Michelle Obama   3) Harriet Tubman   4)   Joe Biden 

Great job 7th grade on hosting your breakout rooms. 

SCIENCE for 7th and 8th grade

We discussed use of this blog and how it can help you particularly concepts from last class.

We want to make sure you have access to Moby Max, Big History Project and later on Edgenuity when the curriculum there matches what we are learning.

So today: you should make sure you can log into Moby Max.  I sent you the username and password in Unified Messages. 

You should check your new assignments for Science and join the class in the Big History Project.

As long as you can do that, you will ready for Friday.

READ BELOW OR CLICK ON THE LINK TO HEAR/SEE MY REVIEW OF SPEEDY TECH COMPUTERS SALES AND SERVICE

https://youtu.be/2LUzycu8uiI

IF YOU ARE HAVING TROUBLES WITH TECHNOLOGY IN THIS VIRTUAL WORLD WE ARE PUSHED INTO NOW MORE THAN EVER, GIVE THIS PLACE A TRY!

I have never promoted advertising of any kind on my blog or ever worked with advertising before in my line of work.

So just know, this is not an advertising pitch.  I just strongly believe in promoting a good thing when I see one!  

Many of you know the struggles I have experienced this early school year with technology issues.  With the help of "Uncle Mike" at Speedy Tech Computer Repair our family is back on track and ready for learning.

Mike owns a local computer shop and he works efficiently.  He has great customer service and gets the job done at an affordable price.  I used to make the mistake of hiring Geek Squad and would come away from the experience disappointed.  I strongly suggest talking to Mike if you have any troubles with technology you can't figure out.  He will take care of you!

Mike is not a relative.  I jokingly call him Uncle Mike because I had troubles with:  not getting enough access to our router, couldn't watch TV, stream videos without interruption and our internet would pop off because the router strength was too weak.  I had a slow running computer, our printer broke, I couldn't use my mouse, internet and webcam at the same time and my webcam broke all in a matter of a couple of weeks.  Mike even fixed our iPad!  I saw Mike more than I saw family members for a while there but everything is fixed and good to go.  Mike suggested good products (where you won't waste money) to buy and where to find a good price if he doesn't have it in stock.  

Tech trouble?  Go to Speedy Tech!  Mike has your back!