Function Transformations

I just love teaching the functions transformation unit.  It is quick and easy and the students seem to just get it.  For this unit, I am trying something new this year.  I am trying out the flipped classroom concept.  So, their homework is to watch videos and then we do their work in class.  So far, it is just ok.  We will see how it goes.

The best way for the students to really understand transformations is for the kids to actually see the movements of the graphs.  And, if you do it by hand, it can take a while.  So, why not use graphing calculators!!!  Quick, easy, painless.

This activity is formatted in the Cornell Notes fashion.  We are an AVID school so we have a school wide push to use Cornell Notes.  Most like taking them like this, a few just do not like them.  I have activities for Quadratics, Absolute Value, Radicals, and Cubics.  This year, I am teaching Quadratics and Cubics together then Absolute Value and Radicals together.

Enjoy!

Absolute Value Transformations
Quadratic Transformation
Cubic and Radical Transformations

Graphing Book

                                                       

This was a nice project I came across to do that helped the students understand graphing a little better.  This also worked as an excellent tool for reviewing.  It was amazing how some of the projects we really detailed and a few were not so detailed.  

I gave them the rubric and paper they needed and they did the rest.  Best part, rubric is enclosed!!  Modify as needed.  I would recommend that you do have them turn the rubric in so that you can have easy grading.

Also, I did not show them an example.  It was interesting to see what you got back.  Some even did a table of contents.  My proudest moment was when a student was talking about finding the intercepts in Standard Form, and said to do "Ax=C" then "By=C."  Made that connection all on their own!!  I was just happy with how these turned out.

Graphing Book

Great Resource-Geometry!

I needed something that was quick and easy for my students to do as they entered the room.  We had just discussed the way that you classify triangles by sides and angles.  I wanted to do a more hands on activity, but I was having printing issues so I found another resort. 

Since all of our students have computers, I had them go to a website and play a game.  Not much of a game really, but like a quiz.  Even though it was made for lower grade level, still did the trick.  The students had to do a screen shot of the score they got and I will give them points that way.  Quick, easy, and tested their vocabulary skills.

I went to visit the website more, and found that there are a lot of good skill building activities that they can do as well.

For the triangles activity, CLICK HERE.

To visit the main website, click here.

Pop Tab Project Update

So far our collection of pop tabs is going well.  From all the help of my Facebook friends and some others, we have counted 10,643 pop tabs!  We still have more that need to be counted.

So, how am I using this in my classes?  Great question!

Today in class, we made some predictions.  I have stored them in a safe place and once we have all our tabs, we will see who had the best prediction.  We also did some calculations.

This is 2,000 pop tabs!

I have been stringing the tabs onto fishing line in increments of 1,000.  I am not doing that all the way through but for now.  We then measured how long 1,000 pop tabs would be.  So far, I have 3 strands of 1,000.  We then averaged the numbers together to account for the different lengths.  Since we were dealing with 1,000 only, they had to times the average by 100 to get how many inches 100,000 would be.  We then converted it to feet.  Based on all of that, we are looking at 371 feet and 8 inches!

It just so happened admin walked in at that time.  She asked a football player if that would be longer than a football field or not.  So, they did some quick math and of course it was.  That made me think that to show the progress of our growing strands of pop tabs, we would go to the football field and get pictures there.

I am so excited about our project and hope that we reach our goal!

Barbie Bungee

Need a fun and creative idea for line of best fit?? I got you covered!!

This is a great activity that my math department does.  We have used it for Algebra 1 and Algebra 2, even some remediation classes.  It will take a whole block period but it is totally worth it.

The idea:  The students will predict how many rubber bands it will take for Barbie to safely bungee 460 cm.  You could change the distance if you want.  I like to tell them that they have to tie her feet because that is the proper way to bungee and we are not hanging barbie.  You will need at least 3 students in a group- one to hold barbie and drop her, two to watch where she hits, and one of the watchers can also be the recorder.

Once data is collect, the students will create a scatter plot and find the line of best fit.  From there, they can predict values.

This is a fun project.  It takes some preparation if you have not done it before but then after that it is a piece of cake.

I will add some pictures of the activity in action once we complete it on Tuesday!


Barbie Bungee

Stained Glass Window Project

This is always a fun project to do with linear equations.  It also provides some nice artwork to have around your room.

What is it?  This provides the students an opportunity to test their skills of graphing linear equations.  If you wanted to amp it up a bit, which I have done one year, is have the student actually write the equations out.  In other words, you give them some word problems to find the equations.

I typically provide the graph paper for my students, it can also just be printed off the internet as well.  It is super easy to grade.  The secret.....find an old over head projector transparency.  Use Sharpie marker to trace the lines and boom you got your answer key.

Enjoy!

Stained Glass Window

Geometry Time

With Common Core upon us, we have to make sure that students can use geometric tools. Time to bring out the proctors, compass, and straight edge.

Since we do not get technology for a few days, I figure now would be a great time to do some basic constructions.  I am hoping that with all the vocabulary in our first unit, I can have them search for it on the internet instead of just copying it down from me.

With our further ado, here is a packet that I made.  It is designed to take two block periods.  You will have to cover some basic vocabulary real quick so that they know what they are drawing.  I am also implementing some of the Workshop Model.  I am going to give them a quick overview of a section, like 5 minutes max, and then let them work.  After a while, go to the next section.  It will also help with attention spans.  Lots of back and forth between listening and then working.

Happy Constructions!!

Geometry Constructions

Advice Anyone??

OK, pop tab project is underway.  We have counted 8,000 tabs already and still have some for others to count.  However, my display idea is not going to work quite as I was hoping.  Fishing line works for 2,000 but it is getting way heavy, more than I thought it would.  Anyone have good advice on what can be used in lieu of fishing string?  I am thinking that I am going to have to do it in chunks.  It will work I guess.  I just do not want to do jugs because I want them to see just how it looks.  Help!!!  Thank you in advance.

Expression Representation

I attended a "meeting" this summer and got this activity.  I am going to use it over two, maybe three days.  I am going to have the students work it in shifts.  So many times students have difficulty thinking about all the ways to represent expressions and this is one great activity to help.

I made copies for each cluster of my desks.  I have 10 groups of 3 in all my classes.  I am going to give them card set A and B on the first day.  They will have to cut out all the pieces.  I am also going to give them a large sheet of paper.  I am going to have them glue them on.  To make it easier on you, make sure they glue card set A in numerical order.  Have them match set A to B.  There are blank cards on purpose.  Students need to fill in the blanks.  Once that is done, I will collect the posters.  I am checking work by walking around to make sure we do not have any uh-ohs.

The next day, I will then have them match set C to their other work.  And finally, have them match set D to previous work.  Of course this could all be done in one day but I think the idea of breaking it up among different blocks will work.

The students have now see all different ways of representing the same expression.  Yes, some of the cards work in multiple spots so it is interesting to see what happens.  Enjoy!

Expressions Representations

Interactive Notebooks....The Beginning

Hard to believe that students come tomorrow.  I am sure, like most teachers, that we do not feel prepared for students but can get through the first day!

One of my goals for this semester is to do interactive notebooks.  I am hoping that this will become an excellent study tool for the students.  Cross your fingers that is it successful.

Since Missouri is not yet making the full switch to Common Core and Smarter Balance Assessments, I have to prep my students for the End of Course Exams (EOC).  One of the big things I would like to do is get the students familiar with the EOC Reference sheet.  This way, they will use the reference sheet for the whole year and not just "Surprise! This is all you get."

I decided as I go along for the year, I would make my own notebooks so that I can model it for the students.  So, I bought Back to School Sale notebooks for super cheap.  I have one for Geometry and one for Algebra 2.  I like the college rule and will probably be telling my students to buy them as well.  Just seem cleaner.

I then copied the reference sheet that I needed.  I made them half sheets, except my example is a full sheet.  I will have the students cut off some of the extra trim so that it fits nicely, but leave the left side trim alone.  Have them tape the reference sheet to the back cover.  Have it close to the edge of the cover.  

Next thing the students will do is fold it in.  Have them double check that the holes of the notebook are not covered.  I am hoping that with them being half sheets I will not have to worry about this.  This will be the storage position for the reference sheet.

Success!!  They can now fold out the reference sheet whenever needed.  In theory, they should be able to see the reference sheet no matter what page they are on in the notebook.  I am also hoping they will get so use to seeing all the formulas they will not need to use it on the EOC at all.

Here is to a successful interactive notebook!!

Pop Tab Project

Pop Tab Project: Mission 100,000!

By now, I am sure that everyone has seen all the new AT&T commercials with all the little kids.  Well, this commercial inspired me to do my latest and greatest project.

I am excited to introduce the pop tab project.  I have 2 Honors Algebra 2 classes and 2 Honors Geometry classes that will be working towards collecting 100,000 pop tabs.  I feel that so many students know that numbers are large, but they have no idea just how big or even what it looks like.  I have to say, I cannot even imagine 100,000 pop tabs!  I am just so stinkin' excited about this!!!

Here is my game plan for this project:

I am introducing it to the students, and even the parents at Back to School Night, using the video above.    I hope this will catch their attention and get them as excited as I am.  At the end of this project, we will donate our tabs to Ronald McDonald House Charities.  So, not only will my students be learning, we will be helping a good cause.  We will be collecting tabs from August until May.  I will post updates as we go.  I plan on taking pictures along the way to show our progress.  I plan on showing how many kids it takes to hold our string of tabs.  

The Display:  I wanted to come up with a good way to display the pop tabs so that the students could visually see them.  I did not want to just keep them in jugs, I feel that lost the visual effect.  So, I am going to use fishing line and hang them around the room.  Every so often I will put a number tab in it so that we can know important number markers along the way.  

What about all the counting!?!?!?!  I am hoping that with 120 students (yes in just 4 classes I will have that many) I can give them a handful and we can knock it out.  

Collecting the tabs: I, and most of my family, have been collecting pop tabs for years.  My sorority in college always donated them.  So, I have quite the collection already started.  I am hoping this will provide some motivation to the students as well.  I would sure like to collect more than 100,000.  I originally said a million but my husband told me to think a little more realistically.  I have also put out messages on Facebook and you would not believe the responses of people who were willing to help.

Future plans: I am hoping that within my classes we can make our mark.  If it is not going as planned, I am thinking of opening it up school wide.  You would think in a school of roughly 1300 kids, we could make our mark.

Wish us luck!!!

A New Adventure!

As school starts in two days, I decided that I would share my work for this year.  I am ready for a new year (this will be my 5th year of teaching), and all the fun and excitement that comes with it.  My goal is to help spread ideas for high school math to many.  I feel that there are just not enough resources out there for upper level teachers.  I am not claiming to be a genius or know everything, but I do have a lot of ideas that I think will help.  I am also hoping that others will be willing to share ideas with me along the way as well.

So, a little bit about me.  Like I said, this is my 5th year teaching.  I teach at Winnetonka High School in the North Kansas City School District.  I have taught mostly Algebra 2, with some Geometry along the way.  This year, I am split between Honors Algebra 2 and Honors Geometry.  One of our big things this year is the Workshop Model.  I am not sure how successful I will be with implementing it at first, but it will be a learning curve.  I am also going to work on flipping my classroom.  We are a 1-to-1 school so I am going to be using a lot of technology along the way.  And, as everyone is doing these days, we are switching to Common Core State Standards.  Oh what a fun year this will be!!

I hope that you will enjoy my blog and get lots of ideas that you can use!