December 23, 2014

Happy Holidays!

Students finished up their Hershey Chocolate Kisses Lab and letter.

Happy Holidays to you and your family.

December 22, 2014

Chocolate Kisses - Day 2

Some students were working on their Test 4 Retakes and others continued the work with their chocolate Kisses Lab. (Modifications/adjustments will be made for individual students who needed the time for retakes.)

LINK: How to use a protractor for Circle Graph


After students are finished with calculations and constructing their own circle graph, students need to write a letter explaining their results. A copy of the checklist requirements is attached. Graphs and letters are due by the end of class time on Tuesday.

                                              HERSHEY CHOCOLATE KISSES LAB CHECKLIST
Please use the list below as a guide to be sure you have all required parts of the assignment. Put an “X” in the 
appropriatebox for each requirement AFTER you have assured that the component is COMPLETE.

GRAPH REQUIREMENTS
YES
NO
Has title


Each pie piece is labeled and has percentage


There are three and only three parts


Graph is neat and colorfully presentable


Spelling is correct


                                                                                                                                                                                                        
                                                                 LETTER COMPONENTS
LETTER FORMAT
YES
NO
Has the return address – top left


Has date – top left under return address


Has the inside address – top left under date


Has proper greeting under inside address


Has 3 body paragraphs


Has closing, space for signature, and printed name



INTRODUCTION PARAGRAPH
YES
NO
Answers the implied question


Explains the importance to respond to consumer complaints


Explains how data was collected


Explains how results compared to prediction


Proofread for GUMS and sense-making (read aloud?)



BODY PARAGRAPH
YES
NO
Topic sentence relays the importance for companies to maintain consistent product


You have 2 – 3 specific pieces of quantitative data


Includes at least one percents and an example of decrease/increase change


Explains test result consistent or inconsistent to consumer complaints and next steps for Hershey


Proofread for GUMS and sense-making (read aloud?)



CLOSING PARAGRAPH
YES
NO
Explains test result consistent or inconsistent to consumer complaints and next steps for Hershey


Proofread for GUMS and sense-making (read aloud?)




December 18, 2014

Chocolate Kisses Math Lab

After all students were given the chance to finish Test 4, I introduced the Chocolate Kisses Math Lab. I have posted the "letter" from Hershey that requests our team to conduct a bit of data collection. It is a bit "hokey", but fun for this time of year. It allows students to use data collection to find percentages and use the percents to hand construct a circle graph. Why, you may ask, am I required students to hand make a graph when we can use technology to create the graph? I want students to understand that the "fraction" (percent converted to decimal) is used to determine the degree representation on the circle.

Letter setting up the problem.

Lab collection sheet.

December 17, 2014

Test 4 & Update

After all students were given the chance to finish Test 4, students worked on IXL, Level I, J.6 (ratio and proportions). However, some students were required to use their time with completing some missing assignments.

December 16, 2014

Test 4

Test 4 was given to students today. MTN's were collected after completion of the test. MTN's will be returned to students on Wednesday and all tests will be returned to students on Thursday.  That is to allow students who wish more time to complete and proof their test the time they deserve. At that time we will review the test with students and help prepare the students who will be taking the retake on Monday, 12/22. Tomorrow will include an introduction to a Math Lab, "Hershey Kisses," to apply their knowledge of percents and how to use percents in constructing a circle graph.

PLEASE NOTE:
Only students who have finished the U.S. History of Populations assignment will take part in the Math Lab. At this writing, only 54.3% of the students have turned in the assignment. Please get your assignment in to me first thing tomorrow morning.

December 15, 2014

Test 4 Review

REMINDER: Test 4 will take place on Tuesday, 12/16/14!!!!!

Students will again be allowed to use MTN to complete the test. Student's may not use the paper titled, "Practice Items prior to Test 4". Students may however, use the paper to fill in missing parts of their notes or extend their notes into their MTN. This is a good way to help review and study for a test. This is a copy of the review conducted in class today in order to prepare for tomorrow's test:

PRACTICE ITEMS prior to Test 4

Review:
7 x  -8 = _____                                     -2 x -2 = _____                                     -1 + 4 = _____                                     -6 – (-1) = _____

Give me a number that is between 0 and 1 (percent, decimal, or fraction): ________________

Working with Percents:
A dress that retails for $160 is on sale for 60% off. What is the sale price of the dress?

A dress that retails for $80 is on sale for 30% off. What is your savings?

An executive, whose salary is $400,000 per year receives an increase of $25,000 per year. What is the percent of increase?

The temperature is 32⁰F at 6:00am. The temperature drops to 2⁰F by 6:00 pm.  What is the percent of decrease?

During her first six months, Susie gained 25% more than her birth weight. If she gained 2 ½ pounds during this period, how much did she weigh at birth?

Mrs. Kenny and her husband go to a nice restaurant and spend $145 on food. What is the total bill with an 18% tip?



 MTN's will be collected after the test is complete. Here is a photo of a student's TOC. The focus is from 11/24/14 to 12/10/14. 
FOCUS: 11/24/14 to 12/10/14

December 11, 2014

History of US Population - Day 2

REMINDER: Test 4 will take place on Tuesday, 12/16/14!!!!!

After reviewing the chart in MTN, "History of US Population," partner groups began answering the six questions. A copy of the worksheet is below.
DO NOT DO #6. Answer the REVISED #6 that is below.
6.  Using the most recent federal census data (Link from blog), fill in the table below for populations of Massachusetts, New York, and Pennsylvania. Then predict the populations for the three states for 2020.
States/Census
2000
2010
2013, estimate
2020, prediction
Massachusetts






New York






Pennsylvania








Students will also need to use the two links below for questions 5 and 6:

QUESTION #5                                                                           QUESTION #6

This worksheet with graphs is due tomorrow morning -- Friday, 12/12/14

December 10, 2014

History of U.S. Population - Day 1

In order to practice reading graphs and apply students' new skill of working with percent changes, students will be working in partner groups to answer questions (question sheet will be given tomorrow). Using the graphs and given the total US population numbers from 1800 to 1950, needed to solve the the populations for NY, MA, and PA for 1800 to 1950 (make sure these numbers are in your MTN before tomorrow's class:
                                             Population of the U.S. (nearest million)

                               1800                       1850                           1900                              1950
US:                          4,000,000            23,000,000               76,000,000                     170,000,000
New York:                  400,000              2,300,000               12,160,000                       15,300,000
Massachusetts:          400,000                 690,000                 3,800,000                         3,400,000
Pennsylvania:             440,000               2,070,000                 7,600,000                        10,200,000



MAKE SURE TO BRING THIS TO CLASS TOMORROW!

December 9, 2014

Guided Practice: Percent Increase/Decrease

Due to the weather and the early release, all classes were a bit shorter. This worksheet (located in MTN) is what students and their partners worked on in class -- practicing with percent increases and decreases.

GUIDED PRACTICE
1. There are 16 students registered in math class a week before the semester begins. One week later there are 20 students registered for the class. What is the percent of increase?



2. On the first day of the semester, 20 students are attending in a class. At the end of the semester, there are only 16 students in the class.  What is the percent of decrease?



3. A man working for Company A is earning $8 per hour. If he gets a raise of a dollar per hour, find the percent of increase.



4. A man working for Company B is earning $12 per hour. If he gets a raise of a dollar per hour, find the percent of increase.






December 8, 2014

Working with Percent Increase/Decrease

First, a homework check was conduct (assignment from Thursday) and then reviewed the showing of work on the last five examples from "Match It and Prove It". SADLY, Only 8 out of 51 students have both parts of the assignment finished. We had a huge team meeting about this poor response since the lack of completed and returned homework is a systemic problem in every class. In math, both assignments will be checked again tomorrow.

I announced that Test 4 will take place on Tuesday, December 16 and the Retake will be on Thursday, December 18.  My hope is to also conduct at least one (hopefully two) math labs between now and before our departure for the Holiday Break.

Our time for the week will be spent on "Working with Percent Increases and Decreases".  Written and pictorial notes are in student MTN's. This is a picture of the skeleton which we began in class today.
"N" refers to the "New number; "O" refers to the "Original number.

December 4, 2014

Do you have these notes? PERCENTS



THESE NOTES MUST BE IN YOUR MTN.
Review Notes for working out a percent of a number and the percentage between two numbers.
In class we reviewed the answers to the game record sheet (and homework). Make sure you have these answers along with showing your work on the attached sheets.  Finish the last five examples (K - O). You must show your work (labeled) and have the correct answer on the record sheet. IF your answer is different then mine, go back and check your work!

Match It and Prove It                                      KEY
Use this form to keep track of the questions/prompts answered with the correct answer.
A. A tip of 15% for a bill of $45.        

$6.75
B. A 6% tax on a video game that costs $19.99.

$1.20
C. The cost of a $15 book after a 7% sales tax.

$16.05
D. A 20% tip for a meal that cost $32.

$6.40
E. School supplies cost $72. A tax of 5% is added to the subtotal. What is the total bill?

$75.60
F. Jackson pays $156 for his sports equipment. The tax is 5%. What is the final cost?

$163.80
G. Isabelle gave a $4.50 tip for a meal that cost $30.00. What percent tip did she give?

15%
H. The sales tax is 4.5%. If you buy a bicycle that costs $150, how much will you pay?

$156.75
I. The sales tax in one state is 4.5%. How much tax will you pay on a skate board that costs $78?

$3.51
J. Mrs. Gates left a $16 tip for a meal that cost $80. What percent tip did she leave?

20%
K. If you paid $50, including tip, for a meal that cost $42, what percent tip did you leave?

19%
L. Josie bought a friend a birthday present that cost $38 plus 5% tax. How much money did she spend?

$39.90
M. Matthew paid $84 on a bill that came to $63. What percent tip did he leave?

33⅓%
N. Julia’s mom sells real estate. She sold a house for $189,000 and received a 3% commission. How much money did she earn in commission?
$5,670.00
O. Noah has a paper route and receives a 2% commission on the papers he sells. If he sells $145 worth of papers, what will his commission be?

$2.90



December 3, 2014

Match It and Prove It -- Part 2

Here are some photos of students engaged with their partners in the game. Students were solving problems that involved with various forms of finding the percent of a number. Check out your child's MTN for the work involved.