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Enrichment Menu

The Enrichment Menu is available to all students to complete on their own time outside of class. 6+ students who complete midway mastery c...

Monday, 7 November 2016

Math 6: LBR Summative Blog Post Instructions

Answer the following questions in a blog post: 

Solve the equation: ¾ ÷ ⅛ = 

Explain how to ‘read’ this problem. What does it mean? 

Solve this equation using an algorithm. Include a demonstration which explains how it is done. 

Draw a model to solve this equation and take a photo(s). Include this photo in your post. Clearly explain your model and its solution. 

Title: Fraction Division Labels: gr6, math

Note: You MUST include a demonstration (steps) and a model in order to meet expectations on this blog post.

DUE FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11

This will be marked according to the Mathematical Explanations Rubric.

(Originally assigned on Monday, November 7. Slides here.)




Thursday, 3 November 2016

Missing Homework Email

MISSING HOMEWORK EMAIL 

Email to your parents and CC your teacher

SUBJECT LINE: Missing Math Homework

Dear Mom/Dad,

I am writing to let you know that I did not complete my math homework that was due today. The assignment was <write the exact name of the assignment>

It is missing because <explain why it's missing>

I promise to complete the assignment and submit it by next class. I will make sure this doesn’t happen again by <explain how you'll make sure it doesn't happen again>

Thank you/love you/hugs and kisses/etc,
<Your name>

Wednesday, 2 November 2016

Enrichment Menu

The Enrichment Menu is available to all students to complete on their own time outside of class.

6+ students who complete midway mastery checks (MMCs) with 100% may work on the enrichment menu during class with teacher approval.


Tuesday, 27 September 2016

MONSTER Primes!

Our first unit will cover factors and multiples. A special type of number is called a prime number. You'll remember that prime numbers only have two factors: itself and one.

It's easy to rattle off the first few prime numbers - 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13...

But how about when numbers become larger? 4,729 and 7,919 are both prime numbers.

179,424,691 is also a prime number.

So is 797,003,437!

How do you think these huge prime numbers are discovered?

Adam Spencer is an Australian radio host. He isn't a professional mathematician; rather, he is simply fascinated by math like many of you!

 One of his mathematical interests is prime numbers. In his TED Talk, Adam describes how "monster" prime numbers are discovered by mathematicians all over the world.


Why do you think "hunting" for "monster" primes is so fascinating? 
Would you be interested in helping hunt for monster primes?

Monday, 26 September 2016

Re-Assessment Policy

Submission of Late Work & Re-Assessments

It is expected that students complete all assignments on time. If an assignment is late, the student is expected to turn it in as soon as possible. Repeated lateness may result in an action plan involving the student, parents, and administration to ensure the student is able to complete assignments on time moving forward.
Students who are absent for a summative assessment are expected to communicate with the teacher to schedule a make-up assessment. Due to the length of time needed to complete a summative assessment, this will likely take place after school.
Summative re-assessments are available under the following conditions:
For students at Meeting Expectations and wishing to earn Exemplary, students must:
  • Have the retake form with test signed by a parent prior to scheduling the reassessment
  • Complete all HW prior to the initial assessment
  • Demonstrate strong learning behaviors throughout the unit
  • Show evidence of additional practice
  • Correct the initial assessment
  • Show evidence of exemplary performance during the unit (ie on formative assessments)
For students at Below or Approaching Expectations, students must:
  • Complete all HW prior to the reassessment
  • Show evidence of additional practice
  • Correct the initial assessment
  • Have the retake form with test signed by a parent prior to scheduling the reassessment


The re-assessment grade will replace the original grade, even if the grade is lower.  Typically, projects will not be re-assessed. As opportunities for re-assessment are provided, “extra credit” tasks are not available.

Sunday, 18 September 2016

Locker Problem Explanation Reminders

Here are some friendly reminders for your locker problem explanation.

You must explain HOW you solved the problem. This includes telling me, in logical order, what you did to solve the problem

After that you must explain, using appropriate math vocabulary, WHY your answer works. 

You must have a visual that helps explain your answer.

Remember to refer to the rubric as you complete your response.
1: Below Expectation
2: Approaching Expectation
3: Meeting Expectation
4: Exemplary
  • Solution is not presented
  • Student uses a representation that is not appropriate to the problem
  • No steps used in solving are described
  • Math reasoning and concepts are not explained
  • Math vocabulary is not used
  • A solution is presented
  • Student uses a representation (picture, table, diagram, and/or algorithms) to organize thinking
  • Steps used in solving are described
  • Some math reasoning and concepts are explained
  • Some math vocabulary is used appropriately in explanation
All of the following are present:
  • Correct solution is presented or incorrect solution is presented as the result of a minor computational error
  • Student uses an appropriate representation (picture, table, diagram, and/or algorithms) to organize thinking
  • All steps used in solving are clearly described in logical order
  • All math reasoning and concepts are clearly explained
  • Precise math vocabulary is used appropriately in explanation
All of the following are present:
  • Correct solution is presented
  • Student uses an appropriate representation (picture, table, diagram, and/or algorithms) to organize thinking
  • All steps used in solving are clearly described in logical order
  • All math reasoning and concepts are clearly explained
  • Precise math vocabulary is used appropriately in explanation
  • Students make a connection or interesting observation about the problem
  • Student presents another way of solving the problem and/or presents thoughtful critique of another way


The format below can help you get started with your writing if you become stuck.

1. Summarize the problem: What is the problem about & what did it ask you to do?
a. This problem involves…
b. This problem is about...

2. Solution: What did you do and why did you do it?  What is your final answer?
a. First I…because…
b. Then I… because…
c. I realized… because…
d. My final answer is...

3. Is there another way to solve the problem?

4. Share any connections or questions you have


All of this information can always be found on the Mathematical Explanations tab of my website!

Tuesday, 23 August 2016

Friday, 1 April 2016

In honor of April Fools...

In honor of April Fools' Day, check out this cool video on how to make your writing funnier!


Tuesday, 29 March 2016

Millionaire Blog Post Example

Check out this great example from Kobe D. which he did for his Millionaire Project blog post. GREAT JOB, KOBE!!


HARDINGE, McCOMB, MUNDEN & CO
"Our company is full of math teachers, so we'll never miscalculate your investments!"

Music by Alumomusic

How do you calculate interest?
Well, let's say that a bank is having 5% interest per year. The more money you give to your bank, the more interest you get. For example, if you deposit $1,000 in the bank for a year, the next year you would have $1,050 in your bank account. It's important to know that the next year, the interest is 5% of 1,050 - not 1,00 anymore. Under this paragraph, it shows a rate table where I calculated 5% of 1,000. 



Another reason you should invest in Hardinge, McComb, Munden & Co!
Normally, when people "save" money, they usually put it in piggy banks or hide money in a box under their bed. But not only Hardinge, McComb, Munden & Co are trustworthy, they also give out 10% interest - which means you gain more money every year your $1,000 is in our keepings. And, not only you can donate more money to our company, your interest can grow even BIGGER if the size of your money gets larger!
Isn't that much better than sticking cash under your bed, waiting for it to get dusty and perhaps even mold?

Umm, what else are the benefits of having only $100 or $50 per year?
You must be thinking that you only gain 5% of your original balance each year. Well, you're WRONG! If you do not withdraw your money, you get even MORE each year! Why is that, you say? Well, let's say you get $1,050 from that year you got interest. You don't get 5% of $1,000 again, you get 5% of $1,050! You get 5% of the money you gained last year! That means, if it goes on and on, in no time, you'll have a LOT more than $100 going into your bank every year!

Still doesn't make any sense? This line graph shows why you should invest with Hardinge, McComb, Munden & Co instead of leaving perfect money under your bed!

RED shows the money you get if you deposit $1,000 into our company with 5% interest, without withdrawal for 45 years.
GREEN shows how much progress you've made with the money under your bed without withdrawal for 45 years.

Round Triangles..

Check out this cool video sent to me from Andrew C.!


Monday, 22 February 2016

The world's BIGGEST prime number

A while back we studied prime numbers. Well, many mathematicians spend tons of time "hunting" for HUGE primes. Here is a video that tells us about how they found the largest (known) prime number..

The science behind the myth!!

Many of you have been reading myths in RLA. Check out this cool TedEd video that talks about the science behind the famous myth, "The Odyssey" by Homer.

How Math Guides Ships at Sea

Check out this cool TedEd video about a real life application of math in the old days...


1. According to the video, why was math so important? 
2. Why do you think you learn math at school? 
3. Do you know what logarithms are? How was logarithms used? 


Check out the Decimals Song


Wednesday, 3 February 2016

Folding paper can get you to the moon??

Check out this awesome TedTalk video about how folder paper can get you to the moon...




1. How many times can you fold a paper? Try until the paper gets too small to be folded any further

2. Define exponential growth. How does it work?

3. How many times do I have to fold a piece of newspaper to get 0.008 inches if the original height of my newspaper is 0.002 inches high?


Credit to my fantastic high school student assistant, Matt Chan, for finding the video and writing the questions!

Thursday, 14 January 2016

Fraction Help Videos

Math 6 has been studying the concept behind fraction operations. Here are some videos to supplement your learning in case you need extra help:

BROWNIE PANS FOR MULTIPLYING FRACTIONS

SUBTRACTING MIXED NUMBERS WITH BORROWING - THIS IS TOUGH! This video is particularly great because it shows how to set up these problems vertically.