Week of February 3rd

Hi everyone,

I hope you had a great weekend! 

As I told the students, 3rd nine weeks is the toughest of all. The curriculum has picked up, and we are all tired :) It is crucial that they earn every possible point, and many are missing the easier points such as spirals. 

I am now requiring that parents sign spirals of 4 or less. If your child has a spiral with a blue pencil/parent signature stamp, he or she must return that signed spiral the next day. Students have spirals for one week, and I encourage parents, older siblings, tutors, etc. to check them. Students may also ask me for help if they are stuck. 

Spirals can be grade "boosters" or grade "busters," I hope that students will put forth their best effort in working these problems and in getting these checked. 

6th grade: Integers!!!! Once again, I can't stress how important it is for students to memorize these rules. We went to the media center/computer lab today for them to navigate my website and textbook/help links, they should be proficient in finding practice problems and exercises. Test this Thursday on integers- all operations. Pop quiz at any point on integer rules.

7th grade: Parents, please check over spirals or have someone else look them over. These last few spiral grades have been very low. :( 

No quizzes or tests this week. We are continuing in Chapter 5- rational numbers, sections 5 - 8. We will then move on to Chapter 6 to cover multi-step equations and inequalities before moving on to Chapter 7- Rates, Ratios and Percent.

Have a great week and a wonderful Mardi Gras holiday!

Mrs. Serpas 

correction to one review problem

Answer to # 47 is 1/3w^8

(one over 3w, with w raised to the 8th power)

Answers to 7th grade Review!

Reminder- optional review for test !
TB pg. 212 # 18 - 38 even, # 41-48 all

6th grade quiz info

6th grade has a quiz this Wednesday, January 30th, on the information listed below. There will be a small amount of subtraction problems- most will come from the first two sections.

I. Comparing and Ordering Integers pg. 251

       A. Write integers to represent situations (ex. Loss of 7 yards, etc.)

          B. Write the opposite of a number

          C. Comparing Integers using a number line using < or >

          D. Ordering Integers from least to greatest

         

II. Adding Integers pg. 258

A.    Find the absolute value of a number.

B.     Compare integers using absolute value.

C.     Add integers with same signs

D.    Add integers with different signs

E.     Add two or more integers

III. Subtracting Integers pg. 266   ***Just a few of these!!!!!

A.    Subtract integers.

B.     ***Students MUST rewrite all subtraction problems as addition problems Ex. 9 – 15 rewritten as 9 + (-15).

STUDENTS MUST MEMORIZE AND APPLY THE INTEGER RULES!!!

Week of January 27th

Hi everyone,

I hope you're enjoying this gorgeous spring-like weather! What a great weekend.

Both 6th and 7th grade received tests back Friday. Signed tests and test corrections are due by Tuesday, January 29th. 
Reminder, all tests must be signed, regardless of grade.

Students in all classes made a lot of computation mistakes with basic facts- I am planning to use speed drills on these skills until their scores go up.

If you would ever like me to send home extra practice review sheets, please let me know, I am happy to do so.

I will be out of town Friday, February 1st, Denise Heroman will be subbing for me.

6th grade: We started a new unit last week on Integers- this is the most important concept we will cover in 6th grade. It is imperative that students memorize and apply the integer rules. This is a skill that they will need to master for all future math classes (no pressure!).  :) 

While I will schedule a quiz towards the end of this week, students need to be prepared for pop quizzes (5 - 10 points) at any point during these lessons. This is something that needs to be practiced nightly.  A great site for extra practice- www.themathworksheetsite.com, or any other sites linked on my home page, search integers. 

Spiral 3 due Tuesday 1/29, quiz TBA

7th grade: Spiral 3 due Tuesday 1/29. Chapter 4 Test, all sections except 8, on Wed. 1/30. This is a 100 point test!!! Review sheets went home last week. Please work problems to prepare for the test. 

Have a great week!

Mrs. Serpas

Week of January 22nd

Hi everyone,

I hope you enjoyed this beautiful three-day weekend!

Reminder- both 6th and 7th grade classes have spirals due tomorrow (Tues. 1/22) at the beginning of class. Tomorrow will feel like a Monday, but it is Tuesday and your spirals are due :) 

6th grade: We will finish up with Chapter 5 and begin Chapter 6 - Integers- this week. No quizzes or tests. It is so important that you master the integer rules and facts, these will apply in every math class you take from here on out...well beyond middle and high school :) Stay tuned for more information on this.

7th grade: No quizzes or tests this week. We will be focused on the last few sections of Chapter 4- ordering and comparing fractions, negative and zero exponents, and Rules of Exponents. Quiz on this at the beginning of the next week.

Have a wonderful week!

Mrs. Serpas 

Week of 1/14

Hi everyone,

6th grade: Test Wednesday, spiral 2 due Tuesday 1/22- this is the day we return from MLK Jr. holiday!

7th grade: Test Thursday, Spiral 2 due Tuesday 1/22- this is the day we return from MLK Jr. holiday!

7th grade Spiral Correction!!!!
My eye skipped to another question when I was typing....
make sure you change #6  to read:
"4 less than the quotient of a number and 16 is -3"

Sorry for the mistake!

Have a great week, and keep your fingers crossed that we see the sun soon.

Mrs. Serpas