Math Curriculum Update- February 25th, 2017

Greetings!

Before the winter break, students finished our unit on decimal operations.  The major units we have covered so far this year are as follows;

1. Patterns and Rules
• Discovering patterns in tables and expressing those patterns using rules.  Solving for missing values in those tables using the discovered rule.
• Discovering patterns in geometric series (When given a series of shapes, discovering the pattern and next set of shapes in that series)
2. Equations, Inequalities, and Expressions
• Solve for missing values in equations.
• Write equations to describe real-world situations.
• Write inequalities to describe real-world situations and graph those inequalities on number lines.
3. Understanding Fractions and Decimals
• Be able to convert between fractions and decimals.
• Order fraction and decimal numbers from least to greatest or from greatest to least.
• Find the prime factorization of numbers.
• Find the LCM or GCF of sets of numbers.  Use GCF or LCM to solve real-world situations.
4. Fraction Operations
• Add, subtract, multiply, and divide with fraction numbers.  Use these skills to solve real-world situations.
5. Decimal Operations
• Add, subtract, multiply, and divide with decimal numbers.  Use these skills to solve real-world situations.

When we return from the break, we will begin our major unit on percents and ratios.  By the end of the unit students should be able to do the following:

• Convert between fractions, decimals, and percents.
• Use percents to help solve real-world situations.  For example, finding the total amount paid for items with taxes included or a coupon applied (percentage off) to the purchase.
• Use ratios to help find the percent of a situation.
• Use division to help find the percent of a situation.

The videos below review many of the major skills will be expected to know by the end of the unit.  

What is a percent?

Finding a percent of a number.

What percent is it?

Percents missing numbers.

Percents and equivalent fractions.

Current English Objectives

Current Unit:   Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry Essential Question(s): •      What is prejudice? •      How does literature help us to discover the continuing struggles throughout history?                                                        Unit Objectives for Reading, Speaking, and Listening: Students will be able to... ·   build background knowledge around some of the key topics surrounding the setting of this novel in order to help better understand the events in the story that  include  Reconstruction, the Great Depression, Jim Crow laws, segregation, and prejudice. ·   understand key conflicts that greatly impact the elements of plot and  discuss and create a plot mountain as a whole group while following the main events and elements of the story (Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Conflict, Falling Action, Resolution). ·   understand the key focus vocabulary words from the novel and use the words in a variety of ways. ·   delve deeper into the comprehension of the novel by writing journal entries through various characters perspectives Unit Objectives for Written Language: Students will be able to...

·   write journal entries taking the perspectives of different characters throughout the novel

·   develop a "case file" of evidence pertaining to a particular character to present in a culminating activity (class trial)

February Newsletter

Team Taylor News

February is speeding by! We have been able to avoid a lot of snow thus far! Spring will be a welcome season!  Students are working hard in all areas of the curriculum.

One of the biggest keys to success in middle school is making sure to come to class prepared. We ask for your support at home to help remind your child to replenish materials as needed. Many students are consistently coming to class without pencils and having to take them from the class supply. We encourage students to go through their binders each weekend and replenish any supplies they might need for the upcoming week, including pencils, lined paper, page protectors, etc.

As a part of our Admirable Attributes program, Team Taylor recognizes one boy and one girl each month who exemplify attributes of the authors we read in 6th grade.  The Admirable Attribute for the month of February is Creative.  We want to encourage all of our students to be creative in their work, thinking, and play.

Please know that we are all here to help all students be as successful as possible in their years at Annie Sullivan Middle School. We look forward to working with you and encourage you to contact us should you ever have a question or concern.

Warm regards,

The Teachers of Team Taylor