BATES' BITS
January 7, 2013
I hope everyone had a great holiday break. I am excited to be getting our third nine weeks under way and have a lot in store for us to tackle.
First off I am implementing two new ways to share information with students and parents.
1. Weekly newsletter - In this newsletter you will find information on the material we will be covering for the week, as well as upcoming test dates and information on projects. Please note that these dates are not set in stone and could change but are a good general guideline to follow.
2. Class blog - Our class blog will contain many valuable resources. Students will find video tutorials, additional examples, math games and websites that will be beneficial in aiding with daily lessons and homework assignments. It is not guaranteed and I don't wont students to depend on this, but I will also TRY and post our daily homework assignments and problems on the blog. The blog web address is http://www.batesmathbits.blogspot.com.
Another instructional tool we will be using this year is a website called Edmodo. I have spoken with many other math teachers throughout the county who utilize this website in their classroom and they all love it. Students will be able to take quizzes, polls and have conversations with not only me but also other students. Edmodo has a Facebook appearance, a free downloadable app for cell phones and is very easy to use. The privacy settings are also very tight. Each one of my class periods will have a different code to log on to the website. For example students in my first period class will only have the ability to access information and have communication with other students in my first period class, second period only with other second period and so on. I am very excited about getting this resource started and think the students are going to really be enthusiastic about it as well. The link is http://www.edmodo.com which will also be listed on the class blog as well.
Although ARMT testing is not until May, it will be here before we know it. We need to start preparing for the test now. I am asking each student to bring in a single subject spiral notebook for taking review notes. I am confident this notebook is going to be beneficial when we get closer to test time and we really have to focus. I need for each student to have their notebooks by next Monday, 1/14/2013.
I know this has been a lot of information to absorb but I am really looking forward to all that we are going to accomplish in our final two quarters. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. I hope everyone has a great week and let's not forget Roll Tide!!!
WEEK AT A GLANCE
Periods 1st, 3rd & 5th
Monday 1/7/13 - Review the 9 weeks test. Finish class mathematician projects.
Tuesday 1/8/13 - Expression pretest. Computer lab to set up Edmodo. Homework assignment.
Wednesday 1/9/13 - Identifying like terms notes. Homework assignment.
Thursday 1/10/13 - Combining like terms notes/graphic organizers. Homework assignment.
Friday 1/11/13 - Group practice on combining like terms. Quiz on identifying and combining like terms on Edmodo. Introduce blog.
Periods 2nd & 4th
Monday 1/7/13 - Review the 9 weeks test. Finish class mathematician projects.
Tuesday 1/8/13 - Pretest on solving one-step equations. Computer lab to set up Edmodo. Homework assignment.
Wednesday 1/9/13 - Start notes/graphic organizers on solving one step equations. Homework assignment.
Thursday 1/10/13 - Practice with a partner one step equations. Homework assignment.
Friday 1/11/13 - Quiz on one step equations on Edmodo. Introduce blog.
REMINDERS
One subject spiral ring notebook - 1/14/2013
Blog website - www.batesmathbits.blogspot.com
Edmodo website - http://www.edmodo.com
My email address - kbates@tcss.net