Week at a Glance: October 1, 2012

This week in math, we will continue with Unit 2a: Introduction to Exponents. The focus of this mini-unit is for students to to learn about the form and function of exponents, be able to solve problems with exponents and learn the properties of exponents. They need to know what exponents are and how they are used. It is important that students understand the following terms in order to be successful with exponents:

• exponent
• base
• power
• exponential form
• expanded form
• simplify
• evaluate

We will begin the week by reviewing exponents and practicing evaluating expressions with exponents (applying the order of operations). Thereafter, we will move on to an exploration of the properties of exponents:

Product of Powers

Quotient of Powers

Power of Powers

Zero Exponent

Negative Exponents

Students will have a quiz over exponent basics and problem solving with exponents on Tuesday.

Week At A Glance: September 10, 2012

This week in math, we will continue with Unit 1B, the study of angle relationships. The students are becoming well-versed with the angle relationships. It is imperative that they also understand that the following angles are congruent when a transversal cuts through a set of parallel lines:

corresponding
alternate interior
alternate exterior

We will explore these angle relationships in further detail this week so students can understand that these angle relationships are only congruent when the lines that are intersected by the transversal are parallel. They will use this knowledge to prove whether lines are parallel.

We will also use angle relationships to solve problems. Specifically, students will write and solve algebraic equations to find the value of a missing angle measurement. Again, they will need to know the angle relationship to determine how to setup their equations.

To ensure that your child is prepared as move through unit, encourage them to continue to study the unit terms. They should use their flash cards to review the terms nightly. On Friday, we will have a quiz on which students will need to identify angle relationships and use them to solve problems.

Week at A Glance: September 3, 2012

This week in math, we will begin the week with a pre-test on algebraic equations. The data from this pre-test will be used to determine the extent to which students have mastered solving one-step, two-step and multi-step algebraic equations and plan instruction accordingly.

We will move on to our second mini unit, Unit 1b: Angle Relationships. In this unit, students will study similar triangles and the following angle relationships:

complementary angles
supplementary angles
adjacent angles
vertical angles
alternate interior angles
alternate exterior angles
corresponding angles
consecutive interior angles

Students will use facts about these angle relationships to solve algebraic equations and other types of problems. Vocabulary is extremely important in this mini unit. Students will need to be able to define and identify all of the angle relationships listed above as well as be familiar with the following:

parallel lines
perpendicular lines
intersecting lines
triangle angle-sum theorem
angle-angle criterion