Week of August 29 - September 2

This week is a big one!  You will get your Agile Mind login so you can review the slides from home.  Remember that you will get 5 extra points on your lifework for logging in daily.

1.  First, go to http://riogrande.agilemind.com
2.  Your username is your id number without the zeroes in the front.
3.  Your password is the same as your username.

It is important to know that the computer will only log your active minutes.  Be sure to be actively reading and participating in the animations in order to get your extra points.

Weekly schedule:
Algebra 1:
Monday: Review constructing graphs - we will go to the computer lab
Tuesday: Quiz on unit - we will fill out the interactive notebook as well
Wednesday: Introduction to functions
Thursday: Function Notation
Friday: More Functions

Honors Math 8:
Monday: Translations
Tuesday: Representing Translations algebraically
Wednesday: Rotations
Thursday: Representing Rotations algebraically
Friday: Similiarity

Make sure that you are completing your lifework daily so we can meet our goals.  Be responsible and get ready to SOAR at Ac2E this year!

Welcome to the 2016-2017 School Year!

Welcome back Falcons!  I look forward to meeting each and every one of you Monday, August 22, 2016.  My name is Mrs. C. Chapa and I will be your 8th Grade Honors Mathematics/Algebra 1 teacher this school year.  I have a Bachelors of Science in mathematics, 12 years experience teaching middle school and high school mathematics, and I have even been a presenter at the Mathematics Association of America Suncoast Conference.  I am passionate about mathematics and I look forward to helping you reach your personal math goals.

This week's schedule is as follows:

Monday: Welcome/Syllabus/Procedures
Tuesday: Diagnostic/Goal Setting
Wednesday: Folders/Begin lesson
                    Algebra 1: Constructing Graphs
                    Honors Math: Transformational Geometry
Thursday:    Algebra 1: Displaying and Interpreting Data
                    Honors Math: Reflections

Friday:        Algebra 1: Set up notebook/Domain and Range
                    Honors Math: Set up notebook/Reflections

Once again, welcome back!  

Week of May 5 - May 9

Happy Teacher Appreciation week!  I am very grateful for the teachers that I have had in my life and for the wonderful teachers that I work with here at the Academy for Academic Enhancement Gifted and Talented Middle School.  Be sure to thank your teachers this week for the hard work that they do and for the care that they have for each student.

This week, in Honors Math, we will begin the gargantuan task of writing our own math reference guide based on topics that we learned this year.  You will be able to select a partner from your homeroom to work with and you will choose your topic.  We will begin this week by formulating definitions using Frayer Models and will end with developing 3 examples with explanations.  You will be graded on your partner work using a rubric that you will receive Wednesday.

Also, in Pre-Algebra, we will learn more about slope.  In 7th grade, we learned about the rate of change and this week we will develop that concept further as the slope of a line.  We will classify slopes as positive, negative, zero slope, and undefined slope.  We will also determine the slope of the line from a graph.  If time permits, we will also determine the slope of a line from simply 2 points on the line.  If you would like to know more about slope, you can watch Slope Dude: 

Ac2E - IT Seminars

This week, students had the opportunity to attend 2 seminars during our Ac2E Interdisciplinary Thinking Seminars.  In my seminar, students learned more in-depth about the connections between mathematics and art.  Students learned more about how ratio and proportion affects art and enlargements.  Also, students learned about a branch of non-Euclidean geometry, topology and created hexaflexagons.

If you would like to learn more about math and art, you may visit the Virtual Math Museum.

STAAR Ready

This week, we have been preparing for the Mathematics STAAR.  The state exam will be next Tuesday, April 22.  The test will have 54 questions, plus 10 field items.

How can I prepare for the STAAR?

• Study old benchmarks and 6 weeks exams.  Make sure that you can do all questions.
• Ask your teacher for extra help if you are still stuck on a topic.
• Think positively!  Have an optimistic outlook about the test and a "can-do" attitude.
• Get a good night's rest Sunday and Monday night.
• Eat a good dinner and breakfast before the STAAR.

After the STAAR, we will start working on our e-book.  You will work with a partner in your class and you will be responsible for a variety of information on your pages.  I can't wait to see your finished contributions!

Week of April 7 - April 11

STAAR blitz time is here!  We will be reviewing objectives that will be on the STAAR on Tuesday, April 22.  We will especially focus on objectives that were weak on the last District benchmark.

How can you prepare for the STAAR?  First, make sure that you are keeping up with the review.  Second, be sure to ask questions and don't leave school without completely understanding the material.  Finally, be sure to review over old benchmarks and make corrections.  If you know how to do every question, then you are well-prepared for the STAAR.

In MATHCOUNTS news, we are taking a break from The Art of Problem Solving curriculum and we are preparing for our fundraiser.  Be sure to study the MATHCOUNTS handbook to prepare for the fundraiser.

Week of March 24-28

This week we will be finishing up exponents in pre-algebra. In honors math, we will be continuing to explore linear relationships.

Last week, we went to Texas A&M Kingsville to tour the college. We had a great time!

Don't forget that this Thursday are the Gifted and Talented meetings for the district. Remind your parents to go at 5:30.