Welcome!

My blog is intended for use primarily by my Transition Math students at NOVA.  However, there are other options here and I encourage you to look around to see what I have available for you.

Daily entries will be made for Transition Math homework.  This will include details about specific assignments, their due dates, and (often) copies of the assignments themselves.  These entries will appear in the archives, by date, on the right side of this blog.  You can see examples by selecting any month.

Buttons at the top of this home page will take you to my other pages.  These pages are pretty self-explanatory, but will also change depending upon the season.  For example, my Mo' Chicks button will soon disappear and Mo'Soccer will arrive prior to the spring, but the Mo'Help and Mo'Vids buttons will remain at all times.  The Mo'Help button in particular will provide extra skill tips for students and parents to refer to at home.  Check them out!

Links at the right of this page are also helpful.  All of us at NOVA link to each other's pages, so you can navigate back and forth easily.  I recommend "joining" the relevant class blogs so that you will receive updates even when you are not necessarily checking each blog daily.  I also have links to Quizlet, Teacherease, and to our previous Algebra teacher who is currently teaching in Hungary! 

Comments and questions can be left after each daily entry, especially if you need a response from me.  These are connected directly to my email and I am generally able to get to back to you that same evening.  

I hope you find this blog helpful; it has been an invaluable tool for my students these past few years.

I look forward to this school year with all of you!
Mo ;-)

End of Summer Days ...

It is almost time to start school again and these last, HOT days of summer are fading.  I'm excited though!  I always look forward to meeting our new families and getting back together with NOVA's faculty and staff. I wanted to share a few things with you as we transition into this new school year:

Blogs:  Both new teachers Mr. Kehoe and Mr. Jeff have started their blogs.  Be sure to check them out by following the links at the right.  Mr. Kehoe's, especially, is filled with information already.  Be sure to check out his climbing page ... he is clearly not afraid of heights!

Schedules:  Fall schedules will be visible on Teacherease by Monday morning, August 29.  Please let me know if you see any errors, but as usual you know that I won't change your schedule just because it doesn't thrill you.  Deal; you'll learn to love it or at least live with it until the winter trimester, eh?

New Student Schedules:  If you are a new student you have basically two choices:  Wait until the Wednesday evening's parent orientation where we will be passing out hard copies of the schedules OR send me an email and I will hook you up right now!  (This can also be done by simply replying to this post) 

I hope you have all had a relaxing, exciting, and fun-filled summer as I have.  Here are just a few pictures of some highlights:

 Every August we vacation with my entire family to Eastern Washington where we stay in a cabin for a full week.  I have been taking this trip since I was 10, but the number of people has obviously increased dramatically since that time!  In this picture (from left to right) Mr. Jeff, Laurel, Carl, Me, Ella, and Erik are sitting on the front steps of our cabin.

 At the cabin there is nothing to do except swim, eat, read, play games, go out on the boat, and sleep.  I LOVE this vacation ... no electronics, no phones.  This year they didn't even have newspapers delivered!

 Laurel and Ella out on the boat.  We like to make nightly beaver-runs around the lake to watch them swim and whack their tails on the water.

A monumental moment for us this year was taking Laurel to her freshman orientation at college.  She's attending The University of Puget Sound, Carl's alma mater, and is nervous and excited at the same time.  Ella, Carl, and I took her up; this picture is outside of her dorm.  We will miss her, but are super thrilled she's starting this fabulous time in her life. 



See you all soon!!!
Mo ;-)

Last Chance!

There are still a couple of you who have not let me know whether or not you plan to take the pre-algebra test in order to possibly enter algebra this fall.  However, the test dates are rapidly approaching, so if I do not hear from you by the end of this week, I will assume you have decided to take pre-algebra and schedule you accordingly.

Please see the post below for test dates and times.

Pre-Algebra Summer test dates

If you are planning to take the pre-algebra test this summer, you must select one of the dates listed below and let me know which test date you will be attending.  If you originally checked out a book and took home a packet but you are NOT going to take the test after all, please let me know that as well so that I can schedule your math class promptly.
*THANK YOU to those of you who have already contacted me to let me know you will not be taking the test after all.  I am sure you will have a great year in pre-algebra!

Friday August 19, 10:00 - Noon

   or

Wednesday August 24, 10:00 - Noon

You should plan on the test taking you about 2 hours.  Please bring water or a snack with you if you would like.  You can stay longer if needed, but keep in mind that being able to take this test confidently and in a timely manner is part of the entire evaluation.  Mr. Jeff will score your tests as quickly as possible and let you know which math class you will be scheduled for.

I look forward to hearing from you!
Mo ;-)