Homework for Monday, Sept 30

Assignment:  Order of Operations #1
This is your very first differentiated assignment!  This means that you have an assignment that reflects the areas you missed (meaning you need more practice) on the pre-quiz. For some of you, this material is new. For others, you need to review.  In any case, do your best!  Soon you will be choosing your order of ops homework; we will be reviewing them in class as well.
*If you are wondering how you did no the pre-quiz, go to TeacherEase and look in the "comments" section of the pre-quiz assignment.
*If you would like help reviewing the order, click on THIS LINK.
*If I read you wrong and you feel your homework is too difficult, just give it your best shot ... ask for help if you need to.
*Show me ALL of your work. We will be going over what this means specifically in class on Wednesday.
*If you lost your homewor, go ahead and CLICK HERE for something to do tonight.  I cannot promise you will feel it's good homework for you, but at least you can practice and turn something in tomorrow.
DUE TUESDAY

Homework for Thursday, Sept 26

Assignment: Slugville
(click on the title of the assignment for a copy)
This assignment requires you to identify the different central tendencies in a data set and then refigure those averages when new data is added.  They are all "averages" and they are all accurate, so how do you know which one to use?
*Make sure you do not use a calculator for this assignment.  Use the organized list they provide and add to it for question "f."  Show your work; if I do not see it, you will have to redo the entire page.
*Explain your answers.  You don't need to write me a story, but let me know the data you used and how you used it.
*Question e: When explaining why you think an income is "typical," you are going to need to explain to me the definition for "typical" that you are using.  I don't mean the one in Webster's dictionary, I mean the way you would argue the point if asked the question.  What would your reasoning be?
*Question f: Calculate and name all 3 of the changes; "they changed," is not a quality answer.
You may do your work on the sheet or on another sheet of paper.
Due Friday

Homework for Weds, Sept 25

Assignment: Pets ws
Don't mislead yourself: this homework IS hard.  Not the numbers, not the bar graphs, but really reading the data that is in them and understanding it.  I want you to really stretch yourself to remember what a bar graph represents; you've made hundreds of them, yes?
*Don't forget to think about how the data is tallied.  It is different for each of the graphs.  If you were taking (or giving) the survey, how would you draw the graph?
*The graphs are DIFFERENT.  Make sure you are using the one that gives you the information for the question that is being asked.  You only need one of them AND ...
*Some of the questions cannot be answered.  If you don't have enough information to answer the question, then you need to explain why and tell me what information you would need to answer it.
*Hint: We practiced a little of this in class today when I showed the class coin box plot graph each of you made over the histogram.  Think about how the data is recorded ... don't just look at the highest bar and call it good.
You may complete this assignment in the margins, on the back of the worksheet, or on another sheet of paper.  Your preference.
P.S. Ben - there is no copy of this assignment, so you can pick it up at school when you get back.
Due Thursday

Homework for Tuesday, Sept 24

First of all, a profuse apology for my just getting around to posting this assignment now.  I was super busy during the school hours, had a long staff meeting after school, ate dinner on the fly, then had volleyball games until 8:00!  So here I am ... better late than never?

Assignment: Sodas ws
This assignment is meant to give you the opportunity to "read" a histogram for information.
*What do you know about the scale up the left hand side of the graph?
*How do the labels at the bottom help you?
*What does this graph not tell you?
It does tell you more than at first glance.  Remember what I said?  If it takes you just a few minutes, you probably did it incorrectly.  My guess is that it should take you 5 - 10 minutes to really read the questions, assess the graph, and figure out the answers.  Dig deep ... you can do it!
Note: there is no copy of this assignment available online because I did not create it, so I cannot link to it.  If you lost of forgot it, you will have to grab a copy from the assignment board in the front of the classroom tomorrow and do it when you can ... and make a better arrangement with your partner for the next assignment!
Due Wednesday

Homework for Monday, Sept. 23

Assignment: Alphabet Probability
Tonight we are collecting data of the frequency of letters used in books and articles.   You should use something that is very "reader friendly," not a science journal or geography atlas.  You may use a fiction book or newspaper article of your choice.  The guidelines are:
*Select 100 words; they should be in sequence, not random words on the page.  It does not matter where you begin your 100 words in the book/article, just that you tally the letters for 100 sequential words.
*Make tally marks on the grid for EVERY letter in those 100 words.  Be methodical and accurate.
*Total your tally marks in the spaces provided.  Be methodical and accurate.
*Answer the questions that follow on the page.
*If you lost or forgot your worksheet, you can get a copy of it by clicking HERE.
Due Tuesday

Pre-Quiz Results:  available online in TeacherEase
You should have received an invitation a week ago via email to TeacherEase which is where you can see your progress and grades this trimester.  If you have NOT received this invitation, please send me an email now and I will resend your invitation.  Directions for the site are included with that invitation.
*Your pre-quiz scores will show up in the "Comments" box of the assignment.  Please follow these directions - Under Academics, select Student Progress Update > Transition Math (overall grade for class is blue, select this) > Pre-Quiz comment.  
*Strangely, I haven't figured out how to see this comment (which is your score of 10) without going this route.  I thought it would show up under, "Assignments and Lessons," but it doesn't.  I also noticed that if you select "Pre-Quiz" from the News Feed list, it does not show you the comment there either.  So poke around ... it's there!
*Your pre-quiz scores will not count unless you let me know that you want to count it.  You can let me know by selecting "Send email to teachers" under the "Communicate" heading on the TeacherEase site, or just general email if you prefer.
*We will be moving forward from wherever you are; thank you for the notes!
Mo ;-)

Extra Candy Points!

We've had some fun opportunities for extra candy points lately and you've all put in good effort towards earning them!  On Monday I will be adding an extra candy point for:
Marshmallow Contest 1: Team Phoebe, Rizley, Liam, and Kali
Marshmallow Contest 2: Team Maggie, John, Aidan, and Rachel
Guess Who? (tie) Team Abby, Amiel, Harry, and Emma ES with Team Sneha, William WR, Thomas, and Maddy.
Most Signatures: Finn
Congratulations to you all and have a great rest of your weekend!
Mo ;-)

Homework for Thursday, 9/19

Assignment: One More Observation (and corrections to your box plot if necessary)
Make one more observation that speaks to what you now understand about box plots.
*Things that you might address are what they do or do not show you, how the data is organized, why they come in different sizes, and what those shapes tell you.
*You can use examples from the coin data (comparing it to the class histogram), things that you remembered observing or hearing in class today, or you can make up examples of how different data (like M&Ms) might be represented.  You could also speak to the benefits or limitations to box plots.  Let me know what you think!
*If you noticed today that your box plot was made incorrectly, now is the time to fix that as well.  Just draw it on your paper in the space you have left between your histogram and your old box plot.
Due Friday:  Histogram and Box Plot of Class Data, two (total) observations/comparisans.
Tonight you should first focus on your science conclusion that is due tomorrow; please make it your priority, then do the math as time allows.

Thank you, by the way, for your fabulous feedback in class!  I appreciate your comments and ideas in how to make this blog even more useful for you this year.  
Mo ;-)

Homework for Weds, Sept 18

Assignment: 2 graphs of class data, 1 observation
Yes, many of you were totally boggled by today's lesson!  That's a GOOD thing, trust me.  (it's hard to trust someone who just threw too much information at your brain, yes?)
So, what follows is what you need to do tonight.  
And it's OKAY if you make mistakes, just put in your best effort.  ;-)
1) Class Coin Data Histogram
This is the tedious, yet simple, illustration of all of the coins in your class period.
*Have the blank white space at the top of your page.
*Write the graph title and scale (1 box = 1 coin) and your name in the white space.
*Across the bottom of your page, mark the years.
*Up the left hand side of your page mark the number of coins; go up to 30.
*Fill in the bars with the CLASS data from your period.  Those numbers are available HERE for Period 1 and HERE for Period 2 if you have lost them.
*This may be in one, two, three, or 50 colors, it's up to you.
2) Box Plot 
This is the complex graphing of 5 numbers that probably doesn't make sense to you yet.  Shall I repeat, that's OKAY?!?  The point is that you are going to create this graph using the 5 numbers I give you and see what you can figure out.  
*Above your histogram yet below the white space, you will create the box plot.  It will lie across your page from left (2013) to the oldest coin point (using the data from your class) on the right.
*You will need the 5-number summary from YOUR class period that I created for you.  For those 5 numbers click HERE.  
*If you would like to see again what a box plot looks like, click HERE.  That's the general picture; all box plots look about the same (shape), but come in different sizes depending upon the data you are using.  This is one of the things you should try to figure out, by the way ... if it's in quarters, why aren't they all the same size?  Hmmm...
*You will connect the dots on the 5-number summary: 2 whiskers (one at each end) and a box that is divided in half by the median (3rd) number.  For more detailed directions on how to do this, click HERE.
That's really it for that.  Box plots are quick and simple to draw once you get the hang of them.  Now comes the tougher part ...
3) Your Observation(s)
At this point, you may have no idea what you created on your page, but hopefully you noticed some things while you did the work.  What I want  you to do now is tell me what you THINK you did.  I will tell you that the data in your histogram and the box plot is the SAME ... so why do they look so different?  What do their shapes tell you?  What do you think you see, or, what don't you see?  What do the quartiles represent?   Etc.  I promise you that box plots will not only become very useful to you, you will eventually find them easy to read and interpret ... but they have their limits and you need to understand them.
So, let me know what you're thinking.  "I don't know," or "I don't understand," aren't acceptable observations.  What do you THINK you see?!?!?  You are seeing something whether or not you understand it, so take your best shot.  We will discuss these tomorrow in depth and I bet you will figure out more than you think you know.
*This should be in paragraph form and should contain as much information as you think is relevant.
*This is an effort based assignment:  truly try and you'll be fine.  Give up easily or toss it aside and you won't be stretching your brain enough to grow.  Go for it!
Due Thursday

Homework for Tuesday, Sept 17

Homework:  Three Graphs and Four Observations (total)
1) Three Observations:
You need to use the two graphs you made last night (of your partner's and your data) to make THREE wonderful observations.
 - These observations should compare your two histograms, specifically noting what you observe about the differences and similarities in their shapes.
 - It is best if you try to make at least one observation regarding a similarity and one regarding a difference, but this is not required.
 - These observations should be made on a separate piece of paper; you may hand write or type them.
 - Use the fabulous vocabulary, numbers, and examples as we practiced in class today; be brave and adventurous and try new words!
 - Dig deep, making these observations better than you could have made in the 3rd grade, eh?
 - You may make more than three observations if you want additional feedback.
*HINT - I should be able to tell from your explanation what your point is and what the data you are comparing looks like without looking at your graphs.

2) Combined Data Graph and One Observation
You need to make one new graph that is a stack bar combining your coin data with your partner's, then one brilliant observation about how your graph changed shape with the addition of your partner's data.
- You should use the same scale and the same colors that you used in your first two graphs; be sure to indicate these colors in a legend on this page as well.
- Stack one set of data on top of the other set making those bars higher; the total in one "bar" should be represented by the total amount listed on the left hand side of the graph.
- Your observation for this section should discuss how the shape of your data changed (or did not).  Remember, telling me that there are "more coins now," or, "my bars got higher," does not tell me anything that I wouldn't know without even needing to look at your graph.  So LOOK and observe!
- This observation should be made on the same page as your graph, although you can do it on another sheet of paper (hand written or typed) if you are concerned about neatness.

All of this is Due Wednesday

Homework for Monday, Sept. 16

Assignment:  Complete 2 histograms of coin data (on one sheet)
*You need to complete 2 histograms (bar graphs) of the coin data that you collected in class.  Those histograms should represent:
1) Your data
2) Your partner's data
You do not need to use the all class data yet!

*You received graph paper and instructions for how to do this in class, but you can find detailed information of those instructions by clicking on this link.
*Each graph should be in a different color to help differentiate your findings and help you to see the shape of the data.  These colors should be represented and labelled in your legend.

Due Tuesday

Camp Colman

Leckenby - The Harry Potter crew

I had a wonderful time with my cabin group which, in my opinion, had the smash hit skit of the night!  Thank you to everyone for making it such a great school experience.  I think we're off to a terrific new year together.

Mo ;-)

Homework for Tuesday, Sept. 10

Assignment:  Four Data lists
In order to be fully prepared for Wednesday's class, please have the following lists completed and ready to use:
(first page)
1) Random Chaos
 - this list was created by randomly drawing your pennies from your baggie and recording their dates
2) Organized List
 - this list should be your pennies listed in order from newest penny to oldest penny
 - each and every penny should be listed; if you have three 2010 pennies, then you need to list them three times.
(next page)
3) Frequency Tables
All years from 2013 to the oldest coin in your partnership should be listed down the left-hand side of your page.  You may "skip" writing the years, but they all need to be represented with at least a "dash."  Use the back of the page to continue the years, then divide the paper in half down the middle into two columns:
a) Tally marks for all of your coins
b) Tally marks for all of your partner's coins

Note: if you still need your partner's data, don't panic!  Just be sure to get it from them at the earliest convenience.  And label the columns ... you always need to keep track of what is what.
Due Wednesday

Task for Monday, Sept. 9

Homework: Collect 20 pennies
Our first venture as a class is into statistics.  In order to study statistics, we need data! 
Therefore ...
*You have a baggie with your name on it within which you should put 20 pennies.
That's it!
Bring to class Tuesday

First Assignment - Thursday, Sept. 5

Assignment #1:  Magic Trick!
*Perform the magic trick we learned in class for at least one adult.
*Explain how the magic trick works.
*Have the person sign your sheet.
Due: Friday, Sept. 6