Quizlet Options for break

Just what you wanted to know - how to get credit for practicing Quizlet this vacation!

BUT FIRST!  Quizlet has done some reorganizing of its site, so it will look a little different to you.  However, I THINK (after a lot of reorganizing on my part this morning) it will be easier to navigate our units in the new mode.  I have made folders for the different units now, so you should be able to click on the "Negatives" folder and see all of the study sets that qualify.  Please let me know if this isn't showing up on your NOVA page.  Thank you!  Now ...

Today is your lucky day and here are your options:
*You may complete two Quizlets for credit
*Sets must be from the Negative practice sets
*You must complete a "Learn" or "Test" option 
(Space Race is great practice too, but it doesn't count for this)
*If you want credit for two sets, they may not be completed on the same day
*To receive credit - print off a copy, have your parent sign a note, or send me an email (I think you can do this from Quizlet?)
These are credit/no credit assignments, although I hope you will take your score into account when you are thinking about how much you might NEED to practice!

I hope you are thoroughly enjoying your holiday,
Mo ;-)

Quizlet Option!
IF you complete one of the negative Quizlet options tonight and bring in a copy of your test, parent note, or email me tonight, you'll earn 3 points for practice.
I will post the break options for Quizlet tomorrow.
This must be turned in on FRIDAY (or emailed tonight) for credit for this assignment.
Gotta run!
Mo ;-)

Homework for Wednesday, Dec 18

Assignment:  Negatives Choice #3
Most of you are working on subtraction and combining those concepts with addition.  Please take your time with this ... unlike "elementary school math," addition and subtraction with negatives is MORE difficult than multiplication.
Some of you branched out and decided to challenge yourself with some order of operations with negatives.  We will be working hard on these after winter break, so please don't feel "behind" if you didn't choose order of operation practice at this time.
The only worksheet I have a copy of available today is option B, Adding and Subtracting Integers.  It has not been previously an option, so if you lost your other copy, please use this one.  (the title of the worksheet is the link.)
Due Thursday
*Wear your tennis shoes on Thursday because you'll be RUNNING in math!

Homework for Tuesday, Dec. 17

Assignment:  Real Life Negatives C
(the name of the assignment is a link to a copy)
Remember when you could solve these without necessarily needing to "know" how to write it as a formal equation?  Harken back to those good old days (2 weeks ago) and solve these using your intuition.  Do your answers make sense?  While I do want you to think about what the equations look like, I want you to make sense of the question first ... so tread carefully.  ;-)
Due Wednesday

Homework for Monday, Dec. 16

Assignment:  Integer Products & Quotients
That's a big name for a simple practice worksheet.
Knowing what you now know, your job is to practice multiplying and dividing negative numbers.  But the thing is, we only learned what to do when multiplying in class today ... so how do you know what to do when you divide?
Same idea:  How many times are you doing something negative?  Or positive?  Or are you not doing something negative?  (making it positive?)
Or if you owe someone $60 and pay it off over 6 days ... how much do you pay (owe) per day?
It's all crazy in the wording, but the arithmetic of it is simple.
So practice and make it stick!
This is a copy of Worksheet #77
Due Tuesday

Announcement:

       Happy Birthday, Mr. Gacek!      

Homework for Thursday, Dec. 12

Assignment:   Choice #2
We're all subtracting today.  Please complete only one of these assignments until I have a chance to check over your work.  The exception to this would be if you would like to do Quizlet also:  you can.
Your choices are as follows:
C) Sub Integers pg 73
D) Sub Integers 2
E) 1.6 Practice ws  (no link yet)
F) Quizlet - Negative Add and Sub Basics
                            or
                 - Negative Addition and Subtraction (more difficult)
DUE MONDAY

Assignment for Wednesday, Dec. 11

Homework:  Addition or Subtraction?
Today we did a fly by and learned subtraction of negative integers.
For some this was new, for some a review, but for whatever your comfort level was I asked you to select homework that reflected what you need to currently work on.  This is not a race, so hopefully you were able to select something that fits for you in this moment.
*I ask at this time that you NOT do more than one worksheet.  Even if it's review for you, we are still at the stage where I need to check to see that you are on track before you move forward.
YES, you can change assignments now ... but just select ONE.
*Guess what?!?  I do have copies of each assignment right here ... along with a summary of what you can expect from each one.
A)  Adding Negatives - Big Numbers
 - This assignment is for those of you who know you are new to this and know that practice will help you a lot.  Be proud of yourself if you select this assignment because you have confidence in knowing that learning it well is more important than learning it quickly!
B)  Adding Negatives - Decimals
 - I explained this assignment as a sort of "test" for those of you who are more confident in what you are doing, but want that extra check point of being able to be SURE that you know what you are doing.  I also suggested it for those of you who think subtraction looks cool, but aren't quite ready to tackle a worksheet of it.  This worksheet can give you the reassurance that you are ready to move on.
C)  Subtracting Integers - pg 73
- This is for people new (probably) or just unsure (for review) about how to subtract with negatives.  Remember to simplify first, getting rid of any illegal moves (to negative signs in a row) and rewrite the problem as addition so that your blue and yellow cowboys are back.  Even if you do this last step in your head (if it's review for you) it will help you keep track of what you are supposed to be doing.
D)  Subtracting Integers 2
- And if you are pretty sure that you are back in the swing of negatives,  you might have selected this worksheet to let me know you can do it.  Sometimes just the reminder lessons are enough and you are ready to rumble!
In every case, just take care of yourself and what you need.  This unit is absolutely critical to your future comfort level in math, so take whatever time you need and learn it well.  I think that negatives are pretty cool once you master them.  ;-)
Due Thursday

Assignment:  Real Life Negatives B 
(the title of the assignment is a copy of the paper)
Each question on this assignment is worth TWO points:  1 point for writing the equation as an equation (all of it) and 1 point  for the correct solution.
*Yes, you are correct in assessing that we have not technically "gone over" how to solve the problems listed under #5, but I am confident you can figure out answers that make sense.  And how will you write those equations?!?  You can do it!
Due Wednesday

Homework for Monday, Dec. 9

Assignment:  Addition of Negative integers
This is an individualized assignment.  For many of you it is the first time you are "seeing" what these look like as equations.  Get used to it.  When we add (get it, "add?!?") subtraction, multiplication, division, order of operations, etc. it will get confusing if you don't hold on to how simple it actually is.  This is the written language, so think about how you understand it and you will be fine.
*Remember those cowboys!  Say the equation aloud to yourself if you need to.
*Regardless of which assignment I gave you, I do have a copy HERE of one that will work if you lost your original.
Due Tuesday

Homework for Thursday, Dec. 5

Assignment: Adding and Regrouping ws (the title is a printable copy)
Today is the first time for many of you that you will be thinking about negative integers in the format of an equation.  Do not let it daunt you!  They are still just yellow and blue cowboys represented as a number in this case.  Who wins?  Who is left at the end of the battle?  Same thing ...
Be sure to follow the directions on the worksheet.  
(note! the original problem in the example says "18," which magically transforms into "11" on the next line.  I'm sure it was the doing of evil elves, but in any case just pretend like the original problem in the example reads:  Example: -9 + 30 + (-11) + 25 =  , so you are regrouping the -11, not -18 with the -9.) 
*The first step is to rewrite the equation as an addition problem in groupings.  In mathematical words, commute and associate.  This regrouping helps you to think about who is ahead in this battle.
*The second step is to solve within the groups.  Combine all of the positive values in one bracket and the negative values in the other.  Now, will your ending value be positive or negative?
*Now solve the problem in whatever way suits you.  Just remember that you will need to look back at step 2 in order to keep track of whether the answer will be positive or negative.  No "forgetting!"
*Finally write your answer, making it CLEAR as to whether you believe the answer is positive or negative.  Half-erased negative signs are no better than half-erased decimals ... I will always guess wrong!
This is DUE on Friday during Study Skills.

Homework for Weds, December 4

Assignment: Real Life Negatives A
Welcome to the "real" world (as real as it gets in these examples) of negative integers.  Today you are to focus on what you are doing not how you write it.  
*Note - I did not give you the answer to #1, so your task is to find it in any way you want to - ask around, Google it, whatever works for you!  The bottom line is, you need to have the answer and it needs to be correct. ;-)
Mo's advice:
*First commute!  Drive those numbers around until they find where they ...
*Associate!  Remember that these numbers only want to associate (or hang with) numbers with the same "value."  They're not all that friendly, eh?  So if you go down the steps at Hogwarts, all of those downward steps are collected in one place and all of the times you go up are collected in the other.  Make it simple.
*The rest of it is up to you.  Figure out how to decide whether you have a profit or loss, whether you end up above ground or below ground, etc.  Think about how you know that then figure out how to get to that answer.  If you're stuck, remember the cowboys:  who wins?  How did you decide that?  Same thing, now the numbers are bigger and there are more of them. 
*And yes, labels are important ...
* I do have a copy of this assignment and here it is!
Due Thursday

Homework for Tuesday, Dec 3

         "Who are those guys???"
  *meet the bad cowboys and the  good cowboys.
          (in honor of Patrick)

Assignment:  Commutative and Associative Properties with Negatives ws

*Keep it SIMPLE!!!!
*Today we focused on how it works, NOT what an equation looks like.  We never want to forget the "rules" again, eh?
*Follow the homework directions precisely:
Step 1) commute only;

 *look at and commute the yellow and blue (on the worksheet it says, "red") cowboys into the blanks at step one.  DO NOT ADD THEM YET!
Step 2) total positive and total negative;  Now add them within their associated groups.
Step 3) Answer.  Make sure to indicate whether it is positive or negative (blue or yellow cowboys?)  ... who wins?!?!?
*For #5 Mavis, write the steps out yourself in whatever way works for you.

HERE is a copy of the worksheet!
Due: Wednesday

Homework for Monday, Dec. 2

Welcome to the winter trimester!  This is where your math homework begins ...

Homework:  3 - Definitions & Examples, 1 Summary 
In this assignment you are to interview three different people regarding negative numbers.  Be sure your interviewee knows what a negative number is before you begin.
Write in detail!  
*Only one person may be a current NOVA student OR teacher and it may not be another 6th grader or Mr. Kehoe, Mo, or Mr. Gacek.  Note that it is not required that you have a NOVA student or teacher.
*You may conduct your interview over the phone; there is no excuse not to be able to find three different people.
*Write in the name (and relationship) of each person to you.
*Definitions should be written in as much detail as the person gives you.  Do not worry about total accuracy at this time; your interviewee might be rusty. ;-)
*Examples:  your three examples (one per person) must all be different.  I would word the second question something like this - 
"I need you to give me a real life example, other than 'in math class,' or, 'in a math equation,' where you would need to represent something as a negative number?"  
Push them on this a bit, okay?  They can do it!
*Summary:  This is a short, concise, easy to understand summary of what you think a negative number is.  Remember that you are explaining this to someone who does not know: be specific, but simple.
Due Tuesday