Week 22

We started Unit 9-Circles. We jumped in with 9.1 The Grammar of Circles. This unit took us the most amount of time. There is so much vocabulary to learn so we can talk about Circles. This unit also had some theorems that we translated into formulas. We worked together on some problems from the homework. The next section 9.2 had some more vocabulary, more formulas. This assignment for this section looks long, but we did so many of the problems together to reduce the amount you have to do at home. Those 2 sections took so much time to cover that we didn’t get to 9.3. I have made a video here at home, so that everyone can watch it and keep up with the units. That video is uploading as I am writing this. I was unable to cover some of the Formula Madness formulas and there is a video uploading for that also. The next Formula Madness quiz will include these 13 formulas. Please send me questions if you have any. I am here to help. Thanks for your hard work!

Week 21

This is the last week for Unit 8. We covered only 1 unit this week, but there is a review and a test to do. I gave one day to work on the project. This weeks lesson was more trigonometry. We used trig to find the missing angles of right triangles, and to find the information to find the area of a triangle. After that we did some constructions. I reviewed many of the previous constructions, then we created 60, 30, and 45 degree angles. We used these to make 30-60-90 and 45-45-90 triangles. These constructions are important because each student has to remember the properties of these triangles to make them. It is also very useful for those kinesthetic learners. Please let me know if you have any questions. Here is the video for this week.

Week 20

We were a few days late for our class, but everyone was on their game. We met yesterday on Google Hangouts because of sickness. This was a unique way of meeting,  I would miss seeing everyone if we did it every week, but it worked for this week. We covered 3 topics; Special Right Triangles, Trigonometric Ratios, and Solving Right Triangles. We did not take a formula madness quiz yesterday, we will take one next time we meet. Make sure you practice these. We will not meet next week because it is a break. Have a great break, If you have any questions don’t hesitate to send them to me. Here are the videos from class.

Week 19

Again this we covered only 2 lessons. There is not a test this time, I want to give you some time to work on your project this week. I will be asking you again in class to give a little summary of your research in front of the class. This should give some time to practice your formula madness also. There is no new formula madness this week. I posted the answers on GroupMe so that you can check them after you practice. One way to practice is to put the handouts in a paper protector then use a dry erase marker to write your answers. Then you can erase and practice again another time. Another way is to use the back of the paper inside the paper protector as a dry erase board. Have your parent call them out and you write them out. You will have instant feed back after each one. Erase the answer and do another one. The 2 lessons we covered pertained to the Pythagorean Theorem.  We worked on several problems from the homework in class on both lessons. I want to reemphasize that I want to help each of you. Please send me problems from your homework that you don’t understand. Send them sooner rather than later! The sooner you get help the sooner you can be successful!

Week 18

Today we covered only 2 lessons, because we have test and review this week. We did a bit of algebra review, and then started a new unit. This unit will deal with right triangles. We also took a formula madness quiz in class again. We will continue to take these quizzes over and over for the rest of the semester. You can only use the formulas if you know them. I introduced 10 new formulas for this unit. There will only be 20 formulas on a quiz, so I will take off 10 and add 10 formulas, but you don’t know which 10 I will take off, so you must know all of the formulas. Don’t forget to do some research for your project. I am going to ask each student for some details about his/her project next week. Be ready. We have class next week then a break on February 11.  As usual please let me know if you have any questions. Send me the section and problem number and I can make a video about a problem similar to that one.

Week 17

Class went well. We took our very first formula madness quiz. We will take another one next week. There is nothing new to add to our formula madness. But I might change some of the letters in the quiz. So make sure that when they memorize the formulas for the proportions or the geometric mean they understand how to do it with different variables, because the variables will change. Formulas for area variables will not change. After the quiz we went over in detail the different answers and what options they have to write them down so that they were clear on the expectations. We cover three sections 7.4, 7.5, and 7.6. In 7.4 we covered similar triangles. This was an extension of a similar polygons that we did last week. On the section 7.5 we had proofs. I went over three proofs with them which are extremely similar to the ones they’re going to have for their homework. You can watch the videos on them to make their homework more clear. On section 7.6 there were some more ways that triangles form proportions. If you have any questions please send me the section number and problem number and I can make a video for you. It is likely that if one person has a question on a problem then someone else does too.

Week 16 Back from Christmas Break

We had a wonderful break. We spent time with family and friends. Some of us worked on school, some of us tried to stay away from school work. This week we started a new unit. Unit 7 covers Proportions and Similarity. We started out with some review of Ratios, Proportions, and Solving by cross multiplying. We covered some other properties of proportions, and similar polygons. There were no proofs this week and the students were relieved about that. I did introduce Formula Madness quizzes and the Geometry Project. Formula Madness is a page of 20 formulas that are to be memorized and a 5 minute quiz will be given in class. The students are to study the formulas and then write them down on the quiz. I am suggesting that they put the Formula Madness sheets in a paper protector and use a dry erase marker to practice them. I am suggesting that they practice everyday. I am also suggesting that they time themselves to see if they can do them in less than 5 min. Each person chose a Geometry Project topic. This project is a chance for the students to choose a topic to explore on their own. One that explores geometry outside of their assignments. I am hoping that after they learn the topic they will teach it to their fellow students. This will introduce everyone to the topics. I want to invite the parents to the presentations. I will give more information later about that.

Here are the videos we covered in class.