Weekly Update: Nov 18 - Dec 2

 Grade 8: 

This week the grade 8s completed their unit on Percent, and did a quiz on Wednesday to show their understanding of how to calculate percent of a number, and to determine the tax and/or discount on an item. To end the week we introduced our next unit, volume, by having the students build rectangular boxes out of paper. They then measured the dimensions of the boxes to calculate volume. Next week we will continue to work on finding the volume of different three-dimensional shapes.

Grade 9:

The grade 9s are in the middle of their Polynomials unit. We've practiced adding and subtracting, and introduced multiplying and dividing polynomials this week. We have been using models as a way to represent the operations with fractions that we have been practicing. Next week we will wrap up the unit on Polynomials with a test on Thursday. 

Weekly Update: Oct 24 - 28

 Grade 8:

The grade 8s are wrapping up their fractions unit and have been working with fraction word problems and fraction order of operations. Next week there will be some time for review, and then the Fractions Unit Test will be on Wednesday, Nov 2nd. Our next unit will be Statistics and Probability.

Grade 9:

The grade 9s are working on the Powers and Exponents unit currently. This week the students learned about the Power Laws and how to apply them properly in order to simplify an expression. Next week we'll have a check-in to see where each student is at, and then move into some problem solving using Powers before we do an assessment.

Weekly Update: Oct 17 - 21

 Grade 8:

The grade 8s are a little more than halfway through their unit on Operations with Fractions. They did a quiz on Wednesday where they had an opportunity to show their understanding of multiplication and division of fractions. Next week the classes will practice with word problems and order of operations equations.

Grade 9:

The grade 9 students began their unit on Powers and Exponents, first by exploring what the Power of Zero means and why it equals 1. Then the students were assigned a poster project called Power of Me, where they took their understanding of how the Powers of 10 work to create a visual representation of their height to different Powers of 10. Next week with the classes we will be learning the Power Laws and practicing using them appropriately.

Weekly Update: Oct 11-14

 Grade 8:

This week the grade 8s delved into the process of multiplying fractions. They started by using visual models to demonstrate what is actually happening when fractions are multiplied. Then students explored multiplying fractions in different forms, including proper fractions, improper fractions, whole numbers, and mixed numbers. To end the week, students worked on an activity called Fraction Challenge on Desmos.com as a way to review concepts related to adding and subtracting fractions. Next week we will introduce division of fractions, and work with fraction word problems and order of operations involving fractions.

Grade 9:

The grade 9 students started the week by reviewing concepts about Square Roots and preparing for their Square Roots quiz, which was on Wednesday. Marks for the quiz were returned to the students on Friday, and the marks are now also up on PowerSchool. After the quiz, on Thursday the students had a critical thinking challenge period with the Checkerboard Puzzle. On Friday we began our next unit, Powers and Exponents, by discussing the Power of Zero and observing the patterns in the numbers as powers are increased or decreased. Next week we will continue to work with the concept of Powers and Exponents.

Weekly Update: Oct 3-7

 Grade 8:

The grade 8 students started their week with a fantastic Field Trip to Riverwatch. The weather was beautiful and it was an awesome day! When we got back into classes on Tuesday, the students began their Fractions unit by making a poster about the rules for adding and subtracting fractions. The poster was due on Wednesday and should now be handed in. To end the week, we introduced the idea of multiplying fractions, and we will continue with this next week as well as introduce the concepts around dividing fractions.

Grade 9:

The grade 9 students continued their mini-unit on estimating Square Roots this past week. We've discussed how to estimate the square root of non-perfect square whole numbers, fractions, and decimals. We finished the week by re-introducing rational numbers and how they can be compared and ordered along with square roots. We also practiced order of operation equations that contain square roots. Next week we'll review the concepts covered over the mini-unit on Tuesday, and we will have a Square Roots Quiz on Wednesday.

Have a great Thanksgiving long weekend Tom Baines families!!

Weekly Update: Sept 26-30

 Grade 8: 

The Grade 8s spent the week reviewing concepts required to perform operations with fractions, specifically around finding factors and multiples of a number. They also were asked to find the Greatest Common Factor between two numbers, and the Lowest Common Multiple between two numbers. Students also explored why the GCF and LCM are particularly useful when we are working with fractions. Next week, the Grade 8s will begin to work on performing basic operations with fractions.

Grade 9:

The Grade 9s wrote their Rational Numbers Unit Test this week. Marks will be updated on PowerSchool and the unit test will be returned to them next week. With the unit test completed, students next went into working with Square Roots. Students discovered ways to estimate the square root of a non-perfect square whole number, as well as a non-perfect square fraction. Next week, the grade 9s will continue to work with Square Roots, and apply what we now know about Square Roots in order to be able to compare and order square roots among other rational numbers.

Weekly Update Sept 19-22

 It was great to meet many of you at our Meet the Teacher Night last night! Thank you for stopping by!

Grade 8:

The grade 8s have wrapped up their Integers unit, with a quiz on Thursday. The test was broken down by question level, so there was a Level 2 section, a Level 3 section, and a Level 4 section. The levels correspond to the difficulty level of the questions, and so Level 2 questions would give the student a grade of 2 on our 1-4 grading scheme. Level 3 questions would correspond to a 3 grade, etc. Students had the choice to complete either the Level 2 and Level 3 questions, or the Level 3 and Level 4 questions, based on their perceived understanding of the concepts that would be on the quiz. 

We will be going over the quiz as a class next week, once they are all marked. Marks will be put up on PowerSchool early next week.

Next week the grade 8s will begin their next unit, which is about operations with Fractions.

Grade 9:

The grade 9 students are nearing the end of their Rational Numbers unit. Students have been asked to compare rational numbers in their different forms, order rational numbers from least to greatest on a number line, and solve equations involving rational numbers using all four operations, including using the order of operations. We will have a review day on Monday with the class, and then the Rational Numbers test will be on Tuesday. After the test, we will begin a short unit on Square Roots and how they relate to Rational and Irrational Numbers.