8th Grade Math - Unit 1a: Linear Equations and Solutions

A New Year and a New Schedule
Last year I taught 8th Grade Math and Math Support with 1:1 iPads. This year I am not teaching Math Support.  All math classes have gone to a block schedule. I have decided to merge my Math 8 structure with my Math Support structure from last year for the structure of my blocked math periods for this year.  The first half of the math block is called Math 8 which is centered on guided instruction and collaborative teams. The second half of the math block is iMath which is centered on independent (self-paced) lessons.

Unit 1a: Solving Linear Equations
We have finished our first unit on Linear Equations and Solutions to Linear Equations so I thought I would blog about my lessons in this unit and hopefully give some inspiration.

Last year the pacing on this unit was very short because we had 10 less school days.  This year I added back some time to this unit to give the students a good foundation for solving equations.  This unit was very hard for majority of my students because they came in extremely low and without background knowledge on the basics of solving equations such as integer rules, inverse operations, and the distributive property.

I kept pushing through the unit, forcing the collaboration and discussion because I knew that it would help make the concepts stick. Because I can't go back and reteach everything the students didn't have coming in, I gave them some resources for their math notebooks. I gave the students an integer rule graphic organizer and a multiplication table through 25.  They are finally starting to use them and realizing what a difference it makes in their attention to precision. :o)

This year in this unit I put an emphasis on solving multi-step equations with variables on both sides and simplifying both sides of a multi-step equation to analyze the type of solution the equation will have.

Students Interactive Math Notebooks
It's been a rough start and the beginning of the year is always exhausting because of the constant repetition of routines and procedures. We started with the expectations of their Math Vocabulary Book and the expectations and procedures for their Interactive Math Notebooks.

One of my classroom non-negotiables is my IMN expectations for my students.  The students are finally able to follow along and color-code their notes effectively and are finding the value in the connections they can see when they use their notes as a learning resource. And most importantly they are finally learning to keep their Interactive Math Notebooks in order and free of clutter.

Here is what the students Interactive Math Notebooks look like for Unit 1a.

My Collaborative Team Structure
Teaching my students my expectations and procedures for my collaborative team structure is also very exhausting. But I know that it will pay off and be conducive to the learning in my classroom when it all comes together.

The students have got the collaborative team "Resource Monitor" role down which is saves so much time. We are now focusing on the other roles in the collaborative teams.  They are doing so much better after a few weeks of Recorder/Reporter and my collaborative team "Solve It, PROVE It" Daily Warm-up.

I love this activity because it involves a lot of math discussion and collaboration.  I am able to check for understanding and clear up misconceptions as I facilitate.  Because we are on a block schedule, I now have every team share out their reasoning and justification.  In the future I am going to add a collaborative agree or disagree and why to this.  But for now I am just getting the students comfortable with the collaboration and sharing out to the class.

Here is some examples of my Collaborative Team "Solve It, PROVE It" Daily Warm-ups.

Although most of my collaborative team structure is done "Recorder/Reporter" style with a team whiteboard, I also create Collaborative Team Tasks that include the role of Task Manager and Team Mathematician.

Here are some examples of my students working on a Collaborative Team Task on Solutions to Equations.

iMath and Unit 1a: Solutions to Linear Equations
This have revamped a lot of my 1:1 self-paced lessons.  I know that I need to increase the rigor if I want my students to be successful this year. The foundation of my iMath is my favorite app Showbie. If you have read my blog before you know that I absolutely am in love with Showbie's Platform. This year I have the honor of being a Showbie Champion Teacher.  :o)

Here are some of the great things that can be done with Showbie.  I love that you can create assignments, students can comment in the assignments and you now grade assignments.

I  also love, love, love Showbie because I can create "Paperless" assignments and the students can annotate and leave typed responses on the assignment.  I can look at these assignments and grade and comment from my iPad. :o)

Here are some of my "paperless" assignments from Unit 1a in Showbie.

One of my other favorite apps is Socrative.  I use this platform to create (self-paced) "Digital Task Cards".  My students love these assignments because they are fun.  I love the fact that I can see real time data on how they are doing as they progress through the assignment. :o)

Here are some examples of my students doing my Socrative "Digital Task Cards".

I also tried my 1st Google Forms Formative Assessment on Linear Equations (SBAC Style).

Thanks for stopping by and checking out my blog. I hope you were inspired... :o)

Collaborative Teams and Productive "Math Talk"

I have blogged a lot about my collaborative teams and how effective they are in my classroom structure.  Last year my students worked productively in their teams and had really good discussions, but there was still room for improvement.  I have done a lot of reflecting over the summer and my goal for this year is to take my students' team discussions to the next level.

After a lot of Pinteresting and blog reading over the summer, I came across Talking Points on cheesemonkey wonders blog.  I am so excited.... I love this idea but I know that my students need more structure. So I have taken this idea and tweaked it so that it would be more structured and therefore more effective with my students.

The first thing I did was make a Let's Talk Math Guidelines page for their Interactive Math Notebook.  I will use this to introduce my students to "Math Talk" in their collaborative teams.

The idea of my new "Math Talk" idea is a spin on Talking Points.  Each team member will have a set of "Math Talk" cards.  Each set of "Math Talk" cards will have three cards. The three cards will consist of AGREE, DISAGREE, and UNSURE.  I am going to laminate these on bright cardstock paper.  Each set will be hole punched with a binder ring.

When prompted by the Team Mathematician, each team member will determine if they AGREE, DISAGREE, or are UNSURE.  Each team member will choose a card from their "Math Talk" cards.  When it is their turn to say whether they AGREE, DISAGREE, or are UNSURE, they will hold up their card to the team and explain their thinking.
Saying: "I _______ because __________________________".

I love this idea because I know the students will like using the "Math Talk" cards.  It will also help me see if they are having a productive "Math Talk" because I will be able to see the teams using their "Math Talk" cards. :o)

This is how I am going to start this year with my students and help them take their math discussions to the next level. 

I am including the downloads for the files that I created.  

Feel free to use, tweak, or modify my ideas. Or simply be inspired....

Download Links: 

• Let's Talk Math IMN Page:   PDF  ~  Word   
• Student "Math Talk" Cards:  PDF ~ Word  (Cut each card at 2.75")   
• Fonts I Used Zip File

Thanks for stopping by an checking out my blog...

My Growth Mindset Classroom Reveal (Part 2) #notreadytour

I spent another day in my classroom today and it is taking me forever to get it ready... LOL. I still have a lot left to do but I am posting (Part Two) of my classroom reveal  #notreadytour. Hoping to inspire you again and give you more ideas for your classroom.  

My Front Classroom Wall
Last summer I blogged about the Mathematical Practices posters and the Mindset of a Mathematician Posters that I made.  I still love both of these so they are staying above my front whiteboards.  

New this year is the phrase I put above the front whiteboards.
Have grit!  LEARNING is not EASY... Dig Deep and EMBRACE STRUGGLE!

My Student Information Bulletin Board

By the door I always create a student information bulletin board.  This is where I will hang their bell schedule and flyers for dances and sports.  This year I went with black and white polka-dot material for the background and a zebra print border.

My "You Are a Genius" Wall
The back wall is a huge wall with a lot of space.  This is where I usually put my Superstar Work bulletin board, my Data Wall, my Math Rockstars bulletin board, and where I hang student work.  I can't put up my bulletin boards yet because I am getting new desks and I don't know how my room arrangement will be on the back wall. But I do know that I wanted this wall to be my #youmatter wall.
So I put the phrase: YOU are a GENIUS and the WORLD needs your contribution!
This is what my back wall looks like for now.

My Growth Mindset Wall Close Up 

I was able to take better close up pictures so I decided post more pictures of my Growth Mindset wall.  In these pictures you can see the scrapbook paper and glitter scrapbook paper that I used for the posters.

Thanks for stopping by my blog and taking my #notreadytour of my classroom.... :o)

My Growth Mindset Classroom Reveal (Part 1) #notreadytour

I have spent the last couple of days in my classroom... unpacking everything from the cabinets and setting up my room for this year.  It is taking me longer than I planned, but I am excited that my ideas for my Growth Mindset classroom are finally starting to come to fruition.

I previously blogged about Creating a Growth Mindset classroom Environment and included download links to all of the posters and wall hangings I made for my classroom this year.

I still have a lot to do in my classroom but I am posting (Part One) of my classroom reveal #notreadytour.  Maybe you will be inspired for your classroom. :o)

My Growth Mindset Wall
This is the wall above the bookshelf that holds my students' Interactive Math Notebook Folders, iMath Folders, and Team Folders.  I have to say this has to be my best wall design yet.  I love how it turned out.  I really hope that it helps the students with their Growth Mindsets, because I plan on referring to it regularly.  :o)

My Corner Window
I always have the blinds on this window open because I love the light coming in from outside.  This year I wanted to do something different with the window.  The phrase above the window is inspired from one of my favorite quotes:  "When you steal a student's struggle, you steal their learning". Last year, I always told my students "If you are not struggling... Then you are not learning"....

I love how the corner window turned out.   Next to the window is my Rainbow Motivational Posters.

My Classroom Door
I wanted to create something catchy that students would see every day when they were leaving my room.  So I went with the DFTBA phrase above my door.  Next to the door is my motivational wall hanging I made from last year.  :o)

My Student Supply Center
This is where all of the student supplies and materials will be when I finish setting up my room.  The wall above the Student Supply Center is tricky to design because of the lack of actual wall space.  I decided to make this wall area dedicated to Mistakes.  The Mistake Posters that I made this summer are on this wall.

My Teacher Desk Area
I decided to change my Teacher Desk Area a little this year. I spend more time in my classroom then I do at home during the school year.  I love the space I created for my Teacher Desk Area.

My New Teacher Wall Hanging 
Next to my desk is my new I Teach wall hanging that I made this summer to coordinate with my new updated Teacher Desk Area.

Thanks for stopping by and checking out my Growth Mindset Classroom Reveal #notreadytour. :o)