Friday 8/30

Three weeks are now in the books, and it's time for a well-deserved three day weekend! Enjoy your Labor Day, everyone!

Next week we'll move even more deeply into the world of algebra as we tackle expressions and polynomials. If you want to preview a bit of what we'll be looking at, give this website a shot.

Parents: If you weren't able to make it to last night's Back-to-School Night, here are some of the materials we used last night when talking about our class:
Back to School Slide Deck | Thursday Preview Sheet Sample
Friday Homework/Notes Quiz Sample | Friday Test Sample

Here's this week's extra credit:

Thursday 8/29

Today in class we reviewed for Common Assesmment #1, which we will be taking tomorrow!

Homework #12: Finish the Common Assessment #1 Preview sheet

Solutions: CA #1 Preview Key Front | Back

For those that might like to see the first ten problems worked out,
here is a video clip of the amazing Mr. Martinez working through them:

 

You'll be able to use the following assignments for tomorrow's homework and class work quiz; please make sure to have them with you and fully ready to go:

Week # 3
Openers / Warm-Ups
Notes #5
Notes #6
Notes #7
Assignment #9 (TB pg 331)
Assignment #10 (TB pg 341 & 348)
Assignment #11 (TB pg 354)

Wednesday 8/28

We continued working with exponents with notes #7 today. We reviewed two more key principles to help us simplify and evaluate problems involving powers:

1. When dividing two terms with the same base you subtract the exponent. 
2. When raising a quotient to a power you raise both the numerator and denominator to that power. 

Homework #11: TB pg. 354 (#1-11, 21-35, 43-49, 53 odd)
Please check your answers in the back of the book when finished.

Now that we've covered all of the exponent rules, the only missing component is you doing enough practice to be prepared for Common Assessment #1 on Friday.

Here's a great website to help you practice your exponent skills. Try all three difficulty levels!

Tuesday 8/27

Today we continued working with exponents with notes #6. We reviewed three key principles to help us simplify and evaluate problems involving powers:

1. When multiplying two terms with the same base you add the exponent.
2. When raising a power to a power you multiply the powers.
3. When raising a product to a power you raise each piece to that power.

Homework #10: TB pg. 341 (#7-21 odd, 31-39 odd)
& pg. 348 (#9-21 odd, 33-39 odd)

Please check your answers in the back of the book when finished. Here are some of the homework problems worked out.

Monday 8/26

Today we began reviewing zero and negative exponent rules with notes #5. Exponent rules are essential to algebra and will be a main focus of our upcoming Common Assessment #1 (this Friday).

Homework #9: TB pg. 331 (#1-37 odd)
Please check your answers in the back of the book when finished.

Friday 8/23

Congratulations on successfully navigating your second week of algebra I!

If either this week's homework and class work quiz or this week's test did not go as well for you as you were hoping, please make some changes in your approach for next week. It gets harder from here.

Here's this week's extra credit:

Thursday 8/22

Today in class we completed assignment #7, Pyramid Math 2, and reviewed for our second test, which will be tomorrow.

The preview sheet that was passed out in class today looks exactly like tomorrow's test, just with different numbers. If you can complete the preview sheet without any problems, you should be totally prepared for tomorrow's test.

Classwork #7: Pyramid Math 2 worksheet
Solutions: Pyramid Math 2 solutions

Homework #8: Test 2 Preview Sheet
Solutions: Preview Sheet Solutions

You'll be able to use the following assignments for tomorrow's homework and class work quiz; please make sure to have them with you and fully ready to go:

Week 2
Openers / Warm-Ups
Notes #2
Notes #3
Notes #4
Assignment #2 (The Magic "X" 2)
Assignment #3 (The Magic "X" 3)
Assignment #4 (TB pg 13)
Assignment #5 (Pyramid Math)
Assignment #6 (TB pg 20 & pg 43)
Assignment #7 (Pyramid Math 2)

Wednesday 8/21

Today we took notes #4 to review important vocabulary that will be essential for success in algebra. Please make sure to study these notes for at least ten minutes tonight.

Class work #5: Pyramid Math worksheet
Solutions: Pyramid Math key

Homework #6: TB pg 20 (#11-23 odd) and pg 43 (#77-81 odd)
Please check your answers in the back of the book when finished.

Tuesday 8/20

Today we had The Magic "X" 3 for class work, then took notes #3 on the Order of Operations.

Class work #3: Magic "X" 3 worksheet
Solutions: Magic "X" 3 key

Homework #4: Textbook page 13 (#15-27 odd, 41, 43, 63)

Homework solutions are available in the back of the textbook. Please check your answers when finished.


The websites found below will provide you with extra integer operations practice. Doing one of these a day would only take a few minutes, and would greatly help you down the road when you're expected to handle these quickly and flawlessly.

ADDITION and SUBTRACTION
MULTIPLICATION and DIVISION

Monday 8/19

Today we took notes #2 on adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing integers.

Homework #2: "Magic X" 2 worksheet (both sides)

Solutions: Side A, Side B.


The websites found below will provide you with extra practice, for those looking to gain complete mastery.

ADDITION and SUBTRACTION
MULTIPLICATION and DIVISION

Friday 8/16

Congrats on completing your first week of 8th grade! The real work will begin on Monday.

Here is this week's extra credit:

Thursday 8/15

Our objective today was to learn how to complete a Magic "X". A Magic "X" is completed by filling in the missing numbers so that the top is the product of the left and right sides, while the bottom is the sum of the left and right sides.

We took Notes #1 in class today. Tonight's homework is the Magic "X" worksheet. Please use this solutions sheet to check your answers and correct your work at home.

Quiz tomorrow! Be sure to study and to have your curriculum paper, class notes, and homework with you as a tool in class tomorrow.

Wednesday 8/14

Welcome to Mr. Rothe's Algebra I class. Please be sure to bookmark this page and check back for daily updates! While you're poking around, feel free to check out many of the links at the side of the blog to begin investigating different resources that may be of benefit this year.

Today in class we talked about my expectations for the school year, daily and weekly routines, and many other nuts and bolts that will set us up for a successful year together. Tonight's homework is to review the curriculum paper with parents, fill out the signature slip at the bottom, and also complete the 25 Important Questions worksheet. For a copy of those documents, please click the links below.

Algebra I Curriculum Paper
Mr. Rothe's 25 Important Questions

I'm looking forward to a great year with everyone!

A Pep Talk

What will you create that will make the world awesome?

Back to School

Welcome to the 2013-2014 school year, and my Algebra I class website.

I look forward to meeting you on our first day together: Wednesday, August 14th.