Tuesday, December 15, 2015

As we wrap up the first semester, both students and teachers alike ask the question, "Where has the time gone?" It has been an eventful semester, and the students have grown a lot.

In Consumer Math, the students are required to find out how much they've spent and made in the school year so far. They have been turning this in every week but now need to have it broken up per month. I'm hoping that by tracking expenses, they can compare what they've made to what they've spent. It could help them budget if they so choose.

For Pre-Calculus, we just finished what could arguably be the hardest chapter of the book. Substituting trigonometric identities is hard and takes extra insight. However, the students have flown through it and done a wonderful job.

The Algebra II (Math-U-See) class has had hard lessons and easy ones. Currently, we are working on manipulating equations to solve for the variable being requested in the problem. Last week, they were able to work with percents in word problems. They didn't complain too much with that lesson.

Speaking of word problems, Math 87 is being hit by them full force. As the year goes on, they continue to see them more and more. Word problems aren't anybody's favorite, but life is one word problem right after the next. Seldom are you given an equation to solve in life. Normally, you have to analyze each real life situation; decide what's required to solve it; find the proper tools, skills, knowledge, and ideas to solve it; and then use those to conquer that real life situation (welcome to word problems).

We could go on, but we'll just finish up by recognizing that this has been an adventurous first half of the year. I can't wait to see what the next half will bring our way!

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