Mr. F's Algebra 2 Blog 2007-2008

Events for Week 5: Feb. 4-8

Jonathan Fjelstrom — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 19:25:41 +0000

Monday (4):

Retake BM 7.1-7.4 and 12.1

First Block (5): [Note: CAHSEE Begins]

Review and Check HW: 9-12

Growth and Decay Models

Return Tests and BMs

Demo Moodle forums again

HW: Log into Moodle and Answer Choice and Virtual Lounge

Second Block (7):

8.3 The Number e

Origin of e
Approximation (how calculated)
Examples of simplifying
Examples of graphing

Continuous Interest A=Pe^rt

HW: #13 page 483 #17-31 (odd), 41-75 (odd)

8.4 Logarithmic Function Introduction

definition of log
rewriting
calculator work

HW: #14 page 490 #17-63 (odd)

For Tuesday, Bring your book for a resource. Grade report due NEXT Thursday.

Events for Week 4, Jan 28-Feb 1

Jonathan Fjelstrom — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 06:59:32 +0000

Monday (28): [Inservice, early release]

BM 7.1-7.4, 12.1

Evaluating exponential expressions a(b)^x

First Block (29): [Book Day]

New Seats

Warm-up on evaluating expressions

8.1 and 8.2 Exponential Growth and Decay models

difference between growth/decay
asymptotes
examples of graphing and shifting

HW: #9 page 469 #13-41 (odd)

HW: #10 page 477 #11-41 (odd)

Second Block (31): [Book Day]

Exponential Growth/Decay Models

A=P(1+r)^nt

HW: #11 page 470 #43-48 (all), 57-62 (all)

HW: #12 page 478 #43-55 (all), 67

For Monday:Retake BM 7.1-7.4, 12.1

BM 7.1-7.4 Review

Jonathan Fjelstrom — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 17:55:02 +0000

Warm-up and check #5

Practice BM 7.1-7.4

Group Work

HW: #6 BM 7.1-7.4 Review

Another change in plans

Jonathan Fjelstrom — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 17:36:34 +0000

Hello everyone. You may notice that those last 2 posts do not have questions. It was my goal with this semester as with last semester to keep on top of posting our class events and getting feedback from you. I have enjoyed reading all 1300 comments so far this year. At this pace, we would hit over 3000 comments, with just 2 classes! Last year there was 3300 comments with 5 classes. This is truly amazing. I think this blog had a lot to do with how well we did as a class on the fall final. Not only that, but due to the increased traffic to the website, I’m now hit #1 on Google!

However, I am juggling too many things right now. At school I’m trying to update blogs, add moodle activities, grading papers, grading benchmarks, making lesson plans, and all the other stuff associated with being a teacher. At home I am trying to keep up with my 2 sons’ activities, write my Master’s Thesis on Educational Technology (50+ pages of writing and research), as well as prepare our home for a new baby due to arrive in June. I can’t keep up with it all.

So I have decided to use the blog only for listing HW and the day’s activities. But don’t worry, we will still have our posting for points! I will be using the forums on Moodle to create discussion on our current topics of study. This has benefits that the blog does not. For one, you can see your “grade” for the comment. This will then give you an opportunity to fix/add to it. It is also more of a discussion, so dialog can go back and forth if needed. It will be easier for me to track so I won’t have 110 emails I have to read and record. Plus with the practice benchmarks on Moodle, a calendar for upcoming dates, and all the other features, it just makes sense.

So thank you all for the comments. Happy Moodling!

9.6 Solving Rational Equations

Jonathan Fjelstrom — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 17:07:10 +0000

Today we looked at solving rational equations. This is BM 7.4. We had a lot of time to work on the assignment #5 WS 9.6B #1-20 all. Here are the notes and the handout.

Solving Equations Review

Jonathan Fjelstrom — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 17:03:25 +0000

We started class with a check of HW #3 and a warm-up and then took our first homework quid: HW Quiz #1. After that, we worked on our homework: #4 page 567 #57-71 (all).

9.5 Complex Fractions

Jonathan Fjelstrom — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 22:38:51 +0000

Doesn’t the name alone sound like a blast!

First off we check any homework questions and went over the warm up (practice BM 7.1-2) before we went into adding and subtracting rational Expressions. We looked at the process of adding and subtracting rational expressions (BM 7.3 by the way), and also looked at a complex fraction (part 2 of BM 7.3). The assignment is # 3 page 565 #13-45 (odd).

Coming up: Book day and HW Quiz #1 on Monday, 1/14

Posting for Points Question:

Describe in your own words the process for simplifying a complex fraction.

9.4 Rational Expressions

Jonathan Fjelstrom — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 22:37:29 +0000

We started class with some group work/review on factoring (page 349 #50-67 (all)) in preparation for everyone’s favorite: Fractions!

Rational Expressions are just like fractions, except that they have variables in them. We add and subtract them just like fractions (getting a common denominator), and we simplify them like fractions (finding common multiples). Today was simplifying, multiplying, and dividing rational expressions. It really is just factoring and then cross-canceling. Fun stuff! The assignment for tonight is #2 page 558 #17-49 (odd). Good examples of BM 7.1 and 7.2 can be found on this assignment, too.

Coming Up: Book Day tomorrow and HW Quiz on Monday, 1/14

Posting for Points Question:

What must you do first to simplify a rational expression? Give an example!

Here we go again!

Jonathan Fjelstrom — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 22:23:57 +0000

Welcome back to all of you! I hope you had a happy holidays. While I didn’t get an iPhone for Christmas, I did get a lot of projects accomplished around the house and really enjoyed the time with my family.

After a few announcements and information about some policy updates, we jumped right into the curriculum. Today was a review of exponents and their properties. Our first assignment of the new semester is #1: page 242 #42-90 (even). The answers are given below the problem, but of course- SHOW YOUR WORK!! Download it here.

Coming up: Book Day tomorrow and Thursday and our first HW Quiz on Monday, 1/14.

Posting for points question:

How was your holidays? Share your favorite gift or memory from your 3 weeks off. And by the way, sleeping in (as enjoyable as it is) is not a memory!

Potential Grades

Jonathan Fjelstrom — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 23:22:10 +0000

While I still have a few misc. assignments to record (and you have a few benchmarks to retake!), I have put a few grade reports up so you can see how the final can affect your grade.

Best Case Final (if you were to get 100% on the final)

Worst Case Final (if you were to get a 0%)

Practice Final (your practice final grade as your actual final).