Day 45: Pythagorean Theorem Study Guide

Regular Math Objective: Find unknown triangle side lengths by applying the Pythagorean Theorem; Apply the Pythagorean Theorem in the coordinate plane

Regular Math Standards: 8.G. 6a. Understand the relationship among the sides of a right triangle. b. Analyze and justify the Pythagorean Theorem and its converse using pictures, diagrams, narratives, or models.
8.EE.7 Apply the Pythagorean Theorem to determine unknown side lengths in right triangles in real-world and mathematical problems in two and three dimensions.
8.EE.8 Apply the Pythagorean Theorem to find the distance between two points in a coordinate system.

Regular Math Lesson Sequence:

1. When students entered class we immediately got to work on two warm up problems. One problem asked students to turn 4/15 into a decimal and put it on a decimal number line correctly. The other problem asked students to divide using scientific notation. The denominator in that problem had a negative exponent. Both of these are questions that we have had misconceptions with and just plain old freezing. They will therefore be on a quiz the next day that have nothing to officially due with those topics. Where would we be without spiraling? 
2. QSSQ - During this time I explained that the second study guide could be done for 50 points again on the quiz. I love giving away 50 points. Standards assessment guru Rick Wormeli really thinks we should all be going to a four-point scale anyway (I bet in five years I will be grading on a four-point scale) because the 0 is way too unfair. 
3. I gave students two minutes to do the first two problems on the study guide and then reviewed them on the board.
4. I waited 8 more minutes for students to do problems 3 through 8 and then reviewed them on the board. After about six more minutes we had five minutes to go, so I reviewed the remaining problems at the board and passed out the second study guide. The answers (which are seen in the link) were available online for students to have feedback.

Honors Math Objective: Identify function notation and differentiate between the input and output in function notation

Honors Math Standards: A1.F-IF 2 Use function notation, evaluate functions for inputs in their domains, and interpret statements that use function notation in terms of a context.

Honors Math Lesson Sequence:

1. Pepper/Review HW 
2. QSSQ 
3. Exit Ticket. I did this with plenty of time left in class because I wanted to see what they retained from the homework and to avoid the bell getting in the way of impacting the authenticity of the assessment. It was a good idea. There was clear mastery in parts of the class, some students that were answering one out of two questions, and a few that have no clue. 
4. Students could ask any question that they wanted from the weekly quiz. The only catch was that I would not answer them. I had done way too much talking and spoon-feeding math answers and concepts for one day. So I had two students that already completed the weekly quiz without errors come to the front of the room as I did other teacher stuff. The class was a little less orderly and the students that went to the front could have done a better job communicating. That being said I would prefer to keep this routine in the future. The students struggle to explain even though they got answers correct and often do not recall if they received help when they originally did the assignment.