Decimal Operations Foldable

Tomorrow's lesson is on multiplying and dividing rational numbers.  What we find in 7th grade is that many students still struggle with decimal and fraction operations.  We just finished learning how to multiply and divide integers the other day.  Love the way Carnegie teaches integer operations.  That really deserves its own post someday.

Anyway, today was a half day and it was the perfect amount of time to correct homework and then finish a foldable they started last week (when we were doing addition and subtraction of rational numbers).  We also did a separate foldable on multiplying and dividing fractions and mixed numbers (again another post for another time).

The material we covered today is expected to be mastered when they come to my class, but with many students that is just not the case.  The foldable I used can be found here.  I would like to make the multiplication example a bit more challenging, but beggars cannot be choosers and this foldable was already made and good enough for me to use for the purpose intended.  Someday I will make some original foldables, but with a new curriculum implementation that is a very low priority at this moment.

Front of the foldable

Foldable inside

Addition example projected on SMARTBoard

Subtraction 

Multiplication

Division

I really like projecting what the students fill in on their foldable.  We go through each example step by step and it goes MUCH more quickly if they are able to follow along with the SMARTBoard.

Two Foldables-Ratio, Rate, and Proportion and Measures of Central Tendency

Life has been crazy busy lately as always, but I am so proud of myself today!  I left school at 4 PM, stopped at the grocery store for a few items on my way home from school with my oldest, and then came home and made a delish dinner of spaghetti and meatballs, italian garlic flat beans, salad, and french bread.  I also helped my middle with his homework.  In other words I was able to do my most important job, and that's being a mom!  I brought nothing home from school with me so I can take a mental break from all the Common Core research I do (well I will probably spend some time on Pinterest tonight).

I had PT conferences last Thursday and they went really really well.  I do love my students this year.  I have one class that makes me smile every single day (even on the crazy days), because so many of them come in every single day excited and happy and looking forward to my math class and they say hi to me and ask how my day is going.  It's crazy, but true and I just love them for that.  As busy, and challenging at times, as it's been it has been a good year.

I found an amazing resource for some middle school math foldables here.  We used two of the foldables in class a few weeks ago and I have to say the kids loved them and they were a great study resource for the quiz we had covering ratios and rates as well as stem-and-leaf plots (with measures of central tendency).

Measures of Central Tendency Foldable

The back of the foldable with a Stem-and-Leaf Plot added to match what we were doing

Inside, following my color scheme LOL!

Ratio/Rate/Proportion Foldable

I have been really stressing lately about a major shift our instructional delivery method for math at the middle school next year.  This afternoon I met with my principal and the director of instruction, two ladies that I admire and greatly respect, and I have to say I am feeling much better about everything.  I am really excited for the innovative approach we are going to be taking next year.  It will be tons of work, but so exciting and I feel much calmer about the process after spending some time this afternoon chatting with both ladies.

I have been finding some amazing CCSS resources for middle school math (with links to take you to other levels), so be sure to check out my Pinterest boards via the link above.  Hope you are having a great Monday.  It feels good to be wearing my mommy hat for the evening!