Different Ways to Solve the Bikes and Skateboard Problem

This week we have been working on developing characteristics of successful problem solvers as we working on the bikes and skateboard problem:

"A bike shop sold only bikes an skateboards.

All skateboards have 4 wheels and all bikes have 2 wheels.

There were 20 vehicles with a total of 52 wheels in the shop.

How many skateboards and bikes were in the shop?"

On Monday we discussed the importance of being persistent, and not giving up in the face of a challenge. On Tuesday, students finished working on their mini-posters and had a chance to participate in their first gallery walk, where they walked around and had a chance to view different ways of solving the problem and become more flexible in approaching problems in different ways. For homework tonight, students are asked to choose a different method (such as using a table, guess and check, making a drawing, writing an equations, etc), other than what they had tried in class. Here are a few examples of different ways students solved the bike and skateboard problem.

Bike and Skateboard Problem Solving Assessment

Please follow the link below for the Problem Solving Assessment:

https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dHgzWEpGeVlqSmtLUXoycy05aFF5bWc6MQ

The week of 9/13 notes

This is my first time trying this out...let me know if this works

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/10516607/8Math_09_13_10.notebook

Cool Site of Math Puzzles

I just found this online site filled with interesting and stimulating math puzzles and problems. Check them out. Just think how sharp your brain would be if you took 15 minutes out of your day that you spend online or watching tv to try these.

It's a workout for your brain!

http://www.transum.org/go/default.asp

Checkerboard Reflection

Please click on the link below to access the Checkerboard Partnership Reflection (due Monday Sept 13)

https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dDA3QkdTdjAtZVhHNVhPTUo0c2Zya0E6MQ

The Checkerboard Problem

Today we discussed the advantages of working within a group and began our first challenge in a partnership: the checkerboard problem.

How many squares are in a standard checkerboard?

We made a K-W-C table of what we

1) KNOW for sure

2) WANT to find out

3) Any special CONDITIONS

HW: Work on the Checkerboard Problem for 20 minutes and have an idea or strategy to share with your partner in class tomorrow. You are not expected to solve the problem, simply try out 1 or more strategies for 20 minutes and notice what worked and what did not.

Math Interview

Please follow the link below to access your first homework assignment, your Math Interview.

I look forward to hearing about your experiences and learning in math!

https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewformformkey=dGJDWHZET0EwYmxMRmlkc29uWFlPU1E6MQ

Welcome!

Welcome to an exciting new year together in 8th grade math!

This year we will continue to build and expand off concepts you began exploring in 7th grade, including working with variables, linear equations, and exponential growth. We will learn through a combination of hands-on investigations, based on the Connected Math Curriculum you have used in 6th and 7th grade math, where you work together to develop new understandings, and from traditional algebra text books that explain directly how and why we solve certain problems in different ways.

Our year together in math will be focused on the journey to understanding, rather than just getting the "right answer." I am excited to welcome a class of unique students and appreciate that each of you has your own strengths, and ways of understanding math, as well as your own challenges. This year we will focus on how can we share our thinking and understanding with one another to become better problem solvers.

I am very happy to welcome you to the beginning of our special journey together this year in 8th grade math!