A New Year means a New Start

Happy Holidays Everyone,

It is getting close to the end of 2014 and the beginning of 2015. 2015 will be a big year for my 8th graders. This is the year you will enter high school but before you do we need to prepare you.

If you remember, last week you had a bell ringer asking you to write down your goals for 2015. Several of you wrote that you would like to do better in school. One of my goals for this next semester is to help prepare you for high school and if you are in 7th grade help you become more successful in your own learning.

I have big plans for next semester. Be prepared for a big change in the way I am "teaching."

My personal goal as a teacher for 2015 is to reach EVERY student. By reaching every student, I mean I hope to make sure every student learns the concepts and is not left behind. I want to help you learn how you learn best. This goes along with my change in the way I will be teaching. I understand students learn in different styles and at different paces. I am working on plans to allow each student to work on meeting goals at their own pace but in a certain time frame.

 I was so impressed with my 8th graders' project, I have decided each unit we will have an overall project will take the place of homework. Along with the projects, I will be having ticket out the doors to help me determine the level of understand each student is at.

Since all of you are my focus for 2015, I have a quick survey to help me learn what worked and what did not work for you in first semester. Click here for survey.



I am excited about this new year! I hope this break allows you to come back refreshed and ready to learn.


Have a Fantastic Break,
Mrs. Gilliam

7th Graders and 8th Graders: Finding a Rate or Rate of Change Part 1

In 7th grade, we have been talking about different types of rates. We have discussed the meaning of unit rate and rate of change. 

Unit Rate: When rates are expressed as a quantity of 1, such as 2 feet per second or 5 miles per hour, they are called unit rates.

Rate of Change: A ratio between a change in one variable relative to a corresponding change in another. Most often discussed with time and speed.

The reason I said both 7th and 8th graders for this post is because 8th graders will need to remember this idea for the upcoming unit. (You are not allowed to forget what you learned in 7th grade! It is a building block each year!)

We can find rate of change and unit rate in various ways. We can see it in a story, graph, table, pattern, or an equation. 

Above is a table showing temperature rising. Students may be asked the question what is the rate of change in this table and what does it mean.

First, I would start by defining the independent and dependent variables. 

Time = Independent = X 

Temperature = Dependent = Y

Next, I would look how is the table changing.... I have scratched out what I would with this problem below.

I could next say, I have a rate of change of 9 degrees every 3 hours. Some students may want to change this rate into a unit rate by saying the temperature increases 3 degrees every hour.

What are some other rates that are equivalent to the 9 degrees every 3 hours? (Classdojo point)

Next post will be finding it from a pattern, equation, and graph. 

Have a Great Sunday!

Mrs. Gilliam

7th Graders: How to Study for the Unit 2 Test

Good Morning Parents and Students,

I have decided to start a blog for the class to help the parents that are struggling with Edline. My goal is to use this blog as a one-stop spot to get a better idea of what we are doing in class and how you can support your child. I want my classroom to be transparent as if you were sitting in the classroom with your child. If I make grammatical errors or misspell words, it is more than likely due to me rushing.

How to Study for the Unit 2 Test:

1. Review your notes from your math notebook.

2. Work extra practice problems like the ones found here (multiplying and dividing integers), and here (lots of worksheets with answers to check) On the second link, you can also click dividing fractions and decimals or any of the links on the side that is fractions and decimals.

3. Watch tutorial videos online and work through the problems with them:

Multiplying Fractions: https://www.khanacademy.org/math/cc-seventh-grade-math/cc-7th-fractions-decimals/cc-7th-mult-div-frac/v/multiplying-negative-and-positive-fractions

Multiplying Mixed Numbers: https://www.khanacademy.org/math/pre-algebra/fractions-pre-alg/mixed-number-mult-div-pre-alg/v/multiplying-mixed-numbers

Dividing Fractions: https://www.khanacademy.org/math/cc-seventh-grade-math/cc-7th-fractions-decimals/cc-7th-mult-div-frac/v/examples-of-dividing-negative-fractions

Converting Fractions to Decimals: https://www.khanacademy.org/math/cc-seventh-grade-math/cc-7th-fractions-decimals/cc-7th-fracs-to-decimals/v/converting-fractions-to-decimals-example

Multiplying Decimals: https://www.khanacademy.org/math/cc-sixth-grade-math/cc-6th-arithmetic-operations/cc-6th-multiplying-decimals/v/multiplying-decimals

Dividing Decimals: https://www.khanacademy.org/math/cc-sixth-grade-math/cc-6th-arithmetic-operations/cc-6th-div-decimals/v/dividing-decimals

Multiplying Decimal WP: https://www.khanacademy.org/math/cc-sixth-grade-math/cc-6th-arithmetic-operations/cc-6th-multiplying-decimals/v/mulitplyling-decimals-3

Great Resource for Extra Practice: https://www.khanacademy.org/math/cc-sixth-grade-math/cc-6th-arithmetic-operations

Reminder: We are only looking at rational numbers (no exponents).

As you can tell I used Khan Academy for all of these. Khan Academy is a great resource to give students the ability to practice problems with a saftey net (the hints).

4. Come in for a last minute study session Monday morning at 7:30.

The students have been working really hard on this unit. If they take their time and remember the rules, they will do great on this test.


Have a Great Day,
Mrs. Gilliam