Madmathteacher EduBlog http://madmathteacher.edublogs.org The EduBlog for Mr. Smith's math classes Tue, 20 May 2008 18:26:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 en Similarity http://madmathteacher.edublogs.org/2008/04/02/similarity/ http://madmathteacher.edublogs.org/2008/04/02/similarity/#comments Wed, 02 Apr 2008 19:13:42 +0000 madmathteacher http://madmathteacher.edublogs.org/2008/04/02/similarity/ Today we used the web site Similar Figures to explore similar figures and scale factor. (We used the “Similar Figure,” “Pantagraph,” and “Two Squares” links on that site.) Feel free to play around with those to continue our studies. I have also added this link to our Links tab at the top of the EduBlog. Enjoy!


Authored by madmathteacher. Hosted by Edublogs.]]> http://madmathteacher.edublogs.org/2008/04/02/similarity/feed/ Mrs. Burk’s Fraction Rap http://madmathteacher.edublogs.org/2008/03/05/mrs-burk-fraction-rap/ http://madmathteacher.edublogs.org/2008/03/05/mrs-burk-fraction-rap/#comments Wed, 05 Mar 2008 19:52:57 +0000 madmathteacher http://madmathteacher.edublogs.org/2008/03/05/mrs-burk-fraction-rap/ I love this rap! It helps you remember how to change a mixed number to an improper fraction.
Download Video: Posted by kcollazo at TeacherTube.com.


Authored by madmathteacher. Hosted by Edublogs.]]> http://madmathteacher.edublogs.org/2008/03/05/mrs-burk-fraction-rap/feed/ Still Struggling with Multiplication? http://madmathteacher.edublogs.org/2008/03/03/still-struggling-with-multiplication/ http://madmathteacher.edublogs.org/2008/03/03/still-struggling-with-multiplication/#comments Mon, 03 Mar 2008 12:22:19 +0000 madmathteacher http://madmathteacher.edublogs.org/2008/03/03/still-struggling-with-multiplication/ I have noticed that many of you are still struggling with some of your multiplication facts, so I’m looking for a few ways to help you. The first step I’d like to offer is this: I found the following School House Rock videos…

“Three is a Magic Number”

“The Four-Legged Zoo”

“I Got Six”

“Lucky Seven Sampson”

“Figure Eight”


Authored by madmathteacher. Hosted by Edublogs.]]> http://madmathteacher.edublogs.org/2008/03/03/still-struggling-with-multiplication/feed/ Start of 3rd Quarter http://madmathteacher.edublogs.org/2008/01/14/start-of-3rd-quarter/ http://madmathteacher.edublogs.org/2008/01/14/start-of-3rd-quarter/#comments Mon, 14 Jan 2008 20:07:00 +0000 madmathteacher http://madmathteacher.edublogs.org/2008/01/14/start-of-3rd-quarter/ Choose a restaurant where you will eat (make one up if you need to). Pick at least 3 things to buy off the menu, and total up the cost of these items. Add 7% sales tax to your total, then find a 15%-20% tip on top of that to find your total cost.

A complete answer will have:

  1. Name of restaurant
  2. Name of each item you buy
  3. Cost of each item you buy
  4. How much tax you pay, in dollars and cents (What is 7% of the total of your items?)
  5. What percent you tip, and what dollar amount that comes to
  6. The final/total cost for your bill

Authored by madmathteacher. Hosted by Edublogs.]]> http://madmathteacher.edublogs.org/2008/01/14/start-of-3rd-quarter/feed/ Right brain / left brain test — just for fun http://madmathteacher.edublogs.org/2007/12/13/right-brain-left-brain-test-just-for-fun/ http://madmathteacher.edublogs.org/2007/12/13/right-brain-left-brain-test-just-for-fun/#comments Fri, 14 Dec 2007 05:02:00 +0000 madmathteacher http://madmathteacher.edublogs.org/2007/12/13/right-brain-left-brain-test-just-for-fun/ Here’s an interesting web site shared by one of the Edublogs on my RSS feed: http://www.wherecreativitygoestoschool.com/vancouver/left_right/rb_test.htm. If you want to, you could give this self-test a try and post your results here, just for fun. (It could also give me some insight into how to teach you better.)


Authored by madmathteacher. Hosted by Edublogs.]]> http://madmathteacher.edublogs.org/2007/12/13/right-brain-left-brain-test-just-for-fun/feed/ Just for fun — division or fractions http://madmathteacher.edublogs.org/2007/12/05/just-for-fun/ http://madmathteacher.edublogs.org/2007/12/05/just-for-fun/#comments Wed, 05 Dec 2007 21:21:00 +0000 madmathteacher http://madmathteacher.edublogs.org/2007/12/05/just-for-fun/ If you want a post to work on, you can do this one:

Find a fun web site about division and fractions, or something that helps you learn more about computers. Post that link here for others to check out. This (optional) fun assignment comes courtesy of tjac & rsel!


Authored by madmathteacher. Hosted by Edublogs.]]> http://madmathteacher.edublogs.org/2007/12/05/just-for-fun/feed/ Multiplication games http://madmathteacher.edublogs.org/2007/11/27/multiplication-games/ http://madmathteacher.edublogs.org/2007/11/27/multiplication-games/#comments Tue, 27 Nov 2007 13:43:00 +0000 madmathteacher http://madmathteacher.edublogs.org/2007/11/27/multiplication-games/ Please post a comment to this blog entry that shares a web link you can use to practice multiplication facts, and explain why you like the site you chose to share.


Authored by madmathteacher. Hosted by Edublogs.]]> http://madmathteacher.edublogs.org/2007/11/27/multiplication-games/feed/ Rapping up decimals http://madmathteacher.edublogs.org/2007/11/26/rapping-up-decimals/ http://madmathteacher.edublogs.org/2007/11/26/rapping-up-decimals/#comments Mon, 26 Nov 2007 22:55:00 +0000 madmathteacher http://madmathteacher.edublogs.org/2007/11/26/rapping-up-decimals/ I copied this post and its comments from the old blog location at Wordpress:

Here’s my (pathetic?) decimal rap:

To add decimals, you draw a line.
To divide, you move it out.
Subtract, you also draw a line.
Multiply, you have to count.

I’m pretty sure you can do better. Your assignment? Make up your own song or rap that tells how to add, subtract, multiply, and divide decimals, and post it here as a comment. Remember my post “Wrapping up decimals” — it has the key ideas that need to be included in your song or rap. If you have a different idea (other than a song or rap) for a creative way you’d like to show your learning about decimal operations, please ask me about it at school or through e-mail, and I’ll be glad to accommodate you!


Authored by madmathteacher. Hosted by Edublogs.]]> http://madmathteacher.edublogs.org/2007/11/26/rapping-up-decimals/feed/ End of first quarter http://madmathteacher.edublogs.org/2007/10/22/end-of-first-quarter/ http://madmathteacher.edublogs.org/2007/10/22/end-of-first-quarter/#comments Mon, 22 Oct 2007 12:55:00 +0000 madmathteacher http://madmathteacher.edublogs.org/2007/10/22/end-of-first-quarter/ Well, the first quarter is coming to a close…it’s time to reflect on what we’ve learned together. Thinking back on what you learned about in math class during first quarter, answer at least two of the following questions:

  1. What was the most interesting thing you learned in first quarter, and why?
  2. What was the most difficult thing you learned in first quarter, and why?
  3. What did you learn this quarter that you will be able to use in your future? How will you use it?
  4. How could math class be made better for the upcoming quarter?

Authored by madmathteacher. Hosted by Edublogs.]]> http://madmathteacher.edublogs.org/2007/10/22/end-of-first-quarter/feed/ Feedback and comments http://madmathteacher.edublogs.org/2007/10/19/feedback-and-comments/ http://madmathteacher.edublogs.org/2007/10/19/feedback-and-comments/#comments Sat, 20 Oct 2007 02:33:00 +0000 madmathteacher http://madmathteacher.edublogs.org/2007/10/19/feedback-and-comments/ Several students seem to be wanting to make comments and offer feedback, and they’re not quite sure where to post it. I don’t really want it posted under an assignment location, because then it’s harder to keep track of the actual assignment contributions versus the comments. So I’ve been copying these comments over to the post “New blog location” for now, but I thought maybe it’d be good to just have a post here that was specifically for those random comments, feedback, ideas, ways to improve the site, etc. So if you have comments you just want to get out there, please feel free to post them here!


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