Miss Crandall & Mr. Duff Williams Lake Secondary School

1. Miss Crandall & Mr. Duff Williams Lake Secondary School

2. Who is Miss Crandall?

3. Who is Mr. Duff?

4. Different ways to get our attention… • Drop by either of our classrooms: Ms. Crandall rm. 109 or Mr. Duff rm. 114 • Send us an email: holly.crandall@sd27.bc.ca terry.duff@sd27.bc.ca • Send us a message on Engrade

5. Who are you?? • Grade 8 math students from all over Williams Lake and the Chilcotin region! • 42 math students!

6. Math is hard and you will need to ask questions. Ask LOTS of questions!

7. …The right people! • You can ask: • Us • Another classroom teacher / TA / or Principal • Another student who has already taken Math 8 • Another student in your class • Older brothers/sisters • Your parents • A math tutor

8. Ask questions until people get sick of hearing how much you care about math and your math education!

9. What are we going to study this year?

10. Students will learn Math 8… • using mathematics confidently to solve problems • using mathematics to better understand the world around us • communicating and reasoning mathematically • appreciating and valuing mathematics • making connections between mathematics and its applications • committing themselves to lifelong learning • becoming mathematically literate and using mathematic

11. What do I need to have with me for class?

12. Math Links 8 Textbook

13. A calculator

14. A binder/notebook and a pencil

15. Your smart brain!

16. How can I get an “a” in math?

17. 1. You will need to study. Period. Why Studying Math is Different · Reading a math text is not like reading a novel. You may have to stop and think about some lines before proceeding. · Math is a cumulative subject. If you miss a concept one day, it may come back to haunt you and could even prevent you from understanding concepts you study later. Always get help as soon as you recognize that you have a problem. · Build up a network of math partners you can consult if you run into a roadblock. These are the days of easy communication. Telephone, email, and instant messaging are all available. Use them.

18. 2. Your success is up to YOU Take Charge and Take Action · Take responsibility for your own success. If you find that you don't know or understand something, take whatever steps are necessary to fix the problem. Do not let others distract you from your purpose. · Be an active participant in the classroom. Volunteer answers to questions and offer to place solutions on the blackboard. Ask questions immediately when you think you have lost the thread of the lesson. · Math is learned by doing problems. Although you need to know some facts and procedures, you get really good at math by working through problems. It's wise to work on a problem yourself as much as possible. You may need to ask for help at some point, but don't give up too easily. The more you can do on your own, the more your brain will develop and the easier future problems will seem.

19. 3. Work through your tests carefully! Preparing for Tests · When you receive your test, take a minute or two to look it over. You don't have to do question #1 first. If you see that you know how to attack question #3, then do that one first. · Don't get bogged down on a question. If your strategy doesn't seem to be working and you are stuck for an alternative, go on to another question. · Sometimes you will not finish a test in the time allotted. If this seems to be happening, do not panic. Accept that you are not going to finish. Make it your goal to do as many questions as you can before the time runs out. · Read each question carefully. Be sure that you answer what was asked. · Be sure to show your work. If you make an error and arrive at the wrong answer, you will at least get partial marks.

20. Why do I need to study math?

21. Mathematics is a language and is required for consistent and clear communication of technical ideas. Numeracy! It includes the ability to apply various aspects of mathematics to understand, predict, and control routine events in people’s lives.

22. To be numerate: To be numerate, an individual should possess a variety of mathematical skills, knowledge, attitudes, abilities, understanding, intuition and experience which could be expressed as the following senses: • number sense • spatial sense • statistical sense • sense of relationship

23. Number Sense: Students need to develop competence and confidence in the handling of numbers and estimation. As adults, they will need to be able to compute with whole numbers, fractions, decimals and percents.

24. Spatial Sense: Some aspects of spatial sense include: interpreting plans, models and diagrams and creating these for a purpose, recognizing and visualizing common shapes and knowing their properties, and using the similarities and differences among objects. Equally, it is important to be able to estimate when a more accurate measurement is not required or possible.

25. Statistical Sense: Everyone needs to comprehend how information is collected and analyzed. They should also understand the nature of probability, the assumptions underlying predictions, and recognize misinformation in the form of bias and misleading graphical presentations. This sense is required because of the increase in statistical information presented throughout society.

26. Sense of Relationship: The ability to describe patterns and relationships between quantities is helpful when solving problems or connecting situations. At higher levels, this ability leads to the use of algebra and graphs to represent relationships. New discoveries are often the result of connecting mathematical ideas to everyday observations.