Valerie's Math Class

Are you working through Dilations and looking for a FUN art project for your students? This allows ALL your students to become an artist! Students have fun picking their own cartoon and recreating their larger dilated image. All students become ARTISTS in this activity!!!! This really made students connect to what a dilation was. We also get them talking about vocabulary, such as scale.

This is the MOST successful lesson I taught because of the emphasis on conceptual learning. Students start with identifying opposite, adjacent and hypotenuse (pg 1). They practice pythagorean theorem to find the third side length. Pg 2 students measure side lengths and create ratios. Students next to each other have opposing investigations (1 and 2). They then compare their ratios and we talk about why we get the same ratio decimal even though side lengths are totally different - ANGLES! I then

Graphing logs and exponential graphs. Guided notes take students through parent functions, recognizing (1,0) and (0,1) to graphing shifts. KEY is also included. Add the Graphing Logs & Exp Exit Ticket to complete the lesson!

This is the first introduction to Quadrilaterals - we went through each property of each quadrilateral and marked the diagrams accordingly. This helped tremendously when pointing out their KEY differences and understanding the Heirarchy of Quads. I guarantee this is as a great first start intro to quads!

Who doesn't love dogs?!!! In this activity, students will investigate whether the rule of 7 human years = 1 dog year. Students will learn how to do a linear regression using a TI calculator to create the function. I did this lesson AFTER we did linear functions from a table. So when they felt comfortable doing this by hand, I was ready to show them this. We use the LINEAR REGRESSION tool when the change is not the same each time. Students loved this activity and were able to relate to it because

Editable Microsoft Word Document Every year I fill out this sheet to give me a quick 1 page view for each of my IEP and/or 504 students. This does not replace the power of a full written IEP but does create a cheat sheet for you to quickly reference when you need it. It will keep you accountable with the quick guide of accommodations.

Take your students understanding of Transformations to the next level by having them make their OWN series of transformations. Students MUST use a Reflection, Rotation and Translation. I have found my students know all the rules MUCH better after actually applying them here. They also learn the IMPORTANCE OF LABELING and BEING VERY NEAT with their work! 10/10 my kids love doing this! Easy set up - only graph paper needed + rulers. Rubric that you can edit included!

I used this as the INTRO activity for solving linear equations. It is basic word problems where students naturally come to realize they already search for a "missing variable" in life all the time! I LOVE that students get the WHY behind solving linear equations right away when you introduce through this. In addition, students realize that ONLY ONE solution will make a scenario make sense - hence why we can substitute back in to confirm our answer. I also then introduced NO SOLUTION and INFINITE

Students will find the slope algebraically given two points. Then, plot two points to confirm the slope graphically. Afterwards, students circle if the slope is positive, negative, zero or undefined. There are four problems and students experience each of the 4 kinds of slopes! It is great for them to see and experience doing each of the four ways. We end with two critical thinking questions with slopes of zero and undefined.

Two different versions A and B. Goes along with the guided notes product.

Guided Notes - beginning with recognizing slope for parallel and perpendicular lines. Then graphing regular linear equations. Then finding the equation of a line parallel and perpendicular and graphing both. Worked great in my lesson and students could graph both parallel and perpendicular lines after.

Are you trying to get to know your students better in math class? Do you want to know if they have an after school job, live with any other siblings, have a growth mindset? This sheet is a great activity for you to get to know your students. I specifically tailored it to MATH students but you can mirror it to fit another course. 10/10 I use every year and refer back to it when I need to know more about a struggling learner.

Half sheet (to save paper) - First page is guided notes and three examples of the three ways to find the equation (1- given two points, 2-give slope and a point, 3-give x or y-intercept(s)). The back page is practice. KEY Included for the back page.

Guided Quadratic Formula - going from graphing solution(s) so students understand why there is one solution, two or no real. Then, an example of obtaining one solution, two or no real. Then, the discriminant - talk about why one, two or none happen. Then, practice for students to try.

I used this lesson after my investigation to go from making 6 ratios to making 1. Then we did notes on finding side length given an angle and a side length. The back is practice doing both types with key included. Great lesson- most successful one I have taught!

Transversal Investigation - two versions alternate with students. Students measure angles within a transversal using a protractor. Then, they come angles afterwards with the student next to them to answer the follow up questions by comparing their transversal and angles. They make MANY IMMEDIATE connections and thoughtful dialect happens everytime after. The second page is a bonus graphic organizer for all the terms that go along with a transversal.

I break this lesson up into multiple days but I use the chart throughout. I put the chart on colored paper and add to it each day. Super helpful for students to keep things organized. The back page is practice for day 1 doing reflections.

Geometry contains many vocabulary terms used throughout the year. I print this packet on COLORED paper for the first introductory chapter as we reference it throughout the year. I focus on the pictures in this packet as I go through each term to express special markings, such as tick marks and arches. I also am very specific about notation as this will come up over and over again in proofs. It is a great resource to reference throughout the year. I will say to students, "If you forget, take out