Cumulative Math Schedule for June

GRADE 6 & 7
Friday, June 19, 2009 – Mathematics – periods 8, 9

GRADE 8
Monday, June 8, 2009 – Mathematics – periods 1, 2

Exam Class Site

MPR All of VanDyk’s classes
234 O’Malley’s period 2 class
221 O’Malley’s period 4 class
222 O’Malley’s period 7 class
216 O’Malley’s period 9 class
210 Murcko’s period 2 class
208 Murcko’s period 4 class
112 Snee’s class
119 Lally’s class
126 Noetzel’s class
213 Amoroso’s class

Parents Using Technology Workshop featuring GarageBand

I am pleased to invite you to attend our next Parents Using Technology Workshop, featuring GarageBand. The class will be held on Thursday, April 23rd, from 10:30 A.M. until 12:00 P.M. There are a limited number of seats due to the size of the computer lab, so early registration is recommended. The workshop will consist of lecture and hands on activities. I will be leading the workshop, and we will focus on how to create a multimedia math podcast using GarageBand. For those of you that might not be familiar with what a podcast might look like, I have included below a link to some of my former students’ work:
http://mathmrsnee.podomatic.com/entry/eg/2008-01-24T11_57_12-08_00
http://mathmrsnee.podomatic.com/entry/eg/2008-09-03T12_18_13-07_00

Our goal is to have you create a basic math podcast that could be uploaded into iTunes and published on the web like the student work above. If you have any questions regarding this offering, please reply to this blog posting. The morning will be a great way for you to learn more about a very powerful piece of technology as well as potentially publish something on the internet.

If you would like to register for this class, please send an email to me at tsnee@franklinlakes.k12.nj.us.

Have a good day and a great week.

Sláinte,
Mr. Snee
Math Coordinator Grades 5-8
tsnee@franklinlakes.k12.nj.us

Parents Using Technology Workshop featuring Jing

I am pleased to invite you to attend our next Parents Using Technology Workshop, featuring Jing. The class will be held on Wednesday, March 18th, from 7:00 P.M. until 8:30 P.M. There are a limited number of seats due to the size of the computer lab, so early registration is recommended. The workshop will consist of a lecture and hands-on activities. I will be leading the workshop, and we will focus on how to create a multimedia math screencast using Jing. For those of you that might not be familiar with what a Jing screencast might look like, I have included below a link to some of my students’ work:

http://www.franklinlakes.k12.nj.us/faculty/snee/Screencasts/akJingFactorTree.swf
http://www.franklinlakes.k12.nj.us/faculty/snee/Screencasts/NGBOXANDWHISKERPLOTS.swf

Our goal is to have you create a basic math screencast that could be uploaded to the Internet and published on the web, similar to the student work above. The workshop will be a great way for you to learn more about a very powerful piece of technology, as well as potentially publish something on the Internet. If you would like to register for this class, please send an email to me at tsnee@franklinlakes.k12.nj.us.

Have a good day and a great week.

Sláinte,
Mr. Snee
Math Coordinator Grades 5-8
tsnee@franklinlakes.k12.nj.us

Attention all Mathletes…

This Friday FAMS students in grades 6, 7, and 8 will participate in the NJ Math League Competition. The contest is open to the first 25 students from each grade that register. In order to sit for the competition you must email Mr. Snee on First Class. You will receive a confirmation email from him before Friday if you have a seat. The competition will be held in the MPR on Friday after school and will run from 3:00 until 3:45. There is a separate competition for each grade which means there will be at least three different winners. If you have any questions please see Mr. Snee.

Friday’s QSQ

The QSQ which was scheduled for Friday, December 19th, has been postponed until Wednesday, January 7th, due to the snow day cancellation. Please post a comment if you have any questions regarding this change in schedule and we appreciate your continued support of this initiative.

FAMS Mid-Year Cumulative Assessment Schedule

January 8, 9 2009 => Language Arts
January 12, 13 2009 => Social Studies
January 14, 15 2009 => Science
January 16, 20 2009 => Mathematics
January 21, 22 2009 => World Language/Merit (Grade 7 & 8 ONLY)

FAMS MATHCOUNTS Team awakens…

We are excited to announce the MATHCOUNTS Team will be starting again at FAMS next week. The FAMS MATHCOUNTS Team is open to all 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students who are interested in math and want to test their skills against the best students in Bergen County. All interested students should come to a brief informational meeting Tuesday, December 16, after school in room 234. If you can’t make the meeting but would still like to be involved in MathCounts, please contact Miss O’Malley. You can also visit: www.mathcounts.org for more information.

Results from ASMA Math Competition on November 13th

On Thursday, November 13, FAMS hosted our second ASMA math competition; we want to congratulate everyone that competed. There were a total of 20 students who represented all three grades. The “test” lasted for 35 minutes and included 7 short answer questions. We are required to submit our 8 highest scores as well as 2 alternate scores. We submitted the following scores:

• 1 perfect score of 7
• 4 scores of 6
• 3 scores of 5
• 2 alternate scores of 4

Two students have a cumulative score of 13 out of a possible 14 points and currently share first place within the FAMS rankings. Two other students have a cumulative score of 12 and are tied for third place.

We are very excited to provide our students with an opportunity to compete with a calculator and pencil the way they might with a soccer ball or basketball. The next competition is scheduled for Thursday, December 11, 2008. Any student interested in competing must register with Mr. Snee prior to December 11th. Please click on this LINK to see the Test from round 2 and click on this LINK to see the Answers from round 2.

Should you have any questions regarding the ASMA Competitions please feel free to contact Mr. Snee.

Parents Using Technology Workshop featuring GarageBand

Hello Parents,

I am pleased to invite you to our first Parents Using Technology Workshop featuring GarageBand. The class will be held on Thursday, November 20th from 7:00 P.M. until 8:30 P.M. There are a limited number of seats due to the size of the computer lab, so early registration is recommended. The workshop will consist of lecture and hands on activities. I will be leading the workshop, and we will focus on how to create a multimedia math podcast using Garageband. For those of you that might not be familiar with what a podcast might look like, I have included below a link to some of my former students’ work:
http://mathmrsnee.podomatic.com/entry/eg/2008-01-24T11_57_12-08_00
http://mathmrsnee.podomatic.com/entry/eg/2008-09-03T12_18_13-07_00

Our goal is to have you create a basic math podcast that could be uploaded into iTunes and published on the web like the student work above. If you have any questions regarding this new offering, please reply to this email. The evening will be a great way for you to learn more about a very powerful piece of technology as well as potentially publish something on the internet.

Have a nice day and a great weekend.

Sláinte,
Mr. Snee
Grade 7 Team Leader
Math Coordinator Grades 5-8
tsnee@franklinlakes.k12.nj.us
GO GIANTS!!!

Math Help Websites

Below are some websites that you may find helpful, please let us know if there are others that you use as well.

Middle School

Math Playground	Math League Help
Coolmath.com	edHelper.com
SoftSchools.com	Aplusmath.com Worksheets

Algebra

Math Playground	edHelper.com
Free Algebra 1 Worksheet	Algebra Bootcamp

FAMS and the AMC 8

On November 18, 2008 all FAMS students in grade 8 will participate in the 24th annual American Mathematics Competition 8 (AMC 8). The AMC 8 is a 25 question, 40 minute multiple choice examination in junior high school (middle school) mathematics designed to promote the development and enhancement of problem solving skills. The examination provides an opportunity to apply the concepts taught at the junior high level to problems which not only range from easy to difficult but also cover a wide range of applications. Many problems are designed to challenge students and to offer problem solving experiences beyond those provided in most junior high school mathematics classes. Calculators are not allowed starting in 2008. High scoring students are invited to participate in the AMC 10. For more information about the AMC 8 contest please visit the American Mathematics Competition website. To review past tests for practice please visit TEST PRACTICE

The test will be given during all grade 8 math classes and to read the introductory letter from Mr. Cera please click on the letter link.

Anyone interested in classes on ….

Several parents have asked for workshops on how to leverage some of the new technologies used in several of our math classes. The two most popular technologies are podcasting using GarageBand and screencasting using Jing. Reply to this blog posting with your interest in such a class; please include the following:

• your name
• current grade of your child
• the specific technology workshop
• preference as to morning (10:00 12:00), afternoon (1:00 – 3:00), or evening (7:00 – 9:00)

This information WILL NOT be posted on the blog site but used internally by Mr. Snee for interest assessment.

Results from ASMA Math Competition on October 13th

On Monday, October 13, FAMS hosted our first ASMA math competition; we want to congratulate everyone that competed. There were a total of 35 students who represented all three grades. The “test” lasted for 35 minutes and included 7 short answer questions. We are required to submit our 8 highest scores as well as 2 alternate scores. We submitted the following scores:

• 1 perfect score of 7
• 5 scores of 6
• 2 scores of 5
• 2 alternate scores of 5

We are very excited to provide our students with an opportunity to compete with a calculator and pencil the way they might with a soccer ball or basketball. The next competition is scheduled for November 13, 2008. Any student interested in competing must register with Mr. Snee prior to November 12. Please click on this LINK to see the Test from round 1.

Should you have any questions regarding the ASMA Competitions please feel free to contact Mr. Snee.

ASMA Math Contest

FAMS will compete in the ASMA Math Contest in 2008 – 2009

During this school year, students from FAMS will be participating in several different math competitions sponsored by other schools and organizations. The first competition that we will take part in is called the American Scholastic Mathematics Association (ASMA) Annual Mathematics Contest for Intermediate Schools.

Please click on the ASMA link to learn more contest details and click on ASMA Rules to understand the rules. If you have any questions or want to register for a particular test, please contact Mr. Snee. Please note that registration for the October 13th test will close on Monday morning at 9:00 am.

QSQ Plan for 2008-2009 School Year

Schedule for the Quarterly Skills Quiz (QSQ)

1. 1st Quarter – Tuesday October 7th
2. 2nd Quarter – Friday December 19th
3. 3rd Quarter – Monday March 16th

Dear Parents,

This year we will be delivering a new and improved version of the Quarterly Skills Quiz, QSQ. These assessments will be given in all three grades at FAMS on the same day. The QSQ will be written and delivered by the FAMS Faculty and each quiz will be specific to the delivered grade. Each quiz will consist of the following two types of questions:

GRADE 6 QSQ Plan

QSQ #1 – Grade 5 Computational Concepts and Skills on the Grade 6 QSQ

• Multiplication:
  • Accurate computation without decimals
  • Multiplication Facts (0-12)

• Division:
  • Accurate computation without decimals
  • Division Facts (0-144)

• Addition & Subtraction
  • Accurate computation with or without decimals or with fractions

• Basic knowledge of fractions – Comparison, Change Form, Improper
• Divisibility Rules
• Basic problem solving concepts and skills for Rounding and Place Value
• Develop, understand, and use formulas to find the area of rectangles and related triangles

PLEASE NOTE: Calculators will not be permitted on this assessment.

————————————————————————————

GRADE 6 QSQ

Grade 5 Computational Concepts and Skills on the Grade 6 QSQ

====================================================================

GRADE 7 QSQ Plan

QSQ #1 – Grade 6 Computational Concepts and Skills on the Grade 7 QSQ

• Rounding of whole numbers, fractions and decimals
  
• Ordering of whole numbers, fractions and decimals
• Conversions between Percent, Decimal, and Fraction forms
• Fractions and Decimals
  • Subtraction and Addition
  • Multiplication and Division

————————————————————————————

QSQ #2 – Grade 6 Computational Concepts and Skills on the Grade 7 QSQ

• Order of Operations – PEMDAS – Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, Subtraction
  Use of parentheses
  
• Greatest Common Factor (GCF) of two or more numbers
• Least Common Multiple (LCM) of two or more numbers
  
• Area and Perimeter of rectangles, squares, triangles, parallelograms, trapezoids and circles

PLEASE NOTE: Calculators will not be permitted on this assessment.

————————————————————————————

QSQ #3 – Grade 6 Computational Concepts and Skills on the Grade 7 QSQ

• 4 Lowest Performing Areas from QSQ #1 and QSQ #2
• Designated Pre-Algebra Skills to be announced at a future date
  

PLEASE NOTE: Calculators will not be permitted on this assessment.

————————————————————————————

QSQ #4 – Grade 7 Pre-Algebra Skills

• Designated Pre-Algebra Skills to be announced at a future date
  

PLEASE NOTE: Calculators will not be permitted on this assessment.

====================================================================

GRADE 8 QSQ Plan – Grade Level Classes

QSQ #1 – 80 % of the QSQ will be Grade 7 Computational Concepts and Skills

• Greatest Common Factor (GCF) and Least Common Multiple (LCM) for Integer
• Mastery with Positive and Negative Numbers
  • Integers, Fractions and Decimals
• Translation of Word Problems
  • Write mathematical expressions of statements
    ex) “a number increased by 2 is 15.”  x + 2 = 15
    ex) “Sally is 4 years younger than Tom. How old is Sally?”  t – 4
    
• Using Geometric Formulas
  • Area and Perimeter of rectangles, squares, triangles, circles, parallelograms, trapezoids
  • Volume and Surface Area of cylinders, prisms, pyramids
• Fraction Operations
  • Addition and Subtraction
  • Multiplication and Division
• Conversions between percent, decimal, and fraction forms
  • Sales Tax and Discounts

QSQ #1 – 20 % of the QSQ will be Grade 8 Curricular Concepts and Skills

————————————————————————————

QSQ #2 – 60 % of the QSQ will be Grade 7 Computational Concepts and Skills

• Greatest Common Factor (GCF) and Least Common Multiple (LCM) for Integer
• Mastery with Positive and Negative Numbers
  • Integers, Fractions and Decimals
• Translation of Word Problems
  • Write mathematical expressions of statements
    ex) “a number increased by 2 is 15.”  x + 2 = 15
    ex) “Sally is 4 years younger than Tom. How old is Sally?”  t – 4
    
• Using Geometric Formulas
  • Area and Perimeter of rectangles, squares, triangles, circles, parallelograms, trapezoids
  • Volume and Surface Area of cylinders, prisms, pyramids
• Fraction Operations
  • Addition and Subtraction
  • Multiplication and Division
• Conversions between percent, decimal, and fraction forms
  • Sales Tax and Discounts

QSQ #2 – 40 % of the QSQ will be Grade 8 Curricular Concepts and Skills

————————————————————————————

QSQ #3 – 50 % of the QSQ will be Grade 7 Computational Concepts and Skills

• Greatest Common Factor (GCF) and Least Common Multiple (LCM) for Integer
• Mastery with Positive and Negative Numbers
  • Integers, Fractions and Decimals
• Translation of Word Problems
  • Write mathematical expressions of statements
    ex) “a number increased by 2 is 15.”  x + 2 = 15
    ex) “Sally is 4 years younger than Tom. How old is Sally?”  t – 4
    
• Using Geometric Formulas
  • Area and Perimeter of rectangles, squares, triangles, circles, parallelograms, trapezoids
  • Volume and Surface Area of cylinders, prisms, pyramids
• Fraction Operations
  • Addition and Subtraction
  • Multiplication and Division
• Conversions between percent, decimal, and fraction forms
  • Sales Tax and Discounts

QSQ #3 – 50 % of the QSQ will be Grade 8 Curricular Concepts and Skills

————————————————————————————

QSQ #4 – 40 % of the QSQ will be Grade 7 Computational Concepts and Skills

• Greatest Common Factor (GCF) and Least Common Multiple (LCM) for Integer
• Mastery with Positive and Negative Numbers
  • Integers, Fractions and Decimals
• Translation of Word Problems
  • Write mathematical expressions of statements
    ex) “a number increased by 2 is 15.”  x + 2 = 15
    ex) “Sally is 4 years younger than Tom. How old is Sally?”  t – 4
    
• Using Geometric Formulas
  • Area and Perimeter of rectangles, squares, triangles, circles, parallelograms, trapezoids
  • Volume and Surface Area of cylinders, prisms, pyramids
• Fraction Operations
  • Addition and Subtraction
  • Multiplication and Division
• Conversions between percent, decimal, and fraction forms
  • Sales Tax and Discounts

QSQ #4 – 60 % of the QSQ will be Grade 8 Curricular Concepts and Skills

———————————————————————————-

Grade 7 Computational Concepts and Skills on the Grade 8 QSQ

Greatest Common Factor (GCF) and Least Common Multiple (LCM) for Integers
Conversions between percent, decimal, and fraction forms
Sales Tax and Discounts
Fraction Operations
Addition and Subtraction
Multiplication and Division
Mastery with Positive and Negative Numbers
Integers, Fractions and Decimals
Translation of Word Problems
Write mathematical expressions of statements
ex) “a number increased by 2 is 15.”  x + 2 = 15
ex) “Sally is 4 years younger than Tom. How old is Sally?”  t – 4
Using Geometric Formulas
Area and Perimeter of rectangles, squares, triangles, circles, parallelograms, trapezoids
Volume and Surface Area of cylinders, prisms, pyramids

If you have any questions regarding this new assessment process please reply to this posting with a comment. To post a comment you must select the red Comment link at the top of this posting. Thank you in advance for your time and attention with this new initiative and check back here for further updates and new information.

Sláinte,
Mr. Snee
Math Coordinator Grades 5-8
tsnee@franklinlakes.k12.nj.us

Please stay tuned for more information about our new Quarterly Skills Quiz.

Humongous prime number

Check out the discovery by a group of Mathematicians at UCLA. The link is: Big Number.

Year End Placement Assessment Dates

Below is the list of end of year assessment placement dates for FAMS.

Algebra Readiness Test – Tuesday April 7th – Grade 7 only

*Basic Skills Quiz (4th QSQ) – Wednesday May 27th – Grade 6 only

*Basic Skills Quiz (4th QSQ) – Thursday May 21st – Grade 7 only

Basic Skills Quiz for Grade 5

CRS – Scheduled for June 9th
HMR – Scheduled for June 9th
WAS – Scheduled for June 8th

Everyday Math Test for Grade 5 –

CRS – Scheduled for June 2nd
HMR – Tentatively scheduled for June 1st or 2nd
WAS – Scheduled for June 2nd

*Connected Math Test – June 1st and 2nd – Grades 6 & 7

*These assessments will be delivered in the regularly scheduled math classes. Should you have any questions regarding the dates or the assessments please feel free to contact Mr. Snee at tsnee@franklinlakes.k12.nj.us..

Dates for the FAMS Quarterly Skills Quiz (QSQ)

Schedule for the Quarterly Skills Quiz (QSQ)

1. Tuesday October 7th – Quiz grade to be counted in the 1st Marking Period
2. Friday December 19th – Quiz grade to be counted in the 2nd Marking Period
3. Monday March 9th – Quiz grade to be counted in the 3rd Marking Period

Dear Parents,

If you have any questions regarding this assessment schedule please reply to this posting with a comment. To post a comment you must select the red Comment link at the top of this posting. Thank you in advance for your time and attention with this new initiative and check back here for further updates and new information.

Sláinte,
Mr. Snee
Math Coordinator Grades 5-8
tsnee@franklinlakes.k12.nj.us

Bergen County Academies 6th Annual Math Competition

The Bergen County Academies has announced that their annual math competition will be held on Sunday, October 19th, 2008. There will competitions for students in grades 4 through 8 and prizes for top finishers at each grade level. The link for the competition is http://sites.bergen.org/mathcompetition/index.asp

The link for exams from prior years is Sample Exams.

If you have any questions regarding the competition please email Mr. Snee.

CMP2 Book/Math Standard Guide for Grade 6

This posting will track the current CMP2 Book that will be used by the 6th grade math students.

First Book – September
The first book that will be used beginning on or about September 10th is Prime Time, students will explore certain important properties of whole numbers, especially those related to multiplication and division. The investigations in this unit will help students to:

• Understand relationships among factors, multiples, divisors, and products;
• Recognize and use properties of prime and composite numbers, even and odd numbers, and square numbers;
• Use rectangles to represent the factor pairs of numbers;
• Develop strategies for finding factors and multiples, least common multiples, and greatest common factors;
• Recognize and use the fact that every whole number can be written in exactly one way as a product of prime numbers;
• Use factors and multiples to solve problems and to explain some numerical facts of everyday life; and
• Develop a variety of strategies for solving problems building models, making lists and tables, drawing diagrams, and solving simpler problems.