Mrs. White's 7th Grade Math

Yesterday I kept telling them about the importance of the Additive Inverse and how it could help them. I also mentioned "Decomposing Numbers" because sometimes students do not realize they can quickly breakdown a number to make the math easier in their heads. I kept saying "Is the number hidden in there" Today was amazing....I absolutely love to keep the kiddos engaged and loving what they are doing. Not one kid was unwilling to participate today (nervous, LOL) I bought multiple packages of Beanboozled 5th Edition. Students paired up and were randomly selected by the Smart Seat App. They then each chose a jelly bean. Each jelly bean was pictured on the board with a number value I assigned. Everyone would write the numbers based on their selections and then when they tasted the jelly bean would we know if it was going to be a positive integer or a negative. We had a great time, many photos and videos.

This concept is so important. At the beginning of class we discussed the results of the note card question. As it turned out no one was able to successfully explain combining to make zero. However a few friends were on the right track. So, for our notebooks we created a number line and installed it. We then took clothes pins and army men (a couple chickens and an Indian Chief) to help us move around. I didn't tell them how it worked, I just asked them to select an integer with their clothes pin and then move their figure until it reached zero. Hands shot up all over the room with responses about how they were able to get back to zero. We took a few quick notes and then practiced telling each other how to get an integer to zero out. Lastly, students completed the following problems:

Students took a few minutes digging into their prior knowledge of integers with a brainstorm session. This was all done on page 1 of their notebooks. To follow up their brainstorming students were asked to log in to the Google Classroom Accounts, this was the first time to access it in my class. They all did fantastic and received a perfect score. Their first task was to take some basic information notes and put in their notebooks. Task 2 was to explain how opposite integers combine to make zero (aka cancel each other), this was also a following directions activity. Students were given very specific instructions on where to find the note card they had to write on and where to turn it in. Only 2 had to be redirected back to the instructions.

This is the first of our weekly homework assignments. Students were given this paper on Friday and will always receive it on Friday's unless they are absent. I will always post a copy to Remind and on here to ensure it is available in case it is not getting brought home and worked on throughout the week. The due date is posted in the title. If assignment is turned in without work it will be considered incomplete and returned to the student to finish. Student will also sign the board for "Effort". The assignment is expected on Monday in order to not lose points. If the assignment continues to be missing points will be taken off the total possible. *Please be aware students with 3 or more missing assignments will be given a write up*

All notebooks are decorated and equipped with a Plickers square, bookmark and a dry erase board. We are ready to get the year started.