Math 2: Week 3

It is now the third week of the semester, which means it is time for. Math 2: Week 3 update! I have started sharing about what I do in my Math 2 class each week, and linking any resources/activities I am using for you to find as well. If you want to read what we did the first two weeks, I have linked the blog posts below. If you have already read those, then you can keep on reading for week 3!

Math 2: Week 1

Math 2: Week 2

This week we started our unit on Quadratics Functions. It is a long unit in Math 2, so we split it up into two parts. The first part is one finding the key features (vertex, axis of symmetry, domain/range, increasing/decreasing, etc) and the second part is focused on solving quadratics. For my students in particular they had a small Quadratics unit at the end of Math 1, where they just kind of dip their toes in the water of quadratics, and then in Math 2 we cover everything you can and dig deep in the unit. So, here is what we did the first week!

Monday: Today we talked all about Standard Form. We talked about the formula to find the Axis of Symmetry, and how you use that to find the vertex. One thing that I have found helpful is scaffolding my notes along these two topics. I give them the formula for the Axis of Symmetry (AOS), then we use three examples and find the AOS together. Then we move on in the notes and talk about how to find the vertex, and use those same three examples we just used and find the vertex using that AOS. It helps my students remember the information more by chunking it, and also not overwhelm them with too many steps at once. After that we looked at domain and range, and find the maximum/minimum values of the parabola.

If we have time in class, I also have an around the room that focusing on finding the key features all from standard form. This give my students a way to check their work and understanding by finding the correct answer around the room, while also getting up out of their seats.

Quadratics Key Features (Standard Form Only) Around the Room

Tuesday: The second day of the unit is all about Vertex Form. We talk about how to find the AOS and vertex right from the equation. While putting emphasis on how to remember if we have vertex form or standard form. I review with them on finding domain and range in the middle of the lesson. This is something they are strong at finding so I have found that putting it in the middle allows them to feel more confident and comfortable before moving on with the lesson. The last thing we talk about on this day is the transformation. We find and list all the transformations from the equation first, and then we move into writing the equation from the transformations.

Wednesday: The third day of the unit we spend about half the lesson just mixing up vertex and standard form and reviewing everything we have done the last two days. Figure out where they struggle and fixing any misconceptions they have. The second half of the lesson we spend talking about how to graph quadratics, which also allows me to mix up standard and vertex form to really focus on the difference between the two. After that, we find our intervals of increasing and decreasing - which they struggle with like crazy. I have found have them color the two sides of the parabola helps. We also draw a little stick figure and see if they would "walk up the mountain" of the parabola or "sit and slide down" the parabola. The biggest thing that has helped them, is circling the x value (AOS) where we split the parabola in half so they use the correct value with the intervals, and not the y value.

Thursday: Today we spent about 30 minutes just reviewing and practicing everything from the last three days in preparation for their quiz. They took a quiz on all of the key features and how to find them. After that I gave them a spiral review sheet since they had a test coming up next week on Quadratics.

Friday: The next part of our quadratics unit we cover is factoring!! I absolutely love factoring, so we spend two days reviewing it from math 1 and really driving home those skills so that they stick with them for math 3. I give them a ton of DeltaMath they need to complete. They also get a chance to get up out of their seats and work on a Factoring Around the Room. I have linked the around the room below, it is 22 questions and covers all of it.

Factoring Around the Room

That is our third week of Math 2 all wrapped up! Please keep in mind that we have 85 minute classes, so this would look very different and more spread out if you only have 45 minute classes.