XC Schedule

Practice and Meet schedule

Note: The start times for meets are in flux

9/3 7:00 am
9/4 meet wash park
9/6 7:00 am
9/9 7:00 am
9/11 7:00 am
9/13 Slavens meet (Harvard Gulch race starts at 3:45)
9/16 7:00 am
9/18 7:00 am
9/19 meet (Bear Valley Park)
9/23 7:00 am
9/25 7:00 am
9/26 (Bear Valley Park)

9/30 7:00 am
10/2 Bible Park
10/4 7:00 am
10/7 310 pm
10/8 districts (Bear Valley Park)

Parent Letter

Dear Parents,

Please read through this letter with your student tonight (8/27), verify that your student has a homework assignment sheet, and sign the back page. Your child should return this signed letter to me tomorrow in class. 

Introduction

This will be my eighth year teaching 7^th and 8 the grade mathematics at Slavens and my twelfth year in DPS.  I received my Bachelors of Architecture and my teaching credential from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and my Masters of Education from Lesley University. I then worked as an architect in San Francisco and Santa Barbara for three years while my wife worked towards her law degree at the University of California at Berkeley. We moved here in September 2001 and I spent my first year in Denver substitute teaching primarily at Colorado Academy.  I accepted a permanent position in the Denver Public Schools in August 2002. The four years prior to teaching at Slavens, I taught seventh and eighth grade connected math as well as algebra at Grant Middle School. I still stay active in architecture by teaching an architecture program sponsored by the Denver Architectural Foundation and Slater Paull Architects.  Besides my interests in teaching and architecture, I also have a passion for triathlon. I have been competing in the sport since 1991 and raced as a professional from 1999 to 2002.  .

Seventh and Eighth Grade Connected Math Program (CMP 2)

In seventh and eighth grade we will be continuing the CMP 2 curriculum, which most of the students have experienced previously. For those of you who are new to this curriculum, CMP is a project-based mathematics program that promotes discovery learning by placing a premium on hands-on activities and problem solving. CMP 2 does include algebra, however, in preparation for the high school placement tests, as well as IB and private school entrance exams, 8^th grade students will be expected to complete weekly assignments with more traditional algebra problems so that students have a better chance of receiving high school algebra credit after their eighth grade year and/or getting into the program of their choice. I am excited to tell you that over my seven years at Slavens, approximately 70% of Slavens 8^th graders start high school in 10^th grade honors geometry.   

Slavens Math Blogs

I maintain two classroom blogs, one for each grade.  I will post all explanations of homework questions on the blogs as well as class announcements on these blogs. If students choose not to use the blog, they will be missing a significant resource for receiving help. Students (and parents) are able to become followers of the blog, which means that you will receive alerts to new posts. I highly recommend that every student becomes a follower of these blogs. The addresses of the blog sites are: Slavens8thgrademath.blogspot.com Slavens7thgrademath.blogspot.com

Although it is my goal to have things posted by 4:30 each day, due to faculty meetings, extra help, coaching obligations, and family responsibilities I can’t guarantee that I will be able to finish all posts by 4:30 and I appreciate your understanding. 

Extra Help

Your first line of help is the blogs.  I have a library of hundreds of help videos on homework and class work already posted and waiting for you on the blogs.  Each unit has a page that can be assessed by the tabs just under the title and the videos are listed by investigation.  If you have trouble with your homework look to the blog first.  When using the help videos don’t just watch the problem and then do it yourself.  You should pause the video after each step and do that step yourself before continuing the video.  If you would like help on a problem that isn’t on the blog, then all you need to do is write the problem number on the ‘to be blogged’ board the next day and I will get it up on the blog.  While you’re reading this why not go to the site now to check it out. 

If after the blog and asking questions in class aren’t enough, then I will suggest coming to extra help.  I intend to continue providing extra help one day a week after school from 3:10 - 4:10. During most of the year these help sessions will be on Thursday, however, I am going to be coaching cross country, Mathletics, MathCounts, and flag football so during the first athletic season, help days will change from week to week.  I will post the days I am available on the bottom of the homework assignment sheet and on the math blogs.  Please check it every two weeks so that you and your student know when help is offered.   If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at kirk_framke@dpsk12.org.  Please allow 24 hours for me to respond. 

Finally, every year around October several parents ask for referrals for tutors.  The vast majority of students will not need tutors to pass my classes, but instead of waiting for crisis to occur I am offering two suggestions if this is something you are interested in.  Last year 8 students were seeing a tutor regularly

Professional tutor: Mary Gattuso Chesis 303.587.2309 mary4math@hotmail.com

Former student tutor: Emma Campbell 303.692.9492  

Homework

It is my intent to give 30 to 45 minutes of CMP homework a night.  Some assignments may take more or less time depending on the student.  I do not want students to spend more than an hour on math homework a night so if your student has worked for a solid 60 minutes you can stop them and write a note on their homework and still receive full credit.

CMP homework is graded on whether or not you tried it to the best of your ability.  CMP homework will be checked in as opposed to graded.  If you and/or your child would like to check your answers for the homework if you are getting them right, to are encouraged to either watch the full explanation videos on the blog or read the answer key which is also on the blog.  Obviously it would be considered cheating to look at the answers prior to doing the problem.

There will be additional homework assignments that will be turned in and graded for accuracy.  The most common of these are the algebra sheets in 8^th grade and online Edmodo assignments for 7^th grade.  These assignments are typically once a week.  The algebra will be passed out on either Monday or Tuesday and will be due on Friday.

 Grades

Final grades are weighted.  The categories for 8^th grade are tests/quizzes (55%), CMP home work (15%), class work (15%), algebra enrichment (15%).  Seventh grade will vary slightly.

I look forward to a great year and please feel free to contact me when appropriate (email is best), 

Kirk Framke

 

Homework Assignment Sheet

WDYE Carnival Game Unit Project (Test)

You and your group will create and construct a carnival game of chance that the second grade will play for 30 to 40 minutes during class on Wednesday the 29th. Your game must not be skill based or else you will not be able to calculate the theoretical probability of winning or the expected value accurately.  In addition to the game you will turn in one sheet of calculations per group. 

The game and the front-side (I will only check to see that you have done them) calculations are due Wednesday the 29th.  While the completed calculations sheet will be due the 30th for a full grade.

Calculations Sheet:
Front side:
-Name
-the rules of the game,
-the payout to the winners
-theoretical probability of winning
-the expected value for each player you have. 

Back Side:
-show the outcomes of each play
-your experimental probability
-your income (number of plays),
-your payout,
-your profit,
-your experimental expected value per player.
-a 2 to 3 sentence statement comparing the theoretical probability and expected value with the experimental probability and expected value

Grading:
4
-Your game is at least a two event game of chance (two spinners, dice, paths, etc).
-The game is constructed out of materials that easily lasts through the entire carnival.
-You make a profit
-All information of the calculations sheet are accurate and done correctly.
-Your experimental and theoretical probabilities are reasonable close (+/- 5%)

3
-Your game is a one event game of chance (one spinners, dice, paths, etc).
-The game is constructed out of materials that easily lasts through the entire carnival.
-You make a profit
-All information of the calculations sheet are accurate and done correctly.
-Your experimental and theoretical probabilities are reasonable close (+/- 5%)

or

-Your game is at least a two event game of chance (two spinners, dice, paths, etc).
-The game is constructed out of materials that easily lasts through the entire carnival.
-You lose money
or
-Some calculations sheet are inaccurate.
or
-Your experimental and theoretical probabilities are NOT reasonable close (+/- 5%)

2
 -Your game is a two event game of chance (two spinners, dice, paths, etc).
-The game falls apart during playing. or
-You loss large amounts of money or
-The calculations sheet is grossly inaccurate.

or

-Your game is at least an one event game of chance (spinners, dice, paths, etc).
-The game is constructed out of materials that easily lasts through the entire carnival.
-You lose money
or
-Some calculations sheet are inaccurate.
or
-Your experimental and theoretical probabilities are reasonable close (+/- 5%)

1

 -Your game is a one event game of chance (one spinners, dice, paths, etc).
-The game falls apart during playing. or
-You lose large amounts of money or
-The calculations sheet is grossly inaccurate

Homework assignment sheet

Homework Assignment Sheet

Rehersals today

Aiden Brown
Arielle
Lucy
Sara S
Sarah U

I know it's misspelled

Sea Camp Auction item

7th graders here is your chance to hang out with a dolphin at Sea Camp.  The online auction ends tomorrow and the dolphin  interaction item is priced way below the actual cost of the experience.  Get your parents to bid on it and you could be the lucky one in the water with the dolphin!

 Here is the link to the bidding

Homework assignment sheet

How to find the surface area of a cylinder

How to find the surface area of a cylinder
This is the best video I have found on youtube for finding the surface area of a cylinder

Homework assignment sheet

Homework Due this week

Due Thursday: Reflections Homework
Due Friday: Rotations Homework
Due Monday: Tessellations project

Homework Due tomorrow

Ace 1, 23-25 p. 38

PI Day Victors

I would like to first thank everyone who entered the Pi Baking contest this year. We had a great turn out in numbers and quality of pies.

I would also like to congratulate several of the Pi memorization contest winners.
In 7th grade we had Kyle Moe and Lucy Peterson who tied with 70 digits while Beck memorized 50. In 8th grade Jenna memorized 42. If I have forgotten another great performance, please forgive me. I will update this if necessary.

Now for the moment you have all been waiting for . . .

TCAP Quiz explination

TCAP Quiz Explained

Here's a funny 'feel good' video for you before TCAP.  (Yes that is Michael Jordan) and the other guy is a US Senator (Al Frankin D-Minnosota)

Homework help and some more

Homework help
How to find the surface area of a cylinder
How to find the volume of a cylinder

Manditory for your Edmodo assignment due Thursday
Sir Cumference and the dragon of PI
314 on 3.14

For fun (and meet Anja)
The Story of Ferdinand

If you like Sir Cumference:

Pi Baking Contest

Just a reminder, if you want to eat pie on the Pi day celebration (3/16) then we need pies brought in on Pi day. Donated pies can be store bought. Pi baking contest pies must be homemade.

Here are the rules:

Pi Day Baking contest Rules and Procedures:

Rules:

1) Pies must be home-made (pre-made crusts are acceptable)

2) Students must participate in the making of the pies. No parent only made pies

3) Pies must be delivered to the students’ homeroom by 7:25 on Friday 3/13

4) If there is dairy in anything other than butter, please make a note of it on the top

5) If pies are diabetic friendly (no sugar) please note that on the top of the pie

Procedures:

1) Pies will be checked into homerooms by 7:25 with this form signed my both the student and the parent.

2) At that time, a numbered sticker will be stuck to the bottom of the pie and on this form. Students must keep this form with the number.

3) Student council representatives will taste pies from a homeroom and judge each pie (see below for pie tasting rubric) before school starts.

4) Student council judges will determine the top two entries from each homeroom and those eight pies will be taken to the middle school teachers for final judging.

5) The final judging will take place at 11:45 and will follow the same judging rubric.

6) The eight finalists and the over-all winner and runner-up will be announced at 11:45 during the Pi day awards presentation.

7) The winner will have the chance to throw a whipped-cream pie in Mr. Framke’s face, acknowledgement in the middle school news letter, and possible additional prizes.

Appearance: 10 points each

Pre-slice score (Includes consistency of crust or topping)

After slice score (based on degree of appropriate runniness, juiciness or firmness)

Crust: 10 points

(Flaky or mealy)

Filling: 10 points each

1) Impression of the first taste. Strength and balance of flavor appropriate for type of pie; balance of sweet and/or tartness.

2) Peripheral flavors should be balanced with main ingredient of pie),

3) Mouth Feel (appropriate consistency, i.e. thick, thin, smooth, creamy, chalky, mushy, runny, dry, sticky, etc.), Crust (flaky or mealy)

4) Aftertaste (pleasant or unpleasant).

Overall Impression: 10 points

Impressiveness, Creativity (based on originality).

Pie #

I ________________________ agree to the rules of this contest.

(Student name)

____________________________

(Student signature)

____________________________

(Parent signature

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Pre-slice score

Post-slice score

Crust

Impression of the first taste

Peripheral flavors

Mouth Feel

Aftertaste

Overall Impression

Total Score:

Homework due 3.11

Homework Due 3/8

Homework assignment sheet