Getting Ready for Monday's Test

Step 1:  Take "practice test" by doing all problems from blank SSS

Step 2:  Correct said test by clicking on SSS Solutions

Step 3:  If needed, do more practice problems (pre-calc text or Khan Acad)

Step 4:  Enjoy the weekend

Step 5:  Make sure that you catch up on your sleep.

Step 6:  Revisit the SSS problems on Sunday night.

Remember that there will only be 40 problems on the test. The full block on Monday will be devoted to taking the test.  Also, problem #22 will not be included on the test.

I look forward to getting past this SSS test, and moving on to the fun stuff!

Assignment for Thursday

Please remember to finish all of the problems (from the SSS Day 1 Notebook to the right) up to the Trig fisherman slide. Please do not work from the SSS packet as I have omitted some of the problems and have changed others (so, once again, work from the SSS  Day 1 Notebook to the right instead)

I really enjoyed both sections today. I can tell that we are going to have a great year!

Welcome!

Welcome 2012-13 Honors Pre-Calc students! Although I would like to start by saying that I hope everyone had a chance to relax and enjoy a slower pace this summer, I know that some students are concerned about one thing and one thing only—the Summer Skill Set! Relax. Yes, there are a lot of problems, and yes, your brain most likely has not been doing math during the summer, therefore, yes, it might feel overwhelming to be attempting the packet (especially now!). This is the first year that North has had Summer math packets, and there will be a learning curve on how to best use them. I started working on the packet myself a few days ago (feel better already?), and realized that several answers are wrong, and several questions should be changed. I will be spending the first two classes reviewing the packet and will be very clear about what will be included on the test (given the third class). I’m looking forward to meeting my new honors students! -Ms Overby

Old Posts

All posts below are from the 2011-12 School year.

FINALS

Now is the time to be focused and intentional! Many of you are on the edge between two grades. Being intentional about studying can allow you a better chance of ending up on the better side when you land... Please set up a study plan. Just studying during our two classes will not be enough. Allow yourself plenty of time to complete every problem and to review. Also remember that infinity will never be an answer (although the packet answers might say otherwise). Whenever a limit approaches infinity, the correct way to express that is to say that the limit does not exist. Also remember that the Final will be taken with a BABY calculator and a 3 X 5 Notecard (yes, you may use both sides). Semester grades will be posted on IC the same day your final is taken. PLEASE check that same day, and if anything seems incorrect, please contact me. I hope that everyone has a Summer filled with relaxation, adventure, discovery, and joy. Please stop by and visit me in the Fall, or anytime you might need a mom talk... It has been wonderful (for the most part!) class of 2013!

Is Doing Well on The ACT Important?

Depending on your answer to that question, you may or may not find my new links helpful. There are many different reasons why the ACT should not matter as much as it does (You are much more than a test score, for starters), but the reality is that universities do not have the time to get to know unique you, and therefore are forced to rely on your GPA, ACT, and extra curriculars to decide whether you will be a good match for their campus (and if they want to woo you with scholarships)

And when you really think about it, your ACT score does say something about you.

The good news for my students who are taking the ACT on Feb 11th, is that there is still time to prepare!

Please try to be intentional about your ACT preparation. Setting aside time each night (even if it's just 30 minutes) is an absolute necessity. Use the links to the right in a way that works for you. It's important that you make a plan.

In addition to the interactive ACT stuff that has always been on our blog, I added two full length practice ACTs.

Would you run in a 5k race without completing a 5k in training? Would a play have an opening night without first having a dress rehearsal? Are you going to take the most important test of your life thus far without taking a full length practice one first? I didn't think so. Make sure that you sit down, time yourself, and complete one of the full length tests. Try to make your conditions match those when you will be taking the actual ACT. No pizza. No ipod, cell phone, FB... Make sure it is quiet.

I created a log for you to plan your attack leading up to Feb 11th.

Plan. Focus. Be intentional.

Five Months Later...

So... I'll try to make up for my dropping the blog last semester by posting regularly and adding to the links this semester.

First up is a post to encourage you to amp up your right brained thinking by doing some mirror writing. I've written a MIRROR NOTE to all of you for fun, and really hope that you give it a try. Right brained thinking is creative and out of the box, and can greatly enhance your problem solving abilities!

Also, I posted my Polar notes, as well as a link to print more polar paper, to the right. Polars are straight forward (most of the time!), and practice really will make perfect (Well, actually, perfect practice will make perfect, so check your answers to make sure that your practice is not imperfect!)

Oh! Please respond to the poll. It will be interesting to see how the numbers fall for next year (we start our registration process tomorrow!)

Hope to actually get a response to this post... Wonder if any of you will try the mirror writing, and curious as to how it went for each of you...

WELCOME TO OUR BLOG!

Numbers are amazing. Whether used to convey moving information powerfully (Sarah McLaughlin's video), or with chilling accuracy (the worldometer), numbers shoulder a rather great responsibility. It is a privilege to share our journey this year exploring number theory (our honors project), number patterns (sequences and series), unlimited numbers (calculus) and number torture (trig!).

My hope is that this blog can serve as a resource for our class, as well as a window to math outside of our curriculum. Check out the links on the side and see where it leads. Feel free to suggest additional links. I would love to see this blog evolve further as more creative, intelligent minds contribute to what I have started.

(I have also included an ACT review consisting of forty-eight short interactive quizzes (only five questions each) covering important ACT topics. A good goal might be to take one short quiz each time the blog is accessed.)

Please participate in our summer break poll, and feel free to post a comment any time.

Oh, and don't forget to feed our fish!

Old Posts

All posts below were from the 2009- 2010 or 2010- 2011 school year.

To 8th block

I will be up at school at 7:30 tomorrow morning to answer any last minute questions before you take the final at 10:00. Meanwhile, after you get through all of the multiple choice problems in the packet (once again, only those with corresponding answers in the back), focus on the four related rates problems in the text of 2.6. Remember to make an index card. I will be answering questions from the group that gathers in the morning. See you then, and stay safe tonight.

Study Session Canceled Tonight!

Parkway has called off all after school activities due to tornado warnings. Please stay home and study. Work on the multiple choice questions that have the answers in the back of the packet. I will post again in 30 minutes or so to give a little more guidance...

Tips for Final and Good-bye (for now!)

5th block repoted (after they took the final this morning) that last night's review helped tremendously! Also, 4th and 8th blks, as you work on your final review packet, focus on the problems with corresponding answers on the back page. Please also remember that if a limit of a function approaches infinity, the limit does not exist.

After you take the final, check later on that same day for your results in IC. Make sure that your honors project is included. If you have any questions about what you see on IC, please come see me before Friday at 12:30.

Thank you so much for your interesting honors projects... My freshmen will definitely benefit from your work! Several of you showed some interest in getting in some service/tutoring hours by helping out in my Algebra summer school classes. Please see Dr. Calcaterra for the details.

So, good-bye for now to a wonderfully talented group of students... Would love to see any/all of you in the near (and far!) future. Don't forget to check our blog every now and then. I'll keep the Calculus stuff up, and am planning on adding a "mom talk" section (I know that you will all miss those!).

It's been great...

Finals Week

Completing/understanding the final review packet will be a beneficial thing to do before the final. Remember that I am holding after school study sessions before each final.

5th block: Monday 5:00 - 7:30
7th block: Wednesday 5:00 - 7:00
4th block: Thursday 5:00 - 7:00

I will bring soda and popcorn for everyone. Feel free to bring a snack to share if you so desire.

We are almost done! Stay focused all the way through to the end! It will be noon Friday before we know it...

Infinite Campus Confusion

Several students have noticed that their semester grade does not seem to be correct. When I sent the senior semester grades last week(we had at least one senior in each of the 3 blocks), it sent in all the grades. The problem then started when I put the CT3 test scores in. This changed your actual grade, but the semester grade stayed the same (It is frozen until the grading window opens again at the end of the semester.) If you have difficulty calculating your grade, see me.

Chain Rule Assignment

Click on the 2.4 text and do the following problems:
7-29 odd 43-52 all 53-59 odd 65-68 all

Hope everyone has a great weekend! For all of you prom goers, please make good decisions this weekend (as always!)