An "Eggs"ellent Math Unit!!!

Here you will find dozens of math ideas. I am working with the Easter Bunny and he is "making deliveries" every day. Please check back frequently to see the new "developments"!

 

Sort It Out

You will need the following materials:

Easter candy graph (I like to use the large floor graph) feely box chart paper for recording results

 

1. Take half of your candy and put it inside the feely box. Take the other half and keep it out of sight.
2. Have the children sit in a circle on the floor.
3. The first child reaches in the feely box and takes out a piece of candy. Ask everyone to give describing words for the piece of candy that was drawn.
4. Ask what they think the next piece drawn will be.
5. The next child in the circle pulls out a piece of candy and, once again, everyone describes it.
6. Continue until everyone has had a turn drawing a piece of candy from the feely box.
7. After all children have had a turn, look at all the candies laid out in the middle of the circle. Let children generate ideas of ways to sort the candies.
8. Try some of the sorting ideas that were generated.
9. After several ways of sorting, choose one of the sorting ideas and lay the candies down on the floor graph with headers. For example, if the children decided to sort by types of wrappers, the headers could be: shiny wrappers, not shiny wrappers, no wrappers).
10. Discuss the graph and record the results. Some good questions would be as follows: "Which group has the most? the least? Is there anything that is the same? How many pieces of candy without wrappers? with shiny wrappers? not shiny wrappers? etc.
11. The next day, pull out the other half of the candy you had saved. Show the children the candy and let them make predictions based on information from the previous day.
12. Record the predictions on chart paper or the board.
13. Graph and compare the two graphs.

     

    Easter Candy Estimation

    You will need the following:

    bag of Easter candies clear plastic container for the candies chart paper or chalkboard

     

    1. Have the children look at the candy in the container and make an estimate of how many pieces. Record the estimates.
    2. Count the pieces and discuss the results!

        

       Egg Size

       You will need the following materials:

       One sheet of grid paper for each child (I suggest larger squares for younger children) 6 real-sized construction paper eggs

        

       1. Have each child look at the construction paper egg and estimate how many squares will be covered when it is laid on the grid. Put their guess on the bottom of the grid.
       2. Let the children trace their construction paper egg onto the grid and then color it. Children should use soft colors so they may still still the boxes on the grid.
       3. Children count the squares that the egg covered and record that number under their estimate.

       A note to the teacher: Before doing this activity, you should decide if full squares only will be counted, or if all squares covered will be counted.

        

       

        

       Egg Weight

       You will need the following materials:

       Balancing scale unifix cubes,crayons,tiles, or anything else you desire to use for balancing How many will balance my egg? worksheet hard boiled egg for each group of students

        

       1. Put the children into groups of four.
       2. Pass out the estimation sheet to each child. Have them estimate how many of each of the objects it will take to balance the egg.
       3. Color the number of squares in each column.
       4. Pass out another sheet for their actual count. Color the number of squares it took to balance the egg.
       5. Cut out the squares of estimates and actual amounts and glue the two next to each other on a large piece of construction paper.
       6. Discuss the results.

           

          How do you like your eggs?You will need the following materials:

          large floor graph Header cards for the large floor graph (can use 3X5 index cards) individual graphs for each child egg shapes cut from construction paper (one for each child)

           

          1. Discuss with the class different ways that eggs can be prepared.
          2. Use the index cards to make a header card for each category.
          3. Hand each child a construction paper egg and let them put their name on it. (They can decorate it as well, if time allows.)
          4. Get the children seated in front of the floor graph with headers and let each child place their egg under the category they like best.
          5. When each child is finished, interpret graph.
          6. Give each child a paper of the graph and let them color in the proper number of squares for each header.
          7. Prepare some eggs whichever way was the favorite and enjoy!!
          Note to teacher: The individual graphs should be made ahead of time. Here are some examples of categories your children may use: scrambled, boiled, egg salad, fried, deviled, etc.

           

          "Eggs"tensions

           

          Egg Symmetry-
          1. Make a large egg pattern for each child. Have the student fold it in half.
          2. The child will make a design on one half and give it to another child to unfold and try to copy it on that half.

          Easter Egg Dye and Sort- Dye Easter eggs letting the children choose how to dye their eggs. See how many different ways the eggs can be sorted when dry. Graph the results.

          Easter Egg Numeral Recognition- Get a bag of plastic eggs (any size) and put a numeral on each one. Have jelly beans available and let the children put the number of jellybeans inside of each egg that matches the numeral. For older children, you may want to put addition problems on the outside in place of the numerals.

          Better By the Dozen- Take an egg carton and write numerals on the bottom of each space. Take plastic eggs and write the number word on it. Children take turns matching the eggs to the correct space.

          Egg-carton Graphing- Make a graph using several egg cartons. Cut the tops off and tape the short ends together. Mount on the wall. Now you are ready to work with the children. Read "Animals Born Alive and Well" and "Chickens Aren't the Only Ones!" by Ruth Heller. Divide the class into two teams: oviparous and viviparous. Give each team a supply of construction paper squares (1 1/2" X 1 1/2"). Have the team members work together to think of animals for their category. Write the animal names on their paper squares and tape them to the egg carton sections on the graph. When each team is finished, interpret the results.

           

The new SAT

A SAMPLE OF NEW SAT QUESTIONS

By Zoë Beyer, 16, Marlborough school

 

 

For high school students interested in college, the SAT is the most important test of their high school careers. Colleges put a lot of emphasis on a student’s SAT score when determining whether to admit a student. As if this pressure is not enough, in March my class, the class of 2006, will be the first to take the new SAT.

Essay writing and advanced algebra have been added while analogies (fly is to plane as drive is to car) and quantitative comparisons (which is greater?) have been removed. For some students hoping to do well, these changes make an already stressful test even worse.

"The SAT is one of the biggest tests of my life. No matter how many prep classes, and no matter how many SAT practice books I buy, I don’t think it will matter because the day of the test, I will definitely be nervous," said Bell High School junior Ashley Zartner. "It, along with grades and extracurriculars, will probably determine which college I get into and ultimately, the rest of my life."

Other students like Beini Shi, a junior at Palisades High School, are not ready to stress out just yet. "I don’t like to stress. I want to go to a good college and all that, but it’s a little early to start worrying a lot," Beini said.

Whether you’re already freaking out about the SAT or are just a little bit nervous, knowing what you’re up against can be one of the best ways to beat anxiety.

Colleges like the new test

The new SAT will include a writing section and many educators and admissions officers have been quoted as saying that is a positive addition. The Dean of Admissions at the University of Virginia said in an interview on the College Board’s Web site that adding a writing section "will send an important message to the nation that writing is important for all students going on to college."

The College Board, which created the test, believes that writing and advanced math are important for a student’s success in college. Adding them to the test will make students and teachers focus on these skills.

This new writing section will consist of multiple-choice "grammar and usage" questions, and an essay that students will have 25 minutes to write. The multiple-choice questions will test a student’s ability to identify sentence errors and improve sentences and paragraphs, while the essay requires a student to take a position on an issue and use reasoning and examples to support that position. The addition of the writing section means a perfect score will now be 2,400, not 1,600.

Fabiola Murcia, a junior from Santa Monica High School, says she’s excited for the writing section. "On a practice test I took, the question I got was ‘How does change provide room for improvement?’" she said. "It was a lot easier to write about my experiences than have to focus on the boring [old style] SAT questions."

In the "Verbal" section (which has been renamed "Critical Reading"), analogies have been eliminated, and what remains are sentence completions, short reading passages and long reading passages. Sentence completions test a student’s knowledge of vocabulary and the reading passages measure a student’s reading comprehension skills.

Ashley Zartner says she’s "glad they decided to get rid of those analogies and replace them with something that will actually show colleges if someone can write or not."

One final addition to the new test is the advanced algebra in the Math section. The section will include math concepts taught in Algebra II classes such as exponents, absolute value, functions, and negative and fractional exponents.

"I definitely think the math is going to make the test a little harder," said Tess Scott-Suhrstedt, a junior at Marlborough School. "I pretty much understand Algebra II so the changes don’t really bother me, but then again, they don’t excite me either. The changes will probably make a difference to people who don’t excel in that subject."

Is this fair for all?

While the College Board strongly believes that the test is fair for students of all genders, races, and socio-economic groups, I find myself wondering if that’s true.

Ashley Zartner says Bell High School offered a practice PSAT and that the college counselor met with all the juniors to stress the importance of taking it.

Beini Shi’s school, Palisades High, offered a practice test for the new SAT in the fall, but George Zuo who goes to Sierra Vista High School in Baldwin Park says his school hasn’t done anything to prepare students for the new SAT.

I come from an all-girls private school where 99 percent of graduates go on to attend college. We practice for the SATs in our math and English classes, and our college counselors have even required us to take practice tests during the school day. Almost everyone I know has been seeing an SAT tutor since 10th grade! Writing skills are constantly emphasized and in-class writing is a large part of the English curriculum. I’ve become so accustomed to this that it’s hard to imagine taking the SAT and not knowing what to expect.

Unfortunately, I’ve realized that this is not the reality for many students and that there are many injustices in the college admissions process.

 

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SAT study tips

 

So what does a student who’s nervous about the new test do? Not everyone can afford a private tutor or enrollment in a prep-course, but there are ways to prepare on nearly every budget. If you’re planning on taking the test, you should definitely visit the College Board’s Web site for up-to-date information on the new SAT. On the Web site you can find plenty of practice questions, and even print out a copy of an entire practice test.

Test-prep companies like Princeton, Kaplan and Ivy West also make books filled with test-taking strategies and full-length practice tests for the new SAT, and almost all are less than $20. Kaplan makes a book called Inside the New SAT: 10 Strategies to Help You Score Higher for only $5.50! They even have a "Higher Score Guarantee" meaning if your score doesn’t improve after buying the book, you can get your money back.

The Collge Board publishes The Official SAT Study Guide: For the New SAT.
Also check out the College Board’s Web site to see answers to frequently asked questions (when you should take it, what scores will look like, what colleges want) about the new SAT.

Click to check free online sample tests with the answers expalined.

Collegeboard — this site provides a free printable practice test (from the makers of the real test) as well as sample questions with answers explained. Answers to frequently asked questions are also provided.

Princeton Review — this site provides answers to frequently asked questions about the new test. A FREE online practice test is also offered, along with sample questions.

 

The spirit of invention continues at Bell Labs

William Shockley, John Bardeen and Walter Brattain invented the transistor at Bell Labs in 1947. (Alcatel-Lucent/Bell Labs)

The world-famous mother of invention, Bell Labs, was itself a child of that mother of all monopolies, Ma Bell. And though Ma Bell in its old form is long gone, the laboratory soldiers on. Martha Teichner reports:

 

It looks like some tiny, weird work of art. But it won three physicists from Bell Labs a Nobel Prize. It's rthe first transistor.

 

"This was an invention from 1947," said Edward Eckert, the archivist for Alcatel Lucent - the AT&T spinoff that operates the labs today. "Without this, a cell phone would be the size of a building. This is the beginning of the microelectronics revolution, everything getting smaller."

 

Eckert also showed Teichner a 1960s helium neon laser - the first one that would emit a continuous beam of laser light.

 

The laser was invented at Bell Labs, when it was the research arm for AT&T - "Ma Bell," everybody's telephone company.

 

"In about ten years, we were able to shrink these types of lasers to something the size of a grain of salt," said Eckert. "We knew at Bell Labs that this was going to be the next game changer in the telecommunications network."

 

Suddenly data could travel at the speed of light over telephone lines.

 

And that was just the beginning. It's hard to name an electronic device that doesn't use lasers. Thank you, Bell Labs, for that . . . and for fax machines, solar cells, digital cameras, and don't forget Telstar, the first satellite to transmit television pictures.

 

"I think one of the ways to think of Bell Labs is as the world's greatest laboratory," said Jon Gertner, who has written a history of Bell Labs. "It was a place that could do A to Z innovation.

 

"There are a couple of reasons it was so productive," he continued. "I think for one thing, it was attached to a monopoly, so it had an almost steady stream of dollars. Another reason was that it really had the smartest people in the world working there" - who managed to win seven Nobel Prizes in all.

 

Founded in 1925, Bell Labs eventually employed 25,000 people worldwide, most of them concentrated in and around Murray Hill, N.J. No bottom-line pressures meant science could take its time, but often was ahead of its time.

 

The picture phone was at the 1964 New York World's Fair . . . nearly 50 years ago.

 

And when did you get your first cell phone, in the 1990s maybe? Even later? Well, Bell Labs devised the concept in 1947, and had an actual system up and running in Chicago in 1977.

 

"We didn't worry about competition, we didn't worry about funding, but we worried about producing something that was going to matter," said Richard Frenkiel, who was the first Bell Labs engineer tasked with turning the concept of the cell phone into reality.

 

"Monopoly is a term that tends to carry a bad connotation," said Teichner.

 

"We thought we were the GOOD guys," replied Frenkiel.

 

AT&T was broken up in 1984. Suddenly, all that "Monopoly money" - $4.7 billion a year in today's dollars - was no longer automatic. No more passing Go!

 

"Without the monopoly, it can never be the same as it was," said Frenkiel. "But I'm not saying it's worse. I'm just saying the world has moved on to a different model for how things are created, and things are getting created."

 

Bell Labs VP Theodore Sizer is doing some of that creating, such as the "light radio."

 

Instead of 25,000 employees, today Bell Labs employs 1,500. The scope of their research is narrower, tied to customers' needs. But their budget is still over $3 billion a year.

 

"Are we as large in numbers as we were before? No, but the culture, the thirst for knowledge is still there," said Sizer. "It's never left."

 

Gertner said there are lessons to be learned from Bell Labs: "Basic research and applied research can pay tremendous dividends. It can lead to products and devices and innovations that change the world."

 

Down through the years, Bell Labs people have received more than 17,000 patents - that's like one patent a day for 50 years.

 

The number is close to 30,000 now, with 2,600 patents last year alone.

 

That's seven patents a day.

10 Tips for the SAT Essay

 

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Grace Fleming,

The SAT essay causes a lot of stress for many students. In truth, most of the stress comes from the knowledge that it's mandatory to write an essay now, so students don't have a choice about it. But is the stress really warranted? In fact, I believe that if you go into the test knowing what to expect, you'll find that it's not so bad.

I've provided 10 tips for the SAT essay, to help you prepare and to know what to expect. Some tips are easy: just read the directions and don't break any of the rules! Others might take some practice, like setting your own time limits and making a quick outline. Read all 10 tips, then practice writing timed essays based on these controversial topics.

 

1. Follow the rules.
Don’t score a zero for failing to follow instructions. Use the essay paper that is provided. Do not write in your booklet. Do not change the question. Do not use a pen.

2. Divide your time. 
You will have twenty-five minutes to write your essay. As soon as you begin, make a note of the time and give yourself benchmarks and limits. For example, give yourself five minutes to brainstorm for main points (which will become topic sentences), one minute to come up with a great introduction, two minutes to organize your examples into paragraphs, etc.

3. Take a stance. 
You will be writing about an issue. Readers judge essays on the depth and complexity of the argument you make (and you will be taking a side), so be sure to show that you understand both sides of the issue you’re writing about. However, you can’t be wishy washy!

You will pick one side and explain why it is right. Demonstrate that you understand both sides, but pick one and explain why it is correct.

4. Don’t get hung up if you don’t actually have strong feelings one way or the other on a subject.
You don’t have to feel guilty about saying things you don’t really believe. Your task is to show that you can craft a complex argument essay. That means you will have to make specific statements about your position and expound upon your individual points. Just take a side and argue it!

5. Don’t try to change the subject. 
It may be tempting to change the question to something that is more to your liking. Don’t do that! Readers are instructed to assign a zero score to an essay that doesn’t answer the question provided. If you try to change your question, even slightly, you are taking a risk that the reader will not like your answer.

6. Work with an outline! 
Use the first few minutes to brainstorm as many thoughts as possible; organize those thoughts into a logical pattern or outline; then write as quickly and neatly as you can.

7. Talk to your reader. 
Remember that the person scoring your essay is a person and not a machine. As a matter of fact, the reader is a trained educator—and most likely a high school teacher. As you write your essay, imagine that you are talking to your favorite high school teacher.

We all have one special teacher who always talks with us and treats us like adults and actually listens to what we have to say. Imagine that you are talking to this teacher as you write your essay.

8. Start with a fabulous or surprising introductory sentence to make a great first impression. 
Examples:
Issue: Should cell phones be banned from school property?
First sentence: Ring, ring!
Note: You would follow up on this with well-crafted, fact-filled statements. Don’t try too much cute stuff!
Issue: Should the school day be extended?
First sentence: No matter where you live, the longest period of any school day is the last one.

9. Vary your sentences to show that you have a command of sentence structure. 
Use complex sentences sometimes, mid-sized sentences sometimes, and two-word sentences a few times to make your writing more interesting. Also--don’t keep repeating the same point by rewording it several ways. Readers will see right through that.

10. Write neatly. 
Neatness counts to some degree, in that the reader must be able to read what you’ve written. If your writing is notoriously difficult to read, you should print your essay. Don’t get too hung up on neatness, though. You can still cross out mistakes that you catch as you proofread your work.

The essay represents a first draft. Readers will like to see that you did, in fact, proof your work and that you recognized your mistakes.

 

SAT CLASSES IN THE AV

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General Tips and Suggestions, Information Organization

General Tips and Suggestions

Read the Book

Read carefully over the assigned sections and look carefully at the sample problems. Decide if you benefit more by reading before or after the instructor covers the material. More information about reading math texts will soon be provided in a separate section of this page.

Develop a Sound Math Foundation

Because most math courses are cumulative, in other words new concepts are added to and build upon previous concepts, it is very important that the early material be mastered thoroughly. Similarly, mastery of material from previous courses makes success in later courses more likely, so continually review and practice concepts from prior math classes.

Time Management

Complete all readings and especially homework assignments as soon after they are announced as possible. And definitely complete all assignments before new material is covered since math is cumulative. This insures that the information is fresh in one's mind and linked to prior, more fundamental information. Do your assignments early enough that you can get help with the things you do not understand.

Calculator

Learn how to use your calculator effectively and efficiently, especially if exams are timed and you have trouble completing tests in the allotted time. Check with the instructor about suggestions for the appropriate calculator to purchase for a class. Be sure the machine comes with an instruction manual and read the manual. Learn how to use important function keys. Get in the habit of carrying the calculator with you. It is better in the long run to become proficient with your own calculator rather than borrowing other people's calculators.

Show Your Work

Avoid the temptation to skip steps when solving a problem unless you are quite clear about how to proceed. This is a good habit to get into with your math homework. And definitely don't skip steps on an exam no matter how well you know the material. Why take chances (unless you're running out of time)? Showing your work allows you to locate logical or calculation mistakes more easily, and sometimes partial credit is given for the correct portions of an answer.

Organize Your Work and Write Legibly

Write all numbers and variables clearly so they may be easily distinguished. Pay particular attention to 4 and 9, 1 and 7, x and y.

Spaces are as important in math equations as are the numbers and variables themselves. Allow enough space between different terms in an equation so it is easy to distinguish them.

Be sure to line up terms in each step of the solution, and write steps one below the other rather than to the right or left. Use lined paper or graph paper to help organize the problems on your page. Don't scrunch! Use plenty of paper to work each problem. Recycle the paper at the end of the term if you are concerned about wasting paper.

Support Services and Materials

Find out about the support services and materials available to you. Support services include workbooks, study groups, self-help videos and cassettes, peer tutors, professional tutors, and instructors' office hours. Using the resources from the start of the course may help your confidence and get you off on the right foot. Minimally, make use of these resources as soon as you feel uncomfortable with the material - do not wait until it is too late!

Preparation and Supplies

Being prepared for each course involves several important factors:

• Complete any previously assigned homeworks
• Compile a list of questions about the previous assignments to ask the instructor
• Preview the material to be covered that day
• Take your textbook and/or workbook to class
• Carry the proper supplies to each class - calculator, pencils, erasers, lined or graph paper, etc.

Information Organization

Math information - including definitions, symbols, equations, and steps for solving problems - may be organized using flash cards, running concept lists, flow charts, and matrices (D. Applegate, CAL).

Flash Cards

Flash cards are useful for organizing all forms of math information. Two examples are given below.

Running Concept Lists

Running concept lists organize all forms of math information.

Flow Charts

Flow charts are useful for organizing sequential information such as the steps for solving a problem.

Matrices

Matrices may be used to organize math symbols, equations, and definitions.

 

TERM	DEFINITION	EXAMPLE
Numerator	Top number in a fraction	the 1 in 1 5
Denominator	Bottom number in a fraction	the 5 in 1 5
Reciprocal	The inverse of a fraction (flip it)	2 3 The reciprocal is 3 2
Integer	Any member of the set of positive numbers, negative numbers, and zero	1, 2, 3, -1, -2, -3, 0

 

 

 

PROBLEM	EQUATION
Perimeter of Rectangle	P = 2L + 2W
Area of Rectangle	A = L * W
Volume of a Rectangle	V = L * W * H
Perimeter of Square	P = 4s
Area of Square	A = s * s

SAT CLASSES IN THE AV

http://antelopevalleybesttutor.com Interested in taking one or more SAT, but want to know what you're getting yourself into? You've come to the right place. The Classes are designed to help you become familiar with the format of the questions and learn your strengths and weaknesses.

Marva Greenleaf Shares the Almond Blossom Festival

http://www.youngloveafter50.com first time this 25 year antelope valley resident attended this parade and festival GREAT EVENT accompanied by GREAT WEATHER! Land of fruits and nuts, bubble therapy, hulahooping, talking vegetables...healthy wealthy and wise and Phun!

The Almond Blossom Festival and Parade

The Almond Blossom Festival and Parade are held the second week in March. The parade typically starts at 10:00 AM, proceeding down 50th Street West from Avenue M to Avenue L-8. This occasion includes all of the trappings, such as bands, floats, VIPs, equestrians and classic/antique cars.

Coincidentally with the Almond Blossom Parade, sometimes before or after, is the Quartz Hill Pet Parade, where the citizens and their children proudly show off their animal friends.

Carnival will be set up by 4:00 PM on Friday,and available Friday night, Saturday and Sunday also. The Festival is from 10:00AM to 5:00 PM Saturday and Sunday. The Nutty Runners will start Saturday, March 10 at 7:30 AM at Joe Walker Middle School Track.

Following the parade(s) is the Quartz Hill Almond Blossom Festival, held at George Lane Park (55th West and Avenue L-8) for the remainder of Saturday and all day Sunday. The festival has food, entertainment, community agencies, businesses and craft vendors.

Learn About Pi

After you read this enjoy Pi Day by coming down to Math Magiains in Quart Hill with a Pi for your teachef!

The Number Pi

Pi represents the relationship between a circle’s diameter (its width) and itscircumference (the distance around the circle).

Equations that use Pi

The area of a circle is calculated using Pi and the radius of the circle. This formula inspired the joke "Pies aren't square, they're round!"

To find the volume of a rectangular prism you calculate length × width × height. In that case, length × width is the area of one side, which is then multiplied by the height of the prism. Similarly, to find the volume of a cylinder, you multiply the area of the base (the area of the circle, which is pi × r²), then multiply that by the height of the cylinder.

Math is No Mystery

Tips for Parents:  Math | PDF Español/Spanish: Consejos para padres - Las matemáticas Math is No Mystery Is that 16oz. can of tomatoes a better bargain than the 12oz. can?  You make dozens of calculations in your daily life, from balancing a checkbook to figuring how long it will take to drive to a cross-town soccer game.  That’s math at work. As a parent, you can help your child be a whiz at math, even if it wasn’t your best subject.  Here are Tips for Parents on how: Be positive about math.  Express confidence in your child’s ability to do math.  Don’t stress either your own fear of math or how difficult math is or how much you admire anyone who can do math.  Remember, everyone can and does use math all the time. Show your kids math at work in their world.  Get your kids used to math by thinking out loud when making calculations.  Then, let your children work out some real-life puzzles themselves.  For example: Let them measure when you bake. Ask them to figure out how long of a hose you need to reach from the faucet on the side of the house to the garden. Let your child figure out how many miles you’ll be driving on your next trip by using the information on a map. Sort silverware by knives, forks, and spoons.  Sort cards by suit or numbers. Make math a game.  Math games are fun and inexpensive.  They are a wonderful way to get your kids to enjoy working with numbers, as well as improve their number skills.  Here are a few suggestions: Many games that we take for granted are excellent math lessons.  “Go Fish” teaches counting and grouping in sets.  Games that use play money teach how to make change.  Board games that use dice teach addition and counting.  Backgammon teaches addition, subtraction, and strategy. Beans, stones, or marbles can be used to play number games.  Let your child develop his or her own games by sorting beans into different sizes or types, setting up the rules for a counting game, or using different types of pasta to make a picture. Give your children a geometry lesson by letting them create a collage of circles, squares, and triangles.  Challenge them to come up with as many different shapes as they can using only triangles. Play store with the items in your cupboard. A pan of water and some jars or cups of different sizes will amuse a child for hours while teaching capacity and volume. Math Tips for Parents: Beyond 1, 2, 3, 4… Encourage creative problem-solving.  Problem-solving is the basis of good mathematical thinking, and the problems don’t have to involve numbers.  “How many different ways are there to walk to school?” “What’s another way to arrange the furniture in this room?” “How many different ways can I measure flour to get half a cup?” Try to come up with more than one solution for everyday problems. Choose gifts that develop problem-solving skills.  Blocks, building sets, geometric tile sets, puzzles, board games, weather stations, maps, puzzle books, calculators, strategy games,  scales, and origami are just a few of the gifts that will give your child pleasure and knowledge at the same time. Get Involved at School Talk to teachers.  Teachers have materials that you can copy and ideas that you can use at home.  They also have access to books, kits, and professional organizations that can enlarge both your own at-home math lessons and the math program at your school. Volunteer in your child’s class.  By being in the classroom during math, you can see how concepts are taught and follow through with the lessons at home.  This has two advantages.  First, it reinforces the classroom lessons.  Secondly, you are more at ease with math and with the concepts your child is learning. F

Standardized Testing: Is It Good for Our Children?

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Standardized Testing:  Is It Good for Our Children?

 

The California STAR Test is one of the biggest problems plaguing the education of our children in this state.  
In theory, standards-based education makes sense.  It is a framework by which educators can ensure they are teaching in way that is coherent and structured.  In addition, it gives educators, parents and students a way to monitor progress.  In reality, the task of meeting the standards can be monumental due to a diverse population of learners, an increase in class sizes, and a decrease in budgets.  Oftentimes, we hear that educators are “teaching to the test,” which means that most of the lessons and activities that students engage in are designed to improve the coveted score that ultimately is scrutinized by stakeholders to determine whether sanctions may be imposed on schools that do not meet certain benchmarks imposed by the State.  
The biggest losers are the learners.
While the essence of the test has some inherent value, it is lost in the mad focus on the outcomes.  Many students are repeatedly told they are failures based on their STAR test results.  However, because of the way the test and the standards framework are constructed, most students will have a difficult time raising their scores as they progress in school.  Eventually, they begin to perpetuate the self-fulfilling prophecy that they cannot learn, and they give up.
One of the problems is that the test asks students to engage in higher level thinking skills which many students have not been able to develop adequately because they are being bombarded by too many concepts throughout the year. The material is taught broadly and superficially rather than in a concentrated and thorough manner that allows students to truly master concepts and skills in their own time according to their individual learning styles.
Are the STAR Test results important for our children?
While the expectations of bureaucrats can be unreasonable, the STAR Test and the State standards can be helpful tools in determining the areas in which students may need remediation. Engaging in higher level thinking skills and mastering the concepts on the tests are good goals. We can help students improve in these areas, but most likely we are going to have to supplement what they are getting in the classroom. Many helpful materials can be found at bookstores and online.  In addition, tutoring services like Math Magicians, Inc., can help bridge the gaps that may exist between the students’ mastery of concepts and their ability to think critically and what the State will measure on the STAR Test in the spring.  
What can we do to help our children improve their STAR Test scores?
Math Magicians, Inc. offers a Reach for the STARS workshop that helps students prepare for the test.

 On the first day of the workshop, students are assessed to determine areas of weakness.  Materials that are closely aligned to the test are used to strengthen skills and bridge learning gaps. Students are asked to engage in higher level thinking skills and critical thinking activities in order to prepare them for the California STAR Test.  The workshop is March 19th to March 22rd from 3:00 pm to 5:30 pm.  The cost is $89.  If you’re interested in registering your student, please call us at 661.718.3699 or visit www.mmtutor.com for more details.  

 

Math Magicians, INC...Where Homework Disappears

Math Magicians, INC...Where Homework Disappears

We take pride in delivering 
world-class service to all of our 
customers. Read what some of 
our satisfied clients have said 
about the best tutoring service 
in Lancaster, Palmdale, and the 
surrounding communities!

Math Magicians has been one of the 
most rewarding learning experiences 
of my freshman year.  They turned my 
hectic second semester, full of doing 
math homework all night, failing tests, 
and feeling discouraged, to 
understanding math and having it be 
my favorite subject.  I remember the 
first time I left there. I got in the car 
and told my mom "I LOVE MATH!"  
which I had never said before.  She 
was shocked and knew she had made 
the right choice by having Math Magicians

 as my tutor.  I love you guys!
- Jessica B., Paraclete H.S.

 

Thanks to the Irlen Method and Math Magicians,

my son was able to bring a 
near failing grade in his 8th grade math 
class to an A by the end of the year.  
Now he is in high school and enjoys 
coming to Math Magicians knowing he 
is going to receive the best help and 
understanding he could get with his 
learning disability, which is Irlen 
Syndrome.  Debra's care and concern 
for kids who are struggling is sincerely 
heartfelt.
-Bobbie Ann J., Parent
Zach J.,  Desert Christian Middle School

 

Thanks to all at Maths Magicians for 
the professional and helpful tutoring 
that Nathan has received over the last 
5 months. He was really struggling 
with his maths after moving and 
missing out on 6 months of Grade 7.  
The tutoring sessions that he has 
been attending have certainly given 
him the confidence and know how to 
succeed and pass the 7th Grade. 
Thank you. Nathan has enjoyed his 
sessions at Maths Magicians, finding 
his tutors patient and encouraging. 
The atmosphere was friendly and 
welcoming making Nathan feel 
comfortable with asking for help. I will 
have no hesitation in recommending 
Maths Magicians to anyone who is 
looking for quality tutoring services.
-Amanda M., Parent
Nathan, Del Sur School

 

 

When I first sent my son Andrew to 
Math Magicians, he had a "D" in 
Geometry. We were struggling 
together trying to figure out how to 
work the problems. We would spend 
hours on end and still not get how to 
do the problems. After only about 3 
months of tutoring, 1 hour a day, 
twice a week, he was able to bring his 
grade up to an "A."  Thank you so much 
Math Magicians!!  I don't know what I 
would have done without you!
-Maryann S., Hillview Middle School
Parent

 

 

Thank you for your dedication to Blake. 
His reading and confidence has greatly 
improved. I am very thankful for your 
program. I would highly recommend the 
Readership.
-Sara G., Parent
Blake, Student in the Readership Program

 

 

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SAT prep and Tutoring in the AV

Our mission is to provide affordable and effective tutoring services that inspire and motivate students to be lifelong learners. We aim to show honesty and integrity in all that we do, to be positive role models, to enable students to believe they can learn, and to make learning fun.

Best Math Tutor in the AV

Our mission is to provide affordable and effective tutoring services that inspire and motivate students to be lifelong learners. We aim to show honesty and integrity in all that we do, to be positive role models, to enable students to believe they can learn, and to make learning fun. KEY WORDS: “education”, tutoring, math tutoring, algebra tutoring, reading tutoring, SAT prep, test prep, study skills, geometry tutoring, calculus tutoring, chemistry tutoring, physics tutoring, trigonometry tutoring, CAHSEE prep, ACT prep, GRE prep, MSAT prep, biology tutoring, statistics tutoring, Algebra 2 tutoring, Algebra II tutoring, Math Magicians, tutoring Lancaster, tutoring Palmdale, tutor Antelope Valley, tutor Lancaster, tutor Palmdale, tutor