Sam's Blog

Super excited for this geometry project .  Jobs are assigned, and I have high hopes about the finished product. Also, since students are interested in LaTeX, I gave the handout with the latex code, which looks like: % Geometry first project - make a chess board illusion like on the cover of their textbook \documentclass[11pt]{article} \usepackage{graphicx} % Default margins are too wide all the way around. I reset them here \setlength{\topmargin}{-.5in} \setlength{\textheight}{9in} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{.125in} \setlength{\textwidth}{6.25in} \begin{document} \title{(Im)possible Chess Board} \author{\em Course: \rm Geometry\\ \em Instructor: \rm Sam Havens \\ \\ Topanga Mountain School} \maketitle \noindent \em As a group, we will construct an apparently impossible chess board, modeled after the cover of \underline{Geometry: Seeing, Doing, Understanding}.  The division of labor will (ideally) reflect student interest. \\ \\ \thispa...

In a page or less, write something that communicates to me your answer(s) to the question(s): “What is real?” and/or “what is right?” It does not have to be an essay, it can be a story, a dialogue, a poem, or something else!  Feel free to add some drawings!  The only criteria is that, once I've read it, I should have a better understanding of your world. Due Monday, September 24 th .

This is the second assignment for ISRP.  It is due October 1. Introduction:  Your second homework assignment in this course is to take an online quiz; this serves two purposes.  It both gives you, the student, and me, the teacher, some idea of how much background information you already have; it also requires you to demonstrate basic technology skills.  Answer the quiz questions to the best of your ability, but realize that your score will not affect your grade - it is just to let me know from where we are starting, as a class. If you have any problems with the computer skills that are required for this assignment, please ask a parent.  If they can't help, ask a friend.  Then try a google search.  If none of these help, feel free to email me with your question. Warning:  Do not look up answers to the questions.  If you don't know an answer, the best thing to do is get it wrong.  This test is a diagnostic, and if you cheat on it, I...

This is an experiment.  I have really high hopes for it.  I think together we can learn a lot, and enjoy it. Requested Homework: Read:   http://www.cantrip.org/gatto.html Answer (please copy the questions into a text file, type your responses, and email them to me): (0)  Do you have any thoughts about what you just read?  Do you agree with Mr. Gatto? (1)  What are you passionate about?  Would you do that more if you weren't in school? (2)  Do you want to study Geometry? (3)  Can you think of any ways to work your passion into the study of Geometry (don't worry if you can't - I will help; that's my job)?  An example: if your passion is art, you could suggest doing art projects with geometric themes, like these . (4)  How do you think your grade in this class should be determined?  An example: if you would like a very traditional math class, you could suggest your grade to be 10% homework, 10% participation,...

Is the picture accurate?  Convince me. http://a.yfrog.com/img644/50/kxe3.png (do research)

Alright, dedicated students.  You can't get enough math, so you want to spend some time preparing for next month's AMC 8, right?  Here are some resources: AMC 8 problems, with solutions, from 2004 -  http://209.222.159.179/d-publication/d1-pubarchive/2005-6pub/2005AMC8/html/05-8TM,p10-17problems.html A sampling of problems from various AMC 8, 10 and 12, from the people who make the tests -  http://209.222.159.179/a-activities/a7-problems/problem81012archive.shtml Books designed for math competition preparation -  http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Store/contests.php?contest=amc A reading list for World Math Olympiad hopefuls -  http://209.222.159.179/a-activities/a4-for-students/reading-list.shtml Also, see me!  I have at least one whole book and an old test.  I'll post more resources as I find out about them.

If you are in my Algebra 1 class at TMS, and you've lost your concept list, here it is (only through concept 15): Algebra 1 Concept List / Corresponding Kahn Academy Videos 1 Integer Operations PA: +/- negative numbers & PA: mult/div negative numbers 2 Simplifying Expressions None- Sam Lecture 3 Evaluating Expressions DM1: Variables and expressions Evaluating expressions with two variables Evaluate a formula using substitution Evaluating a polynomial at a given value 4 Two-Step Equations ALG: Equations 2 5 Multi-Step Equations DM1: Multi-step equations 1 6 Translate Expressions none – Sam Lecture 7 Fraction Busters DM1: Multi-step equations 2 8 Proportions DM1: Understanding ...