Week 0 HW

This is easy. You are just setting up your binder and reviewing your multiplication facts. If you are taking pre-algebra in one year then you are doing the pre-algebra homework and the Intro to Algebra homework too. That means you’ll already have done this except step #1.

1. Bookmark the Intro to Algebra HW page. That’s the page that has buttons for every two weeks of the semester.

2. Make sure you have all your supplies. Supplies are listed are on the Intro to Algebra HW Table of Contents Page

3. Set up your binder for this class (and if using a spiral notebook for notes set that up too. The Spiral Notebook option is below and it slightly changes the number of tabs you put in your binder. )

   • BINDER: You need 4 or 5 tabs. Label the tabs as follows

     • Handouts/Notes

     • Tests/Quizzes

     • Bingo/IMPS

     • Graded Homework

     • Lined & Graph Paper

   • Put a stack of lined paper and graph paper behind the paper tab. Use wide ruled lined paper so your writing isn’t cramped.

   • Print out the table of contents form (see blue button above under the bridge heading photo.)

4. Spiral Notebook option

   • If you want the simplicity of all your handwritten notes and homework that isn’t a handout in one place (or if you struggle with organization) you are welcome to do all your classwork, homework and IMPs in a spiral notebook with 3 internal section dividers. (Choose one with internal pockets in the dividers). You’ll still need a three-ring binder for loose papers.

   • Discuss with your parents which option is best for you.

   • If you opt to do HW/CW and IMPS in a spiral notebook, your 3-ring binder needs just 3 tabs: one labeled “tests and quizzes”, “handouts” and “paper.”

5. Figure out how you will study multiplication facts.

   Either create a free student account on Xtramath.org, with a little parent help, OR make flashcards for multiplication facts 1 through 10 and addition facts adding 1 through 10.

   If using Xtramath.org, use these tips below.

   • Xtramath is a simple program which quizzes you on basic arithmetic facts.

   • Set it up so that you are working on math facts from 1 to 12 if you have a paid ($2/year) account otherwise the default setting is fine. The time allotment on default/free is 6 seconds. (The paid option enables you to set the time to 3 seconds.) Your first Xtramath session is a placement quiz.

   • After the placement quiz do an Xtramath session 4 days a week.

   • Why? The faster you are at adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing in your head, the easier it will be for you to do more the complicated math which we’re learning in pre-algebra.

6. Take the multiplication quiz to establish a baseline of how long it takes you to answer 40 questions. You are shooting for under 1 minute. Work towards that goal. Which questions take you longer to recall? Make flashcards for those and work on them for at least a week or more, then retake the quiz.

7. Perfect Square Bingo Card instructions

   • On a piece of card stock or graph paper create a 4 x 4 grid with 16 squares which are each about 1 inch on each side.

   • In these squares write 1-squared through 16 squared, but use the exponent notation as I have in the photo above. Mix up the order of the square numbers.

   • Then make a second bingo board with the same dimensions but with all the perfect square numbers between 1 and 256. In other words

     • 1-squared = 1 x 1 =1, so write 1 in a box.

     • 2-squared is 2x2=4, so write 4 in a box.

     • 3-squared is 3x3=9, so write 9 in a box

     • and so on through 16-squared which is 16x16=256

   • Our goal is to memorize 1-squared through 16-squared.