This is the first unit I did with my Algebra 1 Honors class this school year. We start off reviewing expressions and equations. We do have a textbook, but we don't really use it much except to follow the order. These students are 8th graders and are able to earn HS credit by completing the course with a B average. I tell them the first day of school that the class is going to be hard, and they will have a lot of work. Some don't believe me, but by the end of the 1st unit, they know I meant it. This Unit is going to be photo dump first then I will add in comments here and there and links to get the documents I used. The tabs are from Math = Love and I just edited them to fit my class. I need to fix this unit 1 tab for Alg to include a "I Can" statement that I missed. I type them a head of time based on what I did the year before and I found that I had missed a topic when I typed it before school started. | |
1st Lesson: Order of Operations
I start the year off going back and reviewing order of operations with them. I allow them to use a calculator, but they MUST show their work, or it doesn't count for credit. It is more for them to check their work, and most will not type in the grouping symbols correctly in their calculator, so they wouldn't get the correct answer anyways. I have used this journal with my Algebra students since I started teaching Alg 3 years ago when I moved to 8th grade. I got it from my favorite place Math=Love here if you want to get it.
*** I do have intentions of doing a different journal entry this year for order of operations. I will update in August after I complete it and upload my entire unit.
*** I do have intentions of doing a different journal entry this year for order of operations. I will update in August after I complete it and upload my entire unit.
Lesson 2: Simplifying Algebraic Expressions - Distributive Property
I found this foldable 3 years ago and it's not my favorite, but it works. I got it for FREE of course here at a teachers webpage. Not much to say about this one with students. Most are accomplished with the distributive property, so I make sure to challenge them with their classwork after this journal.
Lesson 3: Simplifying Algebraic Expressions - Combining Like Terms
I got this file from the same place as the last lesson. Again, I don't love, but it works. This past week I have been searching for new and improved journals and I think I found a new one for this lesson, but after downloading over 100 files, I have forgotten if I did or not.
Click here to get the file. I will also put in other files that I might have pictures of here that the links might not work for anymore.
Click here to get the file. I will also put in other files that I might have pictures of here that the links might not work for anymore.
Lesson 4: Multi-Step Equations
Normally I do a journal like the last two lessons, but this year I decided to do more of a discovery type activity with students. These students who were placed in Alg 1 Honors are supposed to be the top of the top (besides those who took Alg 1 as a 7th grader and is taking Geometry as an 8th grader). I skipped reviewing 2-step equations and went straight to the activity. Might have been a mistake, because there were some students who were lacking a bit with their solving equations skills. I assigned them review IXL they had to complete along with the original assignment. I offered after school tutoring and passes for them to come back to my class during my planning for extra help.
I got this activity for free from tpt, I just can't find it on there to link right to the download. Check out my downloadable files to find the activity. I had students cut out the strips and fold them. They had the equation and the answers. Their job was to get the steps correct to get the answer in the bottom box. Most did them correctly. I had a few that tried to be funny and just tape them in and couldn't understand why I was giving them "the" look when I was monitoring their work.
I got this activity for free from tpt, I just can't find it on there to link right to the download. Check out my downloadable files to find the activity. I had students cut out the strips and fold them. They had the equation and the answers. Their job was to get the steps correct to get the answer in the bottom box. Most did them correctly. I had a few that tried to be funny and just tape them in and couldn't understand why I was giving them "the" look when I was monitoring their work.
Lesson 5: Solving Equations with Variables on Both Sides
This what I did for solving with variables on both sides. Kind of boring, but effective. I am thinking I found something more animated for next year, but I don't remember. Click here for the file.
Lesson 6: Identities and No Solutions
Again, this one is boring, but it works. I have searched in the past for something different, but I didn't find anything until last year. I used it in my pre-alg class and I forgot about it this year when I did this unit way before my pre-alg does their equations unit. Click here for this journal. |
Lesson 7: Solving Proportion Equations
I have plans to make changes to this tri-fold next year. Some of the examples are messy and just need to be simplified a bit more. I also use Edpuzzle for their assignment on this one. If you haven't used Edpuzzle before, you should check it out. I like it. I don't over use it because it would become old news with my students, so I use it once or twice every few weeks. I made this one to fit the needs of my students. Click here for the file.
Lesson 8: Proportions and Similar Figures
This lesson ended up being a review for them, but it is the last lesson for the chapter we follow from the textbook. I cut and pasted this foldable together from a few different places. I don't love it, but it was better than what I had done the 2 previous years. I used a powerpoint to present the lesson to my students. Click here for the files.