V O L U M E

I S S U E I V

th

Ms. Kims 7
grade newsletter
In this issue
For this issue, I will be reviewing two different programs that we will be using in our math class starting
next week. First, the students will all be opening an account on Khan Academy, an online program that
allows students to learn about and have lots of practice on many subjects, including math. However, for
the purposes of our class, we will only be using the tools for math. I will also be reviewing The
Geometers Sketchpad, an offline program that helps students visualize and experiment with geometry
and algebra. We will be using this software mostly in class to give the students a chance to explore the
characteristics of different geometrical figures and grasp math concepts at a deeper level.

Khan Academy (www.khanacademy.org)

Khan Academy is a well-known non-profit education organization that runs a website
that gives students an opportunity to practice and learn math. Just when students
first open their accounts, they will be given a diagnostic test that measures their
level; using this data, the program will customize practice problems in the future to
fit the needs of the students. After taking the test, students are able to practice
previously learned math through drilling practice problems and also learn new math through videos also
posted on the site. Though students are able to learn new mathematical concepts through the videos, I
hope to teach the actual math content in class and use Khan Academy as added practice. However, if
students are unable to fully grasp the new concept, they will have the option of being able to watch the
videos. Because the students will open their account using the classroom code, I will be able to track
each students progress and see how many of the 110 seventh grade skills they have mastered and how
much time they spend on the site. These 110 skills/concepts focus mostly on algebra, such as exponents,
fractions, and expressions, and geometry. One aspect of this program that really supports student
learning is how the students need to get five of the practice questions correct in a row in order to have
completed and mastered the skill. Using this program as an added drilling practice for work at home, I
hope to give you, the parents, an opportunity to become involved in your childrens math learning. I also
plan to keep you updated on your childs progress by sending home copies of the track records from the
website, so you can see what your child has been learning, reviewing, and practicing.

TECHNOLOGY
ISSUE
THE LOREM IPSUMS

OCTOBER
015
FALL 22016

The Geometers Sketchpad

Another great technology software we will be using in

the coming weeks will be The Geometers Sketchpad.
Unlike Khan Academy, this program needs to be
downloaded onto the computer, so we will only be
working with this program in school. We will be using
the schools Chrome books, which are already set up
with this program. On this program, the students will be exploring features that allow them to visualize
certain algebra and geometry concepts, giving them a deeper conceptual understanding of the topics.

Pre-Algebra Concepts
As the students begin to learn about the basics and foundations of
algebra, it is important that they understand the concepts behind
the rules and procedures they will be taught in the later grades. In
order to give them the opportunity to really understand these
deeper concepts, they will be exploring properties including, but not
limited to, equations, graphs, and slopes. This program gives
students the ability to try what they want and to construct their
own knowledge without having to constantly erase and draw new
graphs.

Geometry Concepts
Geometry is another big topic we will be exploring in seventh
grade. Students will again have the chance to play around with the
different features in the program and learn from what they witness.
By clicking and dragging one end of a quadrilateral, students will
learn and explore how the movement of just one vertex can create
different shapes. Through this software, students will be able to
more easily and quickly visualize and learn the different
characteristics of certain shapes, which creates the opportunity to
further extend their learning and even compare certain shapes with
others.

Contact Info:
Ms. Kim

Thomas A. Edison K-8 School

kimbik@bc.edu
(201) 739-2920

60 Glenmont Rd.
Brighton, MA 02135
(617) 635-8436