Guess, I'ma blogger now, give y_all a look behind the scenes, transparent peak as we immerse ourselves into the world of mathematics...
Tagline: Have fun. Do math. Get done.
Theme vibes: Meow Wolf energy × spaceship bridge × community lab.
Cold Open (Script)
Close your eyes. Notice the nothingness behind your eyelids. Let your imagination sketch lines, shapes, and shading until a world appears. Float there. Breathe. Welcome to the space where ideas spark. We’re here to build that world with mathematics.
Close your eyes. Notice the nothingness behind your eyelids. Let your imagination sketch lines, shapes, and shading until a world appears. Float there. Breathe. Welcome to the space where ideas spark. We’re here to build that world with mathematics.
Howdy + Hello
You can call me Ms. F.
This week? Chef’s kiss. We set a tone of courage, curiosity, and community. Blues and greens. Summer isn’t over—it’s evolving.
Class purpose (College Algebra Prep): I’ve got a CRUMPLEY skeleton that works and the craft of teaching like a mechanic knows an engine. We love puzzles, logistics, and people. The improbable becomes possible with grit.
Our Quest: We are climbing a mountain together to restore the beauty of the Queen of Sciences—Mathematics. We’ll simplify, reason, and build. Doors, meet hinges.
Class Values:
• Effort > Perfection
• Questions welcomed anytime
• Everyone belongs
• Community learning > solo grind
• Safety + autonomy: a two‑way road
Tutoring (Side Quest): Room 407, 5th hour daily + after school when posted. Guests welcome. Send me on a quest, I’ll return with my best.
Contact: Aishaford@archie.k12.mo.us
You can call me Ms. F.
This week? Chef’s kiss. We set a tone of courage, curiosity, and community. Blues and greens. Summer isn’t over—it’s evolving.
Class purpose (College Algebra Prep): I’ve got a CRUMPLEY skeleton that works and the craft of teaching like a mechanic knows an engine. We love puzzles, logistics, and people. The improbable becomes possible with grit.
Our Quest: We are climbing a mountain together to restore the beauty of the Queen of Sciences—Mathematics. We’ll simplify, reason, and build. Doors, meet hinges.
Class Values:
• Effort > Perfection
• Questions welcomed anytime
• Everyone belongs
• Community learning > solo grind
• Safety + autonomy: a two‑way road
Tutoring (Side Quest): Room 407, 5th hour daily + after school when posted. Guests welcome. Send me on a quest, I’ll return with my best.
Contact: Aishaford@archie.k12.mo.us
Announcements & Notes
• Injury update: Broke wrist (8/1). Lefty life! Doing well—thank you for the care.
• Specials Overlay (Recreational Math & Research): Optional extra credit adventures to bring the joy back to math.
• Baseline Week(s): IXL Diagnostic + Honest Diagnostic; WNEA baseline coming; ACT diagnostic opening soon.
• Grading: Target: grades updated before Fridays. Cohort avg is currently >100% (we’ll fix the weighting once diagnostics settle—real‑world math!).
• Injury update: Broke wrist (8/1). Lefty life! Doing well—thank you for the care.
• Specials Overlay (Recreational Math & Research): Optional extra credit adventures to bring the joy back to math.
• Baseline Week(s): IXL Diagnostic + Honest Diagnostic; WNEA baseline coming; ACT diagnostic opening soon.
• Grading: Target: grades updated before Fridays. Cohort avg is currently >100% (we’ll fix the weighting once diagnostics settle—real‑world math!).
Vertical Learning (What We Did)
• Boards up, markers out: worked Level Problems aloud, solo/duo, easy → challenging. Reached #14 (Level 6).
• Pivoted to IXL baselines to capture starting skills.
What’s IXL? An adaptive practice platform with robust diagnostics. Data is a tool—kind, constructive, and only as powerful as the imagination using it.
• Boards up, markers out: worked Level Problems aloud, solo/duo, easy → challenging. Reached #14 (Level 6).
• Pivoted to IXL baselines to capture starting skills.
What’s IXL? An adaptive practice platform with robust diagnostics. Data is a tool—kind, constructive, and only as powerful as the imagination using it.
Coming Up
• Finish IXL baseline; start WNEA baseline
• ACT Diagnostic: open window launches
• Power‑Train Week: systems, routines, and momentum
• Sort & organize paperwork (each class will co‑design a simple logistics system)
• Geometry: launch Geometric Vocabulary + Word Wall (Big‑G & lil‑g)
• Finish IXL baseline; start WNEA baseline
• ACT Diagnostic: open window launches
• Power‑Train Week: systems, routines, and momentum
• Sort & organize paperwork (each class will co‑design a simple logistics system)
• Geometry: launch Geometric Vocabulary + Word Wall (Big‑G & lil‑g)
Tuesday Task: Hall De‑Scuff Statistics Lab (Bellwork → Mini‑Investigation)
Scenario: Two people de‑scuff a ~150 m hall for 45–60 minutes. What’s the work‑rate? Then compare to several duos who each de‑scuff a ~30 m stretch for 1 minute.
Goal: Estimate and compare de‑scuffs per meter per second and meters per minute. Discuss variability, sampling, and fairness.
Roles per team (3–4 per group):
• Duo: de‑scuffers
• 1 Statistician: timekeeper + tally + recorder
• Optional Observer: quality control (consistency of effort)
Materials: painter’s tape (start/finish), stopwatch, clicker/tally, 30 m tape or floor tiles count, scrub pads.
Procedure:
• Mark a 30 m section.
• In 60 seconds, the duo de‑scuffs continuously; the statistician tallies visible marks removed.
• Record: total scuffs removed, time (s), distance (m).
• Repeat 3 trials; switch roles if needed.
• Compute individual rate and a team mean; gather class data to compare to the long‑duration 150 m run.
Formulas:
• meters per minute = distance (m) / time (min)
• de‑scuffs per meter = scuffs removed / distance (m)
• de‑scuffs per meter per second = (scuffs removed / distance) / time (s)
• Class stats: mean, median, IQR, standard deviation, and a quick confidence talk (what would more trials change?).
Discussion Prompts:
• What affects rate (pad type, pressure, fatigue, surface)?
• Is the 1‑minute sample biased vs the 60‑minute reality?
• How could we improve the experiment (randomize sections, blind counts, repeat days)?
Data Table (copy per team):
TeamTrialDistance (m)Time (s)Scuffs Removedm/minScuffs/mScuffs/(m·s)A13060A23060A33060Mean————
Scenario: Two people de‑scuff a ~150 m hall for 45–60 minutes. What’s the work‑rate? Then compare to several duos who each de‑scuff a ~30 m stretch for 1 minute.
Goal: Estimate and compare de‑scuffs per meter per second and meters per minute. Discuss variability, sampling, and fairness.
Roles per team (3–4 per group):
• Duo: de‑scuffers
• 1 Statistician: timekeeper + tally + recorder
• Optional Observer: quality control (consistency of effort)
Materials: painter’s tape (start/finish), stopwatch, clicker/tally, 30 m tape or floor tiles count, scrub pads.
Procedure:
• Mark a 30 m section.
• In 60 seconds, the duo de‑scuffs continuously; the statistician tallies visible marks removed.
• Record: total scuffs removed, time (s), distance (m).
• Repeat 3 trials; switch roles if needed.
• Compute individual rate and a team mean; gather class data to compare to the long‑duration 150 m run.
Formulas:
• meters per minute = distance (m) / time (min)
• de‑scuffs per meter = scuffs removed / distance (m)
• de‑scuffs per meter per second = (scuffs removed / distance) / time (s)
• Class stats: mean, median, IQR, standard deviation, and a quick confidence talk (what would more trials change?).
Discussion Prompts:
• What affects rate (pad type, pressure, fatigue, surface)?
• Is the 1‑minute sample biased vs the 60‑minute reality?
• How could we improve the experiment (randomize sections, blind counts, repeat days)?
Data Table (copy per team):
TeamTrialDistance (m)Time (s)Scuffs Removedm/minScuffs/mScuffs/(m·s)A13060A23060A33060Mean————
Math Centers (Fridays once we hit a groove)
Rotation (48–52 min): 4 stations × 10–12 min each + 2 min transitions.
• IXL Data Mine: read Diagnostics → pick 1‑2 focus skills; set micro‑goals; log trouble spots.
• Error Clinic: analyze common mistakes; write “fix‑it” notes.
• Boss Problem Corner: weekly challenge (see below).
• Creative Build: sketchbook prompt (graphs, tessellations, function art) or mini‑project.
Exit Ticket: 1 sentence → “What improved?” + 1 target for next week.
• IXL Data Mine: read Diagnostics → pick 1‑2 focus skills; set micro‑goals; log trouble spots.
• Error Clinic: analyze common mistakes; write “fix‑it” notes.
• Boss Problem Corner: weekly challenge (see below).
• Creative Build: sketchbook prompt (graphs, tessellations, function art) or mini‑project.
Exit Ticket: 1 sentence → “What improved?” + 1 target for next week.
IXL: Teacher Guide (Quick)
• Dashboards to watch: Student Diagnostics → Recommendations → Trouble Spots.
• Goals: 20–30 focused minutes per student on top 1–2 weak areas.
• Evidence: screenshot or log of skill gains; short reflection on what changed.
Student Log Template:
• Date:
• Skill(s) & code(s):
• SmartScore start → end:
• 1 mistake I fixed:
• Next step:
• Dashboards to watch: Student Diagnostics → Recommendations → Trouble Spots.
• Goals: 20–30 focused minutes per student on top 1–2 weak areas.
• Evidence: screenshot or log of skill gains; short reflection on what changed.
Student Log Template:
• Date:
• Skill(s) & code(s):
• SmartScore start → end:
• 1 mistake I fixed:
• Next step:
Boss Problems
Boss P.1 (Algebraic Fallacy: Why can 2 + 2 ≠ 5?) — Solution Sketch:
Common “proofs” hide a division by zero or an invalid square‑root/absolute‑value step. We’ll walk through the classic trap in class and highlight where the illegal move happens. Key lesson: every algebra step must preserve equivalence; undefined operations break logic.
Boss P.2 (Water Jug Puzzle):
You have jugs of sizes 3 L and 5 L. Measure exactly 4 L without markings.
Hint: Think “state machine”: represent states (a,b) and search minimal moves.
Extension: Find an algorithm for any pair (m,n) to measure gcd(m,n) multiples.
Boss P.1 (Algebraic Fallacy: Why can 2 + 2 ≠ 5?) — Solution Sketch:
Common “proofs” hide a division by zero or an invalid square‑root/absolute‑value step. We’ll walk through the classic trap in class and highlight where the illegal move happens. Key lesson: every algebra step must preserve equivalence; undefined operations break logic.
Boss P.2 (Water Jug Puzzle):
You have jugs of sizes 3 L and 5 L. Measure exactly 4 L without markings.
Hint: Think “state machine”: represent states (a,b) and search minimal moves.
Extension: Find an algorithm for any pair (m,n) to measure gcd(m,n) multiples.
Geometry Kickoff: Vocabulary & Word Wall
• Mini‑lessons: point, line, plane; ray vs segment; parallel/perpendicular; angle types; polygons; congruence vs similarity.
• Re‑Word it: students rewrite definitions in their voice + sketch examples/non‑examples.
• Wall Tiles: term • student definition • labeled sketch • QR code to a 15–30 s explainer video.( check withIT)
• Mini‑lessons: point, line, plane; ray vs segment; parallel/perpendicular; angle types; polygons; congruence vs similarity.
• Re‑Word it: students rewrite definitions in their voice + sketch examples/non‑examples.
• Wall Tiles: term • student definition • labeled sketch • QR code to a 15–30 s explainer video.( check withIT)
Side‑Quest: Plumbing Cheat‑Sheet (Practical, Not Legal Advice)
I need the below information brought down to a bottom shelf level- any knowledgeable people eager to share?
Always verify with local code (city/county + 2021/2024 IPC or UPC as adopted) and inspectors.
1) Layout Plans (what to look up):
• “Plumbing riser diagram residential/industrial”
• “Drain‑waste‑vent (DWV) schematic”
• “Water supply schematic”
• “As‑built plumbing plans + your city”
• “Site plan water/sewer lateral + your city”
• “Plumbing code illustrated guide (IPC/UPC)”
2) Slopes/Angles (typical DWV):
• For branch drains ≤3 in. diameter: 1/4 in. per foot (≈ 2% slope).
• For 4 in. mains: 1/8 in. per foot (≈ 1% slope) minimum; too steep can let water outrun solids.
• Provide cleanouts at base of stacks, at building exit, and every ~100 ft straight run (or per local code).
• Trap arms have max lengths by pipe size; ensure proper venting to prevent siphon.
3) Street → Valve → House (sewer & water):
• Sewer lateral: gravity to main where possible; maintain continuous slope; include backwater valve if flood‑prone.
• Water service: curb stop (city) → meter → main shutoff → PRV (if >80 psi) → distribution. Typical city pressure 50–80 psi.
4) City vs. Well (water):
• City: meter + sometimes PRV; backflow prevention where required (irrigation, boilers).
• Well: pump + pressure tank + pressure switch (commonly 40/60 psi cut‑in/out) + check valve + treatment as needed.
5) Filtration/Treatment—What Specs Mean:
• Micron rating (sediment): 20–50 µm (coarse), 5–10 µm (fine), 1 µm (very fine). Lower = finer.
• Activated carbon (GAC/carbon block): removes taste/odor, chlorine; look for NSF/ANSI 42.
• Lead/PFAS/health claims: seek NSF/ANSI 53 (lead, cysts, VOCs) and NSF/ANSI 401 (emerging contaminants).
• Reverse Osmosis (RO): point‑of‑use; high removal incl. TDS; look for NSF/ANSI 58. Needs storage tank and waste line.
• Water softeners: rated in grains; match to hardness (grains per gallon, gpg).
• Flow rate (GPM) & pressure (PSI): ensure filter doesn’t choke fixtures; compare to home’s demand.
6) Safety/Code Reminders:
• No S‑traps; use P‑traps with venting.
• Air gaps/backflow prevention for dishwashers, RO, irrigation.
• Dielectric unions when joining copper to steel.
• Combustion appliance clearances and drip legs for gas (HVAC scope overlaps).
• Pull permits; schedule inspections.
7) Good Search Terms for Deep Dives:
• “IPC vs UPC trap arm length table”
• “Plumbing venting diagrams wet vent circuit vent”
• “Water meter pit details + your city”
• “Backwater valve when required + your city”
• “NSF certifications water filter 42 53 58 401”
1) Layout Plans (what to look up):
• “Plumbing riser diagram residential/industrial”
• “Drain‑waste‑vent (DWV) schematic”
• “Water supply schematic”
• “As‑built plumbing plans + your city”
• “Site plan water/sewer lateral + your city”
• “Plumbing code illustrated guide (IPC/UPC)”
2) Slopes/Angles (typical DWV):
• For branch drains ≤3 in. diameter: 1/4 in. per foot (≈ 2% slope).
• For 4 in. mains: 1/8 in. per foot (≈ 1% slope) minimum; too steep can let water outrun solids.
• Provide cleanouts at base of stacks, at building exit, and every ~100 ft straight run (or per local code).
• Trap arms have max lengths by pipe size; ensure proper venting to prevent siphon.
3) Street → Valve → House (sewer & water):
• Sewer lateral: gravity to main where possible; maintain continuous slope; include backwater valve if flood‑prone.
• Water service: curb stop (city) → meter → main shutoff → PRV (if >80 psi) → distribution. Typical city pressure 50–80 psi.
4) City vs. Well (water):
• City: meter + sometimes PRV; backflow prevention where required (irrigation, boilers).
• Well: pump + pressure tank + pressure switch (commonly 40/60 psi cut‑in/out) + check valve + treatment as needed.
5) Filtration/Treatment—What Specs Mean:
• Micron rating (sediment): 20–50 µm (coarse), 5–10 µm (fine), 1 µm (very fine). Lower = finer.
• Activated carbon (GAC/carbon block): removes taste/odor, chlorine; look for NSF/ANSI 42.
• Lead/PFAS/health claims: seek NSF/ANSI 53 (lead, cysts, VOCs) and NSF/ANSI 401 (emerging contaminants).
• Reverse Osmosis (RO): point‑of‑use; high removal incl. TDS; look for NSF/ANSI 58. Needs storage tank and waste line.
• Water softeners: rated in grains; match to hardness (grains per gallon, gpg).
• Flow rate (GPM) & pressure (PSI): ensure filter doesn’t choke fixtures; compare to home’s demand.
6) Safety/Code Reminders:
• No S‑traps; use P‑traps with venting.
• Air gaps/backflow prevention for dishwashers, RO, irrigation.
• Dielectric unions when joining copper to steel.
• Combustion appliance clearances and drip legs for gas (HVAC scope overlaps).
• Pull permits; schedule inspections.
7) Good Search Terms for Deep Dives:
• “IPC vs UPC trap arm length table”
• “Plumbing venting diagrams wet vent circuit vent”
• “Water meter pit details + your city”
• “Backwater valve when required + your city”
• “NSF certifications water filter 42 53 58 401”
A Tiny Ad Break (just for fun)
We appreciate community support. Lights cost watts. (Windows for $289? FIND SUNSHINEHOMEIMPROVEMENTS.com Tell them Bob sent ya and you saw the math blog.)
Gratitude
Snacks were awesome—cucumber & cantaloupe: chef’s kiss (then… questionable). Your kindness matters. You matter. We care.
We appreciate community support. Lights cost watts. (Windows for $289? FIND SUNSHINEHOMEIMPROVEMENTS.com Tell them Bob sent ya and you saw the math blog.)
Gratitude
Snacks were awesome—cucumber & cantaloupe: chef’s kiss (then… questionable). Your kindness matters. You matter. We care.
Have a lovely day, bye bye 👋 as you can see a lot of moving parts. Please have grace 👑 ☆
Ps: We also have some participants in the SPECIALS! - Its an overlay, optional, extra credit, Recreational Math and research^side quest that pumps the life back into the Queen of Sciences: Math.
The Dragon of confusion, Has No More Power. Clairty amd Calm has entered the chat. I lay my Land Claim block.
ASK ur QUESTIONS, BE FOUND, JOIN THE JOURNEY, HELP A NEW FRIEND, HELP US SLAY THE MATHEMATICAL DRAGON! 🐉 🐲
Gather you Shield of True Testd Tried Law
Equip your SWORD of Simplification
Put on your Cloak of Community
Even when we are Battered and bruised, we will fight again.
Motivation: Training because the test is near. Dual, EOC, FInal, ACT, Ascellus
Math Tutor Room, Room 407, Privileges Free Math Help! GOT GOALS, Im here to help. Let me help. Fifth hour, Everyday.