We've finished our first full week of class at CBA, and have spent our time in Integrated Math 2 learning some new software, structuring our group work, and learning how to connect new observations to previous knowledge. The instructor for IM 2 this year is Dr. Jen Bruce, and there are both 9th and 10th graders enrolled in the course.
There are two IM 2 classes this year, both of which meet for 45 minute blocks four days a week. The shorter class block is a big transition for the 10th graders (and Dr. Bruce!) who are trying to acclimate to the new schedule. The more frequent class meetings are a welcome change, however. IM 2A meets at 10:10 am, and IM 2B meets right after lunch at 12:20 pm. Both classes will be following a similar schedule throughout the year, and will occasionally meet together on Wednesdays.
Our first topic of the year is Congruence, which is primarily a Geometry topic. Congruence is all about how to determine if two shapes are essentially the same (even if they've been shifted around, rotated or flipped over). Establishing congruence between shapes turns out to be an essential tool when we learn about geometric proof later in the year. We'll frequently look for ways to link this back to our algebra knowledge as well, as topics such as distance, parallel lines and perpendicular lines are essential to understanding congruence.
Students were introduced to the online dynamic mathematics software called GeoGebra, and used it to visualize properties of translations (one way to move a shape without changing it). As your student to show it to you on his or her laptop.
We also worked on our first group activity, in which students were assigned a group role: Organizer, Recorder or Resource Manager. We'll use these roles throughout the year (and the roles will rotate among students) to help us learn how to work most effectively as teams. As we complete an activity, the Recorder will be summarizing the work of the group, which will then serve as a permanent record of the work for the groups' notebooks. A description of the group roles can be found at the bottom of this page.
We continue our work on Congruence next week, and students will learn about the way we track mastery of skills in mathematics (which will inform the scores on progress reports and report cards).
