Figure It Out Middle School Math and Logic: Area, Surface Area, and Geometry
This problem-based math cohort is for the creative thinkers, artists, and problem solvers to build math confidence and skills at an accelerated pace suitable for gifted students while building deep foundational understanding.
Malikai Bass M.A
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:(316)
Popular
What's included
15 live meetings
12 hrs 30 mins in-class hoursHomework
1 hour per week. Each lesson will include a variety of practice problems that will be covered in class. Students will have access to any unfinished problems after class that they are welcome to complete for additional practice as needed but this is not required or expected.Assessment
Students will receive a written progress report at the end of the class. One numerical assessment grades can be provided if requested.Grading
Grades will be provided upon request but play no role in the class. Instead students will receive regular verbal feedback on their work and written feedback throughout the course.Class Experience
US Grade 6 - 7
Welcome to Figure It Out Math. Math for the kid who always needs to know why and for learners who hate doing things “just because”. This math class is designed for gestalt processors and big-picture thinkers with easter eggs hidden along the way for detail-oriented problem-solvers. This is math for the doodlers and the diagrammers where we harness the pencil as the mightiest tool in math to build deep foundational understanding through problem sovling that becomes a launch pad for deep dives and acceleration to reach our highest goals. This series is based on an accelerated math curriculum that covers three years of content, aligned to Common Core Math Standards, over the course of just two school years and prepares students very well for honors and advanced Algebra curriculums. Rather than lecture, this class spends all our time working on problems independently, small group, and whole group and discussing our results and process. The use of discussion and problem-solving leads to generalized mathematics or proofs. This process prepares students well who may seek advanced mathematics in high school or beyond. Students have access to a “mini-textbook” consisting of a summary and carefully selected practice problem for each day’s lesson in order to support students with retention and review. Please see the syllabus for a detailed breakdown of each lesson’s guiding question and objectives.
Learning Goals
Explain
how to find areas by composing and decomposing shapes (Lesson 3)
strategies used to find areas of parallelograms. (Lesson 4)
strategies used to find areas of triangles (Lesson 7)
how to determine the area of a triangle using its base and height (Lesson 8)
strategies to find surface area of polyhedra (Lesson 11)
Compare
geometric patterns and shapes (Lesson 1)
strategies for finding areas of shapes (Lesson 3)
strategies for finding area of polygons (Lesson 9)
the characteristics of prisms and pyramids (Lesson 11)
Describe
observations about decomposition of parallelograms (Lesson 6)
the features of polyhedra and their nets (Lesson 11)
the relationships among the features of the tent and the amount of fabric required (Lesson 13)
Syllabus
5 Units
15 Lessons
over 3 WeeksUnit 1: Area
Lesson 1:
Readiness Assessment
We will begin with a readiness assessment that covers basic skills and gives a preview of course material to allow for individualization including review materials, tutoring suggestions, and enrichment based on the results of each individual learner. 50 mins online live lesson
Lesson 2:
What is Area?
We will explore tiling the plane as a way to formalize our conceptions about area and interrogate any misconceptions by the end of the lesson students will be able to construct and explain a formal mathematical definition of area as well as find the area of squares and rectangles. 50 mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
What Does Decomposing a Shape Mean?
In this lesson we will expand our understanding of area by decomposing and rearranging shapes to reason about their area beginning with an understanding of the relationships of right triangles and squares using virtual tangrams. By the end of the lesson, students will be able to explain how to find the area of a composite shape by decomposing it and rearranging their parts, explain the process, and explain what it means for two figures to have the same area. 50 mins online live lesson
Lesson 4:
How Can We Find the Area?
In this lesson, we will solidify our strategies for finding area including decomposing, rearranging, drawing a larger shape and subtracting negative space, considering it as a shape with a missing piece, and compare which strategies are most efficient depending on the problem we are trying to solve. By the end of the lesson, students will be able to confidently find the area of rectilinear shapes. 50 mins online live lesson
Other Details
Learning Needs
This class is designed by an AUDHD/Dyspraxic Educator
- slides and fonts designed to support dyslexia and visual processing
- ability to type and use virtual drawing tools
- communication aids including chat
- ND Affirming classroom
Parental Guidance
This class uses the Nearpod learning platform to allow for real-time feedback and sharing of work as well as an accessible learning space with digital tools to support the sucess of all learners. Learners will click a link in chat and simply enter their first name or intiial.
Pre-Requisites
Students should have good content mastery over elementary math standards. Students should have proficiency (with or without aid) of keyboard and mouse or touch screen devices.
Joined April, 2021
5.0
316reviews
Popular
Teacher expertise and credentials
I am an AUDHD educator who has been working with neurodiverse learners for over 13 years specializing in working with 2E, PDA learners, and Gestalt thinking.
I have been a math tutor for over 12 years and have worked with students from ages 5-25 in small group and academic settings including serving as a primary teacher for home educated learners. I have received training and tutoring certification/awards from nationally recognized organizations. I was a group supplemental instruction leader for math at the collegiate level for four years at ETSU including working with dual enrolled and accelerated learners. I have taught and tutored math up to a graduate level in algebra, geometry, probability, and quantitative reasoning.
Academic Experience:
Constructivism and Mathematics, Science, and Technology Education
This graduate level online course for educators used practical examples and empirical research to connect the educational philosophy of constructivism to best practices in STEM education and demonstrated online teaching strategies for this endeavor. It highlighted the power of solving problems through building and applying understandings rather than rote processes which influences the problem-centered curriculum This class also addressed common misconceptions or alternative schemas students develop for math and science prior to instruction and provided ideas for experiments and explorations to adjust these conceptions.
Math 1410 Numbers, Concepts, and Algebra for Math Teachers
This in-person semester long coursed prepared students to teach common core mathematics to students in grades kindergarten through eight including early access to algebra. It included practical teaching experience, ensuring the personal math conceptual fluency of each educator, and demonstrating expertise on the Praxis math exam for educators.
Math 1420: Logic, Problems, and Geometry for Math Teachers
This in-person semester long course prepared teacher candidates to teach common core mathematics to students in grades kindergarten through eighth including advanced ideas of logic, problem solving, and geometry using a constructivist lens.
Reviews
Live Group Course
$240
for 15 classes5x per week, 3 weeks
50 min
Completed by 8 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 10-13
3-6 learners per class
