Review of Sequences and Series
Lesson 12 of 13
Objective: SWBAT put together all the concepts and skills acquired in this unit in preparation for the unit test.
Warm Up and Priority Setting
Today is a review day for tomorrow's test on sequences and series. The previous night, students were given a set of application problems and I start class by checking these problems with the homework rubric and project solutions to the problems on the board. The unit test is tomorrow, and I take time to review any requested problems, even if this portion of the lesson takes a little longer than anticipated.
After discussing the homework, we synthesize the major concepts of the unit by completing the Sequences and Series Skills Checklist. This checklist has a set of "I can" statements that students use to assess their understanding of the concepts and skills presented in the unit. Students rate each item on the list according to the following scale:
A = I understand this so well that I could teach it to someone else.
B = I get this but I should review a bit
C = I don’t get this – I better study my notes and/or get help
D = I don’t remember anything about this
There is also a space on the unit checklist for students to write down where they can find practice on any item they need to study.
Practice and Review
In preparing for an assessment, students can have very different needs. Some work best when they are given a collection of practice problems, some like a "study guide" and others don't need much support and know how to make their own materials. Because this is the first unit test for my course, I provide support giving them a bit of everything. As the year progresses, I put more emphasis on student-created review materials.
The Review for Unit Test on Sequences and Series is a collection of the unit's most challenging problems and all the problem types are mixed together. Students need to discern whether to use geometric or arithmetic patterning skills and also whether a sequence or series formula is called for. [MP1, MP2 and MP4]
Students have the choice to work on these practice problems or something else from their checklist. As students work on the review problems, I make the answer key available at my desk for anyone who wants to check their work as they go.
EXTRA HELP: I put together a set of videos, Blendspace: Sequences and Series, that students can use if they need remediation on a particular skill. This is especially useful for students that may have had absences during the unit. Click here to visit the Blendspace canvas I created for the sequences and series unit.
Students complete the Review for Unit Test on Sequences and Series as needed for homework. The first part of the next day's lesson will focus on questions from this review. I remind students that the answers to the homework will be available on Edmodo and that they should come to class with a good idea of what they need clarification on before the exam.