About Mr. Dial
I began to think about being a math teacher around the sixth grade. From sixth grade through graduation, I had fantastic math teachers. I graduated from FCHS in 1997. Graduation from SIU was in 2002. I was not immediately hired. I worked at an alternative high school for a year and even delivered furniture for a while to make ends meet. I actually interviewed for a science position at FCHS when I was called about a position at CJHS. I accepted thinking that I would move to the high school as soon as I could. I found that I love working with junior high students! I have since pursued a master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in teaching mathematics.
Since starting at CJHS, I have married and had five kids. I am strongly committed to the improvement of this community and more specifically to the young people of the community.
I began to think about being a math teacher around the sixth grade. From sixth grade through graduation, I had fantastic math teachers. I graduated from FCHS in 1997. Graduation from SIU was in 2002. I was not immediately hired. I worked at an alternative high school for a year and even delivered furniture for a while to make ends meet. I actually interviewed for a science position at FCHS when I was called about a position at CJHS. I accepted thinking that I would move to the high school as soon as I could. I found that I love working with junior high students! I have since pursued a master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in teaching mathematics.
Since starting at CJHS, I have married and had five kids. I am strongly committed to the improvement of this community and more specifically to the young people of the community.
Course Descriptions
Algebra
Algebra is to be the first course a student has in higher and abstract mathematics. This course is for all intents and purposes a 9th grade class. Students should have excelled in their previous math classes, have scored well on any/all standardized tests, and may be admitted by teacher recommendation. This course is an advanced course and will be taught as such. Students will need to commit to doing homework regularly as well as studying beyond the given assignments in order to be successful. Students will relate much of their prior instruction in a way that is abstract and applicable to a wider variety of setting and situations. Topics will include, but are not limited to, expressions, equations and inequalities, and connections to functions and modeling.
Seeing Structure in Expressions
• Interpret the structure of expressions
• Write expressions in equivalent forms to solve problems
Arithmetic with Polynomials and Rational
Expressions
• Perform arithmetic operations on polynomials
• Understand the relationship between zeros and factors of polynomials
• Use polynomial identities to solve problems
• Rewrite rational expressions
Creating Equations
• Create equations that describe numbers or relationships
Reasoning with Equations and Inequalities
• Understand solving equations as a process of reasoning and explain the reasoning
• Solve equations and inequalities in one variable
• Solve systems of equations
• Represent and solve equations and inequalities graphically
Algebra Overview
More detailed descriptions can be found in the Common Core for Illinois: A-SSE, A-APR, A-CED, A-REI, & 8.SP.
Pre-Algebra
Pre-Algebra is designed to help students move from arithmetic and basic calculation skills toward abstract mathematical thought this is helpful in Algebra, Geometry, and other high school level courses. Pre-Algebra will follow and discuss the topics and standards that are listed in the Common Core for Grade 8. Topics will include, but are not limited to: The Number System, Expressions and Equations, Functions, Geometry, and Statistics and Probability.
The Number System
• Know that there are numbers that are not rational, and approximate them by rational numbers.
Expressions and Equations
• Work with radicals and integer exponents.
• Understand the connections between proportional relationships, lines, and linear equations.
• Analyze and solve linear equations and pairs of simultaneous linear equations.
Functions
• Define, evaluate, and compare functions.
• Use functions to model relationships between quantities.
Geometry
• Understand congruence and similarity using physical models, transparencies, or geometry software.
• Understand and apply the Pythagorean Theorem.
• Solve real-world and mathematical problems involving volume of cylinders, cones and spheres.
Statistics and Probability
• Investigate patterns of association in bivariate data.
More detailed descriptions can be found in the Common Core for Illinois: 8.NS, 8.EE, 8.F, 8.G, & 8.SP.
Online Resources
Online Resources is designed to give students a glimpse at some of the tools and utilities that are available for use via the internet. Students will be set up with an email account if they do not already have one. Some of the topics discussed would be internet safety, searching, Google tools, blogs, and podcasts. Students are encouraged to bring any ideas for topics to the course. Use of an internet-ready device is encouraged but not mandatory.
Algebra
Algebra is to be the first course a student has in higher and abstract mathematics. This course is for all intents and purposes a 9th grade class. Students should have excelled in their previous math classes, have scored well on any/all standardized tests, and may be admitted by teacher recommendation. This course is an advanced course and will be taught as such. Students will need to commit to doing homework regularly as well as studying beyond the given assignments in order to be successful. Students will relate much of their prior instruction in a way that is abstract and applicable to a wider variety of setting and situations. Topics will include, but are not limited to, expressions, equations and inequalities, and connections to functions and modeling.
Seeing Structure in Expressions
• Interpret the structure of expressions
• Write expressions in equivalent forms to solve problems
Arithmetic with Polynomials and Rational
Expressions
• Perform arithmetic operations on polynomials
• Understand the relationship between zeros and factors of polynomials
• Use polynomial identities to solve problems
• Rewrite rational expressions
Creating Equations
• Create equations that describe numbers or relationships
Reasoning with Equations and Inequalities
• Understand solving equations as a process of reasoning and explain the reasoning
• Solve equations and inequalities in one variable
• Solve systems of equations
• Represent and solve equations and inequalities graphically
Algebra Overview
More detailed descriptions can be found in the Common Core for Illinois: A-SSE, A-APR, A-CED, A-REI, & 8.SP.
Pre-Algebra
Pre-Algebra is designed to help students move from arithmetic and basic calculation skills toward abstract mathematical thought this is helpful in Algebra, Geometry, and other high school level courses. Pre-Algebra will follow and discuss the topics and standards that are listed in the Common Core for Grade 8. Topics will include, but are not limited to: The Number System, Expressions and Equations, Functions, Geometry, and Statistics and Probability.
The Number System
• Know that there are numbers that are not rational, and approximate them by rational numbers.
Expressions and Equations
• Work with radicals and integer exponents.
• Understand the connections between proportional relationships, lines, and linear equations.
• Analyze and solve linear equations and pairs of simultaneous linear equations.
Functions
• Define, evaluate, and compare functions.
• Use functions to model relationships between quantities.
Geometry
• Understand congruence and similarity using physical models, transparencies, or geometry software.
• Understand and apply the Pythagorean Theorem.
• Solve real-world and mathematical problems involving volume of cylinders, cones and spheres.
Statistics and Probability
• Investigate patterns of association in bivariate data.
More detailed descriptions can be found in the Common Core for Illinois: 8.NS, 8.EE, 8.F, 8.G, & 8.SP.
Online Resources
Online Resources is designed to give students a glimpse at some of the tools and utilities that are available for use via the internet. Students will be set up with an email account if they do not already have one. Some of the topics discussed would be internet safety, searching, Google tools, blogs, and podcasts. Students are encouraged to bring any ideas for topics to the course. Use of an internet-ready device is encouraged but not mandatory.
