This Week's Topics:    There are two parts to this week's resource for Trigonometric Functions: Properties and Operations.  I felt it was important to include general information about trigonometric ratios as they apply to right triangles and the unit circle.  But I also felt this was the best category for trigonometric identities as well.  Putting them together in one "lesson" seemed like too much, so I split them into two.  I also think that part 1 is likely to get used in Algebra 2, while part 2 may be more Precalculus level, so splitting them up gives teachers the flexibility to take just what they need.

Trigonometric Functions: Properties and Operations (part 1)  (link to my TPT store)

In this worksheet, you will find explanation and practice for the following skills and concepts.

• Finding trigonometric ratios in right triangles.

• Identifying special right triangles

• Finding the trigonometric ratios for an angle through a point.

• Finding trigonometric ratios on the unit circle.

Trigonometric Functions:  Properties and Operations (part 2)  (link to my TPT store)

In this worksheet, you will find explanation and practice for the following skills and concepts.

• Review trigonometric identities

• Use trigonometric identities to simplify trigonometric expressions

• Use trigonometric identities to find exact values

The corresponding videos can be found on my Gordon Global Math account on YouTube.  These resources are free on TPT for the coming week.

My Mission, My Goal, My Hope

For second semester, I have shifted gears a little.  My focus is to offer a comprehensive review/ remediation document for Algebra 2/Precalculus level math topics. The purpose of this project is to provide teachers with a resource that they could use in any of the following ways:

• End-of-year or end-of-semester review to prepare for an exam

• Remediation for a student who has fallen behind or is having difficulty with a particular skill or concept.

• Preparation/review for a new student who needs to take a placement test before joining your school/class, especially if they are joining in the middle of the year.

As I create these worksheets, I am assuming that students have already seen these concepts before.  This is NOT meant to be an exhaustive approach to the Algebra 2 or Precalculus curriculum that will teach students new concepts.  This is meant to review/refresh/remediate topics already learned (or attempted to learn).  It hits the main points that are necessary to be successful in the next level of math class.

As I started to brainstorm about what topics to include and how I want to present them, I realized a few things:

1. The topics covered in Algebra 2 and Precalculus may be intermingled and combined in different ways, depending on the school.  Therefore, my goal is to create a bundle of worksheets that will cover Algebra 2 AND Precalculus, all in one place.

2. Different schools order Algebra 2 and Precalculus topics in different ways.  As such, I will make each topic a stand alone document so that teachers can pick and choose which ones apply to their class and their curriculum.

3. Students learn in numerous, diverse ways.  Not all students will be able to read the example on paper and understand what they are supposed to do, especially if you are using this to remediate a student or prepare them for placement testing.  Therefore, with each document, I plan to prepare an accompanying video in which I explain and show the steps of the examples that are included in the worksheet.  This way students can access an alternative way to re-learn/refresh the material if they need it.

Here is the plan:  Each week, I will create a worksheet packet for a topic.  I will create an answer key for the practice problems and I will record a video explanation for the examples.  I will share that "Topic of the Week" here on my website and offer it for free for one week on Teachers Pay Teachers.  After a week it will be a paid resource still available on TPT.  At the end of the semester, I will bundle all of the topics together and offer the bundle at a discounted price compared to buying each topic individually.  This way you, as the teacher, will have various opportunities to access whatever resources fit your needs the best.  If you ever have any questions about what I am offering, or would like to suggest additional topics, please contact me at kathy@gordonglobalmath.com.  I am happy to help!!

Weekly Topics

For the sake of some consistency, I will begin by covering the the types of functions.  Within each type, I will address properties and operations, graphing, and solving equations.  Beyond functions, the breakdown will reflect what the usual emphasis is in that area.  The "Table of Contents" for what I hope to create is:

• Quadratic Functions

  • Properties and Operations

  • Graphing

  • Solving Equations

• Polynomial Functions

  • Properties and Operations

  • Graphing

  • Finding Zeros of Polynomial Functions

    • Finding Real Zeros

    • Finding All Zeros

• Rational Exponents and Radical Functions

  • Properties and Operations

  • Graphing

  • Solving Equations

• Rational Functions

  • Properties and Operations

  • Graphing

  • Solving Equations

• Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

  • Properties and Operations

  • Graphing

  • Solving Equations

• Trigonometric Functions

  • Properties and Operations

    • Right Triangles and the Unit Circle

    • Trigonometric Identities

  • Graphing

  • Solving Equations

• Operations with Functions (including compositions and inverses)

• Conic Sections (tentatively)

  • Circles

  • Parabolas

  • Ellipses

  • Hyperbolas

• Sequences and Series (tentatively)

  • Arithmetic Sequences and Series

  • Geometric Sequence and Series

The topics in bold print are those that are currently available.

I hope that you will find these resources helpful over the next several weeks.  I am excited to create these resources for you.  Until next week, wishing you all the best!!