Nichole  Oswald							Journal 10
MED300						Dates: 11/13/07 & 11/15/07

	This week at Lafayette went well once again.  We covered both graphing inequalities and solving systems of equations using substitution.  Both lessons went smoothly for the most part.  However, on one of the worksheets the students had to graph the inequality , but on the answer key the inequality was .  This caused a bit of confusion because as we were working through the problem on the board the students kept asking what happened to the >1.  It took a minute to figure out what the discrepancy was, but after we did the students were able to solve it with no problems.  
	In both lessons we activated the students prior knowledge by reviewing solving equations for x or y.  Not only did this prepare the students for the lesson, it was also a good review for them.  The students participated throughout the entire lesson.  We try to make them do the majority of the talking.  For the most part, we try to ask the students questions that guide their thinking.   By doing this they lead the lesson and we, as teachers are there to make sure that their thinking is correct. 
	The students found the substitution method to be very long and a lot of work.  Unfortunately, there really is no way to shorten the process at all.  Instead we just encouraged the students to do the work to the best of their ability.  After a short while they got over the amount of work that was required and just did what they had to do.  It always makes it easier to teach when working with students who are willing to actually do the work.