The Moriah eighth grade students in Friedman’s class are fully immersed in the complex algebra topic of factoring. As any one of the students can tell you, there are seven types of factoring methods to keep track of and this is one of the most challenging units they will tackle this year. Keeping the methods straight and recognizing the differences between each problem is key. As the eighth graders prepare to make the transition into high school, challenging their minds is the goal, and this unit is doing just that. Many skills are needed to navigate factoring questions, and so far the students are putting in maximum effort and showing great promise. It is a joy to see the students grappling with difficult material, absorbing new information, and before long, learning to solve problems on their own. The standards high at Moriah and the eighth graders are rising to the challenge!