The Mcgillis School 2012-2013 7 Grade Algebra Path Math Curriculum Overview and Class Expectations Course Objectives

The McGillis School 2012-2013 7th Grade Algebra Path Math Curriculum Overview and Class Expectations Course
Objectives The emphasis of instruction is to develop confidence and competence in math through
the acquisition of basic math skills and the development of critical thinking skills such as predicting, classifying, making connections, proving conjectures, evaluating evidence, problem solving, and communicating mathematically. Students will be asked to demonstrate their understanding in writing as well as by solving problems. Collaborative work is also an emphasis; talking math, listening to alternative explanations, and explaining ideas to others will help students understand and develop confidence in their own ideas and abilities. Students are provided with opportunities to develop and strengthen their algebraic and problem solving skills. Strong emphasis is also placed on the development and strengthening of study skills: organization, reading, writing, and time management.
Teacher Tyler Waterhouse

email: [email protected] website: http://mrwaterhouse.weebly.com/
Math Textbook Connected Mathematics 2 (CMP2), Pearson Prentice Hall Supplies Pencils & erasersall work must be completed in pencil. Work done in pen will not be accepted.
An adequate supply of graph paper and lined notebook paper. A 3-ring binder with a section dedicated to math with dividers of classwork, homework, and tests.
Grading The math grade will be determined by the following criteria:

Assignments 40% Assessments 30% Preparedness 15% Participation 15% Homework: All homework must be completed in pencil!!! Students can expect homework at least three nights a week. It is imperative that students complete their homework each night. Homework allows students to practice the mathematical skills and concepts they have learned as well as to evaluate how well they have understood what was studied that day in class. Part of a students homework responsibility is to come to class ready to ask questions and to contribute positively to the group. How well students do in class often depends on understanding the skills and concepts practiced while doing the previous days homework. Students will be assigned problems from the textbook; students must show all the work required to arrive at a solution. If a calculator is used, the student must be sure to write out the operation that was completed by this tool. The ability to carefully present the thought processes and operations that were used to solve a particular problem is a very important skill to develop. It will especially be helpful on tests and quizzes where partial credit is always given for demonstrating a certain level of understanding regardless of whether the correct answer is achieved. Students will often be asked to document their strategies, thought processes, and methods for solving the problems we investigate through writing. These writing assignments typically will be no longer than a few paragraphs in
length but stress the importance of writing in a way that would allow someone else to gain insight from reading their words and solutions. Each homework assignment is worth two (2) points and will be evaluated in the following way: 2 = full credit, assignment completed satisfactorily 1 = portions of the assignment are missing or incomplete 0 = failure to complete the assignment Late homework assignments are not accepted for credit. If a student is unable to complete his/her homework with a legitimate reason, that student must talk to me in person before class and arrangements may be made. Otherwise, earning a zero on a homework assignment is a grade that cannot be made-up. Please note, however, it is still expected that the student complete the missed assignment in order to learn and reinforce the math. Students are expected to complete homework assignments on their own. Students should feel free to discuss the problems and what they might do to solve the problems with others, but ultimately the work that is turned in should be completely their own. Each homework assignment must: Be titled with name, date, math block, and assignment description in the upper right hand corner. Show all work in a neat and legible manner. Reflect evidence of effort for every problem and include specific questions that need to be asked in class. Show revisions made of problems discussed during group and class time. Occasionally long-term assignments will be assigned with at least one-week notice. These may be projects or more challenging problems. These assignments may be turned in late, but with the following loss of points: lose one letter grade the first day, two the second, and three the third. These long-term assignments will receive no credit when more than three days late, but again must be completed as much of the subject matter is cumulative. When students are absent, for whatever reason, it is their responsibility to find me or use the website to determine what was missed while they were absent. With planned absences, students need to see me before the absence rather than after. It is the students responsibility to make up all missed classwork/notes and homework. Notebooks/Organization: Math materials should be organized within a three ring binder (with at least 1-inch rings). Students need an adequate supply of lined and graph paper in their notebooks at all times. There should be three divided sections in the binder: classwork/notes, homework, and tests. Work done during class and notes taken are saved in the classwork/notes section. These serve as great resources of the current mathematical learning. Homework assignments are saved in the homework section as a means of providing students with a studying resource as they prepare for exams. Preparedness: Students earn up to three points each day for preparedness. Preparedness encompasses: arriving to class on-time, prepared with all necessary materials, having completing the homework assignment, and showing a signed exam when assigned. Student notebooks are occassionally turned in for assessment of neatness and organization, which will count toward the prepareness grade as well. Participation: Students earn up to three points each day for participation and impact on the classroom environment. Participation encompasses: contributing to class discussion and asking related/relevant questions, productive work on in-class activities, being supportive and respectful of others, seeking extra help when needed, active note taking, attentiveness, and following school and class expectations. Assessments: Periodically students are asked to demonstrate their understanding and comprehension of the skills and concepts learned. Some of these tests are more skill oriented while others have more of a conceptual and
problem solving focus. Students are always given notice of upcoming exams. Students will be required to take graded exams home to be signed by a parent/guardian to enhance home-school communication.
Extra Help/Communication/Office Hours

My door is always open. I will go out of my way to be available to meet with students outside of our regular classtime. If you have questions, please email ([email protected]) or talk to me in person so that we can set up a time to meet. My study hall/office hours are Tuesdays 7:30 a.m.-8:15 a.m. and Thursdays 3:15 p.m.-4:00 p.m. Students may use these times for one-on-one extra help. These hours also provide a great opportunity for students to have a quiet place to work and study. Students may use office hours to complete homework, study for exams, or read. Work from any subject may be done during any teachers office hours. I am also often free for extra help and questions during break and lunch times. The best way to reach me is by email. If you would like to meet in person, Im always happy to set up a time. You may also leave a message at the main office (801-583-0094 ext: 523). Another great resource of information about classwork, homework, and upcoming due dates is my website. To access this site, go http://mrwaterhouse.weebly.com/. This site will be updated regularly. However, it is still the students responsibility to use a planner and to stay up-to-date in the class without depending solely on this site.
Books and the Concepts Covered

Covering and Surrounding (C&S) Two-Dimensional Measurement -area and perimeter relationships, including minima and maxima; area and perimeter of polygons and circles, including formulas Variables and Patterns (VP) Introducing Algebra -variables; representations of relationships, including tables, graphs, words, and symbols Stretching and Shrinking (SS) Similarity -similar figures; scale factors; side length ratios; basic similarity transformations and their algebraic rules Comparing and Scaling (CS) Ratio, Proportion, and Percent -rates and ratios; making comparisons; proportional reasoning; solving proportions Filling and Wrapping (FW) Three-Dimensional Measurement -spatial visualization; volume and surface areas of various solids; volume and surface area relationship Moving Straight Ahead (MSA) Linear Relationships -recognize and represent linear relationships in tables, graphs, words, and symbols; solve linear equations; slope
7th Grade Geoemtry Path Skills
Prime factorization with number classification Area and perimeter/circumference of quadrilaterals, triangles, and circles Surface area of cylinders, prisms; Volume of cylinders, prisms, spheres, cones, and pyramids Operations with rational numbers Proportional reasoning
I have read and understand the course expectations for Seventh Grade Geometry Path Math. Student Signature: ______________________________________________________________ Guardian Signature: _____________________________________________________________

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The McGillis School 2012-2013 7th Grade Algebra Path Math Curriculum Overview and Class Expectations Course

Teacher Tyler Waterhouse

Grading The math grade will be determined by the following criteria:

Extra Help/Communication/Office Hours

Books and the Concepts Covered

7th Grade Geoemtry Path Skills

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