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Math Lab For all grade 8 courses: |
| Math 6 Teachers: Ms. Lynn Klinger, Mr. John Braaten, Ms. Sheila Brayer, Mr. Scott Johnson, Ms. Monica Kern, Ms. Kristen Kreutner TEXTBOOK: Everyday Mathematics, Wright Group McGraw-Hill |
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Number & Operation
counting numbers, whole numbers, fractions, decimals, integers, number
theory,
estimating, variables, operations, computations
Algebra
analyze change, understand patterns, relations, exponents, scientific
notation,
represent mathematical situations, algebraic symbols,
Geometry
two- and three-dimensional geometric shapes, geometric relationships,
special relationships, coordinate geometry, symmetry, visualization, spatial
reasoning
Measurement
understand measurable attributes of objects and units, systems, and
processes
of measurement, use tools and formulas
Data Analysis & Probability
formulate questions, collect, organize, and display relevant data,
predictions,
understand and apply concepts of probability
California Math Process Standards
Problem Solving
build mathematical knowledge, apply appropriate strategies, solve problems
Reasoning and Proof
develop and evaluate mathematical arguments and proofs
Communication
organize and communicate mathematical thinking to peers, teachers and
others, use the language of math
Connections
recognize and apply mathematics in contexts outside of mathematics,
understand how math is interconnected
Representation
use representations to organize, record and communicate math
Colina's Grade 6 Math Program
On the cover sheet (above) are the key concepts of the California Math Standards and the way students should acquire them. Each standard is incorporated into Colina's grade 6 math program. The following activities will help your child develop skills in those areas.
GUIDED PRACTICE and HOMEWORK
These are usually started in class each day and are corrected and turned in the following day. They are your best way to review and monitor concepts your child is working on in preparation for the Thursday quiz and / or other assessments. Since progress in math depends upon previously mastered skills - no child should leave school if he/she does not understand the concept taught that day. We will stay and help any child who takes the initiative to stay. ALL assignments are to be kept in your child’s notebook, which is to go home every night. Assignments not turned in or turned in incomplete will result in lowering your child’s math grade and will affect their work habits grade. Colina’s math policy states that no credit will be given for late work.
B.B.Q. / GROUNDWORKS
The Building Block Quizzes are math warm-ups that review current and previously learned computational skills. The quizzes review grade level work and also provide Stanford 9 review. Groundworks develop an understanding of the six big ideas of algebra: representation, variables, proportional reasoning, balance, functions, and inductive/deductive reasoning.
ASSESSMENTS
Thursday quizzes or assessments that cover the concepts are usually given every other Thursday. Review material can also be included on each quiz. Assessments are graded and returned as quickly as possible.
PROBLEM SOLVING
Every month strategies are taught and practiced for solving word problems. A problem solving test will be given the last week of each month. Our plan is to teach the following problem solving strategies during the months noted. Be assured that even if your child does not solve a homework problem correctly, credit will be given for all attempts made as long at their work is shown!! Strategies to be taught include:
1. Draw a picture / September
2. List -Table / October
3. Patterns / November and December
4. Work Backwards / January
5. Guess and Check/ February
6. Choose an Operation / March
7. Logical Reasoning / April
8. Review Strategies / May and June
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Trimester 1
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Trimester 1
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Trimester 1
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| Homework |
15%
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15%
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10%
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| B.B.Q./Groundworks |
15%
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15%
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15%
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| Thursday Quiz |
50%
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50%
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50%
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| Problem Solving |
20%
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20%
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25%
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| Math 7 Course Description (PDF format) Teacher: Ms. Kathy Terndrup, Ms. Masha Unigovskaya (Passport to Math) TEXTBOOK: Mathematics: Concepts and Skills, Course 2 PUBLISHER: McDougall Littell HOMEWORK: Daily |
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COURSE OUTLINE:
1. Operations with Numbers
2. Operations in Algebra
3. Operations with Integers
4. Algebra and Equation Solving
5. Rational Numbers and Percents
6. Operations with Rational Numbers
7. Proportional Reasoning
8. Geometry Concepts
9. Real Numbers and Solving Inequalities
10. Geometry and Measurement
11. Graphing Linear Equations and Inequalities
12. Polynomials
GRADING: Based on the total number of points earned through class work, homework, tests, projects and other teacher approved tasks, an A is 90 to 100% of the total points; a B is 80 to 89%; a C is 70 to 79%; a D is 60 to 69%. Anything below 60% constitutes a failing grade.
RECOMMENDATIONS TO PARENTS:
You can help your son/daughter meet these objectives by participating in the following:
Discuss and share students’ concerns and interests as well as activities.
Provide a quiet place conducive to good study habits.
Be sure assignments are completed properly.
Be sure to regularly check that the student has all of his/her school supplies.
Give praise for good work and behaviors.
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Math 7CP Course Description (PDF format) TEACHERS: Ms. Kelsey Custodio, Ms. Kathy Terndrup |
This course prepares students to take algebra in eighth grade. Areas of instruction include: number sense, algebra and functions, measurement and geometry, statistics, data analysis and probability, and mathematical reasoning. Understanding mathematical concepts and developing problem solving strategies are included; proficiency in operations and numerical accuracy are stressed.
COURSE OUTLINE:
1. Operations with Numbers
2. Operations in Algebra
3. Operations with Integers
4. Algebra and Equation Solving
5. Rational Numbers and Percents
6. Operations with Rational Numbers
7. Proportional Reasoning
8. Geometry Concepts
9. Real Numbers and Solving Inequalities
10. Geometry and Measurement
11. Graphing Linear Equations and Inequalities
12. Polynomials
GRADING:
Based on the total number of points earned through class work, homework, tests, projects and other teacher approved tasks, an A is 90 to 100% of the total points; a B is 80 to 89%; a C is 70 to 79%; a D is 60 to 69%. Anything below 60% constitutes a failing grade.
RECOMMENDATIONS TO PARENTS:
You can help your son/daughter meet these objectives by participating in the following:
Discuss and share students' concerns and interests as well as activities. Provide a quiet place conducive to good study habits. Be sure assignments are completed properly, Be sure to regularly check that the student has all of his/her school supplies. Give praise for good work and behaviors.
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Math 7H Course Description (PDF format) TEACHERS: Ms. Kelsey Custodio TEXTBOOK: Passport to Algebra and Geometry |
COURSE OUTLINE:
1. Exploring Patterns
2. Investigations in Algebra
3. Modeling Integers
4. Exploring the Language of Algebra
5. Exploring Data and Graphs
6. Exploring Number Theory
7. Rational Numbers and Percents
8. Proportion, Percent, and Probability
9. Real numbers and Inequalities
10. Geometry Concepts and Spatial Thinking
11. Congruence Similarity, and Transformations
12. Measurements in Geometry
GRADING: Based on the total number of points earned through classwork, homework, projects, tests and teacher approved tasks, an A is 90 to 100% of the total points; a B is 83 to 89%; and a C is 73 to 82%; and a D is 63 to 72%.
An average of 83% or better is needed to stay in the honor classes.
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Math 8 Course Description (PDF format) TEACHERS: Ms. Linda Stamper, Ms. Kristen Kreutner, Ms. Teresa Coffman TEXTBOOK: California Algebra 1: Concepts, Skills & Problem Solving |
TEXTBOOK CONTENTS IN BRIEF:
1. The Language and Tools of Algebra
2. Solving Linear Equations
3. Functions and Patterns
4. Analyzing Linear Equations
5. Solving Systems of Linear Equations
6. Solving Linear Inequalities
7. Polynomials
8. Factoring
9. Quadratic and Exponential Functions
10. Radical Expressions and Triangles
11. Rational Expresssions and Equations
12. Statistics and Probability
GRADING: Based on the total number of points earned through class work, homework, tests and other teacher approved tasks, and A is 90 to 100% of the total points; a B is 80 to 89%; a C is 70 to 79%, a D is 60 to 69%. Anything below 60% constitutes a failing grade.
RECOMMENDATIONS TO PARENTS: You can help you son/daughter meet these objectives by participating in the following:
Discuss and share students’ concerns and interests as well as activities.
Provide a quiet place conducive to good study habits.
Be sure assignments are completed properly.
Be sure to regularly check that the student has all of his/her school supplies.
Give praise for good work and behaviors.
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Math 8CP Course Description (PDF format) TEACHERS: Ms. Linda Stamper; Ms. Masha Unigovskaya |
TEXTBOOK CONTENTS IN BRIEF:
1. The Language and Tools of Algebra
2. Solving Linear Equations
3. Functions and Patterns
4. Analyzing Linear Equations
5. Solving Systems of Linear Equations
6. Solving Linear Inequalities
7. Polynomials
8. Factoring
9. Quadratic and Exponential Functions
10. Radical Expressions and Triangles
11. Rational Expresssions and Equations
12. Statistics and Probability
GRADING: Based on the total number of points earned, an A is 90 to 100% of the total points; a B is 80 to 89%; a C is 70 to 79%; a D is 60 to 69%. Anything below 60% constitutes a failing grade.
RECOMMENDATIONS TO PARENTS: You can help your son/daughter meet these objectives by participating in the following:
Discuss and share students’ concerns and interests as well as activities.
Provide a quiet place which is conducive to good study habits.
Be sure assignments are completed properly.
Praise for good work and behaviors.
Be sure to regularly check that the student has all of his/her school supplies.
Set high standards for achievement and monitor your child’s progress.
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Math 8H Course Description (PDF format) TEACHER: Ms. Teresa Coffman |
TEXTBOOK CONTENTS IN BRIEF:
1. The Language and Tools of Algebra
2. Solving Linear Equations
3. Functions and Patterns
4. Analyzing Linear Equations
5. Solving Systems of Linear Equations
6. Solving Linear Inequalities
7. Polynomials
8. Factoring
9. Quadratic and Exponential Functions
10. Radical Expressions and Triangles
11. Rational Expresssions and Equations
12. Statistics and Probability
GRADING: Based on the total number of points earned, an A is 90 to 100% of the total points; a B is 83 to 89%; a C is 73 to 83%; a D is 63 to 73%. Anything below 63% constitutes a failing grade.
RECOMMENDATIONS TO PARENTS: You can help your son/daughter meet these objectives by participating in the following:
Discuss and share students’ concerns and interests as well as activities.
Be sure assignments are completed properly.
Be sure to regularly check that the student has all of his/her school supplies.
Encourage your child to attend Math Lab if extra tutoring is needed.
Set high standards for achievement and monitor your child’s progress.
Special education teachers Ms. McGhee; Ms. Fletcher; Ms. Snibley; Ms. Stroube; Ms. Woolley
Dear Parents,
This letter is intended to clarify the issues surrounding the petition process. It is district policy to only advance Math 8CP students who end the year with a grade of an A or B to Geometry CP in the 9 th grade. If your child ends the year with a C and scores a 69% or higher on the End of Course Exam, a petition process is available for you, if you decide it is in the best interest of your child to advance to Geometry CP in the 9 th grade. Students who end the year with a C grade and score below 69% will automatically be placed in Algebra 1 in 9 th grade. The petition process is for those borderline students who cannot be automatically placed without parent input. Parents of these borderline students need to consider their child's individual needs, talents, and future goals before deciding whether or not to submit a petition. The following is meant to assist you in making an informed decision.
Math teachers in the district are concerned that students who end Algebra 1 with a C grade will not be adequately prepared for success in Algebra 2, especially with Algebra 1 and Algebra 2 being separated by a year of Geometry. Geometry is very different, and many students who struggle in Algebra 1 do well in Geometry. When students with a weak foundation in Algebra 1 get to Algebra 2 their sophomore year, we are concerned that they may be beginning a future pattern of struggle and poor grades. This is unfortunate, considering they had the opportunity to proceed more slowly and really master the material taught in Algebra 1 (if they had repeated that course instead of advancing to Geometry their freshman year). When students are advanced in mathematics, without the proper skills, they usually find it difficult to be successful and both their self esteem and grade point average are negatively impacted.
Parents of students in the College Preparatory (CP) math tract, will probably want them to remain in that tract throughout high school. UC schools require students to have taken three CP math courses (although they recommend taking four). The district graduation requirement is three years of high school math. Students who are advanced and then receive below a C when taking Algebra 2, will have to retake it and score a C or higher before progressing to the next math class. At this point they will only have two of their three required math courses completed. To complete their graduation requirement they will have to take either Discrete Math CP or Math Analysis CP and pass it to graduate.
Keep in mind that Algebra 1, taken in 8th grade, does not count towards their high school math requirement or their college entrance. Repeating Algebra 1 in the 9 th grade does not remove students from the CP math tract. The state mandates that we teach Algebra 1 in the eighth grade, but for many students a two year Algebra 1 program will better prepare them for future math success. Students who choose not to petition, and take Algebra 1 CP in 9 th grade, will have that class count both as one of their high school graduation requirements and towards the UC requirement. Students who choose not to petition for advancement to Geometry in 9 th grade can take four years of CP math in the following sequence: Algebra 1 CP, Geometry CP, Algebra 2 CP and then Discrete Math CP or Math Analysis CP as a senior. Students who are advanced but want to take four CP math courses (the UC recommendation) will have to take either Statistics AP or Calculus AP as seniors.
Teachers throughout the district feel that Algebra 1 is an essential course that deserves to be mastered to ensure future success in both higher math and science classes. We hope this letter will give parents the information they need to make an informed decision. Parents of borderline students who decide that they want their child to be advanced to Geometry next year may submit a petition early. The petitions will only be used if the student ends the year with a final grade of a C and scores at least a 69% on the district End of Course Exam. Petitions must be returned to your math teacher by TBA.
Teresa Coffman, Math 8H Teacher
Colina Middle School