2017-2018 Syllabus for 7th Grade Mathematics

Instructor:Rose Carter

Contact Information:School Fusion/Parent Portal:

Northwest Middle School:865-594-1345

E-mail:

COURSE OUTCOME:

Course Description:

In this course, we will build upon students’ prior understanding and fluency of numbers and operations. Throughout the year, students are expected to apply their knowledge to solve a variety of higher order problems requiring the use of logical reasoning, and verbal and written communication. Students will solve multi-step real-world problems involving decimals, fractions, mixed numbers, ratios, and percentages. They will use statistics and probability in real-world applications to analyze and interpret data. Areas of focus will include analyzing algebraic patterns and relationships, and solving problems using variable expressions and equations. Furthermore, students will model and solve a variety of problems involving area and perimeter of 2-dimensional shapes, as well as surface area and volume of various 3-dimensional shapes. Please visit the Tennessee Department of Education website to view our current curriculum standards.

We will begin our shift to the new Tennessee State Mathematics Standards Curriculum in math this year, which provides a new opportunity for students to learn mathematics using a much higher order of thinking, reasoning, and understanding than in previous years. Students and parents should expect a more rigorous year in mathematics as we make a substantial shift in our curriculum throughout Tennessee, and as students "catch up" to the new logic-driven and literacy-driven standards of the Tennessee State Mathematics Standards. Student classroom participation and daily parental involvement at home will be required for students to succeed in today’s mathematics-centered education. As we work together throughout the academic year, student mastery of 7th grade mathematics is our goal.

For further review of the Tennessee State Mathematics Standards objectives, instructional shifts, and parent resources, please visit knoxschools.org, parent guide to being TNReadyor follow this link to a printable version of the Tennessee State Mathematics Standards.

INSTRUCTION:

Topics to be Covered and General Pacing:

  • Module 1: Rational Numbers
  • Module 2: Solving Equations and Inequalities
  • Module 3: Unit Rates and Proportional Relationships
  • Module 4: Proportional Reasoning
  • Module 5: Probability
  • Module 6: Sampling, Inferences, and Comparing Populations
  • Module 7: 2-D and 3-D Figures
  • Module 8: Geometric Constructions
  • Materials:
  • TI-30 or TI-73 Calculator
  • Two spiral notebooks
  • One pocket folder
  • 2 boxes of sharpened pencils or mechanical pencils
  • Colored Pencils
  • 1 pack of erasers

Resources:

Go Math is out textbook. Students will be given online access codes when they get the textbook

Helpful websites that may be used in this course:

Students will have access to their book on line. They will be given a code.

brainpop.com

aaamath.com

mathplayground.com

classzone.com

classworks.com

discoveryeducation.com

We might supplement the curriculum with other educational materials as approved by the principals. If you do not approve of a specific resource listed in this syllabus, please make your request to me in writing and an alternative assignment and/or materials will be provided. The request should include your name, the child's name, the specific activity/materials in which you do not want your child to participate or to which you do not want them exposed, and the nature of your objection.

Assessment:

Homework: Knox County Board of Education Policy for Homework

Homework shall be assigned to reinforce and strengthen specific areas of interest and opportunities. It must never be given for punishment. All homework shall be received by the teacher making the assignment and credit given for the student’s efforts.

Homework assignments shall take into consideration individual differences of students such as health, ability, home conditions, and educational resources at home. Homework shall not require the use of reference materials not readily available in most homes, school libraries or the public library.

Homework shall not be in continuing conflict for time with the home and other community agencies having primary responsibility for certain aspects of the student’s development.

All extra-credit work which does not directly relate to course content must be approved by the principal.

Northwest Homework Expectations

  • Students should expect approximately 60 minutes of homework each night.
  • Teachers should communicate with team members about the amount of homework they plan to assign if it exceeds 15 to 20 minutes on a particular day.
  • Completion of homework is expected
  • Quality vs. Quantity
  • Math students can expect homework on average
  • Students can always review classroom notes.

Homework will be skills based and students should be able to complete all homework with the help of his or her class notes. Homework assistance is available during morning readiness from 8:00-8:30 or after school through the Northwest Boys and Girls Club.

Grading:Knox County Mathematics Department Grading

First Semester

40% Formative
Assessments / Examines what students are learning
(e.g. participation, quizzes used to gather data, class work, and homework)
60% Summative
Assessments / Examines what students have learned, documents level of mastery
(e.g. major tests, quizzes used to show mastery, projects, presentations, and written papers)

Second Semester

Formative – 34%

Summative – 51%

TCAP/TNReady – 15%

Make-up Work:

Northwest Middle SchoolMake-up Work and Late Work Procedures

Make-Up Work Policy for Absent Students

Knox County Board of Education Policy states and Northwest Middle School will follow:

“If a student must be absent from school for any reason, excused or unexcused, up to ten (10) days upon returning to school, he/she shall be given the opportunity to make up any and all assignments that were missed during the student’s absence. The student must request make-up assignments within three (3) days after returning from the absence. Failure of a student to initiate a request for make-up work within three (3) days will result in lost opportunity for credit for that assignment.”

It is the student’s responsibility to obtain their missed assignments from an absence. At parent’s request, the office will gather missed work for students who are absent 5 or more days. However, due to meetings taking place during teachers’ plan times, it is reasonable to allow at least 24 hours before picking up the assignments.

Late Work Policy

Individual teachers, teams and other school officials at Northwest Middle School have the authority and responsibility to impose deadlines for the submission of work. One of our goals as a school is to prepare students for the future by teaching students responsibility, and experiencing the natural consequences of failure to meet reasonable deadlines is the primary manner in which we learn this skill. Please do not expect school administration or teachers to extend or ignore a deadline. For students that choose not complete their assignments on time, the following Late Work Penalties will be assessed:

Late work will only be accepted within 5 days of the due date. Each day late will result in an automatic 5% decrease in the possible maximum points.

Days Late / Percent of Grade Received by Student
1 day / 95%
2 days / 90%
3 days / 85%
4 days / 80%
5 days / 75%
6 or more days late / 0%

**End of the Semester Exception**

All students, absent or not, will be given ten (10) days to complete a missing assignment unless the missing assignments are near the end of the semester. At that point, all assignments not completed by the end of the semester grading cut-off date will be recorded as zeros.

Portal Post Policy

A minimum of 4 grades every two weeks will be posted to the portal and a minimum of one will be a summative grade. This is one way I will communicate with the student and parents about the academic progress of the student.

PLAGIARISM

According to Harbrace Handbook, 15th edition:

“Plagiarism is defined as presenting someone else’s ideas, research, or opinion as your own without proper documentation, even if it has been rephrased. It includes, but is not limited to the following:

  1. Copying verbatim all or part of another’s written work;

2. Using phrases, figures, or illustrations without citing the source;

3. Paraphrasing ideas, conclusions, or research without citing the source;

4. Using all or part of a literary plot, poem, or film without attributing the work to its creator.

CONSEQUENCES OF PLAGIARISM

Plagiarism is a form of stealing and academic fraud. Students who are found guilty of plagiarism will have the option of either redoing the assignment within a specified time period and accepting a grade letter drop or taking a zero on the assignment. Parents should be involved in making the decision.

General Expectations

Students:

See Power Point on Aspen for Classroom Policies and Procedures

Office Phone Number 865-594-1345