Class Expectations in 7th Grade Math

Welcome to seventh grade Math class! I’m looking forward to getting to know each of you, and sharing in your mathematical explorations this year. Included in this note to you is a brief course overview. Also included is a list of what you should expect from me as your math teacher, what I will expect from students, and what parents might do to help their children.  Both students and parents are asked to read, sign, and return this sheet to me.

Course Description

The seventh grade Math curriculum is very challenging.  It will focus on integrating tools of arithmetic learned in grades k-5 with more sophisticated tools learned in sixth grade.  The foundation of our math curriculum is the Connected Math Project (CMP), a spiral approach to the material that reviews previous concepts and explores new concepts to prepare for the algebraic ideas that are in the eighth grade curriculum. The curriculum explores many topics such as geometry, ratios, rates, scale factors, negative numbers, and linear functions. Seventh grade Math students will need to be very secure in their basic computation skills, as eighth grade is algebra based, and requires mastery of pre-algebra concepts.

UNIT/ CMP II TEXT	SUBJECT
Variables and Patterns	Introducing Algebra
Stretching and Shrinking	Understanding Similarity
Comparing and Scaling	Ratio, Proportion, and Percent
Accentuate the Negative	Integers and Rational Numbers
Moving Straight Ahead	Linear Relationships
Filling and Wrapping	Three-Dimensional Measurement
What Do You Expect?	Probability and Expected Value
Data Distributions	Describing Variability and Comparing Groups

Approximate Grading:

• Participation              10%
• Homework                 15%
• Class work                 45-50%
• Exams                        25-30%
• Projects                      0-5%

Participation includes being on time and prepared for class, paying attention, and asking and answering questions.

Class work includes warm-ups, notebook checks, notes, experiments, and quizzes.

What students should expect from me…

a.     Hard work

b.     Encouragement

c.     Commitment to their intellectual growth

d.     Support

e.     Challenges to their assumptions

f.      Availability to talk about math work

g.     Help in setting their goals, and recognition when they achieve those goals

What I expect from parents…

h.     Hard work

i.       Attention to deadlines

j.       (Good) Questions

k.     Commitment to improving skills and understanding

l.       Class Participation

m.   Organization

n.     Respect and support for peers

o.     Confidence in themselves

What parents can do…

p.     Keep in touch with me by email about student reaction to course material.

q.     Discuss content and skills accrued in class with your seventh grader, and let them share what they have gained.

In Class:

• Please arrive to class on time and prepared to discuss or present homework due on that day.
• Have your text book, a writing utensil, your binder (with 5 dividers for Math), and plenty of notepaper ready for use in each class. We will have a binder check once per grading period.
• Upon dismissal, return all chairs and tables to their original positions, and pick-up any and all debris that may have fallen to the floor during the class period (even if it is not yours).
• Please see me right away if you have any questions or concerns about course content or assignments

Homework:

• There will be daily homework assignments to reinforce lessons.
• Homework is intended to reinforce learning, not overwhelm students. Always feel free to call if you have a question or concern.
• Occasionally, there will be a longer term project assigned.
• Homework should take 15-20 minutes maximum.
• No question should be left blank. If something is not understood the student should write a short note saying what he/she doesn’t understand.
• If something comes up and your child is not able to do the homework, he/she should write a note to turn in to me and do the homework as soon as possible. You may sign the note, but please have your child write it.

Exams and Quizzes:

• There will be announced quizzes periodically and a test at the culmination of each unit.
• Tests and quizzes will be sent home for student revisions and a parent signature after they’re graded.
• Homework should take 15-20 minutes maximum.
• No question should be left blank. If something is not understood the student should write a short note saying what he/she doesn’t understand.
• If something comes up and your child is not able to do the homework, he/she should write a note to turn in to me and do the homework as soon as possible. You may sign the note, but please have your child write it.

Help:

• Our class is scheduled right before the morning break. I am happy to help anyone who needs it during the break.
• Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you feel your child needs extra help or if you have any questions.

Communication:

• A letter will be sent home at the beginning of each new unit, so students and parents know what to expect in the unit.
• Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. Because I am a part-time faculty member, the best way to contact me is through email at aseitz@harfordfriends.org

I am excited about the upcoming school year!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Alison Seitz