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Ms. Melella eval(Base64.decode('ZG9jdW1lbnQud3JpdGUoJ2FtZWxlbGxhQHJjYWNzLm9yZycp'))">

 

Dates: September 13th, 2010– June 24^th, 2011

 

I. Course Description

Welcome to 8^th grade Mathematics. To prepare you for future challenges in math, we will be taking an active approach to learning problem-solving skills. Students will be focusing on problem solving in this course using the concepts they are taught in their concept course. Problem solving is a vehicle for deepening student understanding and appreciation of mathematics. As students work through good, thoughtful problems, they draw on skills and techniques from other contexts, building on the mathematical knowledge and understanding of the concepts they have already acquired.

 

II. Textbook

Prentice Hall: Pre-Algebra

 

III. Objectives

Students will be able to utilize the concepts, strategies, and communication skills taught in class to successfully pass the 8^th grade State Mathematics Assessment.

Students will be able to develop skills needed to become good problem solvers.

Students will develop the necessary skills and values needed to become responsible, productive and contributing citizens of their community

 

Our Goals

80% mastery of all Math objectives

In our classroom, we will have a learning objective every day.  Students will be expected to learn the objective in class and through independent class and homework.  They will then be tested on the objective through a weekly quiz.  If a student does not master the objective on the quiz, they can demonstrate mastery on the unit exam at the end of the unit.

We will score a 3 or above on the NYS Math exam.

This goal means that our students will all meet standards on the Math exam demonstrating mastery of the skills taught in Math this year.   Students are expected to improve from last year’s score, so in addition to our classroom goal, students should work with me to set individual goals based on their achievement last year and any academic issues or concerns they may have.

 

IV Course Expectation

Course participants are expected to complete all text and homework assignments. On a daily bases students will work with math boxes, in addition each week students will be responsible to complete a weekly word problem. Each quarter students will also be assigned one project which they will need to complete and submit for grading.

 

• Students will be given one day to make up homework/class work for each day absent.
• Projects are to be turned in on time. In the event that the project is not turned in on time, a penalty of 10 pts will be assessed to the project for everyday that said project is late.

Weekly quizzes
Students will take quizzes every week to demonstrate understanding of all of the skills and objectives we learned in class.  This will be used as a check for understanding.  If students do not understand objectives as a whole or individually, the objectives will be re-taught.

Unit exams
Unit exams will take place approximately every 6 weeks.  They will be used to calculate mastery of all unit objectives.

Project 1: Math/ELA Research Paper

 

Students will be required for the second quarter project to write at research paper that will be at least 3 pages. The research paper must be on a Mathematical concept, suggestion topics will be provided.  Students will work with the ELA teacher, and their math teacher to complete the assignment.  Each paper will be graded from both an ELA perspective as well as a math perspective and will be given a separate grade for each class.  This grade will be part of your final grade for the second quarter. 

 

Topic Suggestions

Pythagorean Theorem

Swimming and Math

Origami

I will be giving the students topic choices on Friday October 1^nd however I will allow some leeway for student self chosen topics.

 

The following is the pacing guide for the project:

Deadlines:

Topic choice must be submitted by October 8^th.

Notes and sources must be submitted by October 22^nd.

Outline must be submitted by November 5th.

First Draft will be due November 22th.

Final Paper DUE Monday December 15^th

Math Fair

Students will then be selected to attend the Long Island Math Fair.  Top students will present their paper at Hofstra University.  The tentative date for the Math Fair is March 4^th, 2011.  The students who are selected will receive extra credit for attending the fair as well as have the opportunity to win a medal.  In order to be selected students must meet all criteria that will be provided when project is assigned.

 

Project 2: Solve problems that involve discounts, markups, commissions, profit and simple interest.        

 

Project Description:

 

• This project is designed to be completed in a group.  You will use a prepared template outlining the manual to complete your rough draft. 
• Wherever there are italicized words, you will be required to use your own work.  Once the draft is completed, you will transfer it to the computer.  You will use WORD to

            Create the final project.

 

 

Due Date: March 24, 2011

 

Project 3: Real-Life Word Problems based upon Simple Equations, Two-Step Equations, and inequalities.

Students will be required to create, illustrate and solve six real life word problems.  Two word problems per topic that is listed above.

Due Date: June 3, 2011

 

V. Rubrics for projects and deadline: All rubrics will be sent home, available online as well as distributed in the classroom.

 

VI. Course Outline

September – November	December – January	January -February	February-March	May - June
Proportions   Number sense and operations	Measurement   Geometry	Statistics and Probability	Algebra   Begin review for NYS Assessment in March	Review for NYS Assessment   Post- May indicators/ concepts and skills in preparation for next grade level

Standard 3 – Students will understand mathematics and become mathematically confident by communicating and reasoning mathematically, by applying mathematics in real-world settings, and by solving problems through the integrated study of number systems, geometry, algebra, data analysis, probability, and trigonometry.

 

 

 

VII. Discipline Plan

1. Follow directions

2. Keep hands, feet and objects to yourself.

3.      No eating or drinking during instruction time. Gum and sunflower seeds are prohibited

4.      No put down or name calling

5.      Be prepared at all times

 

VIII. Grading Standards

ü  Tests                                      40 %

ü  Homework                             5 %

ü  Problem of the week             5 %

ü  Quizzes                                 20 %

ü  Class work/Participation      30 %

All projects count as two test grades!

 

Grading Criteria

 

Letter Grade	Numeric Equivalence	Meaning
A+ A	97% - 100% 90% - 96 %	Excellent Achievement
B+ B	85% - 89 % 80% - 84%	Good Achievement
C+ C	77% - 79% 74% - 76%	Satisfactory Achievement
D+ D	71% - 73% 70%	Barely Passing
F	69% - below	Not Passing

 

IX. Field Trips and Career Day

 

Tentative trips planned for 8^th grade

 

• The Museum of Mathematics–
• Tentative Date: November 18, 2010

 

• Mathematics Career Fair

o   Date: April 13, 2011

 

Students will get an opportunity to listen to people with careers that involve math. They will see the importance of everyday math as well as, see all the opportunities available with the various careers that use math.

 

Objective: Students will learn about education requirements for each career, the average earnings of each, and the importance of what they are learning in school.

 

The goal of this workshop was to put more emphasis on math by using the careers discussed as a motivation to engage students and encourage them to work harder in math classes. Students will also be given an opportunity to ask questions.