Math 7 (M231a
and M231b)
Course
Information
Meetings:
M231a
Monday: 2nd period (9:15 – 9:55)
Wednesday: 3rd& 4th periods (10:00 – 11:25)
Thursday: 3rd period (10:00 – 10:40)
Friday: 1st period (8:30 – 9:10)
M231b
Monday: 3rd period (10:00 – 10:40)
Tuesday: 3rd& 4th periods (10:00 – 11:25)
Thursday: 2nd period (9:15 – 9:55)
Friday: 3rd period (10:00 – 10:40)
Text: Math 7;
Pre-algebra and Problem-Solving, Lakeside Middle School,
2007.
Instructor: Granya
O’Neill
440-2970 (school)
632-4857 (home – please do not call after 9:30PM)
granya.o’neill@lakesideschool.org
Materials: spiral
notebook, binder paper (not torn from a notebook), graph
paper (also not torn from a notebook), pencils, correcting pen,
scientific calculator (please make sure that you have a TI –
30XIIS), and textbook. You must bring your math notebook,
paper, several sharpened pencils, a pen, and calculator to class
EVERY day. You will be told when additional items (for
example, laptops or graph paper) are required.
Classroom
participation: You are expected to be in class, on time,
with the appropriate materials every day. You should be
prepared to discuss the previous day’s assignment as well as
to contribute to class discussions of new material. You should
be an active participant in Math 7 at all times, both as an
individual class member and as a member of a small group. You
should listen attentively to the instructor and to your peers, ask
and answer questions, and make a serious attempt to solve all
problems that are posed. Most importantly, you are expected to
treat your classmates with respect.
Extra Help: This class
moves quickly and each day we build on the ideas of the day
before. If you are confused or have trouble with a particular
concept or assignment, please come see me during your lunch or free
periods. Sign up on the schedule outside the math office or
talk to me after class. The Brain and Learning Lab is also an
excellent place to go with questions.
Mental Math: Each
class period starts with a set of five mental math
questions. The questions on the first three class meetings of
each week are for practice; I correct the answers to the mental
math questions on Fridays.
Homework: Homework is
assigned daily and is due at the beginning of the following class
meeting. Daily homework insures that you have an opportunity
to review the concepts and practice the techniques covered during
one class prior to starting new material.
You are
allowed (and encouraged) to seek help from other students and
adults when working on your homework. It is understood,
however, that any assistance is designed to help you learn to
eventually complete the problems independently.
You will
correct your own assignments in class prior to handing them
in. You may choose (or be told) to redo homework problems that
you got wrong. In this case, do the problems on separate paper
and turn them in promptly, attached to the original assignment.
There is no homework over Thanksgiving, winter, mid-winter, or
spring breaks.
Quizzes: You will have
the opportunity to take regular short quizzes, both announced and
unannounced in Math 7. All unannounced quizzes are very basic
and require no extra preparation.
Tests: We will have a
test at the end of most chapters; each test will be announced at
least one week in advance. Tests will be comprehensive –
any topic covered since the beginning of the year may be included
on any exam.
Other assignments: In
addition to homework, quizzes, and tests, you will be expected to
complete a variety of other assignments. These assignments may
simply be problems which require more time than is available during
a regular class period or may involve using your laptop, writing
about the history of mathematics, or presenting a short topic to
the class.
Student absences: If
you are absent, please come see me out of class time. Except
for brief reviews which would benefit the entire class, I cannot
use class time to repeat material for a student who was
absent.
Grading: Grades are
determined by considering the following factors:
·
Mastery of the material as demonstrated on tests and quizzes
·
The consistency and quality of your homework assignments
·
The consistency and quality of your homework corrections
·
The quality of any additional assignments
·
Participation in class discussions and activities
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