2015- 20167th Grade Math Syllabus

ACTS Magnet Program

Mr. Brian Smith

From the Teacher: Welcome to 7th grade math. I am expecting a wonderful and exciting year and you should too. In order to provide the best environment for learning, all students must adhere to the rules and procedures set for them by each teacher. You must believe in yourself, work hard, participate and come to class prepared every day. Math class is about reasoning, problem solving and sense making. Don’t expect to know everything and remember everyone has something to contribute. You are in a safe place for learning, exploring, trying new things and mistake making! Mistakes start new learning! This could be your best year ever!

Rules:

In the ACTS program, students use the ACTOR’s Toolbox as our model of classroom behavior.

Students are expected to:

  1. Control their body2. Control their voice

3. Properly use their imagination4. Concentrate & cooperate

Consequences: The ACTS program uses the Brewer Middle School discipline ladder to address minor behavior infractions. A discipline slip will be issued for behavior infractions. Consequences are also outlined in the Student’s Rights and Responsibilities Book issued on the first day of school.

Goals:

This year we will:

  • Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.
  • Reason abstractly and quantitatively
  • Construct arguments and critique the reasoning of others
  • Model with mathematics
  • Use appropriate tools, including technology, to solve problems
  • Attend to precision

Assessments:

Quizzes and tests will occur during each unit of study. Multiple assessments will be given in each unit to address specific goals and standards. Notice of TESTS will be in your child’s agenda and on my webpage. Students will also receive study guides for their tests (not for partner tests). Once students receive their Chromebooks,these study guides and many assignments will be sent electronically. (paper copies will not be provided) Parents and students should understand that your child’s tests are very similar to their study guides. Advance notification of quizzes may or may not be given. All tests and quizzes will be returned to your child after grading.

Grades are maintained on PowerSchool. Parents should sign up for access to their child’s grades with the front office. Grades are updated several times each week on PowerSchool. Additional reports, other than school issued reports, will not be sent home.

Grading:

All students in ACTS are graded using the following weightings in their academic content areas.

Tests = 50%Quizzes = 30%Class work = 10%Homework = 10%

Communication:

Parents and students should frequently check my website. The website is updated daily with information on classroom happenings and homework assignments. You can access my website via the Brewer web page or the ACTS web page under “Schools of Choice.”

Remind: Students and parents should sign up for one way teacher texting by texting: @acts7 to (864) 396-2823

Supplies:

School supplies for the year are listed on the ACTS webpage

Textbook:

Students have a consumable (they can write in it) textbook: Carnegie Learning Series Course 1

Students will also have access to their textbook on line. I will post each chapter to the Google Classroom once students receive their Chrome Books.

Units of Study:

First 9 weeks:Second 9 weeks:

Ratio & proportionMultiplying & dividing rational numbers

Direct variationAlgebraic expressions

PercentsEquations and inequalities

Adding & subtracting rational numbers

Third 9 weeks:Fourth 9 weeks:

Equations and inequalitiesMeasures of center

AreaAnalyzing two populations

Volume and surface areaStem & leaf plots

Data CollectionProbability

Box and whisker plotsReview & PASS testing