Back to School Night – August 28, 2014

BarringtonMiddle School – Station Campus

Mr. Price (Honors Algebra I-2A)

Class Goals:

  • To help each student become more math literate
  • To expand each student’s knowledge base and to become more competent in the use of basic operations
  • To demonstrate the practical applications of mathematics
  • To help each student become more familiar with and apply problem solving techniques
  • To challenge each student to his or her ability
  • To provide the algebra foundation necessary for a successful transition to high school geometry

Common Core Standards for Grade 8 Mathematics:

The Common Core Standards for Grade 8 Mathematics state that students will:

  • Analyze proportional relationships and use them to solve real-world and mathematical problems.
  • Apply and extend previous understandings of operations with fractions to add, subtract, multiply, and divide rational numbers.
  • Use properties of operations to generate equivalent expressions.
  • Solve real-life mathematical problems using numerical and algebraic expressions and equations.
  • Draw, construct, and describe geometrical figures and describe the relationships between them.
  • Solve real-life and mathematical problems involving angle measure, area, surface area, and volume.
  • Use random sampling to draw inferences about a population, and draw informal comparative inferences about two populations
  • Investigate chance processes and develop, use, and evaluate probability models.

Grades:

About 90% of student grades will be taken from test and quiz scores. However, students have the option of retaking any summative assessment for score replacement. Per new school policy, they can only re-take a summative assessmentonce, and only after completing a re-take contract. Terms of the contract may include test corrections and IXL skills. There will be no re-takes of semester exams or any tests and quizzes given in the final week of a quarter.

Quizzes will be worth between 20 and 60 points. Tests will range in value from 50 to 120 points, with semester exams having a value of about 200 points.

The following grading scale will be employed when assigning letter grades:

A =90% and up B = <90% - 80% C = <80% - 70% D = <70% -60% F = <60%

All percentages will be rounded to the nearest tenth of a percent for recording purposes.

Assignment Calendar:

A complete homework calendar for your child’s class can be found via my school web site. Each day’s class notes are posted from the SmartBoard, so be sure to have your child take a look at what they missed if they miss a day of school.

Curriculum Topics:

Topics covered in BarringtonMiddle School’s Algebra I curriculum include:

Basic ComputationSimplify Polynomials

Solve Simple EquationsSolve Simple Inequalities

Factor Expressions CompletelySolve Absolute Value Equations

Simplify ExponentsSimplify Rational Expressions

Multiply BinomialsSolve Systems of Equations

Linear Equations (slope-intercept)Simplify Radical Expressions

Solve ProportionsSolve Quadratic Equations

Functions and GraphingAlgebraic Properties and Applications

High School Recommendations:

Students making satisfactory progress in Honors Accelerated Algebra I-2A will be recommended for Honors Accelerated Geometry A. Students consistently earning C’s or lower will be considered for enrollment in Geometry B.

If you have any questions, please contact me by e-mail at (). I invite you to call or text me a message on my personal cell phone (224.558.5531) if you feel the urge to call. Should you desire a personal conference with me, my personal planning time is 6thhour (12:24 – 1:10).

Thank you for your support and care at home. I know from experience that education works best when parents take an active interest in their child’s schooling.

Sincerely,

Jeffrey Price

Honors Algebra I-2A

BarringtonMiddle School – Station Campus