CC Math 8

Mrs. Gibson, Room # 63

Dear Parents and Students,

The purpose of this class is to provide each student with a strong and solid math foundation that will allow each student to meet the Math 8 Common Core State Standards and to successfully advance to the next grade level.

Course Content

CC Math 8 includes topics in the following domains: The Number System, Expression and Equations, Function, Geometry, and Statistic and Probability. Mathematical Practices are embedded throughout all lessons, especially present in the performance tasks, strong problem-solving emphasis, and higher-order thinking exercises.

PowerTeaching Overview

Developed by the Success for All Foundation, PowerTeaching is an instructional framework that links Common Core, state standards, and school curricula to research-proven instructional strategies and classroom resources that promote rigor and student engagement.

PowerTeaching empowers students to work together to improve their understanding of mathematical concepts, encourages them to take ownership of their learning during multiple opportunities for practices and evaluation. With over 25 years of research, PowerTeaching has been demonstrated to increase academic success by establishing a student-centered classroom through the use of compelling concept presentations, assessments for learning, and student learning teams.

Classroom Discipline Plan

Classroom Rules: It is my goal to promote unity, fairness and equality among students by following rules and enforcing consequences. For a safe and positive learning environment students must:

  1. Listen carefully and follow directions.
  2. Be in your seat when the bell rings.
  3. Bring all the appropriate materials to class.
  4. Raise your hand for permission to speak.
  5. Ask for permission to leave your seat.
  6. No gum chewing or eating.
  7. Place all litter in the proper containers when exiting the classroom.

Consequences: If a child chooses to break a rule, the consequences include, but are not limited to verbal warnings, seating changes, detentions, parent phone calls, and referrals to the Counselor’s or Dean’s office. The following below is an example:

1st Time: Verbal warning

2nd Time: One-on –one conference

3rd Time: Phone call or Connect- Ed message sent home

4th Time: Written referral to counseling or dean’s office

***Defiance by a student is an automatic referral.

Classroom Procedures

Students must enter the classroom quietly and be in their assigned seats before the bell rings.

Classwork will be done in teams. In the teams each member is expected to practice active listening, help and encourage others explain ideas and tell why, and complete all tasks. Though your child will be working in a team, he or she will still be assessed individually through random reporter, quizzes, and unit tests. The ultimate goal is that the team prepares its members to succeed when tested independently and when explaining answers. Immediately after the bell rings, students should check their homework answer with their team members. Then they should work on “Get the Goof” error analysis activity. During class, I expect to have full attention of every student. Unnecessary talking, note passing, grooming, etc., are not appropriate during class. Please use the restroom during nutrition, lunch, or other breaks. Students will be dismissed at the end of the period when the room is quiet, seats straightened, and trash picked up. The teacher will dismiss the class and not the bell.

Materials: Students are expected to have the following materials on hand every day.

Spiral notebook/ 3 Ring Binder binder paper graph paper

pencils with erasers colored pencils/crayons highlighter.

glue sticks dry-erase markers calculator

Teacher Absence

A substitute teacher will be present should I need to be absent. All class rules remain in effect. A special packet of work will be left for the students to complete. I expect perfect behavior from my students on these days. Classes receiving a poor “Sub Report” run the risk of detentions and/or suspensions.

Grading Policy

Progress report grade (every 4-5weeks) will be based on the percentage obtained from the total points earned during a grading period. The Final Grade is a cumulative grade. Points will be earned for classwork and homework assignments, quizzes, tests, and projects. At the end of each grading period the percentage obtained will determine the academic grade: 90-100% A, 80-89% B, 65-79% C, 55-64% D, and 0-54% Fail. Grades are weighed according to the percentages below:

Category / Description
Test/Quizzes
40% / Quizzes will be given at the end of each week to determine mastery of math skill(s) taught and practiced during that week. A test will be given at the end of each unit. Students may re-take tests to raise their grades. (Wednesday 3:00-3:30 or Thursdays during lunch)
Classwork
40% / Classwork grade will be determined by the scores given for assignments given during different components of the daily lessons and for the class projects.
Homework/ Projects
20%
Extra-credit 5% / Homework is assigned daily Monday through Wednesday (with some exceptions, ie: testing days).Homework assignments will be collected at the beginning of the following week and will be checked for accuracy. Late work willnot be accepted.
Take home projects will also be included in the homework grade. A project will be assigned for each essential unit and is due a week from the time it was assigned. A parent conference might give an opportunity for making up some of the assignments.
Summer package and other extra-credit assignments grades will be added at the end of the semester.

Work Habit Scale: The Work Habit grade will be determined from all homework assignments and classwork participation. Excessive tardies will also affect this grade. The following scale will be used:

E for Excellent 80%-100% of the total points for homework and/or classwork assignments

S for Satisfactory 50%- 79% of the total points for homework and/or classwork assignments

U for Unsatisfactory 0% - 49 % of the total points for homework and/or classwork assignments

Cooperation Scale: Grade will be determined by the number of infractions obtained by students in a grading period. Infractions occur when classroom rules, policies and procedures are not followed. Infractions will be recorded on a daily basis. If a student receives a referral for defiance then his/her Cooperation grade for that 5 week period will automatically be a U for unsatisfactory.

5-week10-week15-week20-week

E for Excellent0 –2 3 – 4 5 – 6 7 – 8

S for Satisfactory3 – 4 5 – 6 7 – 8 9 - 10

U for Unsatisfactory5+ 7+ 9+ 11+

Note: No E (excellent) grade for cooperation if the student is a earning a D or a Fail as an academic grade.

Website

Please visit our school website at for important news, announcements and upcoming events. To view my webpage, go to TEACHERS/STAFF, then click on Mrs. Liana Gibson. Please refer to this website periodically. JupiterEd and Connect-Ed will be used to communicate with parents regarding grades, behavior, upcoming assignments, tests and projects etc.

Let’s have a great, successful year! If you have any questions you should contact me at the school by phone (310-783-4900), by e-mail at leg8161@ lausd.net, or you may schedule a conference by contacting the counseling office.

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My child and I have read the Grading Policy and Classroom Discipline Plan for Mrs. Gibson’s CC Math 8 class.

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“Go Knights! Every Student is Everyone’s Business”