7th Grade Math

Welcome to Mr. Gonder's Page

"Keep Your Head in the Game"

Biography

I was born and raised in Goleta, CA right outside Santa Barbara. I attended Seattle Pacific University where I double majored and earned my Bachelor of Arts in Accounting and Business Administration Management - Human Resources. I received my teaching credential from Teaching Excellence a program created by YES Prep Public Schools in Houston, TX. After graduating I worked at a Public Accounting firm in Seattle in their audit department. After some soul searching I decided to follow my passion for education and moved to Houston Texas to become part of the YES Prep Team where I taught Math 8 and Algebra I for 4 years. I finally decided to head home to California and continue to teach on the West Coast. This is my twelfth year teaching and seventh year at New West. I am excited to continue to assist in creating mathematical thinkers in Algebra and Pre-Algebra this year. In my free time I enjoy traveling, walking for fitness, reading, and cooking.

Homework

    1. Please see the 7th grade HW page Homework

    2. HW is practice and is provided to work on skills. If you get stuck you can review your notes or watch an example video on your Google Classroom. No Work = No Credit

    3. HW should be completed during your class period, but will be due the following day.

Course Description

Pre Algebra (Common Core Math 7)

    • Unit 1 - Fractions, Probability and Statistics

    • Unit 2 - Expressions, Equations, and Inequalities

  • Unit 3 - Geometry

  • Unit 4 - Proportional Relationships

  • Unit 5 - Percents

This class will take the Math 7 Smarter Balance exam and will be prepared for Algebra I in 8th grade

Algebra I (Common Core Math 7 integrated)

    • Unit 1 - Fractions Probability and Statistics

    • Unit 2 - Expressions, Equations, and Inequalities (including polynomials and factoring)

    • Unit 3 - Geometry

    • Unit 4 - Proportional Relationships (including Rates and exponential growth)

    • Unit 5 - Linear Equations and Expressions (including graphing)

This class will take the Smarter Balance Exam and will be prepared for Geometry in the 8th grade

Grading Policy

Grading Rubric

    • 10% - Homework

    • 15% - Classwork

    • 25% - Quizzes

    • 50% - Assessments/Projects

Students will be graded using Standards Based grading and will be able to gauge their mastery of each objective at the end of standard.

Students will not receive a grade lower than a 50% on all Projects, Quizzes and Assessments that are turned in. Due to this fact NO extra credit assignments will be offered.

Tests/Performance Tasks

Students will be tested using various testing methods (Multiple Choice, Short Answer, Projects, and Performance task to be gauge the students Depth of Knowledge (DoK).

- DoK 1 - (50% - 69% - Approaching Mastery) - Student can properly identify the method to use to solve a given problem of situation

- DoK 2 - (70% - Mastery) Student can properly solve a problem identical to the problems in class with limited to no errors. Students at this level are just beginning to understand the concepts and will need this mastery to properly move on to DoK3

-DoK 3 - (71% - 90% - Beyond Mastery) Student can properly solve a problem that requires additional set up or is stated in a word problem or visual format. These students use their DoK 2 to make connections and determine what method is needed to solve a problem in a format that is not identical to DoK 2. These students will set up and solve a problem with limited to no errors. Students at this level have demonstrated above mastery and will need this skill set to move onto DoK 4.

- DoK 4 - (91% - 100% - Advanced) Student can properly set up and solve multi-step problems using several objectives at the same time or by using their skill set in a complex method. Students can make decisions and predictions using the information and solution they have generated. These types of problems will not be directly taught in everyday lessons, but DoK 4 problems will be practiced prior to unit exams through quizzes, homework, and classwork assignments. These types of problems encourage students to become problem solvers and will build a deeper understanding of the Standard.

* All tests are curved to account for each DoK and to follow Standards Based Grading.

If you would like additional information on Common Core DoK please visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5gteX5U5uI

Quizzes

Students will be quizzed often and this data will be used to plan future lessons and review. Quizzes will include DOK 2-4 questions and will be similar to the problems reviewed in class. All quizzes will be graded using standards based grading (No grade lesson than a 50%). No retakes will be offered on Quizzes. Students will "re-take" when they take the Unit Assessment. If a student demonstrates a higher DOK on their Unit Assessment their Quiz grade will be adjusted to reflect their final mastery. For example; if a student receives a 75% on a fractions Quiz and a 90% on the fractions section of the Assessment the quiz grade will be raised to 90%.

Projects

Students will be given projects to make connections to the real world. A rubric will be provided stating what will be required to demonstrate Approaching Mastery, Mastery, Beyond Mastery, and Advanced.

Homework/Classwork

Students will be given Practice Daily. This may need to be completed at home (as Homework). Work will be given a 0% if work is not shown. If using a calculator students should write the equation (numbers plugged in okay). Students MUST use their notes and video examples from the day to properly complete the practice. At times practice/classwork will include DoK 1 - DoK 4 questions to best prepare and align to the Unit Assessment. All practice/classwork assignments can be solved using the notes from the day. As such, teacher will be assisting students on how to use their notes and classmates to answer their own questions and become mathematical thinkers. This system will allow students to be better prepared to make a plan and solve when faced with DoK 2- 4 questions. Teacher will always direct students to where their question can be answered in their notes and then ask them additional questions to help them gain a better understand instead of just giving students the correct answer. All notes and classwork will be corrected in class and time for general questions are built into the end of the period after Classwork. This process allows students to have all the information to demonstrate mastery on their homework. Although this may be frustrating at times, this will allow students to use their DoK 1-2 skills and prepare all students to be Beyond Mastery and/or Advanced. Students will only be required to plug in and solve (DoK 1) on the first day(s) of new standard to prepare them to move onto DoK 2, 3, and 4 questions.

Homework/Practice will be graded on both Completeness (100% for having the answers and work shown) and Accuracy (Graded for correct answer and having work shown - majority of Semester 2). Please note that homework is created to assist with Quiz and Test Prep and will vital to student success. All Accuracy grading is used to track student DoK and is used regularly to pace and adjust the Unit Curriculum and Plan. Students must show all work for full credit.

Late/Blank Homework/Practice - Late/Blank homework will be accepted up to 24 hours late for accuracy assignments.

Materials

Communication

    • Students should e-mail teacher directly with any questions or issues. Most student e-mails will be answered within the school day or the following morning.

    • Parent questions will be answered within 48 hours

    • No e-mails will be answered over the weekend or after school hours

Class Rules

    1. We Take Risks (try all problems - leave nothing blank)

    2. We Learn from our Mistakes - Respect all mathematicians. We will be challenged and asked to push ourselves.

    3. We Never Give Up - Access your Previous Knowledge. Things will be tough, but you have all the tools needed to solve ALL problems.

    4. We Learn - Growth = Greatness. You will continue to grow in your mathematical journey.

Expectations

  1. Mathematicians will be on time.

  2. Mathematicians will help and respect each other during group work.

  3. Mathematicians will try all problems. IDK is not an acceptable answer in class.

  4. Math is Life. Mathematicians will be asked to express their knowledge in real world situations on and above grade level.