Math 7/8
Dear Parent/Guardian,
Greenville County middle schools will be using a student-centered blended mathematics curriculum for the 2022-23 school year. GCS has partnered with Carnegie Learning for a task-based math program and software to fully implement both South Carolina College and Career Ready Math content and process standards.
Carnegie Learning blended math (consumable text and MATHia software) offers the most successful math program in the nation: they have researched how students think, learn, and apply new knowledge in math, and then crafted materials that play to each student’s learning needs. By constantly developing new ways for students to learn, Carnegie Learning ensures that students achieve greater success and improved math scores.
The textbook your child will receive is theirs to keep. There is space for writing, sketching, drawing, cutting, pasting, and constructing new mathematical ideas. Students may want to highlight key terms, take notes in the margins, or even doodle on the cover. They can make it their own!
Throughout the lessons, students will build new knowledge based on their prior knowledge. They will apply math to real-world situations so that they can see why it’s meaningful. If students need additional practice, they can find it in MATHia Software, the Assignment Pages or the Skills Practice pages available in your child’s MyCL portal and Student Backpack.
Today’s workplace demands teamwork and self-confidence. Carnegie Learning (CL) designed the Math Series to help students to make the most of their math courses. In the classroom, students will be encouraged to work together in pairs or in groups because it gets students talking about their insights. Everyone will share his or her ideas and thoughts in class - Learning by Doing® and mathematical discourse/accountable talk.
You may find this new textbook to be different from what you are used to, but it’s for all the good reasons described above. Carnegie Learning knows you want to help your child be successful in math class, and CL supports and encourages involvement in your child’s learning.
Tips for a successful year:
Make sure your child is at school every day. Class discussions and opportunities to explore problems with classmates cannot be reproduced.
Help your child find a place and time for homework. Stick with this routine every day. The homework may be the lesson-specific from the student text (Assignment Page), Skills Practice, and/or software practice on MATHia.
When assisting with homework:
Help your child make sense of the problem by asking them questions (find out what they know about the problem and what they are trying to figure out). o
Encourage your child to use problem-solving strategies (draw a picture, act it out, work backward, guess and check, use simple numbers at first, etc.)
If you have classroom-specific questions, please contact your child’s teacher. CL invites you to visit their website at www.carnegielearning.com for more information about how Carnegie Learning is improving math education across the country.
Math 7/8 Syllabus - Northwood Middle School
Teacher: Tera Jones
Contact Information:
Room: 712
Phone: 355 - 7033
Email Address: tfjones@greenville.k12.sc.us
Course Title: Math 7/8
Textbook Title:
South Carolina Middle School Math Solution Advanced 7 - Carnegie Learning
MATHia student software
Course Description:
In this course, SCCCR Mathematics Standards from grades 7 and 8 focus on several critical areas: (1) developing an understanding of and applying proportional relationships; (2) solving problems involving scale drawings and informal geometric constructions, and working with two- and three-dimensional shapes to solve problems involving area, surface area, and volume; (3) formulating and reasoning about expressions and equations, including modeling an association in bivariate data with a linear equation, and solving linear equations and systems of linear equations; (4) grasping the concept of a function and using functions to describe quantitative relationships; (5) analyzing two- and three-dimensional space and figures using distance, angle, similarity, and congruence, and understanding and applying the Pythagorean Theorem.
For a complete understanding of the essential knowledge and skills in mathematics, read the SCCCR Mathematics Standards in their entirety; the seven process standards will be incorporated throughout this course.
Priority Learning Standards for Math 7/8:
Solve real-world and mathematical problems involving ratios and percentages using proportional reasoning (e.g., multi-step dimensional analysis, percent increase/decrease, tax).
Extend previous understanding of Order of Operations to solve multi-step real-world and mathematical problems involving rational numbers.
Apply the concepts of linear equations and inequalities in one variable to real-world and mathematical situations.
Apply the concepts of two- and three-dimensional figures to real-world and mathematical situations.
Write equations to solve problems involving the relationships between angles formed by two intersecting lines, including supplementary, complementary, vertical, and adjacent.
Investigate the concept of circles.
Compare the numerical measures of center (mean, median, mode) and variability (range, interquartile range, mean absolute deviation) from two random samples to draw inferences about the populations.
Visually compare the centers, spreads, and overlap of two displays of data (i.e., dot plots, histograms, box plots) that are graphed on the same scale and draw inferences about this data.
Extend the concepts of simple events to investigate compound events.
Explore the real number system and its appropriate usage in real-world situations.
Extend prior knowledge to translate among multiple representations of rational numbers (fractions, decimal numbers, percentages). Include the conversion of repeating decimal numbers to fractions.
Apply the concepts of decimal and scientific notation to solve real-world and mathematical problems.
Extend concepts of linear equations and inequalities in one variable to more complex multi-step equations and inequalities in real-world and mathematical situations.
Compare multiple representations of two functions, including mappings, tables, graphs, equations, and verbal descriptions, in order to draw conclusions.
Apply the concepts of linear and nonlinear functions to graphs in real-world and mathematical situations.
Apply the properties of transformations (rotations, reflections, translations, dilations).
Extend and apply previous knowledge of angles to properties of triangles, similar figures, and parallel lines cut by a transversal.
Apply the Pythagorean Theorem to model and solve real-world and mathematical problems in two and three dimensions involving right triangles.
Solve real-world and mathematical problems involving volumes of cones, cylinders, and spheres and the surface area of cylinders.
Apply concepts of an approximate line of best fit in real-world situations.
The instructional resources used in this course consist of five modules:
Module 1: Thinking Proportionally
Students build on their experiences with ratios and proportional relationships from grade 6. Students will identify and describe proportional and non-proportional mathematical and real-world situations to understand the characteristics of proportional relationships. They will then use formal strategies to solve proportion and percent problems.
Module 2: Constructing and Measuring
Students build on their experiences with angles and triangles and introduce the construction of familiar geometric objects. They will construct basic geometric objects with a compass and straightedge and later use these techniques to construct triangles. Students will use patty paper to investigate special types of angle relationships and then use those relationships to write and solve equations to determine unknown values in a figure. They will use their knowledge of polygons and polyhedra to create and describe cross-sections of right rectangular prisms and pyramids. Finally, students will extend their knowledge of volume and surface area to solve problems involving a variety of three-dimensional solids.
Module 3: Transforming Geometric Objects
Students build on their experience with rational numbers, proportionality, scale drawings, triangles, and angle pairs formed when two lines intersect. They will use patty paper to investigate transformations of geometric objects to develop an understanding of congruence and similarity. Students will then use this new knowledge about transformations to establish facts about triangles and relationships between special angle pairs.
Module 4: Developing Function Foundations
Students build on their experience with proportional relationships and the work they did in Transforming Geometric Objects. Students will analyze and represent linear relationships using tables, equations, graphs, and scenarios. They will develop an understanding of functions. Once they know how to describe functional relationships and construct linear models, they will apply these skills to analyze bivariate data. The concepts in this module will provide the basis for the majority of their high school algebra and statistics studies.
Module 5: Modeling Linear Equations
Students build on their experiences of solving two-step equations and graphing linear equations. They will apply number properties as strategies to write equations in equivalent forms and explore strategies for solving equations with variables on both sides of the equals sign. Students will write and solve equations to answer questions about real-world situations. They will also use systems of linear equations to solve real-world problems.
Module 6: Expanding Number Systems
Students connect numbers, equations, and geometry. Students will explore the properties that define the number systems that they are familiar with and then learn about a new system. Students will develop an understanding of the Pythagorean Theorem and its converse and then apply those theorems to solve real-world problems.
Module 7: Applying Powers
Students build on their knowledge of exponents to develop new rules for operating with integer exponents. They will learn how to write, recognize, compare, and operate with numbers expressed in scientific notation. They will investigate special ratios to develop and connect formulas for the circumference and area of circles. Students will build on their prior experiences with the volume of prisms and pyramids to develop formulas for the volume of cylinders, cones, and spheres.
Materials Needed for Course:
Notebook with loose-leaf paper
Textbook
Chromebook
Pencils (at least two)
Calculator
Graph paper
Classroom Expectations:
While in my classroom, I expect students to follow guidelines set forth in the Student Handbook. Please review the section regarding the discipline policy and procedures along with any additional information sent home by the administration. Each student deserves the most positive educational climate possible for academic growth, therefore, this plan will be in effect at all times. I believe that life-long success depends on self-discipline. This plan offers every student the opportunity to manage his/her own behavior. Students are also expected to abide by classroom guidelines that are discussed in class and are posted in the classroom.
Grading Policy/Practices:
Report card grades will consist of: 50% major assignments and 50% minor assignments. There will be at least 3 major assignments and at least 8 minor assignments per quarter. Major assignments consist of tests and projects. Minor assignments consist of homework, quizzes, and class work.Late Work Procedures:
If a student has an excused absence, it is the student’s responsibility to get all classwork and homework assignments. For test and quiz make-ups, students must come to me and set up a time. As stated in the handbook, a student has five days from the day of the absence to make up all assignments. If this is not done, an unsatisfactory grade will be given at the end of the five days.Assignments that are not handed in on the assigned due date will be coded as NHI in the gradebook and can be turned in for up to 5 school days. After the 5th school day, assignments will no longer be accepted.