LVJUSD Math Courses for Middle School

All math courses are based on the CA Mathematics Standards.

Math 6

Textbook: Big Ideas Math Course 1

Topics Taught:

• Understanding and applying the concepts of ratios and unit rates, and using the correct language to describe them (for example, the ratio of wings to beaks in a flock of birds is 2 to 1, because for every 2 wings there is 1 beak)
• Building on knowledge of multiplication and division to divide fractions by fractions
• Understanding that positive and negative numbers are located on opposite sides of 0 on a number line
• Using pairs of numbers, including negative numbers, as coordinates for locating or placing a point on a graph
• Writing and determining the value of expressions with whole-number exponents (such as 15+32 )
• Identifying and writing equivalent mathematical expressions by applying the properties of operations. For example, recognizing that 2 (3+x) is the same as 6+2x
• Understanding that solving an equation such as 2+x = 12 means answering the question, “What number does x have to be to make this statement true?”
• Representing and analyzing the relationships between independent and dependent variables
• Solving problems involving area and volume

Math 7

Textbook: Big Ideas Math Course 2

Topics Taught:

• Rates, ratios, proportions, and percentages to solve multi-step problems
• Identifying the unit rate of change in tables, graphs, equations, and verbal descriptions
• Calculating the unit rates associated with ratios of fractions, including quantities measured in different units
• Solving problems using equations to find the value of one missing variable
• Applying the properties of operations to generate equivalent mathematical expressions
• Solving multi-step word problems by adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing positive and negative rational numbers in any form (including whole numbers, fractions, or decimals)
• Understanding that numbers cannot be divided by 0
• Converting rational numbers to decimals using long division
• Describing situations in which positive and negative quantities combine to make 0
• Finding the area of two-dimensional objects and the volume and surface area of three-dimensional objects

Math 8

Textbook: Big Ideas Math Course 3

Topics Taught:

• Understanding that every rational number (such as ½, 0.3, 2, or -2) can be written as a decimal, but that the decimal form of an irrational number (such as 2 ) is both non-repeating and infinite
• Applying the properties of exponents to generate equivalent numerical expressions
• Determining the value of square roots of small perfect squares (such as 49= 7) and cube roots of small perfect cubes (such as 3 64=4)
• Graphing proportional relationships and interpreting the unit rate as the slope (how steep or flat a line is)
• Solving and graphing one- and two-variable linear equations
• Understanding that a function is a rule that assigns to each value of x exactly one value of y, such as y=2x, a rule that would yield such ordered pairs as (-2,-4), (3,6), and (4,8)
• Comparing the properties of two functions represented in different ways (in a table, graph, equation, or description)
• Determining congruence (when shapes are of equal size and shape) and similarity (same shape but different sizes)
• Learning and applying the Pythagorean Theorem (an equation relating the lengths of the sides of a right triangle: a2 + b2 = c2 )
• Solving problems involving the volume of cylinders, cones, and spheres

Accelerated Math 6/7A

Textbook: Big Ideas Math Advanced 1

Accelerated Math 7B/8

Textbook: Big Ideas Math Advanced 2

Algebra I

Textbook: Big Ideas Math Algebra 1

*descriptions from National PTA Parent Roadmaps, click here to see additional information

Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District

Mathematics Course Acceleration

Acceleration from 5th to 6th Grade

As students are being placed in a math class from 5th to 6th grade, multiple pieces of data are being used to determine if the student should be placed in the grade level pathway or the accelerated pathway. Students who take the grade level pathway, will complete Math 6, Math 7, and Math 8 during their middle schools years. As a ninth grader, students will take Algebra I - the grade level course for all California students. These courses teach to the California State Standards for Math (Common Core 2010).

Students who begin the acceleration pathway as a sixth grader will complete Math 6, Math 7, and Math 8 in two years. This is a compacts three years of standards during students’ 6th grade and 7th grade years and prepares students to take Algebra I as an 8th grader.

For more information, see the Middle School Course Descriptions above.

Additional Acceleration Options

If a student is demonstrating knowledge and skills beyond the current middle school course, the student can accelerate. Options for acceleration beyond the initial middle school placement are important for students who did not accelerate in 6th grade or who may need additional acceleration options.

To accelerate, a student must prove proficiency in the grade level course (CA Standards) in which they would like to “skip”. To do this, the student must take the District Final for that particular course and score 85% or better. All middle school math courses have District Finals. Site administrators and math teachers are responsible for administering tests, with the support of the Curriculum Department.

Students cannot prove proficiency for Algebra I. Algebra I is a required California math course.