CCI Math
Welcome to 8th Grade Integrated Math
Let's Get to Class!
When you come to class, you will need:
Pencils
Spiral notebook
Colored pens
A growth mindset: The willingness to do what the class is doing and try what the class is trying
Communication
Google Classroom Sites:
2nd-period:
https://classroom.google.com/c/Mzc5OTczMTU4NzUx?cjc=xrl27f7
7th-period:
https://classroom.google.com/c/Mzc5OTczMTU4NzUx?cjc=xrl27f7
Core Connections Integrated I Overview
On a daily basis, students in Core Connections Integrated I use problem-solving strategies, questioning, investigating, analyzing critically, gathering and constructing evidence, and communicating rigorous arguments justifying their thinking. Under teacher guidance, students learn in collaboration with others while sharing information, expertise, and ideas.
The course is well balanced among procedural fluency (algorithms and basic skills), deep conceptual understanding, strategic competence (problem solving), and adaptive reasoning (extension and application). The lessons in the course meet all of the content standards, of Appendix A of the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics. The course embeds the CCSS Standards for Mathematical Practice as an integral part of the lessons in the course.
Key concepts addressed in this course are:
Representations of linear, quadratic, and exponential relationships using graphs, tables, equations, and contexts.
Symbolic manipulation of expressions in order to solve problems, such as factoring, distributing, multiplying polynomials, expanding exponential expressions, etc.
Analysis of the slope of a line multiple ways, including graphically, numerically, contextually (as a rate of change), and algebraically.
Solving equations and inequalities using a variety of strategies, including rewriting (such as factoring, distributing, or completing the square), undoing (such as extracting the square root or subtracting a term from both sides of an equation), and looking inside (such as determining the possible values of the argument of an absolute value expression).
Solving systems of two equations and inequalities with two variables using a variety of strategies, both graphically and algebraically.
Use of rigid transformations (reflection, rotation, translation) and symmetry to demonstrate congruence and develop triangle congruence theorems.
Using coordinates to prove geometric theorems.
Geometric constructions (with compass and straightedge).
Simple geometric proofs (investigate patterns to make conjectures, and formally prove them).
Representations of arithmetic and geometric sequences, including using tables, graphs, and explicit or recursive formulas.
Use of exponential models to solve problems, and to compare to linear models.
Use of function notation.
Statistical analysis of two-variable data, including determining regression lines, correlation coefficients, and creating residual plots.
The differences between association and causation, and interpretation of correlation in context.
Comparison of distributions of one-variable data.
A Message from CPM
Welcome to a new year of math! In this course, you will learn to use new models and methods to think about problems as well as solve them. You will be developing powerful mathematical tools and learning new ways of thinking about and investigating situations. You will be making connections, discovering relationships, figuring out what strategies can be used to solve problems, and explaining your thinking. Learning to think in these ways and communicate about your thinking is useful in mathematical contexts, other subjects in school, and situations outside the classroom. The mathematics you have learned in the past will be valuable for learning in this course. That work, and what you learn in this course, will prepare you for future courses.
In meeting the challenges of this course, you will not be learning alone. You will cooperate with other students as a member of a study team. Being a part of a team means speaking up and interacting with other people. You will explain your ideas, listen to what others have to say, and ask questions if there is something you do not understand. In this course, a single problem can often be solved several ways. You will see problems in different ways than your teammates do. Each of you has something to contribute while you work on the lessons in this course.
Together, your team will complete problems and activities that will help you discover mathematical ideas and develop solution methods. Your teacher will support you as you work, but will not take away your opportunity to think and investigate for yourself. Each topic will be revisited many times and will connect to other topics. If something is not clear to you the first time you work on it, you will have more chances to build your understanding as the course continues.
Learning math this way has an advantage: as long as you actively participate, make sure everyone in your study team is involved, and ask good questions, you will find yourself understanding mathematics at a deeper level than ever before. By the end of this course, you will have a powerful set of mathematical tools to use to solve new problems. With your teammates you will meet mathematical challenges you would not have known how to approach before.
In addition to the support provided by your teacher and your study team, CPM has also created online resources to help you, including help with homework, and a parent guide with extra practice. You will find these resources and more at www.cpm.org.
We wish you well and are confident that you will enjoy this next year of learning!
Sincerely,
The CPM Team