Algebra Plan of Action, 2017/2018 School Year and Beyond

Advanced Math Elective

This advanced math class will primarily focus on high school algebra, some trigonometry and calculus. The first few weeks of the quarter will devote time to ensure that arithmetic is mastered. The algebra is taught using a CPM (College Preparatory Mathematics) method which is the same methodology taught in 8th grade but the content is different from the methodology taught in high school.

Advanced math students in the 2017/2018 school year meet together for one period at the same time. You will learn 8th Grade Math different periods during the day till the end of the school year. From 2015 to 2017, advanced math students were in the same class for two periods and completed algebra taught in high school the last two quarters of the year. Students needed a high GPA and high NWEA scores to enter Advanced Math. When these students went to high school they began geometry in high school.

If you are taking taking this Advanced Math Elective from the 2017 /2018 school year and beyond you will not go into geometry in high school. You will take the same math class as all other freshmen entering high school. So why should I take math as an elective? Since 2013 I have given a 5th Grade Math Pretest to every single student who enters my class and the pretest results show that only one student could pass the test. Algebra, geometry, trigonometry, calculus and other advanced math courses require that you have mastered content from previous math courses. If you have not mastered arithmetic how will you do math?

And after you have mastered arithmetic and begin doing math taught in this class such as algebra you will learn algebra in particular at a deeper level such that high school math will be easier.

Student demographics are very different beginning in the 2017/2018 School year. Prior to the 2017/2018 school year you needed high test scores and grades to take Advanced Math. Student math skill levels are at various levels beginning with the 2017/2018 school year. To accommodate the varying skill levels Advanced Math will have two focuses:

The primary focus is mastery (A - or higher grade) of 8th Grade Math
The secondary focus is accelerating math skills, particularly in algebra so that students can transition into high school geometry. If geometry is not an option students will gain a solid math foundation that will make learning algebra easy in high school.

Here is how we will make the two focuses happen:

Quarter 1:

Students in the Advanced Math class will be 3 days ahead of the Math 8 class by the third week of school. Advanced Math Students will work on their pretest and the problems they missed until we start Chapter 1 (we must complete (about 6 to 7 days) district testing by 9/15) in both Math 8 and Advanced Math Classes During this time period students are also expected to set goals and work on Pretest problems listed in the Magnificent 7 steps in class and at home!

After we are done testing I will measure progress students are making to understand the pretest and determine whether to extend the time for students to study in class one additional week.

If you have retaken the pretest a second time and your grade is at least 90% you have the option to increase any quarter grade. For example if you had a B+ quarter 2 you could increase it to an A-.

If your grade in Advanced Math is lower than your grade in your Math 8 class you will be able to get the same grade as your Math 8 class provided you have not missed any homework assignments in Math 8 and you have completed math pretest goals. All math pretest goals should be completed 1st Quarter but I will extend the time to the 2nd Quarter if needed. You must have a B or higher grade in Math 8 if you wish to transfer your Math 8 Grade to Advanced Math . If your grade in Math 8 is a B+ or higher you do not have to retake any tests or quizzes when we cover them later in the year in Math 8. Your grade for the 3rd or 4th Quarter will be whatever grade you earned. If your grade was a B you are expected to increase any Math 8 test scores to a B+ grade or higher.

Quarter 2:

I will make exceptions for those students that show me they are working hard and need the second quarter to master the pretest. If you have retaken the pretest a second time and your grade is at least 90% you have the option to increase any quarter grade. For example if you had a B+ quarter 2 you could increase it to an A-. In addition, if your grade in Advanced Math is lower than your grade in your Math 8 class you will receive the same grade as Math 8.

If you retook the pretest the first quarter and passed it you will work on the state test . Your goal is to complete the state test by the end of the 2nd quarter. If you complete the state test you have the option to increase your grade in any quarter.

If your grade in Advanced Math is lower than your grade in your Math 8 class you will be able to get the same grade as your Math 8 class provided you have not missed any homework assignments in Math 8 and you have completed math pretest goals. I will give you at least 1 day every week to work on any Math 8 test or math concepts you have not mastered in Advanced Math. You are expected to increase any Math 8 test scores to a B+ grade or higher.

Quarter 3:

We will begin Chapter 6 in the Math 8 class late 2nd Quarter the 3rd Quarter. Prior to you working on Chapter 6 I will announce which students have had an A- or higher on all tests from Chapter 6 on. I will also look at test scores from Chapters 1 to 5. If you received a grade lower than a B+ for any test you completed in Advanced Math then you are expected to get at least a B+ when you review the material a second time in Math 8. You are expected to master Math 8 and that is your priority. I will give you at least 1 day every week to work on any Math 8 test or math concepts you have not mastered in Advanced Math.

If you have at least a B+ Grade in Math 8 you will receive a B+ grade in Advanced Math even if your grade is an F provided you complete Math 8 and Advanced Math homework each day.

You are expected to complete the homework every day.

If you have completed the 5th Grade Math Pretest and you have an A- grade or higher in Advanced Math and have test scores with at least an A- for all tests prior to Chapter 6 you will work on geometry in Math 8. If you are working on geometry your grade will automatically become an A+.

If you have not completed the 5th Grade Math Pretest and you had an A- grade or higher that will be your grade for the 3rd Quarter. You must complete the 5th Grade Math Pretest by the end of the 3rd Quarter. If you don't then your grade for the 4th Quarter will be whatever grade you get in Advanced Math Tests.

Quarter 4:

We will begin Chapter 8 in the Math 8 class in the 4th Quarter. If you received a grade lower than a B+ for any work you completed in Advanced Math then you are expected to get at least a B+ when you review the material a second time in Math 8. You are expected to master Math 8 and that is your priority. I will give you at least 1 day every week to work on any Math 8 test or math concepts you have not mastered in Advanced Math. You are expected to increase any Math 8 test scores to a B+ grade or higher. If you don't complete the 5ht Grade math Pretest then your grade for the 4th Quarter will be whatever grade you get in Advanced Math Tests and quizzes.

If you have at least a B+ Grade in Math 8 you will receive a B+ grade in Advanced Math even if your grade is an F provided you complete Advanced Math homework each day.

We will continue algebra this quarter. If you have completed the state test and you have an A grade or higher in Advanced Math you will work on geometry in Math 8. If you are working on geometry you have the option to increase your grade in the Advanced Math class for any quarter. For example from a B+ to an A-.

If you had an A- grade or higher for tests on Chapters 8 to 10 then the tests taken in the 4th quarter in Math 8 will be your grade for the 4th Quarter.

Listed below is a background information when it is possible to introduce high school algebra into the 8th Grade curriculum.

All the Math 8 Chapter should be taught consecutively until we get to Chapter 6 on slope. In fact, from Chapter 6 and on we can begin teaching these concepts at any time throughout the school year. I have laid also out when it makes sense to do work comparable to high school algebra and statistics in the below table.

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If the schedules do not change where advanced math students are not in the same two classes here is the plan to teach advanced math based on the above information. When the advanced math class meets in the first quarter we will immediately begin working on Chapter 6 through 10 in the Math 8 Book.

On Wednesdays students will be given time in their Math 8 and Advanced Math class to complete work. Here is how you should prioritize your time:

Any problems you missed on the 5th Grade Math Pretest you will study every day in Math 8 and Advanced Math until we start Chapter 1 in your Math 8 class. I estimate that you will have about a week (at least 9 hours) head start. Make good use of your time..
The moment you receive any grade below an A you will study the problems you missed, and make certain you understand why you missed them. You will retake the test within two weeks.