8th Grade Algebra

Course of Study: The high math group in the 8th grade takes a full-year high school Algebra One course. It is the goal for the year that students will successfully test out of Algebra One at the high school which they will attend next year. Each high school gives a math placement test in the spring (usually in April) which will determine the student's level of entry for their high school's math program. St. Joe is proud to have a very strong success rate on the high school math placement test.

Grading for each trimester will be approximately 60% tests and quizzes and 40% homework and classwork. My goal is to factor in the homework/classwork grade several times during the course of the trimester. At the end of each trimester, it should be very close to 40% of the trimester grade.

IXL Program: St. Joe School has added to its math program the website IXL which allows students to work on specific math skills for their grade level. Students will be assigned specific skills to practice from time to time during the year with the goal to shoot for mastery in each particular skill. The program adapts the questions to each individual student as they progress through their practice. Wrong answers are explained in detail before the student moves on to the next question in that particular skill.