Mrs



2012 - 2013 Syllabus

7th Grade – Course 2

Mathematics

Ms. Isabel Lera

❖ Course Description:

The following topics will be covered throughout the year:

o Number Sense and Algebraic Thinking

o Fractions

o Operations with Fractions and Mixed Numbers

o Decimals

o Ratios and Proportions

o Percents

o Integers

o Algebraic Problem Solving

- Expressions and Equations

- Inequalities

- Graphing

o Area and Perimeter

o Measures of Central Tendency

o Volume and Surface Area

Additionally, as part of this course the students will receive instruction on

o Test taking best practices

o Analytical and organizational skills, including high quality presentation work

o Objective reasoning

o Technological skills through the use of computers

The students will also receive instruction using the analytical process and interpretation of word problems through vocabulary growth, critical reading, and technical writing.

❖ Carnegie Learning’s Cognitive Tutor:

o Carnegie Learning’s Cognitive Tutor is a fundamental part of this 7th grade Math course. It is an online based practice program designed to provide the student with differentiated independent practice, and that automatically accommodates to the student’s particular weaknesses and provides targeted practice. The Cognitive Tutor project is not an optional practice. There will be weekly graded deadlines.

o The students will have in-class computer time to work on their Cognitive Tutor project. However, this time will not be enough to meet the weekly deadline. It is the students’ responsibility to work on their project at home, and make previsions for personal matters that may interfere with the timely completion of their assignment.

o Additionally, the use of classroom computers is a privilege. Any student who mishandles or misuses the computer equipment may lose this privilege altogether.

o The weekly deadline will always be Sunday 8:00 PM. This deadline was chosen to give the student sufficient time to complete their Cognitive Tutor Project deadline. Given the extensive amount of time provided for the completion of the Cognitive Tutor deadline, the grade earned is final.

o The only technical support the teacher can provide is to re-start an unresponsive problem. For any other technical help, such as program not loading or not having the correct version of JAVA®, the students are responsible to contact Carnegie’s tech Support personnel.

o The only grades a student may receive are A for a completed deadline or F for an incomplete or missed deadline. Partial credit will not be awarded for partially completed deadlines. This is an administrative guideline and cannot be changed.

❖ Grading:

|GRADE |NUMERICAL |VERBAL INTERPRETATION |

| |VALUE | |

|A = |100% - 90% |Outstanding progress |

|B =   |89% - 80% |Above average progress |

|C =   |79% - 70% |Average progress |

|D =   |69% - 60% |Lowest acceptable progress |

|F =   |59% - 0% |Failure |

|I = |0 |Incomplete |

❖ Criteria for credit:  

Class Work

o The textbook will be used daily and the pages pertaining to the topic to be discussed must always be brought to class in the class binder.

o All materials must be brought to class daily. Sharing of materials is highly discouraged (and shall be penalized during assessments).

o Lost worksheets or study packets will not be replaced. All previsions will be made to have handed material available through the school’s website, , but no guarantees can be made.

o Class work will be given daily. Failure to bring in textbook and/or class materials may result in a grade of zero.

Homework

o Homework is assigned daily, and it is due by next class, unless otherwise specified.

o Homework will not be posted on the school’s website, but will be assigned during class.

o Extraordinary assignments will be posted on the school’s website.

o Homework grading is based on completion, unless stated otherwise.  All work must be shown, and all instructions must be followed through to receive full credit. There are no exceptions. In general, showing only answers will not be accepted as a valid homework completion.

o Homework completion is of utmost importance to succeed in this course. Late assignments will not be graded, unless it is make-up work. Make-up work will not be accepted after the material has been tested.

o All work must be done in pencil. Homework turned in ink will not be accepted. All work must be legible, and must be clearly marked with the student’s name, date, period, and assignment title. Papers lacking a name will not receive credit.

Tests and Quizzes

o Testing dates, as well as any testing support material, may be posted on the school’s website.

o Tests and Quizzes must be completed following all instructions to receive full credit. All work must be shown, including complete sentences when required.

o Any student absent on a test day must have an excused absence or will automatically receive a zero for that test’s grade.

o Make-up tests will be administered upon the student’s return to class, either during class or before or after school, depending on the circumstances. It is the student’s responsibility to request any test, or make-up work, upon re-joining the class.

o Tests must be completed in pencil. Any test completed in ink will have 10 points deducted from the final grade.

o The use of a cell phone, an MP3 player, or any other personal electronic device with a calculator application during a test will result in the automatic invalidation of the test, and an automatic grade of zero.

o Materials will not be provided during any test. All students are responsible to bring their own materials. Sharing of materials during a test will be penalized with a 10 point deduction, or automatic invalidation of test, at my discretion, and depending on severity and frequency of infraction.

Quarterly Exams

o Timely completion of Cognitive Tutor deadlines will result in 5 bonus points on the Cumulative End of Quarter (Nine Weeks) Exams.

o To receive the bonus points the student must complete the assigned deadlines before the exam day.

Extra Credit

o Extra credit will not be assigned on an individual basis and when assigned must be fully competed to be eligible for grading. Incomplete assignments will not be graded.

❖ Academic Dishonesty:

Students are expected to be honest and ethical in all their academic work.  Academic dishonesty is defined as an intentional act of deception in one of the following areas:

o Cheating – use or attempted use of unauthorized materials, information or study aids

o Fabrication – falsification or invention of any information

o Assisting -  helping another commit an act of academic dishonesty

o Tampering – altering or interfering with evaluation instruments and documents

o Plagiarism – representing the words or ideas of another person as one’s own.

Academic dishonesty will immediately result in a grade of zero.

❖ Attendance:

o Due to our block schedule, an absence to a class is equivalent to two absences.

o An absent student is responsible to obtain the information/topic covered during their absence.

o An absent student will be held responsible for getting all make-up work. Being absent from class may hinder a student’s academic progress. If possible, don’t miss class at all.

o Students missing class for extra curricular activities are not exempt from assigned work deadlines. An absent student participating on an extra curricular activity is responsible for any assigned material, and must request make-up work/test upon returning to class.

o As stated in the Parent Handbook: “Teachers are required to provide students with make-up assignments once the absence has been excused; however, it is the responsibility of the student to request the assignments from the teacher(s).”

o It is the student’s responsibility to inform the teacher when the absence has been excused.

❖ Tardy:

In an effort to maintain to a minimum the disruptions to class time because of tardy students, the administration has set the following rules:

o Students tardy to their first block, or caught on a Tardy Hall Sweep during the day, will not be allowed into the classroom, will receive an unexcused absence for that period, and will not be allowed to make up the day’s work.

o Students tardy to a class without a MDCPS official hall pass may receive a detention, at the teacher’s discretion.

o In the event that a student is tardy to a class without a MDCPS official hall pass on a test day, the student will not be given extra time to complete the test.

❖ Classroom Rules, Procedures and Expectations:

1. Come to class prepared with all necessary materials, and assigned homework to hand in upon entering the classroom.

2. Be seated and ready to work when the late bell rings.

3. Comply with instructions and/or orders the first time you are told.

4. Be respectful and courteous towards all your teachers, all your peers, and all school personnel. This includes respect towards school’s and peers’ property.

5. Participate in class discussions and activities in a constructive and positive manner.

6. There will be no eating, drinking from cans, or gum chewing in class. Water bottles with a cap are permitted, except on the computer areas.

7. Profanity, in any language, will not be tolerated.

8. Personal electronics will be confiscated on sight and sent to administration. No exceptions.

❖ Behavioral Consequences (not necessarily in this order):

1. Verbal Warning

2. Confiscation of item(s)

3. Conference with teacher

4. Phone call/letter home

5. Detention/Saturday School

6. Parent, teacher, and student conference

7. Referral to Principal

❖ Required Materials:

1. 1-inch binder – This binder may not be shared with any other class.

2. 6 Dividers Labeled: Text, Vocabulary, Skills Practice, Assignments, Selected Answers, and Carnegie.

3. Lined Paper

4. 5 Clear Sheet Protectors

5. One pack of thin Expo Brand Dry-Erase Markers

6. A four function calculator (Scientific Calculators will NOT be allowed)

7. 6 inch ruler

8. #2 pencils or mechanical pencils with extra lead

9. Red pens for reviewing assignments

10. $5.00 Materials Fee (cash only)

❖ Wish List

1. Copy Paper

2. #2 Pencils or Lead Pencils with Extra Lead

3. Expo Markers – Thin and Broad Point

4. Tissue paper

5. Paper Towel

6. Antibacterial / Hand Sanitizer – Purell Brand Preferred

If you wish to donate any of these items to my classroom, please provide a receipt (or a copy of it), so that I may submit it to the office. All items donated, will receive volunteer hours. I thank you in advance for your cooperation.

❖ Note to parents:

It is my goal that all my students are successful in their math course. I will assist all students in any way I can. However, I alone cannot ensure your child’s success. It is of utmost importance that your child attends school, completes homework daily, and turns in all assigned work in a timely manner.

I urge you to emphasize to them that, ultimately, the responsibility for their learning befalls upon them. The combination of all these aspects will determine your child’s success. Your cooperation in this matter is greatly appreciated.

If you need to contact me, I can be reached by phone at (305) 591 - 0020 or at my e-mail, isabel_lera@ (this is always the best way to reach me).

STUDENT NAME: _____________________ STUDENT ID NUMBER: ______________ PERIOD: ____

Parental and Student Agreement

I have read the syllabus for Ms. Lera’s 7th grade Math Class and understand the extent, requirements, and expectations for this course. I understand that this syllabus will be available at Doral Academy Prep’s website throughout the school year for reference purposes.

|Student name (print)________________________ |Parent name (print) _________________________ |

| | |

|Student signature___________________________ |Parent signature ___________________________ |

| | |

|Period: _____ |Date: ____________________________________ |

Note: failure to return this signature portion does not excuse the student from complying with any of the course requirements and expectations included on the syllabus.

Parent Emergency Contact Information

| | |

|Mother’s name:____________________________ |Father’s name:____________________________ |

| | |

|Address: _________________________________ |Address: _________________________________ |

| | |

|Home phone #: (_____) ________-_________ |Home phone #: (_____) ________-__________ |

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|Job phone #: (_____) ________-_________ |Job phone #: (_____) ________-__________ |

| | |

|Cell phone #: (_____) ________-_________ |Cell phone #: (_____) ________-__________ |

| | |

|E-mail : __________________________________ |E-mail : __________________________________ |

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Permanent Parent/Student Information Form

Please list any medical condition(s) I need to be aware of: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

o Grading Guidelines:

|Tests |35% |

|Quizzes  |25% |

|Projects              |20% |

|Class work/Homework |15% |

|Attendance/Participation | 5% |

Place this syllabus permanently in your class binder. This syllabus will be available in its entirety through the school’s website:

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