Riverside Meadows

Pre-Algbera Course Syllabus

2010-2011

Teacher: Tom Almond

E-mail: talmond@plusd.org

Course Overview:

By the end of grade seven, students are adept at manipulating numbers and equations and understand the general principles at work. Students understand and use factoring of numerators and denominators and properties of exponents. They know the Pythagorean theorem and solve problems in which they compute the length of an unknown side. Students know how to compute the surface area and volume of basic three-dimensional objects and understand how area and volume change with a change in scale. Students make conversions between different units of measurement. They know and use different representations of fractional numbers (fractions, decimals, and percents) and are proficient at changing from one to another. They increase their facility with ratio and proportion, compute percents of increase and decrease, and compute simple and compound interest. They graph linear functions and understand the idea of slope and its relation to ratio.

Textbook and Materials:

The following is a list of supplies each student needs to have:

• A three ring binder with dividers. This is a must as students will have their binders checked periodically. During the first week of class I will show the students how their binder needs to be arranged. AVID students may use their AVID binder.
• A compass
• A protractor
• Graph paper
• Lined paper
• Expo markers
• Pencil (homework will not be accepted if done in pen)

Grading Policy:

Students will be graded on the following criteria.

• 60% of a student's grade will be based on tests/quizzes
• 40% of a student's grade will be based on homework

Homework will typically be worth twenty points per assignment, broken down as follows:

• 5 points for the daily warm-up
• 5 points for notes
• 5 points for completed homework. Must either show work or explain in complete sentences how you got each answer.
• 5 points for a daily reflection

Late work Policy:

Late work will be accepted for only one day and the student will only receive ½ credit for the assignment. After one day late it is the policy of the math department to not accept the work. It is our intent to be firm and consistent on this policy as we are preparing our students for high school and trying to teach them responsibility.

Thank you. I am looking forward to a wonderful year.

I have read and understand the course syllabus for Algebra 1.

Parent/Guardian________________________________________

Student______________________________________________

Dear Parents,

I would like to welcome you and your students to my 7^th and 8^th  grade classroom. I expect it to be a wonderful year full of educational experiences, large and small group projects, and a working environment that is hands-on and memorable. Due to budget cuts and different allocation of funds, I am asking for your support in providing materials to make this a productive year full of experiences. All items are needed but the most important item would be the Dry Erase Markers. We like to use whiteboards in the class, but the students run through these very quickly, making a large supply of Dry Erase Markers essential.

Materials that are needed are:

Ø      Pencils                                                Folders

Ø      Colored pencils                                    Glue sticks

Ø      Markers                                             Highlighters                            

Ø      White paper                                                Erasers

Ø      Lined paper

Ø      Graph paper                                       Dry erase markers

Ø      Construction paper                                      

 (Please check one)

o       I have read this letter, and our family will be able to contribute_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

o       I have read this letter, but we are unable to contribute any supplies at this time

Please sign this note and have your student return it to Mr. Almond.  Students who return this with a parent signature will receive 20 points of extra credit (roughly equal to one assignment). 

Thank you for your time,

Mr. Almond 

___________________________             _______________________

     Student Signature                                            Parent Signature