Century Middle School

Course Syllabus

2009-2010

 

 

Course Title:  Math 7	Instructor Name:        Paul Kaiser
	paul.m.kaiser@adams12.org
	http://www.century.adams12.org/kaiser.htm 720-972-3278
	Mr. Kaiser is available by appointment in room D208

 

 

Books Covered (approximate time required)	Contents in Brief
Bits and Pieces III (5 weeks)	Understanding decimals, percentages, and their relationships
Variables and Patterns (6 weeks)	Understanding and skill with addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of decimals, solving percent problems
Stretching & Shrinking (5 weeks)	Similarity:  similar figures; scale factors; side length ratios; basic similarity transformations and their algebraic rules
What Do You Expect? (Inv. 1 and 2 only) (2 weeks)	Probability and expected value:  Expected value, probabilities of two-stage outcomes.
Comparing & Scaling (4 weeks)	Ratio, Proportion, and Percent:  rates and ratios; making comparisons; proportional reasoning; solving proportions
Covering and Surrounding (2 weeks)	If time allows -  Investigation 5 only: Review perimeter and area of triangles and parallelograms)
Accentuate the Negative (5 weeks)	Understanding and modeling positive and negative integers and rational numbers; operations; order of operations; distributive property; four-quadrant graphing
Data Distributions (3 weeks)	Measures of center, variability in data, comparing distributions of equal and unequal sizes

 

 

Grading Scale
A	90-100
B	80-89
C	70-79
D	60-69
F	59 or below

Grade Percentages/Weights
Homework	25
Assessments	75

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Student Expectations

 

Absence Policy:  You are expected to make up any work missed because of any absence.  You are not entitled to earn credit for work missed during unauthorized absences.  You will have the number of days absent plus one additional day to make up any missed work for authorized absences.

 

Tardy Policy:      Tardies will be recorded on the daily attendance report (SASI). Detentions and citizenship notices will be utilized if students are habitually tardy.

 

Late Work Policy:   Students will be given 4 Homework passes to use in the core (life happens). These will give 24 hour extensions at the discretion of the teacher. Some long term projects may not qualify for passes. ZAP forms (see attached) have been developed and will be used when a student does not hand in an assignment on time. It has a reflective piece that will help the teacher understand why the student is failing to hand in the work. The form has a solution section that allows the student to select a teacher directed solution or student directed solution which both require approval of the teacher. Solutions suggested are homework pass use, before school assistance or another solution that allows for peer solutions etc. In general unless a pass is used a student will receive 80% on late work completed within a one week window of the due date. Flexibility for individual student needs is always used.

 

Plagiarism/Cheating Policy:  Plagiarism means to present, as one’s own, the work, writing, words, ideas, or computer information of someone else.  (Sources could be published or unpublished.)  Cheating is supplying, receiving or using devices. (Examples: looking at or using someone else’s work, using crib notes/stolen notes, or using disallowed equipment, etc.)

 

Consequences for plagiarism and cheating are as follows:

Matrix for Plagiarism/Cheating (covers all classes, lasts all year)

• 1st – 0 on the assignment, teacher calls home and referral
• 2nd – 0 on the assignment, 1 day suspension, parent/teacher conference, referral
• 3rd – 0 on the assignment, 2 days suspension
• 4th – 0 on the assignment, referral to District Discipline Hearing

 

 

General Guidelines:

 

 

• Assessment and grading standards are applied consistently to students of similarly demonstrated ability.
• Assessments are based solely on demonstrated student progress and achievement of reasonable and clear standards.
• Students who participate in group projects will receive a grade for work as an individual as well as a group performance grade.
• Students need to bring a pencil, math book, and agenda to class every day.  Students work in groups of four, so if a student is ever absent, there are three people who should be able to catch that student up.  Homework is given approximately four nights a week and should take about an hour to complete.

 

 

 

In order to receive feedback from me, it is vital for you to complete all assignments.  If you experience problems with assignments, please see me individually.