Dear Parents and Students s4

Pre - Algebra Mrs. Morales

Dear Parents and Students,

Success for every student is what I strive for at San Elijo Middle School. Please read the information below to help your student reach their best level of success.

Materials and Supplies  Textbook (keep at home unless directed otherwise)  3 ring binder (with a tab divider specifically for Pre-Algebra)  Several sharpened pencils and erasers (math work will be accepted in pencil only)  2 – pocket folder  Pens – blue, black and red (notes will be in pen)  Two 1-subject notebooks (1 per semester)  Lined paper and graph paper (may be used in place of lined paper for notes and homework)  Ruler  Agenda/Planner  Calculator (optional)

Binder: All students will keep a section in their binder for math work. Students will save chapter notes, classwork, and homework until the end of each unit. Completed chapter packets will be kept at school in a student portfolio. Do not throw away anything until instructed to do so.

Grades Academic (A, B, C, D, F)

Grading Scale Assignment Values A+ = 98.5% or greater C = 72.5% - 78.4% A = 92.5% - 98.4% C- = 70% - 72.4% Tests / A- = 90% - 92.4% D+ = 68.5% - 69.9% Quizzes = 75% B+ = 88.5% - 88.9% D = 62.5% - 68.4% B = 82.5% - 88.4% D- = 59.5% - 62.4% Homework / B- = 80% - 82.4% F = 59.9% or less Classwork = 25% C+ = 78.5% - 79.9%

San Marcos Unified School District 1600 Schoolhouse Way • San Marcos, CA • 92078 760.290.2800 x3253 Pre - Algebra Mrs. Morales Citizenship (Excellent, Satisfactory, Needs Improvement, Unsatisfactory)

In addition to the SEMS school rules, class guidelines are established to maintain a positive learning environment.

Be prepared to learn: Students are required to be in their seat with required materials, including homework, when the bell rings.

Be Respectful: Respect teacher, peers, and yourself at all times. Listen carefully to others and follow directions. Laughing at or distracting others is not acceptable.

Be Positive: Make good choices and try your best!

If classroom guidelines are not followed, negative consequences will result in the following sequence:

1. Verbal Warnings (up to 2)

2. Parent contact

3. Escort call and parent contact

4. Referral to Assistant Principal

5. Parent/Teacher/Student conference

For further description of Citizenship grade, please see 2011-2012 SEMS Parent Handbook page 26.

Homework This course requires that students spend an average of 30 minutes a night on homework. Homework and/or Classwork will be assigned daily Monday through Friday. Homework is due the following school day. Students will grade and correct homework the following day. It is imperative that students complete assignments on a daily basis to practice the skills from the lessons.

Homework Corrections – Students are strongly encouraged to correct all mistakes in class. Students must understand that they need to correct mistakes to gain mastery of skills. Homework grade is based on completion. If an earnest attempt (showed all work for all problems) was made to complete homework, students will receive full credit.

San Marcos Unified School District 1600 Schoolhouse Way • San Marcos, CA • 92078 760.290.2800 x3253 Pre - Algebra Mrs. Morales

Homework must:  be in pencil  show all work  include heading with assignment title, name, date and period  be legible

*Assignments without a name will be considered LATE once owner is found

Late Work is accepted and handled in the following manner: Homework is due the following day. Failure to turn in homework will result in a 0% for that assignment. Homework is accepted as LATE for a score of 75%. Late homework is accepted until the end of the unit, which is the day of the Benchmark Exam for that unit.

The following codes will be used for homework:

M – missing assignment or less than half of assignment completed L – assignment turned in after due date R – Revision; incomplete assignment, incomplete work shown, assignment not corrected RDO – too many mistakes, student should re-do to gain understanding

Absences Students are responsible to make-up all work from the days they were absent, including notes, tests, quizzes, and/or homework. They will have two days per day of absence to turn in any missed homework before it is counted as late. Students have the option of obtaining notes from Holt online (username: mprealgebra, password: eagles), Pre- Algebra Notes section on my web page, or a classmate. Students will make-up tests and quizzes within a week of their return.

Additional Help is available in the following ways: 1. Holt Online Tutorial Videos 2. Study Sessions after school 3. Recommended tutors (see counselors for list) 4. PRIDE

Course Overview

San Marcos Unified School District 1600 Schoolhouse Way • San Marcos, CA • 92078 760.290.2800 x3253 Pre - Algebra Mrs. Morales This Pre-Algebra course is specifically designed to prepare students for the study of Algebra by mastering Grade 7 Mathematics-California Content Standards. In order to advance to an Algebra level course students must show mastery of the standards with a grade of B or higher. San Marcos Unified District Pre-Algebra Benchmarks will be administered to assess student learning, and along with unit quizzes and lesson practice exercises, a majority evaluative factor to measure student progress and determine student placement. Students will be able to master the following:

Scope and Sequence

Unit Standards Lessons Properties,  Number Sense – 1.2, 2.5  Chapter 1-3, 1-4, 1-5, 1-6 Integers and  Algebra and Functions – 1.1, 1.2, 1.3  Chapter 1-1, 1-2, 3-1, 3-2 Statistics  Statistics, Data Analysis, and Probability  Chapter 11-1, 11-2, 11-3 – 1.1, 1.3 BENCHMARK 1 Rational  Number Sense – 1.2, 1.3, 1.5, 2.2  Chapter 2-1, 2-2, 2-3, 2-4, 2-5, 2-6 Numbers  Algebra and Functions – 4.0, 4.1  Chapter 1-7, 1-8, 1-9 BENCHMARK 2 Equations  Algebra and Functions – 1.1, 1.2, 1.3,  Chapter 2-7, 2-8, 3-1, 3-2 ,3-3, 3-4, 3-5, and 1.4, 1.5, 4.0, 4.1, 4.2 3-6, 3-7, 3-8 Inequalities

BENCHMARK 3 Percentage  Number Sense – 1.3, 1.6, 1.7  Chapter 6-1, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4, 6-5, 6-6, 6-7 and Money  Algebra and Functions – 4.2  Chapter 5-3

 Measurement and Geometry – 1.1, 1-3  Chapter 5-1, 5-2 BENCHMARK 4 Linear  Algebra and Functions – 1.5, 3.3, 3.4  Chapter 7-1, 7-2, 7-3, 7-6, 7-7, 7-8 Functions  Measurement and Geometry – 1.2  Chapter 5-4, 5-5, 5-6 ,5-7 and Quantitative  Statistics, Data Analysis, and Probability  Chapter 11-4 Relationship – 1.2 s

BENCHMARK 5

San Marcos Unified School District 1600 Schoolhouse Way • San Marcos, CA • 92078 760.290.2800 x3253 Pre - Algebra Mrs. Morales Exponents  Number Sense - 1.1, 1.4, 2.1, 2.4  Chapters 4-2, 4-3, 4-5, 4-6, 4-7, 4-8 and  Algebra and Functions – 2.1, 2.2, 3.1  Chapters 4-1, 4-4, 7-4, 7-5 Pythagorean Theorem  Measurement and Geometry – 3.3  Chapters 4-9, 8-4

BENCHMARK 6 Geometry  Measurement and Geometry – 1.1, 1.3,  Chapters 5-4, 5-5, 5-6, 8-1, 8-2, 8-4, 8-6, 2.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6 9-1, 9-2, 9-3, 9-4, 10-1, 10-2, 10-4

BENCHMARK 7

------Cut along dotted line and return to Mrs. Morales

My student and I have read the Pre-Algebra syllabus and understand the scope and sequence of this course, the grading methodology, and the materials needed to be successful. I am also aware that I can access information pertaining to this course on the San Elijo Middle School webpage by clicking the STAFF link and selecting Mrs. Morales.

______Parent Signature Student Signature

San Marcos Unified School District 1600 Schoolhouse Way • San Marcos, CA • 92078 760.290.2800 x3253