Mrs. Enstrom – 6^th grade Accelerated Math – Period 1

Back to School Night

Book:  Our book for math is McDougal Littell Course 2.  This is the7^th grade book.  Your child is skipping the 6^th grade curriculum.  It is the hope that your child will take Algebra 1 next year.  Students must maintain a “C” average to stay in this class.                                                                                       

Math Classroom Notebook:  Every student needs to have a spiral notebook with wide ruled paper.  It will be used for class notes, math vocabulary and examples of how to show work properly.  The information they enter in their notebook becomes a valuable resource for you and your child. Students should have all their supplies (see list that went home on the 1^st day of school) with them every day.

Homework:  Math will be assigned nightly and is due the following day at the beginning of the period.  The assignments are written in their binder reminders, which should be signed by you each night.  I will post the homework on www.teacherweb.com each night.   When doing calculations, students must always show their work so I can see how they derived their answers.  All math assignments must be done in pencil.  Students will not receive credit for work done in ink or answers without work.  Students are responsible for checking their own work and asking questions when homework is corrected in class.  

Grades:  Grades are based on the following scale:

100% = A+                            77%-79% = C+

94%-99% = A                       73%-76% = C

90%-93% = A-                      70%-72% = C-

87%-89% = B+                     67%-69% = D+

83%-86% = B                       63%-66% = D

80%-82% = B-                      60%-62% = D-

  0%-59% = F

The categories are weighted as follows: tests/quizzes-60%; assignments-35%; and participation-5%.  Cheating results in an automatic “F” and further discipline.  This includes “helping” your neighbor by giving out answers on tests and quizzes, as well as allowing others to copy your work. 

Progress reports will be emailed home on a weekly basis.

Absences:  Students must make up work missed while absent.  It is the responsibility of the student to obtain the missed assignments from me or from www.teacherweb.com. When students are absent from class they will have two days after they return to turn in their missed work or by the chapter test date.  Please schedule vacations during non-school days since it is hard for kids to make up work and do current work.

Missing and/or Incomplete Assignments/Homework:  If an assignment is missing or incomplete at the beginning of the period, your child will need to turn in a piece of binder paper with complete heading explaining why the assignment is not complete. DURING THE 1^ST MONTH OF SCHOOL, your child will be able to make up missing assignments and turn them in the following day. After the 1^st month, late assignments will not be accepted and their grade will be a “0”.  Assignments will also be considered missing if the work is not shown, corrections are not made, it is done in ink or if I can’t read the paper.

Student Behavior:  Positive conduct is important.  Such conduct includes a respectful and cooperative attitude, willingness to work and class participation.  At the beginning of each quarter all students will receive 5 “Enstrom points”.  This system rewards positive behavior on the part of students who enter the classroom prepared to learn and are willing to put forth their best effort.  However, these Enstrom points may be lost as consequences for inappropriate behavior.  This includes, but is not limited to the following:

·      Chewing gum in class

·      Tardiness

·      Being disruptive and/or infringing upon another student’s ability to learn

·      Being disrespectful towards me, a substitute teacher or fellow classmates

How to Contact Me:  If you have any question about your child’s progress or about this class, please email me at senstrom@cv.k12.ca.us. 

Here is our goal:  Your children are very capable.  They need to learn how to show work in the language of mathematics and to clearly show each step in problem solving. 

Other math classes besides Pre-calculus that are offered after completing Algebra 2 or Algebra 2 Advanced include Advanced Topics in Math, Probability and Statistics or AP Statistics.  Calculus is available for students who successfully complete Pre-Calculus.  In addition to Calculus, there are two Advanced Placement Calculus courses offered: AP Calculus AB and AP Calculus BC.  All advanced placement courses have an application process that the student must complete.  Each math class has its own set of prerequisites.

There is a minimum requirement of two years of math for graduation from high school, and a requirement of 3 years of math for acceptance to a 4-year university. Students have to take two years of math while actually at the high school in order to graduate from high school. The math taken in middle school does not earn them the credit they need for graduating from high school. In order to qualify to go to a 4-year university right out of high school (rather than a community college), a student must successfully complete Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra 2 (or Algebra 2 Advanced).  It is ok if they complete one or more of those courses in middle school, but they still have to take two years of math in high school to earn the credit they need to graduate.

If at any point on this path they are unsuccessful, they will have to repeat that course in order to move on.

If your child is placed in math 7 next year and successfully completes each course:

General 7^th – 7^th grade

Algebra 1 - 8^th grade

Geometry – 9^th grade

Algebra 2 or Algebra 2 Adv. – 10^th grade

Pre-calculus, Probability and Statistics, or AP Statistics– 11^th grade

Calculus, AP Calculus AB, or any of the 11^th grade courses – 12^th grade

Please be aware that if your child takes Algebra 1 as a 7^th grader and needs to repeat it as an 8^th grader, both Algebra 1 grades will appear on their high school transcripts.

I look forward to a successful year with your child.

Suzanne Enstrom