Parents,
I am very excited about having your student in Pre-Algebra, Algebra, or
Geometry class this year. I have great expectations for the days ahead and
hope your child will leave 8th grade confident in his or her ability to do
mathematics.
I welcome your questions, comments, and concerns throughout the year
and look forward to working with you and your student. Please feel free to
contact me at school at (843) 873-3610. I may also be reached by e-mail at
at jdiamond@dorchester2.k12.sc.us. Be sure to check this site and the 8th
grade assessment calendar to keep up with class news and daily assignments.
You may also access the school's website through this site.
***Most of the students placed in Algebra or Geometry class are very
successful. However, from time to time, some students find thses courses
overwhelming. I will be watching all students closely during the first few
weeks of school to be sure each has been appropriately placed in his or her
course. If I have any concerns about your student's success and well-being
in the class, I will notify you so we can discuss the situation. However,
if you or your student have concerns at any time, please contact me so we
can help your student be successful in this or another math class this
year.***
Pre-Algebra, Algebra and Geometry Won...
Because mathematics is a lifeskill, I believe students learn Algebra and
Geometry best by doing Algebra and Geometry, both in class and at home. For
this reason, your child will have many opportunities for practice. Some
will include:
Homework: The completion of HW is essential to your child's success
in this class. He or she will have some sort of math HW daily. I
generally do not allow time for this work to be completed during
class. You can always check to see what was assigned by looking on our
class webpage.
Warm-Ups: Each week we will review standards from prior math classes
in preparation for this Spring's PACT Testing. This review will be in
the form of warm-ups completed at the beginning of class each day.
Students will take the state's PASS Tests in May.
Tests: Tests will be given at the end of each unit. Before most
tests, students will have a day in class to review test material. Our
textbooks have excellent study guides and sample tests at the end of
each chapter! Completed tests will be sent home after they have been
graded and reviewed in class. Most tests will be cumulative!
Classwork: Other work, such as PACT-Review Problems, small group
activities, puzzles, projects, daily work, etc. will be completed in
order to reinforce chapter material.
Quizzes: Quizzes will be given once or twice each week to review
basic skills and reinforce material we are studying.
The GRADE DISTRIBUTION for each quarter's average is:
Homework = 15% Tests = 30% Quizzes = 20%
Classwork = 15% Warm-Ups = 20%
Students should keep a list of grades in their math notebooks. You can also
access your student's scores using InTouch. Passwords and other information
about accessing data from this site will be sent home soon. Please note that
I make these grades available for you for information purposes only. When
viewing your student's average, take into account the fact that a grade or
two is dropped at the end of each period. Students are also allowed to make
corrections to a few assignments each quarter. These are mainly warm-ups
and classwork. Students are seldom allowed to correct tests and quizzes for
additional points, since these are more formal assesments. Please note that
when they do so, I regrade them and update InTouch with their corrected
scores as soon as I can. While I strive to return graded papers in a timely
manner, grading papers have been corrected (in effect, grading them a second
time around) is done as time allows. This sometimes may not occur until the
end of a quarter.
Special Note...
Pre-Algebra students will take cumulative tests at the end of each quarter.
These will count as test grades.
Because Algebra and Geometry are courses taken for high school credit,
cumulative exams will be administered at the end of each grading period.
Exams for Algebra Students...
At the end of the 1st and 3rd quarters, students will take Quarter
Tests. At the end of the 2nd quarter, a Semester Exam will be given that
will account for 20% of the 1st Semester average. At the end of the year,
students will take the State End-of-Course Test. The results of this
assessment will count as 20% of their final grade.
Exams for Geometry Students...
Geometry students will take a Semester Exam at the end of the 2nd quarter.
This exam grade will count as 20% of the First Semester average. They will
also take a Final Exam that will account for 20% of their entire course
grade.
What to do if you just don't get it...
I want each student to understand what we are studying in class!!!
Students are encouraged to see me if they need extra help or to complete
make-up work. Extra help sessions occur at 7:45 on Thursday mornings.
Students are also encouraged to take advantage of the many opportunities I
offer to correct and redo items such as warm-ups and classwork for improved
grades.
If students have been absent...
Students...When you are absent, you need to pick up your make-up work from
me on the day of return. YOU are are expected to complete and return it in
a timely manner. This is YOUR responsibility!!! I also expect you to come
see me if you need extra help or do not understand the material you missed.
For more information about our school's make-up policy, please see the
school handbook.
Parents and Students--
Please print out this slip, sign it, and return it to me, acknowledging that
you have read the information contained on our class website. Most
specifically, I am concerned that you are aware...
*of the class procedure for handling make-up work.
*that I allow some classword and warm-ups to be corrected for better
grades. These are always listed on InTouch.
*that I am available for extra help.
*that students in the Algebra and Geometry classes will take Semester
and Final Exams which will account for substantial portions of their
final average.
*that students must pass a math class in 8th grade in order to go on
to ninth grade. (If a student fails this class, he or she will have
to attend and pass a math course in Summer School at one of the high
schools in order to advance to the next level. These classes must
be paid for!)
Again, I encourage you to monitor weekly assignments using this webpage and
hope that you will feel free to write, telephone, or e-mail me at any time.
I look forward to a wonderful school year and am glad to have your child in
my class!
Sincerely, Mrs. Diamond
Parent Signature: _________________________________________________
Student Signature: ________________________________________________
Date: _________________________ Comments:
