Math 8

5006 and 5006.2

Location: Online

5006 Time: M,T,Th @ 8:45 - 9:45

 

Please review the CWCS Master Class Syllabus that will be used in the Parent/Student Orientation course. 

Instructor: Susan Carlson

Email: scarlson@cwcharter.org

Office Hours: By appointment

 

Class Information:

 

• Semester 1 - First Class Meeting:  August 15

Last Day to Add or Drop is 9/2/22 (Students will be charged the full price of the course if dropping the class after this deadline.)

• Semester 2 - First Class Meeting: January 9       

Last Day to Add or Drop is 1/20/23 (Students will be charged the full price of the course if dropping the class after this deadline.)

 

CWCS’s Math 8 online course offers students the opportunity to study at home while employing technology as a learning tool, meeting with other students in a virtual classroom, and receiving live instruction from a teacher.

 

Course Overview:  This class meets three times per week online.  Completion of daily assignments is expected.  Math 8 is a rigorous course intended to prepare students for high school Algebra 1.   Each class period will focus on questions regarding the previous assignments, instruction of new topics, activities involving mathematical reasoning, assessments, problem solving, and investigations or group work.    

Curriculum:  Required curriculum may be available at the Learning Center on a first come basis.  If needed, ESes can order curriculum using the OPS catalog which will have the most up-to-date pricing. Students will need: Go Math Middle School Grade 8 Consumable Printed Student Edition (isbn: 9780544206984)

Materials: 

• Working external headset with mic (computer speakers do not work successfully with the Canvas setup). Plug-in headsets (rather than Bluetooth) work best with Jigsaw. After the third week of class and no headset, students may begin to lose participation points for the class. Class is much more engaging if all students can talk in class using their mics. 
• Binder Paper
• Quadrille paper (graph paper)
• 1" Binder
• Pencils & Erasers, Red pen or pencil
• Ruler
• Protractor

 

Requirements: 

• Class textbook/workbook and other supplies
• Gmail Account and ability to open/create word documents and pdfs (Adobe Acrobat Reader)
• Reliable Internet access
• Canvas Login link: https://cwcs.instructure.com/login/canvas 

 

CW Math Department Homepage

Grading:  Students will be graded on attendance (being present in class on time!), class work and participation, exit tickets, daily homework assignments, module assessments, a midterm and final exam, and projects.  Late work is subject to a 20% penalty and each module’s work will not be accepted after the module test.  No assignments will be accepted after the final exam date.

Overall course grade:

25% Attendance/Participation/Class Work

25% Daily Homework 

25% Tests, Quizzes, & Projects

25% Midterm and Final Exam

 

Grading Scale:  

90% and above A

80%-89% B

70%-79% C

60%-69% D

below 60% F

 

Attendance: Attendance is required.  The Truancy Policy applies to Canvas courses. An unexcused absence may be counted as a truancy.

• Excused Absence is defined as:
  The parent shall notify the teacher by email of the absence at least 24 hours* prior to the time the class meets.
• Unexcused Absence is defined as:
  An absence that does not accompany a parent email to the instructor at least 24 hours* prior to the time the class meets.

*If there are extenuating circumstances that do not allow for at least 24 hours, then the teacher must still be notified prior to the start of class; allowances may be made depending on the circumstances. Examples of extenuating circumstances: car accident, sudden illness, etc. Students should arrange a "back up plan" in case of unexpected computer problems the day of the class (i.e. make pre-arrangements to go to a neighbor, friend, relative, library, etc.)  

When students are absent (or arrive too late to class to mark their attendance in Canvas), they must listen to the class recording and submit their well-taken notes to the instructor (via email) demonstrating that they listened and participated throughout the entire recording of the class.  Notes should not just be a list of answers but clearly show steps needed to complete each problem.  Each problem discussed should be clearly identified in the notes and have a heading on the paper stating the date of the absence and the topic being discussed (ie. Module 2.3).  Because the Exit Ticket is taken from problems discussed during class, if the notes show the steps and correct answer for the Exit Ticket, students will receive both attendance credit and exit ticket credit (if their notes show the exit ticket problem).

Absent/Late Work: Math Department classes will not accept late work after the close date of the assignment.  All module assignments must be completed by the day of the module test.  Due dates are indicated in Canvas (including some days that class does not meet--students should be spending time doing math daily); the due date listed in my.hrw includes the grace period.  Assignments will not be re-opened in my.hrw after the grace period.  If a student completes work after the due date listed in Canvas, the assignment is subject to a 20% penalty.  Pre-tests (practice tests / study guides) and Post-tests (actual tests) will remain open for one week following the due date for students wishing to study further to increase their scores (pre-tests receive the highest score achieved out of 5 tries; post-tests receive an averaged score from 3 possible attempts); exception: for module tests less than one week before the midterm or final, all work will be due by the day of the midterm or final; and final exam study guide and final exam will close on the day of the final exam each semester.  There is ONE attempt for the mid-term and for the final.  No late work will be accepted after the midterm (for beginning of the semester) or final exam dates.

Re-Do/Extra Credit:  Daily assignments given through my.hrw can not be redone.  Instead, students are offered a “check” button in my.hrw to check their work and they have the opportunity to re-do WHILE they are completing an assignment.  Students are strongly encouraged to check all work and seek help (from a tutor, through the step-by-step instructions in my.hrw, through the instructional videos available in my.hrw, or other means) to make sure they are doing their daily work correctly.  Students have 5 tries on module pre-tests to help them familiarize themselves with the requirements of each module test and provide opportunity for them to practice concepts.  The best of 5 scores will be added to the gradebook in Canvas.  Students are given 3 re-take opportunities for module assessments but ALL test scores will be averaged.  This means, while they may have an opportunity to improve a score if they have a bad day or just forget how to do something, low test scores will still be reflected in the test total average.  Students should take advantage of the extra tries in pre-tests before taking the module test to avoid low post-test scores.

Extra credit opportunities may occasionally be attached to a test or other assignment but, as a general rule, will not be provided.  Students should not expect that they can get alternate assignments to make up points for work that should have been completed on a regular basis but is now past the deadline for turning in, or that they could have earned had they put more effort into studying for tests.  

Daily Homework:  Most homework will be completed using the online textbook at my.hrw.com.  Some will be completed in Quizlet and need to be uploaded into Canvas by the student.  Some assignments will be completed directly in Canvas.  Some may be completed on paper and need to be submitted in Canvas through a pdf or powerpoint. 

Tests, Quizzes, and Projects:  While there could be some variation, most tests will be given through my.hrw; some will be completed during class time, others will need to be completed “as homework” before the due date listed in Canvas.  Students who do not complete these during class time or when otherwise assigned will be subject to a 20% reduction in their score for that assignment.  Tests can not be made up after a one-week grace period.  There is no grace period and no retakes for midterms and finals; they must be completed by the due date.  

Due dates will be posted in Canvas (NOT my.hrw).

Dates observed in my.hrw include the grace period but are NOT the actual due date.  Anything submitted in my.hrw after the due date posted in Canvas is LATE and subject to the late penalty.  

Final Exam & Projects:   The midterm and final exam will determine 25% of the overall grade.  Each will cover the material studied for ½ the semester.

Additional Resources:  Connecting Waters offers FREE drop-in tutoring.  A link to this information is on the class homepage.  There are YouTube videos available that cover portions of our math textbook.  Khan Academy also offers instruction on similar ideas.  On the Spot videos in the my.hrw online textbook and resources provide alternate instruction.  For most daily work, there are step-by-step instructions given in my.hrw and often videos of similar problems as well.  If students find they are still struggling, please speak with your ES about getting help from a tutor.  Seek help early; don’t wait until you’re drowning!