MATH REQUIREMENTS

Grade 6

Mrs. Brodeur Believes: (Please note the spelling of BRODEUR)

• Math is not a spectator sport!

• Practice makes perfect!

• If at first you don’t succeed--try, try, again!

• If you have a question, just ask!

• Organization is important!

Daily Class Rules:

• You are required to bring 2 sharpened pencils, your homework, and your notebook to every class.  If you need to sharpen a pencil, please do so at the beginning of class.

• You are expected to arrive on time.

• When you arrive, take out your math homework and get your math journal, then get started on the journal examples.

• No one will be allowed to leave class to go to the bathroom, unless it is an emergency, so plan ahead.

• Practice common courtesy

Absences:

• If you are going to miss class for a school related event (i.e. band) you must see me and turn in your homework before missing class. You are also responsible for the journal information and any class materials missed during that time.  You can check with a classmate or see me for extra help.

• If you had an excused absence, please see me on the day you return to school.  At that time we will determine what work must be made up and set up a schedule for its completion. 

Math Journal: 

• You will need a composition style notebook for your journal.

• This journal will be used for daily review examples and/or questions, as well as reflections of your work.

• The daily review items will be posted in class.  You will be given approximately 5 minutes at the beginning of class to write down the examples and to solve them in your journal.  All work must be shown in the journal.

• The reflections on your work will involve answering a few questions about your work.  The format will be given in class.

Math Notebook:

• You are required to keep an organized notebook-all papers should have a date and the name of the assignment.

• You will need a section for your homework and class work.

• You will need another section for your tests and quizzes.

• In your notebook you should also keep a ruler, erasers, extra pencils/lead, and a calculator.

• Notebooks will be checked randomly to assure that they are always organized.

Tests:

• Tests will be given at the end of each unit and at various times to check basic mathematics skills. 

• Retaking tests will be at the discretion of the teacher, and will only occur under extenuating circumstances and after the student has completed additional work to relearn the materials.  The grade on the retake will not exceed a 75.  The original test grade will be used in calculating your average when determining your eligibility for Pre-Algebra.

Quizzes:

• Quizzes will be given at the midpoint of a long unit. They will provide you with the opportunity to solidify the materials already learned.

• Projects will have check points prior to the final due date.  Materials due at those dates will be corrected and will receive a quiz grade.

Homework:

• You will be given homework on a daily basis. It will include practicing new materials as well as reviewing previously covered materials.

• If it is determined that you are having difficulty with basic math facts, those items will also be part of your homework.  For example, if you are having trouble with fractions because you do not know your multiplication tables by heart, then you will be expected to practice the tables. 

• The amount of time spent on homework will vary for each student, depending on your abilities to perform mental math, the amount of distractions, and the amount you focus on the materials.

• Calculators should not be used on homework unless it is specifically stated on the assignment sheet.  This will provide you with practice, so that your mental math abilities will improve. 

• Homework will be graded in a variety of ways.  Most of it will be collected and graded, some will be reviewed in class, some will be checked through pop quizzes, and some will be checked orally through teacher directed questions.  The grading will vary depending on the assignment given.

Extra help:

• Extra help is available Tuesday and Wednesday mornings from 7:45 until 8:15.

• To guarantee that I am available on a given morning, students must check with me the day before coming in for help.

Grading Breakdown:

Recommendations for Pre-Algebra:

During the last marking period, I will be making recommendations for a small portion of students to go into advanced math in seventh grade.  In addition to your overall math grade there will be a variety of criteria that will be utilized.   A few of the those include your CMT scores in math and reading comprehension (to solve word problems), your overall effort, your problem solving skills, your ability to perform mental math, your achievement on class assessments, your ability to think abstractly, etc.  Pre-Algebra is an advanced level of mathematics, which moves at a faster pace than seventh grade mathematics and requires more abstract thinking.   Only a small portion of seventh graders reaches that level.  As a result, I will only recommend students who can perform successfully under those circumstances.  If you are not recommended for Pre-Algebra, it does not mean that you are a poor student, it simply means that you are not yet ready for the advanced level.  I will not recommend a student for Pre-Algebra if I feel he/she will struggle with it.  It is more important to get a good foundation than it is to be placed in an advanced level!