Mathematics

Danielle Justin, Math 7 Co-Teacher -- djustin@srcs.k12.ca.us

Mahdieh Mersad, Math 8 and Math 1 - mmersad@srcs.k12.ca.us 

Jessica Selinger, Math 8 Co-Teacher--jselinger@srcs.k12.ca.us

Simon Terrell, Math 8 -- sterrell@srcs.k12.ca.us

Kelly Wattell, Math 7 and Math 7+, Math Department Chair   kwattell@srcs.k12.ca.us

Nathan Willis, Math 7 --nwillis@srcs.k12.ca.us

 

Our math program at RVMS provides a bridge from the concrete level of elementary mathematics to the abstract level of high school integrated mathematics and beyond. We believe in a community of learners and all of our math teachers work together daily to create a cohesive curriculum. Our goal is to make math meaningful, fun and challenging while building student confidence in this valuable subject.

Math Courses Offered at RVMS:

Math 7

This course is the second of a three-year sequence of courses designed to prepare students for a rigorous college preparatory high school mathematics course. Math 7 is a one year course which satisfies the Common Core Standards and will strengthen and build on students’ previous knowledge of elementary mathematics. Math 7 will focus on proportional relationships, operations with fractions, equivalent expressions, and solving real-life and mathematical problems using numerical and algebraic expressions and equations.

Math 7 will focus student learning on three critical areas: (1) developing understanding of and applying proportional relationships; (2) developing understanding of operations with rational numbers and working with expressions and linear equations; (3) solving problems involving scale drawings and informal geometric constructions and working with two- and three-dimensional shapes to solve problems involving area, surface area, and volume; and (4) drawing inferences about populations based on samples.

 

Math 7 Support

This yearlong course is for students who need extra support developing their foundational skills and understanding of concepts in Math 7. The course will cover grade-level content, but with additional scaffolding and modifications specifically focused on fostering student confidence and mastery of arithmetic and pre-algebra standards. Students who complete this class take Math 8 in 8th grade.

 

Advanced Math 7 

This yearlong course is an accelerated course that covers both 7th and 8th-grade state standards. The content is taught at a faster pace and in more depth. Students who successfully complete this class take Integrated Math 1 in 8th grade.

 

Math 8

This course is the third of a three-year sequence of courses designed to prepare students for a rigorous college preparatory high school mathematics course. Math 8 is a one year course which satisfies the Common Core Standards and will strengthen and build on students’ previous knowledge of middle school mathematics. Math 8 will focus on number reasoning skills, building to irrational numbers and exponential expressions, algebraic expressions, linear functions, geometric proof and construction methods, and descriptive statistics. 

Math 8 will focus student learning on three critical areas: (1) formulating and reasoning about expressions and equations; (2) grasping the concept of a function and using functions to describe quantitative relationships; and (3) analyzing two- and three-dimensional space and figures using distance, angle, similarity, and congruence, and understanding and applying the Pythagorean Theorem. 

 

Integrated Math 1

This course is the first of a three-course sequence in an integrated pathway (Math 1, Math 2, Math 3). Integrated Math 1 is a one year course which satisfies the Common Core Standards and will strengthen and build on students’ previous knowledge of middle school mathematics. Integrated Math 1 will focus on algebraic expressions, linear functions, basic exponential functions, geometric proof and construction methods, and descriptive statistics.

Integrated Math 1 will focus student learning on six critical areas: (1) extend understanding of numerical manipulation to algebraic manipulation; (2) synthesize understanding of function; (3) deepen and extend understanding of linear relationships; (4) apply linear models to data that exhibit a linear trend; (5) establish criteria for congruence based on rigid motions; and (6) apply the Pythagorean Theorem to the coordinate plane.

Math Department Homework Policy

Math homework is assigned every day (with few exceptions). Unfinished classwork must be completed as homework. Graph paper is expected for all assignments unless a worksheet is provided. Homework needs to be turned in on time. Students are preparing to transition to high school and developing consistent work habits is an important component of that preparation. Students are allowed one day of make-up time for each day absent. Students are responsible for understanding the guidelines for completing and submitting absent work.