Last updated 8/7/07

                                    TEACHER INFORMATION

Anna Marie Bouchet
E-mail Address:  abouchet@ajusd.org

Phone: (480) 677 - 7550 ext. 5523
Planning Period: 9:07 - 10:02
Subject Taught: Math
Grade Taught: 6th/7th/8th

                                                                     MATH DEPARTMENT LETTER

As a math department we wanted all parents to understand the rules that our department will follow as a team.  Please read this information.  Thank you.

 

STUDENT PLACEMENT

 

Classes are listed by degree of difficulty with the last class being the most difficult.  Grade level designation has been placed next to the class that students should perform at or above based on their grade level.

 

General I

 

General II

 

General III – 6th grade

 

Pre-Algebra – 7th grade

 

Algebra – 8th grade

 

Advanced Algebra

 

Students performing below the designated class are completing course work that is below their grade level.

 

PLATO

 

Plato is a computer program that is utilized in the classroom as a math resource for the curriculum.  Each math teacher has a specific day of the week that they do PLATO.  It is worth ten percent (10%) of their grade.  PLATO is individual work and a review of the Articulated Arizona State Standards that are taught in the classroom.  Some concepts are taught a little differently than in the regular classroom, but it will always be review of the skills they should already know or have learned during their coursework.  It will never be used as new concepts.

 

Students will be required to turn in all PLATO work neatly numbered and completed in pencil on a separate sheet of paper.

 

If a student is absent on a PLATO class day, that student must make up the time quickly after school.  Students are responsible for absent and in-class work.  PLATO lab is open Monday through Thursday after school.  Ask only your math teacher for a pass to PLATO lab and show up immediately after school.  We only have 30 computers, and they fill up fast.

 

At the end of the quarter the PLATO lab fills up very quickly; do not wait until the last few weeks of the quarter to complete late or absent work.  Students will be turned away once the PLATO lab is full as they have had the opportunity all quarter to complete this work.

 

MULTIPLICATION FACTS

 

All students will be required to master timed multiplication facts 1-12s by the end of the first quarter with 80% proficiency.  Please help us make your child successful in math.  Multiplication is a key to all skills in math as well as being a fourth and fifth grade standard.

 

CLASS FORMAT

 

ALL math work must be in class format unless specifically stated otherwise.  All math teachers require class format.

 

Overview of class format:

 

 

 

Thank you.

                                                                          COURSE DESCRIPTIONS


General II

This course will provide a review of whole numbers. Focus will be on decimals, fractions, tables, graphs, geometry, rates, ratio, proportions, percentages, applications of percentages, and measurement. If you are in 6th, 7th, or 8th grade and enrolled in this class, you are considered to be doing coursework below grade level.

General III

This course will be the final preparation for pre-algebra. Focus will be on whole number and decimal review, fractions, integers, variable expressions, algebraic equations, tables, graphs, statistics, geometry, rate, ratio, proportions and percentages, applications of percentages, and measurement. All objectives taught are aligned with the state standards. If you are in 7th or 8th grade and enrolled in this class, you are considered to be doing coursework below grade level.

 

CLASS INFORMATION

 

CLASSROOM RULES

 

1.)    BE RESPECTFUL – allow me to teach

 

Be respectful to yourself

Be respectful to me

Be respectful to fellow students

Be respectful to school property

 

2.)    BE RESPONSIBLE – allow yourself to learn

 

Be on task

Be prepared

Make absences infrequent

Make good choices

Complete your assignments

 

GRADES

 

Grades are a combination of Plato (10%), tests/quizzes (80%), and assignments (10%).  Percentages are approximate.

 

The Plato grade is a combination of acceptable work handed in weekly and the number of completed, mastered modules.  

 

Quizzes and tests are usually given on Fridays.  There will be approximatly two tests per quarter.  The first quiz of each quarter will be a timed multiplication facts quiz.  Quizzes and tests are usually multiple choice;  however, make-ups will not be multiple choice.  All or almost all questions on quizzes and tests will be problems that we have done during the mindset, classwork, and homework.  Please save all assignments. 

 

Assignments consist of completed mindsets, notes, classwork, and homework in class format.

 

Extra credit is not offered.

 

A clipboard with current grades will be passed around once a week (usually on Mondays).  The student must be in class to receive their current grade that week.  Students will always know their current grade.  Parents may want to have their child write their current grade in their agenda.  No student or parent should be surprised a mid-term or quarter grade time!

 

SUPPLIES

 

 

Students are also expected to bring their AR book, agenda, and stampsheet to class daily.  I may or may not require textbooks and Buckle Down books be brought to class on a daily basis.

 

The reason why I ask for 2 or more of many of the supplies is because, when 1 runs out/breaks/gets lost, you will always have another, AND, when you get down to only 1, it means that you need to replace the other one quickly.  Even though I supply a sharpener, it saves valuable class time if students bring their own.

 

If a student comes without paper, pencil, or eraser, I will have him/her call home to let a parent know that supplies need to be replenished.

 

SUPPLIES (optional)

 

 

IMPORTANT

 

It is imperative that your child be organized.  Please find an efficient way to organize school items so that your child will not waste time at the beginning of class looking for class material/homework.  I suggest checking their backpacks on a daily/weekly basis to make sure that nothing extra is in their backpack, they have all supplies, and that things are organized. 

 

I suggest having a folder just for homework, with one side for homework to be done and the other side for completed homework.  Their stampsheet could be placed in this folder.  I suggest getting a small container for small supplies, such as pencils, pens, sharpeners, erasers (just the supplies that are required).  Students should also have a folder just for a large supply of 8 ½ by 11 inch white, ruled, loose-leaf paper.  On the first day of school I show students one way to be organized.

 

STAMP SHEETS

 

YES stamps are for students that are on time for class, are prepared, and have completed their homework.  Prepared means that students have all the required supplies.  Homework MUST be in Class Format, this includes that every problem has been attempted and all steps are shown for each problem.

 

Stamping is done during the first 5-10 minutes of class.  If a student does not have their materials or homework out by the time I stamp, he/she will receive a NO stamp.  This NO stamp will not be removed if the student, at a later point in time, “finds” their materials or homework.

 

CLASS PROCEDURES

 

Class procedures are clearly posted, large enough for students to read from their seats, on the bulletin board in my classroom.

 

GUEST TEACHERS/CODE RED

 

There are 2 instances when I will not tolerate any disruptive behavior. They are when a guest teacher is covering my class and during a code red.

 

When a guest teacher is covering my class, I expect you to sit in your assigned seat and to follow all the rules and procedures, just like you do when I am there.  I want you to be exceptionally polite, on task, and helpful to the guest teachers.  Please do not let me get a poor report from a guest teacher.  I ask guest teachers to write down the names of disruptive students.  Any student that gets his/her name written down will automatically receive a referral from me when I return.  There are no exceptions!

 

I take Code Red very seriously.  I will not let any student trying to show off or entertain to jeopardize my entire class or myself.  Parents will be notified, Dr. Sgro will be notified, and our school police officer will be notified should a student choose this poor course of action.

 

ABSENCES

 

If you are absent on a Plato day, you will need to stay after school to make-up the missed Plato day.

 

If you are absent on a quiz/test day, you will make-up the quiz/test on the next Plato day.  This means that you will be required to stay after school to make up the Plato day.  Most quizzes/tests are multiple choice; however, if you are absent, the make-up quiz/test will not be multiple choice.  It benefits you not to be absent on quiz/test day.

 

If you are absent on a non-Plato day, you are responsible for any missed new concepts that we may have covered during your absence.  When you return, it is your responsibility to get your missed assignment.  When completed, place your missed assignment in the correct bin by my desk.

 

Every absence hurts your ability to keep up in math.  Math concepts are cumulative, and missing even one day and one concept may adversely affect your ability to keep up in math class.

 

CALCULATORS

 

Calculators are not allowed.  The calculator in Plato is never to be used.  Calculators cannot be used in class, for homework, or for checking work.  Of course, parents/guardians can use a calculator when checking their child’s work!

 

MULTIPLICATION FACTS

 

Being able to do basic multiplication facts quickly is critical to a student’s success in math.  They are really one of the most basic math concepts that absolutely must be learned well in order to build a strong foundation in math.  Success in fractions can only be achieved if the basic multiplication facts can be memorized so that they can be recited quickly.  PLEASE study basic multiplication facts with your child EVERYDAY.  Practice building up speed – this can only be mastered with daily practice.  There are many ways to practice, including flash cards. 

 

EXTRA PRACTICE/TUTORING

 

For extra practice in basic math skills, I recommend ordering some booklets from garlicpress.com.  The Advanced addition/subtraction/multiplication/division/decimals/fractions are very good.  I highly recommend the Advanced Fractions for all General II students.  The booklets contain a lot of practice problems and the answers are in the back.  Each booklet costs about $5.

 

The tutorials in Plato are also a very good way to review and practice concepts that we have previously covered in class.  After school Plato is offered most Mondays through Thursdays, with the exception of the first and last weeks of each quarter.  Just as in class, 50 minutes worth of Plato work must be done in class format and handed in.  ALL Plato problems in the tutorials, drills, practices, and tests must be done in class format.  After-school Plato passes are readily available for students to pick up, fill out, and have me initial.  You must have a Plato pass initialed by me in order to get into the lab.  Plato lab is not web based, therefore, it can only be accessed at school.

 

Math department tutoring in fractions is offered the  last week of each quarter.  If your child needs extra help in fractions please have your child come to tutoring.  It will be your child’s responsibility to show up for every day of after-school tutoring.

 

If any parent would like a refresher course in fractions, I will gladly meet with you.  We can meet Tuesdays/Wednesdays/Thursdays from 3:00 to 4:00 pm.  Please email me and we can arrange a day:J

 

ADDITIONALLY

 

I will go over the procedures for assemblies, bus evacuations, fire drills, code red, cheating/copying/doing math in other classes, the restroom, nurse/illness, announcements, telephone calls, and food.  The school handbook has additional important information. 


                                                                          HOMEWORK INFORMATION

Students should write their homework assignments in their agendas.  Homework will always be posted on the whiteboard, in the same spot, everyday.  It is the students responsibility to write their homework assignments in their agenda shortly after entering the classroom.  There will be homework most Mondays through Thursdays.  Usually the homework assignment will consist of 5 problems.  Homework needs to be done in class format.  Homework assignments are numbered (in the upper right hand corner).