ALGEBRA PLACEMENT TEST:
Thursday, May 30 in Room 121 at 2:30PM
The Algebra class is offered to top math students in the 7th grade. Students who qualify for the Algebra class must have been in the Pre-Algebra class in 6th grade (maintaining a B average or better) OR must pass the Algebra Placement Test that will be given on May 30.
In order to qualify to take the Algebra Placement Test, students must have:
- Maintained a solid “A” in Math 6 (as shown on the semester and 3rd quarter report cards)
- Obtained parent approval/signature and teacher approval/signature
Please note that not all students who have maintained an "A" in Math 6 are ready to move on to the Algebra class in 7th grade. By "testing in" to Algebra, students will be skipping the Pre-Algebra class. As such, they may find that they have gaps in their learning. The Algebra class is rigorous and requires excellent work habits. This class is recommended only for top math students entering 7th grade. Please contact your child’s math teacher if you have any questions about the placement test.
WELCOME TO THE 2012-2013 SCHOOL YEAR!
SUPPLIES
It would be helpful for students to have the following supplies to start off the school year:
- One large 3-ring binder that will be used for all academic classes. Using dividers, one section in the binder should be labeled for each class (such as Math, Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, Elective (like Math Builders or AVID)
- A spiral notebook (the typical 70 page notebook is perfect)
- Materials bag of supplies (with sharpened pencils, blue/black pens, one red pen for correcting, and a handheld pencil sharpener)
COURSE DESCRIPTION
A Math 6 class description can be found to the right by clicking the "6th Grade Math Statement of Success" handout. Students will receive this handout on the second day of school and parents will be asked to review it with their child, sign the last page and return it to class.
ONLINE RESOURCES
Check out The Khan Academy at http://www.khanacademy.org/#arithmetic .
The Khan Academy is a not-for-profit organization with the goal of changing education for the better by providing a free world-class education to anyone anywhere.
All of the site's resources are available to anyone. It doesn't matter if you are a student, teacher, parent, or principal. The Khan Academy's materials and resources are available to you completely free of charge. You may need to set up an account and create a login to view the videos. If so, ask your parent for help.
The list below targets the 6th grade math standards. Go to the Khan Academy website and review the various math topics in this list. Select a few videos to view. Each video is approximately 10 minutes long and set up for viewing on your computer.
Arithmetic and Pre-Algebra
- Negative numbers
- Order of operations
- Factors and multiples
- Fractions
- Percents
- Ratios and proportions (basic)
Probability Websites:
Probability Game http://www.math-play.com/Probability-Game.html
That Quiz http://www.thatquiz.org/tq-d/math/probability/
Challenge Exercises: ProbabilityTheory http://www.mathgoodies.com/lessons/vol6/challenge_vol6.html
Fish Tank (Try Levels 1, 2, and/or 3)http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/mathsfile/shockwave/games/fish.html
Interactive Spinner http://www.shodor.org/interactivate/activities/BasicSpinner/
Experimental Probability http://www.shodor.org/interactivate/activities/ExpProbability/
Racing Game with Two Dice http://www.shodor.org/interactivate/activities/RacingGameWithTwoDie/
Probability Videos http://www.neok12.com/Probability.htm
Careers that use Basic Probability http://www.xpmath.com/careers/topicsresult.php?subjectID=1&topicID=8
Probability Simulations http://www.mathsonline.co.uk/nonmembers/resource/prob/
ALGEBRAIC THINKING
Practice your algebraic thinking skills by trying these online games:
http://www.mathplayground.com/games.html
Look for "Algebraic Reasoning" games.
http://www.mathplayground.com/AlgebraEquations.html
Model Algebra Equations
Other Internet Math Games:
Catch the fly (graphing)
http://hotmath.com/hotmath_help/games/ctf/ctf_hotmath.swf
Number Cop (factors) http://hotmath.com/hotmath_help/games/numbercop/numbercop_hotmath.swf
Mystery Picture (integers)
http://www.dositey.com/2008/addsub/Mystery11.htm
Here are some other ongoing ways to practice your math.
Basic fact practice: By middle school, students should know there basic facts – adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing for 0-12. Use flashcards, card games, or internet games to practice basic facts. My favorite website for basic fact practice is A+Math found here: http://www.aplusmath.com/Flashcards/
Common Fractions, Decimals, and Percents: Use flashcards or another method to memorize common fractions, decimals and percents for 1/2’s, 1/3’s, 1/4's, 1/5’s, 1/8’s, and 1/10’s.
Math in daily life: Take notice of times that you see math that we have learned in 6th grade in your daily life. For example, gaining yards and losing yard in football relates to adding and subtracting integers; finding a tip at a restaurant; finding the cost for one unit when items are sold together.
Practice the released 6th CST questions: Each year in May students take the California Standards Test in Math and Language Arts. Practicing the released questions helps you to know how the questions will be asked and what kinds of questions will appear. Google “6th grade released CST questions math” to find the released questions.
Learn something new: There are a lot of videos online that you can watch to learn a new math topic. You can ask an older family member to teach you something.
SuccessMaker: Students can use SuccessMaker to practice English Language Arts and Mathematics targeted to their level. CCMS students should be able to access the program using their school ID number. The website is: http://smcentral.ccusd.org
Review what you’ve learned: Look over your notes and make sure that you know everything that has been covered so far this year. Our major topics are integers, percents, proportions, rates, fractions, factors, and probability.