PRE-ALGEBRA

Class Introduction:

PREALGEBRA
Welcome to PreAlgebra, an accelerated math course that prepares students for Algebra I. Taking PreAlgebra does not guarantee advancing to Algebra in 8th grade. Students must maintain at least a B average and show a strong work ethic.

The curriculum focuses on: Functions & Relationships, Numeration, Measurement, Estimation & Computation, Probability, Statistics, Geometry, Communication, Reasoning, Problem Solving, and Connections. Our textbook is McDougal Littell Pre-Algebra. Students will be given access codes for on-line resources and an electronic copy of the textbook. They should keep their textbook at home as it�s heavy and if we need one in class I have extra books.

Homework is the practice of skills and concepts that we are working on in class; it�s important that students put their best effort into completing it. Math �builds�, so not doing homework means falling behind in class. I allow students 2 Late Passes each quarter for when �stuff happens.� Students should bring home their math notebook whenever they have homework. Most assignments should take between 30 minutes to 1 hour. If your child is consistently taking more than 45 minutes to complete homework please have them talk to me.

I use a Promethean Board and try to post class notes at the end of the day so you can see what we did in class if you need to help your child with their homework (or they are absent & need to catch up). Please be aware that some days I am not able to post notes.

I prefer that students do their work by hand and check it with a calculator if needed (with the exception of problems marked in the book with a calculator symbol.) Accuracy with basic computations is crucial to success in higher mathematics. A basic scientific calculator is fine. I recommend the TI-30Xa or the TI-30X IIS Solar. A good math reference book is handy, I�ve listed several of my favorites along with supplies that are helpful to have at home and some useful math websites.

I believe all students can be successful in learning math. What�s needed is a belief in their own abilities to rise to a challenge, willingness to keep on trying and to ask questions, and, most of all, team work between parents, students, and teachers. I look forward to working with you so that your child will have a successful year.

If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at jilka_renee@asdk12.org.

Sincerely,
Renee Jilka
Do Math and You Can Do Anything!

REQUIRED MATH SUPPLIES REQUIRED MATH SUPPLIES
Bring these to School every day: Have these at home: Bring these to School every day: Have these at home:
Math section in large Binder with paper Ruler (metric & standard) Math Binder OR Math section in large Binder with paper Ruler (metric & standard)
Graph paper (1/4 grid) prefer hole punched to keep in binder Graph paper Graph paper (1/4 grid) prefer hole punched to keep in binder Graph paper
Pencils & Erasers (mechanical is ok, have extra lead) Binder paper Pencils & Erasers (mechanical is ok, have extra lead) Binder paper
Composition book (for Math notes) graph paper style is fine Composition book (for Math notes) graph paper style is fine Protractor
Colored pen for marking (NOT black or blue) Graph paper Colored pen for marking (NOT black or blue) Graph paper
Colored pencils Pencils (regular & colored) Colored pencils Pencils (regular & colored)
Ruler (metric & standard), type that fits in binder is best Calculator Ruler (metric & standard), type that fits in binder is best
Calculator (optional for at school, I have ones to loan if we need to use them)

These are the most �user friendly� math resource books I�ve found and can be ordered by any bookstore. They are relatively inexpensive paperbacks and worth having at home.
Math on Call: A Mathematics Handbook
Publisher: Great Source Education Group
ISBN: 0669508195
Dr. Math Gets You Ready for Algebra: Learning PreAlgebra Is Easy! Just Ask Dr. Math!
Publisher: Wiley, John & Sons, Incorporated
ISBN: 0471225568
The Usborne Illustrated Dictionary of Math
Publisher: Usborne Publishing, Ltd.
ISBN: 0794506623
Some web sites that may be of interest to you and your student are:
The Math Forum Home Page (home of Ask Dr. Math)
www.mathforum.org/

Graph Paper (printable files)
http://www.mathematicshelpcentral.com/graph_paper.htm

CoolMathSites is a collection of sites put together by a Math teacher. http://cte.jhu.edu/techacademy/web/2000/heal/siteslist.htm

National Library of Virtual Manipulatives
http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/vlibrary.html

Math.com (math topics, resources, help for students & parents)
http://www.math.com/parents.html