Welcome to Desert Sky! This is going to be the best year ever! I am looking forward to working and
growing with each of you.
Description of Course
The 7th grade math class is based on Arizona College and Career Ready Standards and the Deer Valley
Unified School District Curriculum. The curriculum includes the following domains: Ratios and Proportional
Reasoning, The Number System, Expressions and Equations, Geometry, and Statistics and Probability. The
Standards for Mathematical Practice are embedded in all of the domains. There are 8 mathematical
practices:
1. Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.
3. Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others
5. Use appropriate tools strategically.
7. Look for and make use of structure.
2.
4.
6.
8.
Reason abstractly and quantitatively.
Model with mathematics.
Attend to precision.
Look for and express regularity in repeated
reasoning.
Classroom Requirements:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Be respectful of yourself, classmates, and teacher.
Be in your seat when the bell rings ready to work.
Come to class prepared with paper, pencil, and notes.
All electronic devices are turned off.
Follow all school rules!
Discipline Plan
When a student needs to be disciplined for a classroom/campus infraction, depending on the severity, any/all
of the following will occur. The teacher reserves the right to skip steps based on the severity of the
situation.
1. Verbal warning
2. Isolation to another classroom
3. Teacher call parent/guardian
4. Teacher issues incident report/citation
5. Teacher issues detentions (2) within 6 week period
6. Referral to Assistant Principal/Principal
7. Students Rights and Responsibilities handbook for discipline is followed, with administrative
discretion.
Suggested Materials
 Pencils
 Several spiral notebooks (about 4 or 5 for the year)
 Loose leaf paper
 Dry erase markers (2)
 A 3-ring binder for handouts
 Graph paper
* Please let me know if you need assistance with any of these items.
Arizona law requires public school provide supplies required for academic success. This list represents optional,
supplementary items which you may supply at your discretion.
Determining Quarter Grade and Final Grade
Grades will be determined on the students’ cumulative earned points and weighted by category.
Grades will be based on the following:
70% - Assessments
25% - Projects
5% - Homework
The final (year-end grade) will be based on each of your grades from each of the 4 quarters.
Test Retakes
You must take tests the day they are given. The only exception is if you miss the previous TWO days before
the test. An absence the day before the test will not excuse you from the test. Test retakes are an earned
privilege. In order to be eligible for a test retake, the following criteria must be understood/met:
1.
2.
3.
3.
All assignments have been completed and all work shown.
Student completes test corrections.
Attend tutoring if further explanation is needed.
Retake test must be done outside of regular class time before the next unit assessment.
It makes no sense to allow a test retake if there was no attempt at learning prior to the test, nor
would it be wise to retake a test without learning from the mistakes made the first time.
Homework Assignments
The purpose of homework is to give you practice of previously learned skills and to give you an opportunity to
apply what you are learning in class to solving problems. There will be at least ONE problem solving task per
unit of study and there may be several small review homework assignments as well.
Attendance and Make-Up Work
If you are absent, you are still responsible for the learning that occurs in class as well as any assignments
that you may miss. Notes can be obtained from another student in the class. Weekly lesson plans and
assignments are posted on my website that you can access through the school website. If you are absent,
you should complete the assignments you missed and go over them with me. You must make up tests or
quizzes missed due to an excused absence within one week of the original test date. In case of serious or
extenuating circumstances, please contact me to make other arrangements. Please remember math
concepts build upon each other and missing lessons taught by the teacher will make learning new
concepts difficult and can affect your performance.
Classroom Environment
In order to be successful in learning 7th grade math concepts, students MUST engage in the learning
activities. Engaging in your learning means: listening to the teacher and other students; attempting/trying
to complete tasks; asking questions of the teacher and of other students; presenting your thinking to other
students and the class; and taking risks.
RECEIVING ADDITIONAL HELP
If you should find yourself struggling with any concepts taught in class, you should seek help as soon as
possible. Please check the weekly tutoring schedule to receive extra help.
Student Responsibility
I will do my job, which is to teach you math, but you will need to do your job. Your grade is the pay you
receive for doing your job. The more you put into it, the more pay you shall receive (or the higher the
grade!). How can you be successful in math?
1. Come prepared for class
2. Pay attention in class
3. Participate in class
4. Complete all assignments
5. Study at home for all tests
6. ASK FOR HELP IF YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND
Cell Phone/Electronic Device Classroom Policy
Cell phones and technology are a large part of our world today. There are times that using cell
phones/electronic devices are permitted during the school day and during class learning experiences at the
discretion of the teacher. Cell phones/electronic devices are expected to be turned OFF upon entering the
classroom and are expected to be placed in the students’ backpack. This includes ear-buds and head-phones.
The only time a cell phone/electronic device should be out or in use is when the teacher has specifically
stated that it may be used for educational purposes. If the cell phone policy is not followed, the following
consequences may occur:
1)
2)
3)
4)
Verbal warning and documentation
Incident report and/or phone call to parent
Detention
Office referral
Remember, I cannot read your mind. If you do not ask questions, I assume that you understand the material.
Math concepts build upon each other. If you don’t understand a concept, don’t let it go by. It will come
back up again and if you didn’t learn it the first time, you will have trouble again. The only stupid question is
the one that goes unasked!
For additional information at any time throughout the year, please visit my teacher website at the following
address. Much of this information can be found there as well as lesson plans and additional resources. You
can access the lesson plans directly through the school website, address below, then select staff websites
then Jessica Piotter.
https://desertsky.dvusd.org
If you need to reach me at any time please feel free to contact me at:
phone number: 602-467-6572
e-mail: jessica.piotter@dvusd.org
This year I will be participating in Remind 101, a way for me to send messages, alerts, or reminders
directly to your phone or email in text form. To sign up, please follow the directions below:
Complete and return to Mrs. Piotter by
Friday, August 15, 2014
Period: ________
I have read and understand the 7th grade math procedures.
_________________________________
Student Name (Print)
_________________________________
Parent/Guardian Name (Print)
_________________________________
Student signature
Date
_________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature
Date
Student e-mail address:
Parent e-mail address:
_________________________________
(Please Print Clearly)
_________________________________
(Please Print Clearly)