Math 8
Rules & Procedures
Dear Students,
If you have any questions, please email me any
time (brynn.homer@canyonsdistrict.org).
Thank you!
Sincerely, Mrs. Homer
Math 8
Welcome to 8th Grade! We are
thrilled to be here and to begin this school
year with you. Our goal as teachers is to help
each student gain the skills, attitudes, and
experiences for success in achieving personal
and academic goals. This year at Union, you
student will be taught by a team of teachers
that are dedicated to your student’s cross
curricular academic success!
Mrs. Homer has a
class web-site!
mrshomer.weebly.com
You can also receive
texts or emails
from Ms. Hatch!
How to sign up for Mrs. Homer
UMS Remind 101
Pull out your
phones and text
this!
Math 8


Class Outline & Info

Classroom Conduct
Classroom Procedures

Grade Break-Down
Next
What’s Up?
Each unit consists of:

Starter every day

Located on the west board in the classroom

1-5 review/warm-up problems to solve

Pick-up Starter paper on the shelf

Guided Notes
 As part of the lesson each day, students will
take notes in regards to vocabulary, formulas,
etc… Pick-up Guided Notes for days absent in
the “extras” (colored paper)

Extra practice homework assignments

Back
Worksheets and/or assignments from your
workbook or textbook. Pick-up HW for days
absent in the “exras” (white paper)

Mid-unit quizzes

End of unit tests

Art projects and other fun activities
Classroom Conduct
R2 = S

Responsible x Respectful = Successful
Be Responsible
2
R
=S
 You are in charge of your education!
 Come to class prepared with all necessary materials
(pencil, lined paper, workbook, math portfolio
binder, homework, calculator, etc.)
 Come to class with a good attitude ready to think,
work, and learn.

Be Respectful
 Respect yourself, your teacher, your classmates, all
other students, and all UMS facilities and property.

Be Successful
 Every student is capable of succeeding in Math 8
class. Do your best! You deserve your best!
Classroom Conduct
R2 = S
Responsible x Respectful = Successful
2
R
=S
 What does Disrespect look like?
 Getting out of your seat without permission while the
teacher, another adult, or a student is speaking to the
class
 Talking, goofing off, or being otherwise disruptive
while someone is speaking to the class or while you
are supposed to be working quietly at your desk
 Sending/receiving phone calls or
texts, listening to music, or otherwise
using electronic devices in the
classroom. Devices will be taken
and turned in to the office if used in
the classroom as per UMS Policy.
If Mrs. Homer sees it or hears it, she takes
it! (this includes headphones!)
Classroom Conduct
R2 = S
Responsible x Respectful = Successful
 What does Disrespect look like?
2
R
=S
 Choosing not to follow instructions the first time they
are given to you
 Leaving papers, binders, books, garbage etc. on your
desk or surrounding area and leaving for the day
 Talking back or arguing with the teacher or any other
adult—respectful communication is always expected
 Laughing at, teasing, physically harming, bullying or
otherwise belittling another person
 Destruction of classroom items,
erasing whiteboards, touching
bulletin boards, getting into
Teacher areas (desk, cabinets,
drawers, etc.), or otherwise getting
into or messing with things that do
not belong to you
Classroom Conduct
R2 = S
Responsible x Respectful = Successful
2
R
=S
 YELLOW WARNING: The first time I have to
talk to you about your disrespectful behavior you
will be given a yellow card. This means that you
are to stay after class for 34 seconds. During this
time, you are to sit in your desk quietly until given
permission to sign the logbook and leave.
 RED WARNING: If your behavior does not
improve after receiving a yellow warning card it
will be exchanged for a red warning card. This
means that you will now be spending 1:13 after
class. This will give us time to discuss your
negative behavior further. Again, you must
wait quietly in your seat until given
permission to sign the logbook
and leave.
Classroom Conduct
R2 = S
Responsible x Respectful = Successful
2
R
=S
 THINK-TIME: If you continue to cause
problems in class, or if your behavior is at the
level that removal from class becomes necessary,
you will be sent to another classroom to complete
the think-time worksheets. You will not be
allowed back to class until these are completed
and signed off by the receiving teacher.
 REFERRAL: Continuous negative behavior, or
major offences, will result in a referral to the Vice
Principal. You will be escorted to the office with
the appropriate paperwork to be given directly to
Mr. Hollenbeck or Mr. Watts. Any further
consequences of your on-going
negative behavior will be determined
with them at that time.
Classroom Procedures


Entering the room
•
Please enter the classroom
quietly and get to your assigned
seat quickly.
•
Pull out your Starter and get to
work.
•
Once you are in the room, class
has started for you!
Tardies & the Starter
•
If you are not in your assigned
seat working on your Starter
when the bell starts to ring, you
are tardy!
•
Tardiness does not excuse doing
the Starter.
Classroom Procedures

Hall Pass
•
•

Hall passes are a privilege and
may only be used with
permission and at appropriate
times. During the Starter is not
an appropriate time.
If you have a need to leave the
classroom for any reason, bring
your planner with you to talk to
Mrs. Homer respectfully and
arrangements will be made to
accommodate you.
Help/Questions
•
Mrs. Homer is always available
and willing to help. Raise your
hand quietly and ask for help
when you need it. Yelling out or
being disruptive in other ways is
not an appropriate way to get the
help you need.
Classroom Procedures

Take a Ride
•
This is how we will be turning in
work and picking up needed
materials during class.
•
Upon being instructed to do so,
students stand quietly in the isle,
needed materials in hand, and
await instructions to proceed.
•
Once told to “take a ride”
students will walk silently, singlefile, around the room dropping
off/picking up materials along the
way.
•
Once you have your materials,
you will continue to walk, silently
and single-file, back to your seat,
where you will wait quietly for
the rest of the class to finish.
Classroom Procedures


Grading with Integrity
•
We will grade all homework
as a class.
•
Cheating on grading is only
cheating YOU! You will receive a
zero on the assignment with no
opportunity to make it up.
Taking Quizzes/Tests
•
Quizzes/Tests are your chance
to show me what you know.
Cheating will not be tolerated.
•
A pencil, calculator, and
quiz/test paper(s) are the only
things allowed on your desk
during a quiz/test.
• Elbows above and knees below the desk at all times. No turning around.
Eyes on your own paper. Mouths shut.
Classroom Procedures

End of Class
•
Class is not over until Mrs.
Homer excuses you.
•
All calculators must be put
away before anyone leaves.
•
Please take everything with you.
No leaving backpacks, books,
binders, etc. behind! This
classroom is not your locker!
Textbooks, workbooks and portfolio
binders may be left in classroom in
the allotted places only!
Classroom Procedures

Entering the room

AllNo
electronic
devices,
Talking!
Eyes
your
Tardies
&onthe
Bellringer
including
own paper &
You
are
tardyprepare
if you to
When I say to do so, headphones,
quickly
cover your
Hall Pass
The
bell
does
NOT
Enter
the
room
You
may
are
not
in
your
desk
Quizzes
&only
Tests
“Take
a
Ride”.
Gather
up
need
to
bethe
out needed
of
work!quietly, take
use
the
Hall
are
my
chance
toon
sight
when
you in the
excuse
you,
materials,
stand
up
and
wait
quietly
working
your
Help / Questions
your seat and
Pass
show
whatwith
I know…
enter
the
isle
for
instructions
to proceed.
Starter
when
the bell
Ms. Hatch
does.
Stay
begin working
I will always
do
permission
and
classroom!
Calculator Use
on the Starter
begins to ring.

Taking Quizzes/Tests
at all times!
has started for
you!

End of Class



I am only
cheating myself
when I cheat!
my during
best
– with
in your
seat
until
integrity!do not excuse
appropriate
Elbows above
 Taking a Ride givenTardies
permission
to
Remember,
and knees
times.
the Starter.
once below
you are
indesk
the
leave.
 Grading with Integrity
the room, class
Back
Grade Break-Down
 Grade
A
AB+
B
94% - 100%
90% - 93%
87% - 89%
83% - 86%
 How





percentages follow UMS’ standard scale:
BC+
C
C-
80% - 82%
77% - 79%
73% - 76%
70% - 72%
D+
D
DF
67% - 69%
63% - 66%
60% - 62%
0% - 59%
do I get an A in Math 8?
Get help right when you need it, don’t wait!
Stay caught up on your homework.
Study vocabulary and formulas at home.
Work hard and stay positive every day.
Never, never, never give up!
Back
Keys to Success

Starters

Guided Notes
Homework,
Calculators, Workbooks
& Textbooks


Quizzes/Tests

END
Honors
Portfolios
Day
Date
Starter
#
Day
Date
Bellringer:
Day
Date
Bellringer:
mrshomer.weebly.com
If you are absent, you will still be held
accountable to complete the Starter! You can get
it from a friend or the class website.
**BRAINBUSTER**
Each week there will be a
“Brainbuster” problem on the
board. Solving this correctly will
earn a PRIZE!
Day
Day
Date
Date
Bellringer:
Bellringer:
You will have 5
minutes to finish
the Starter each
day.
At the end of the 5 minutes,
Mrs. Homer will check for
completeness (stamp) then go
over the Starter with the class.
**BRAINBUSTER**
Starters are worth 4 points
per day. The stamp is
worth 1 of these points!
(20 points per week total)
Day
Day
Date
Date
Bellringer:
Bellringer:
**BRAINBUSTER**
Starters will be turned in
every Friday. You are
responsible to make sure it
is complete each week.
If you are absent on a Friday,
you need to turn your Starter in
the day after you get back or it
will be considered late.
Back
Guided Notes
Back

In each unit there will be vocabulary
words, formulas, and other math rules
that you will be expected to learn.

Guided notes will be completed as a class
during the lesson each day to help you
learn these important concepts.

While you are working on your
homework in class or at home, it is a great
idea to keep your guided notes out to use
as a reference.

Understanding the vocabulary and
formulas builds a good foundation for
understanding math, so studying every
day is the best way to find success!

If absent, get the guided notes from the
website (Lessons & Vocabulary link) or
from a friend (papers in “slots”).
mrshomer.weebly.com

Every day there will be a
homework assignment
(except quiz/test days).

All homework will be due the
school day after it is assigned.

All assignments will include
approx. 10 – 30 problems.

All homework assignments
are worth 10 points each.

10 random problems will be
graded each day.

Staying caught up on your
homework is the BEST way
to understand the concepts
and succeed on tests &
quizzes.
Homework
You can
“Click & Print”
homework
assignments on the
website!
mrshomer.weebly.com

Be Prepared!
Team Materials:

2” binder

1 set of 5-tab dividers

Pencils, pens, highlighter

Lined paper
Be Prepared!

All work done in Math
8 class needs to be done
in PENCIL.

Have your workbook,
lined paper, and math
portfolio binder in class
every day.

Put your FULL name,
class period, and
assignment heading at
the top of every paper.
Be Prepared

Write neatly and circle
or box your answers. If
I can’t find or read your
work, it is wrong.

Remember, 10 random
problems will be graded
each day, but EVERY
problem needs to be
completed.

If you are absent or lose
your homework, you
can pick up a new one
from the “Slots”.
Calculators

Each student needs to have a scientific
calculator to use at home for his/her Math
8 homework.

A classroom set of calculators will be
available to the students while in class, but
will not be allowed to leave the math
classroom, so calculators at home will be
necessary for all students to complete their
daily homework.

Please make sure that you put your name
on your calculator (not just the lid) with
permanent marker!
Calculators

We use the TI-34 MultiView calculator in class.
All school owned calculators are yellow. You
will NOT find yellow calculators in stores.

The exact same calculator that we use in class
(TI-34 MultiView) can easily be found at any
school/office supplies store (Target, Wal-Mart,
Shopko, Staples, Office Depot, etc.) for no
more than $19.00. But remember, they will
NOT be yellow, (usually white, blue, pink etc.)!

Again, please make sure that you put your
name on your calculator with permanent
marker so that if lost it can be returned to you.
How will Homework be Graded?

After the Starter, we will grade the homework as a class.

Red pens will be handed out to the class for use while grading. The pen and
the homework paper are the only items allowed out on your desk.
Hands above and knees under the desk at all times.

Ms. Hatch will tell you which 10 problems will be graded — Circle the
problem number of these problems. Example 

Ms. Hatch will either voice the answers to each problem to the class, or place
them on the over-head. Follow along and listen carefully!

You are to simply to put a large “X” over the problem number if the problem
is wrong. If you have a question about whether a problem is wrong, write a
“?” next to the problem number.
Example 

After we are done, write how many problems were
missed at the top of the front side. Ms. Hatch will
look over the assignment and determine the final score.
Example 
Next
Grading Homework
?
Back 
Late Work

All homework must be turned in (and graded with the class)
on the day it is due or it is late and can only achieve a
maximum score of 80% (8/10).

Work turned in late and after a ZAP activity can only achieve
a maximum score of 60% (6/10).

All late work must be turned in on or before the
“Drop-Dead Day”, which will always be 1 week
before the end of the trimester.

Teacher will stamp your paper as “Late” when
appropriate to signify that the score may have
been affected.
Late Work
 If
you are absent (excused) then you will be allowed one
extra day per day you were gone to get your work in.
Please write “Absent: date” at the top of the paper
when you turn it in.
 Additional
accommodations on late work
can only be made through Teacher/Student
Contracts or Vacation Contracts thereby
assuring equitable accommodations
to student and teacher.
Workbooks

Each student will be given a course
workbook for his/her personal use.

Please write your full name and
teacher’s name in the front cover with
permanent marker!

You are welcome to take it home
each night to work on homework, but
you must have it in class every day!

Treat your workbook with care.
These workbooks are rather
inexpensive but you will be expected
to pay to replace it if it gets lost or
excessively damaged.
E-Textbooks




Back
Students will not be given a course
textbook for two reasons: 1) we won’t
be using them every day, and 2) the
textbook is available online at
bigideasmath.com.
If you do not have access to the
internet at home, you can check out a
textbook in the library here at UMS.
There will also be a classroom set of
books available to students during
class. These will not be allowed to be
taken out of the classroom.
The textbook is a great place to look
for extra help, examples, and practice
problems.
Quizzes/Tests

There will be a quiz mid-way through each unit. All
quizzes are worth 50 points. There may also be
small pop/mini-quizzes (CFAs) throughout each
unit to ensure that you are learning the material.

There will be a unit test at the end of each unit.
tests are worth 100 points.

You may retake quizzes & tests, but re-takes will not
receive a score higher than 80% (40/50 or 80/100).
A different version of the test/quiz will be given.
All
How can I get an A on Quizzes & Tests?


Back


Be in class, on time, every day – participate fully
Complete your homework every day, on time
Study vocabulary and formulas every day
Have a positive attitude and work hard
Portfolios

Every student should have
a 1 – 1.5 inch 3-ring binder
designated as your Math
Portfolio. Your binder will
need a set of 5-tab dividers.

Bring your portfolio to
class every day.

You may leave your binder
on the shelves by the door
over-night if you would
like to.

The Portfolio Rubric
should be the first thing
you see when you open
your binder.

Organize your portfolio
according to the rubric.
Portfolio Rubric
Organization: What goes in?
Guided Notes Tab
Homework Tab
Organization: What goes in?
Quizzes & Tests Tab
Starters Tab
Organization: What goes in?
Miscellaneous Projects
& Activities Tab
Pencil & Lined Paper
How do I organize it?
All papers organized behind the correct tab

Guided Notes are all together and
are in order behind the tab

Homework papers are all together
and are in order behind the tab

Quizzes & Tests are all together and
are in order behind the tab

Starters are all together and are in
order behind the tab

Miscellaneous items are neat and
organized with extra lined paper in
the back.
Remember:
All papers should be
in the 3 rings,
NOT in the pockets!
Treat your portfolio binder
well so that it will last
all year
How will it be graded?

According to the rubric!
All papers in
the 3 rings!
When will they be graded?

Twice a term I will collect the Math Portfolios and
grade them (mid-term and end-of-term).

I will always give you a few days notice.

This notice will be written on the class calendar, as
well as on the class website.
Back
One last thing…
END

You are an HONORS student! This means that more
will be expected of you this year.

We will move faster and we will cover more material
than the regular Math 8 course.

If you desire to be on track to take PreCalculus and other high-level math courses
in high school and/or college then Honors
courses are mandatory in all grades 9-11.

Work hard, don’t waste time complaining,
do your best and you will finish with HONORS!
Does this mean
we’ll have to start
doing math now?
THE END