Los Nietos Middle School

Back To School Night

2014-20158th Grade Math & Science

Mrs. ChavezMrs. RamirezMrs. Sanchez

What is Common Core? Common Core State Standards (CCSS) have taken the place of California Standards 43 states, the District of Columbia, and 4 territories have adopted these standards Key shifts in math:

– Greater focus on fewer topics– Coherence – linking topics across grades– Rigor – including conceptual understanding and application

40% of former CST Algebra 1 standards are now 8 th Grade math CCSS Exam given is called the SBAC (Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium) Students are given 8th grade math exam no matter what math class they are enrolled in Exam is completely online Last year was the pilot year, this year will be the “Baseline” year As of this year, only Language Arts and Math will be assessed

Required Materials

Backpack 3 ring binder Pencils and Pens Notebook with dividers Spiral bound notebooks Scientific Calculator Graph paper College rule loose leaf paper Colored pencils/markers (at

home for projects)

8th Grade Math

• Students enrolled in 8th grade math will be learning Common Core 8th Grade Math standards

• Students will take the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) at the end of the school year.

• Students will be expected to complete notes, vocabulary, classwork, homework, quizzes, tests, and unit tests.

• Assessments including quizzes, tests, performance tasks, and unit tests will be given once a week.

• Calculators will be used in class.• Students will be working out of

the McGraw Hill text.• All work must be completed in

pencil.

Algebra 1 Students enrolled in Algebra

will be focusing on Algebra 1 Common Core Standards

Students will take the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) for 8th Grade Math at the end of the year.

Students will be expected to complete notes, vocabulary, classwork, homework, and assessments.

Assessments including quizzes, tests, performance tasks, and unit tests will be given once a week.

A scientific calculator is highly recommended

Textbook – McGraw Hill Algebra 1

All work must be done in pencil

Weekly Plans

Weekly plans are handed out every Monday

All work is listed on them for the week Students fill them out every day Homework is checked and stamped

on a daily basis All work is attached to the weekly

plan and turned in every Friday Plans count for 40% of the grade

Grading Policy - Math

40% of the grade is based on the Weekly Plans (all work for the week)

60% of the grade is based on assessments (quizzes, tests, performance tasks, and unit tests)

Science

Every 8th grade student is enrolled in Physical Science

Topics include motion, forces, buoyancy, chemistry, and space science

Most chapters will include a project

Projects can be made from household materials

Projects are expected to be completed at home

Grading Policy - Science

40% of the grade is based on Weekly Plans (all the work for the week)

30% of the grade is based on projects

30% of the grade is based on assessments

Progress Reports

Grades are updated every week.

New grades are handed out every Monday.

Also updated on the Parent Portal.

School Website

Every week new weekly plans are posted online.

In case a student has lost their weekly plan or they didn’t get one, they can access all weekly plans online.

All project descriptions and rubrics are also posted.

www.lnsd.net

Parent Portal

Get access to your child’s grades and attendance online.

Get login information from front office. Last year’s login information will work

this year. https://losnietos.powerschool.com/

public/home.html or www.lnsd.net

Cel.ly App available for Android,

iPhone, or iPad Also available through the

web Allows safe 2-way

communication between students or parents and myself

Comes through as a text, so response is quick

Reminders are sent by me Students or parents can

use it for help on homework, questions about grades, etc.

Contacting Us

The best way to contact me is through Cel.ly

Email:desiree_chavez@lnsd.netmichelle_sanchez@lnsd.netjacqueline_ramirez@lnsd.net

You can also call the school and leave a message at (562) 695-0637.

Questions or Concerns?