Math 7 Syllabus

Math 7 Syllabus

I. COURSE DESCRIPTION

The Math 7 course is designed to prepare students for high school Algebra I. The course uses an intermediate math book that further develops the skills learned in math 1 – 6, and that introduces concepts that are further developed in Algebra I.

II. Rubric

Grades are determined the same way in all my classes, as follows:

Homework        25%

Notebooks        25%

Tests                25%

Papers              25%

 I weight all areas equally because I do not want students to think that any of their assignments are unimportant. It can therefore be relatively easy to get a good grade in my class, but it is also easy to get a poor one if any area of study is neglected. I assign papers because I believe that writing is a key 21^st century skill, especially for those in technical careers where solid writing will distinguish students from their peers. I also teach active reading skills in class because it is important that students be able to work out the meaning of technical materials, which often have a very different vocabulary, by themselves.

Homework is assigned Monday through Thursday evenings. The assignment will always be all of the even exercises in the text. This amounts to 30 – 40 problems. Students should expect to spend about one hour on their homework each evening. Late homework is not accepted.

Papers are due every two weeks, on Friday. Late papers are not accepted unless the student was sick on the Friday the paper was due.

Notebooks are checked every Monday morning. Students are expected to use the Cornell Notes style of note-taking that I teach them.

Tests consist of pop quizzes and chapter tests. The number of tests may vary as I see a need for assessment of student progress.

Students may contact me at my cell phone number (650-464-2338) for homework help any time before 10:00 pm. Parent calls are also welcome when desired.

III. DETAILS

Instructor Biography

My name is Chip Harrison. I was born in 1958 and grew up in Texas and Colorado.

I graduated from the University of California, Davis in 1983 with degrees in Electrical Engineering and German, and a minor in psychology. I spent the next twenty years in high tech sales and marketing, rising to the level of marketing manager and regional sales manager. I worked at major corporations like Hewlett-Packard, IDT, VLSI Technology, Seiko, and Chartered Semiconductor. I was also a commissioned officer during the early years of my career, with my specialty in military intelligence. Since entering teaching I have completed my Master’s and Doctorate in Education from the University of Phoenix.

I have been fortunate to travel all over the world including North America, Asia, and Europe. I have been published professionally and have my own small company called Chipco Games that sells historical and fantasy wargames rules all over the world. I enjoy reading about history and find it a never ending source of interest, surprise, and enlightenment.

I have a grown son who is finding his way as a blues guitarist, my wife Linda, two kittens, a chinchilla, and a cockatiel.