Sandtown Middle School

8
th
Grade Mathematics
Instructional Syllabus

Instructor: Crystal White
Email Address: White3@fultonschools.org
Website: www.whitewizards.weebly.com
Telephone contact: 770-744-3237


Textbook and Materials: Pearson Prentice Hall Mathematics Course 3 (Replacement Cost $71.97)
Holt, Algebra I (Replacement Cost $82.65)

Students should report to class on time with all materials. These include: 3-ring binder w/ 5 divider, loose-leaf
paper, a small pencil sharpener with cover, a pack of graph paper, 50 pack of sheet protectors, pencil pouch,
and writing utensils (5 pencils daily). The notebook should be in the following order: pencil pouch, paper,
divider 1 (Warm-ups), divider 2 (Classwork & Homework), divider 3 (Quizzes), divider 4 (graphic organizers)Note:
sheet protectors should be in this section. Throughout the school year supplies will need to be replenished.

1
st
& 2
nd
Semester Topics & Timeline

Math 8 Unit 1 Transformations, Congruence, and Similarity (5 weeks)
Students use ideas about distance and angles, how they behave under translations, rotations, reflections, and
dilations, and ideas about congruence and similarity to describe and analyze two-dimensional figures and to solve
problems.

Math 8 Unit 2 Exponents and Equations (5 weeks)
In this unit, students build upon their work with whole-number exponents in Grades 5 and 6, by extending the
properties of exponents to include rational and irrational numbers, including numbers in scientific notation. Students
strategically choose and efficiently implement procedures to solve linear equations in one variable, understanding
that when they use the properties of equality and the concept of logical equivalence, they maintain the solutions of
the original equation. Students also use linear equations to represent, analyze, and solve a variety of problems.

Math 8 Unit 3 Geometric Applications of Exponents (4 weeks)
Students understand the statement of the Pythagorean Theorem and its converse, and can explain why the
Pythagorean Theorem holds, for example, by decomposing a square in two different ways. They apply the
Pythagorean Theorem to find distances between points on the coordinate plane, to find lengths, and to analyze
polygons. Students complete their work on volume by solving problems involving cones, cylinders, and spheres.
Working with equations such as x
2
= 2 and in geometric contexts such as the Pythagorean theorem, students enlarge
their concept of numbers beyond the system of rational to include irrational numbers. They represent these numbers
with radical expressions and approximate these as rational numbers (i.e non-terminating decimals).

Math 8 Unit 4 Functions (4 weeks)
In grade 6, students plotted points in all four quadrants of the coordinate plane. They also represented and analyzed
quantitative relationships between dependent and independent variables. In Grade 7, students decided whether
two quantities are in a proportional relationship. In Grade 8, students begin to call relationships functions when each
input is assigned to exactly one output. Also, in Grade 8, students learn that proportional relationships are part of a
broader group of linear functions, and they are able to identify whether a relationship is linear. Nonlinear functions
are included for comparison. Later, in high school, students use function notation and are able to identify types of
nonlinear functions.

Math 8: Unit 5 Linear Functions (4 weeks)
In grade 8, students build on their work with unit rates from 6th grade and proportional relationships in 7
th
grade to
compare graphs, tables and equations of proportional relationships. Students identify the unit rate (or slope).
Students understand the unit rate informally as a measure of the steepness of the related line (slope) in graphs, tables
and equations as they compare two or more proportional relationships. They distinguish proportional relationships
from other relationships. As they move towards an understanding of the idea of a function, they begin to tie
together ideas about expressions in one variable, equations in two variables, and numerical and graphical
representations of solutions to these equations.
Math 8: Unit 6 Linear Models and Tables (4 weeks)
Building on the study of statistics using univariate data in Grades 6 and 7, students are now ready to study bivariate
data. Students will extend their descriptions and understanding of variation to the graphical displays of bivariate
data. In Grade 8, students focus on linear equations and functions. Nonlinear functions are used for comparison.

Math 8: Unit 7 Solving Systems of Equations (4 weeks)
In Grade 6, students applied the properties of operations to generate equivalent expressions, and identified when
two expressions are equivalent. This cluster extends understanding to the process of solving equations and to their
solutions, building on the fact that solutions maintain equality, and that equations may have only one solution, many
solutions, or no solution at all. Equations with many solutions may be as simple as 3x = 3x, 3x + 5 = x + 2 + x + x + 3, or 6x
+ 4x = x(6 + 4), where both sides of the equation are equivalent once each side is simplified.


Tutorial: Tutorials will be available for all students interested in getting extra help or for enrichment.
Tutorials will occur Wednesday 4:15 5:15. Failing students MUST attend tutorials
Students must come prepared with materials.
Parents must provide transportation.

Make Up Work Policy: Announced work, such as homework, quizzes, tests, and other major assessments
are due the day the student returns. For each days excused absence, student
will have one day to make up missed work. If a student is absent under
extenuating circumstances, special arrangements can be made to make up
work.
Late Work Policy: Student is given 3 opportunities to turn in late work:
1st Day Late-15 point deduction
2nd Day Late-30 point deduction
3rd Day Late-50 point deduction

Revision Policy(Recovery): Revised Work is DUE one week after it has been returned to the student:
Student must revise work on a separate sheet of paper.
Student can only revise problems that were missed.
Student must turn in revised work AND original work.
Original Work must NOT be altered in any way, shape, or form.
Student will receive of original credit points added to original assignment
grade.

Grading Procedure: The final grade will be determined by using the following weights for each category:

Tests 20%
Projects 10%
Class work 20%
Quizzes 20%
Homework 15%
Participation 15%


Procedures &Expectations:
At Sandtown Middle School, we believe that every student has the right to learn and that every teacher has
the right to teach. To this end, students will be expected to: Be responsible. Be prepared. Be respectful. Be
cooperative. Give your best EFFORT everyday!

This syllabus is a general outline of the course and is subject to modification.
Discipline Students in this class are expected to adhere to the rules and policies of Sandtown Middle
Guidelines: School and Fulton County as stated in the SMS Student Handbook/Agenda and the FC
Guidelines for Student Behavior.


Failure is not an option and mediocrity is not the standard


Each student has been provided with a copy of this syllabus. Your students
teacher requests that you send an email with your students name in the
subject line to verify that you have read the syllabus by stating I am agreeing
that I understand the requirements for this class. In addition, please complete
and have your child return this page by Friday, August 15, 2013. You may
keep pages 1-2 of the syllabus.



****By signing below, I have read Mrs. Whites syllabus and that I
understand the requirements for this class****


____________________________________________________________
Students Name (printed)


____________________________________________________________
Students Signature Date


____________________________________________________________
Parent/Guardians Name (printed)


____________________________________________________________
Parent/Guardians Signature Date

Day Time Phone Number: _________________________________

Cellular Phone Number: _________________________________

Home Phone Number: _________________________________

E-Mail Address: ___________________________________________________

Please return this form to Mrs. White by Friday, August 15, 2013!!!!!