Sixth grade teachers use Connected Math in all regular education classrooms. The eight units in the program will be the primary source of instruction and will cover topics such as factors and multiples, understanding rational numbers, two-dimensional geometry, understanding fractional operations, two-dimensional measurement, similarity and transformations, computing with decimals and percents, probability, and statistics. Students will have opportunities to problem solve, work in groups, and demonstrate individual progress in all of these areas.
Seventh grade teachers use Connected Math in all regular education classrooms with the exception of Pre-Algebra. The eight units in this grade level will also be the primary source of instruction covering topics such as ratio, proportion, and percent, positive and negative numbers, linear relationships, three-dimensional measurement, probability and expected value, and other introductory algebra concepts.
Some students in seventh grade will participate in a more traditional Pre-Algebra course. This class will continue to use the traditional text supplemented with the problem-solving skills and activities necessary to be proficient on the ASK7. Participation in the Pre-Algebra program does not guarantee that a student will take Algebra 1 as an eighth grader.
All seventh grade students will have the opportunity to take the Gloucester Township Exam of Mathematics (GTEM) at the end of seventh grade for placement into Algebra I in grade eight. The score on this assessment, combined with a teacher recommendation score, is used to determine a child’s eighth grade math assignment. Providing equal opportunity to all classes is a key component of math education in Gloucester Township.
Eighth grade teachers use the Connected Math materials with all regular education students with the exception of those taking Algebra 1. The topics covered during the year include linear and inverse variation, the Pythagorean Theorem, exponential relationships, quadratic relationships, symmetry and transformations, making sense of symbols, linear systems and inequalities, and data and statistics. Every student will be exposed to many algebraic concepts with the ultimate goal of preparing all students for high school algebra.
Algebra I will also be offered to some eighth grade students. This course is designed to mirror its High School counterpart and meet the requirement of High School Algebra I. Students will be required to take the same exam as High School students at the end of the year. A more traditional text is also used for this course.
