ºÃÉ«µ¼º½

2023 – 2024

Hillcrest Middle School

Math180/Lab

Mr. Stephens

Phone: (623) 376-3338

Email: Philip.stephens@dvusd.org

Website: /Domain/3925

Hello! My name is Mr. Stephens, and I believe strongly in helping your child be as successful as they can be through hard work, goal setting, high expectations, teamwork, and a lot of laughter. This is my twenty sixth year as a teacher, and I always try to integrate fun with learning and effort. I am looking forward to a great year with all my new students.

Suggested Supplies:

1. School Issued Chromebook
2. A book to read in class everyday
3. Pencils, pens, colored pencils, highlighters
4. Whiteboard markers (thin pencil-like)

**Classroom Requests: Tissues (we ran out last year), White board markers (thin pencil-like), Clorox Wipes

Arizona law requires that public schools provide supplies required for academic success. This list represents optional, supplementary items, which you may supply, at your discretion. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the school.

The Goal: To ensure that struggling math students have an explicit and accelerated path to college and career readiness. 

Curriculum Components/Related Activities/Materials: 

The instructional intent of this class is to improve the math abilities of class participants. Class activities and outcomes are designed to align with ºÃÉ«µ¼º½curriculum and Arizona College and Career Readiness Standards. (See http://www.azed.gov/standards-practices/mathematics-standards-2/ ) The class curriculum content and structure will be based on the Scholastic MATH 180 Math Intervention Program. 

“MATH 180 is a math intervention program for grades 6+. It is designed to address the needs of struggling students. The program combines classroom support and adaptive software, which provides students with personalized instruction and practice. By allowing students to learn, practice and review at their own pace, each student receives instruction which reflects their strengths and weaknesses. 

There are several components of the MATH 180 program, including: 

- Student Dashboards that display your child’s recent achievements and provide access to the areas of instruction. 

- Personalized software to build skills and provide practice in essential areas such as Operations and Algebraic Thinking, Number and Operations in Base Ten and Number in Operations in Fractions—skills necessary for success in algebra. 

- Access to fun and engaging math games in and out of the classroom through the Brain Arcade, a personalized playlist of games that build strategic and computational fluency.”* 

*https://www.hmhco.com/programs/math-180#overview  Note: When appropriate, I will supplement instruction with district adopted grade level texts and curriculum materials (Open Up Resources resources). 

Math 180 Instructional Model 

(See https://www.hmhco.com/programs/math-180#overview). 

1. Whole Group 

2. Small Group Instruction 

3. MATH 180 Software (this will give the most targeted growth;more time=more learning)

4. Assessment 

¡ñ “Instruction begins with a whole-class “Do Now” warm-up that serves as review or an introduction. ¡ñ Then, students divide into two groups (determined by data analysis), and rotate between stations for independent learning and teacher-led small group instruction. 

¡ñ “In small group, the teacher facilitates instruction to build conceptual understanding, develop reasoning and communication skills, and interpret student thinking.” 

¡ñ The MATH 180 software builds mastery and a mathematical mindset for students through instructional videos, guided problem sets, adaptive formative assessments, and smart math 

games designed to build fluency.”* 

*https://www.hmhco.com/programs/math-180#overview

Grading and Percentage Weights of Assignments

1. Assignments/practice:                                                                                       20%

To fully succeed in class, each student must be an active participant. This requires that they utilize class time efficiently and to the best of their academic ability. This grade will come from work in the Math180 books and the benchmarks in the program. 

1. Assessments:                                                                                              80%

Assessments include the work students are expected to be doing in the math180 computer program. The most important part of this program is working in the computer system because it helps identify and fill the math gaps.

DISCIPLINE

S.I.T.- B: RESPONSE TO INTERVENTION – BEHAVIOR

(The HMS School-Wide Prevention Program)

Our progressive discipline is based on the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) – Behavior program.

Students are expected to conduct themselves in a proper manner at all times.  Specific guidelines are outlined in the ºÃÉ«µ¼º½Student Rights and Responsibility (SR & R) Handbook.  The school rules apply to coming to school, going home from school, and at all school-sponsored events.  General misbehavior is handled by the classroom teacher in the following manner: 

PROGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR INTERVENTIONS

Step 1: Universal Interventions (Warning/Redirection)

Step 2: 1st Minor Incident Report with Interventions

Step 3: 2nd Minor Incident Report with Interventions and Parent Email

Step 4: 3rd Minor Incident Report with Interventions and Parent Phone Call- Major Behavior Referral

Consequences for inappropriate behavior will be given according to the ºÃÉ«µ¼º½discipline guidelines as outlined in the Student Rights and Responsibility (SR & R) Handbook.

Communicating with me:

The best way to contact me is through email. My email address is philip.stephens@dvusd.org .  I am looking forward to communication with you regarding the success of your child.

3-12 Grade Scale

Students in 3rd through 12th grades will receive marks for their proficiency toward the grade level standards using the following scale.

           4 = Highly Proficient

           3 = Proficient

           2 = Partially Proficient

           1 = Minimally Proficient

Students in 3rd through 12th grades will receive marks for their overall performance in each course of study using the following letter grade scale.

           A =  90-100% 

           B =  80-89%

           C =  70-79%

           D =  60-69%

          F =   0-59%

Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)

Give me 5: We will do a lot of independent and/or group work. To get your attention, I will say, “Give me 5" and we’ll count down. As soon as you hear, “Give me 5," stop working, stop talking, focus on me. By the time I get to 1, I expect everything to have stopped and everyone to be quiet, and ready to focus on what I have to tell you.

Notebooks/notes: All students are expected to take notes on a daily basis. They will be checked on a bi-weekly basis and will be a part of the overall grade. I will ask to see your notes when you ask for my help because you must first seek to understand on your own.

Hall Passes/Bathroom policies: Go to the bathroom before or after class. During class, you may go during independent work. You may not go during the first 10 or last 10 minutes of class or when the teacher or a student is talking. Please know that the class will not be held up or material will not be recovered because you were not in the room. When you enter the room and class is in session, please move to your place quietly and catch up as quickly as possible without disturbing anyone in the room.

Phone Calls/texting: All phones will be placed in cell phone holder during class time. All students are expected to make all car pool, lunch, or after school arrangements before coming to school each day. Usage of phones are limited to before/after school, passing periods, lunch, and in-class at teacher discretion. There will be a strict procedure in place for cell phone usage. If students need to use it, please communicate that need to me J

Raising hand: When you need to speak (which I hope is often), please raise your hand and wait to be called upon. You may be called on at times when you haven’t raised your hand, and sometimes when you raise it, you won’t get called on. I try to spread the wealth and keep you sharp :)

Pencil Sharpening: Pencil sharpening should be done before class. If you need to sharpen a pencil during class, get up and go stand beside the sharpener and wait until the teacher indicates that it’s ok to go ahead. I suggest you have two pencils for each period just in case.

Tardiness: Being tardy will result in a sweep. Please do not ask a teacher if you can remain in his/her classroom for any reason including completing an assignment (arrangements should be made before or after school).

Beginning of class: Be prepared with your textbook, notebook, agenda, and two sharpened pencils. The daily schedule will be posted on the board with the objective stated. Please be sure to have this in your notes. Also include the assignment in your agenda. Begin your bell work and then we will go over the homework. Please make sure you are in class on time.

End of class: Class is over when the teacher dismisses you. Please do not pack up your things until you are told that it’s ok. Every class will be wrapped up in some planned way. Don’t jump the gun.

Assignments: Assignments will be assigned most every week and will be graded the when due. Many will be able to be re-done to receive full credit (please do not take new papers…just erase or rewrite on the one first given). Assignments can be found on the board. Note that assignments are generally graded for points. Following instructions is essential.

Late Work: Work is due when called for. If left incomplete, it will be entered into gradebook to reflect this at 49%. Full credit can be achieved, but DO NOT wait until last week of quarter. Gradebooks close before the last day of qtr.

Work from Absences: For assignments, you have one day for each day absent to make up the work. Tests that are pre-assigned should be made up beginning the second day you return to class. If your absence is preplanned, you should take the test the day you return. After the above time period, work will be counted as a late assignment. Missed notes should be copied from a classmate.

Absences Due to Sports Events or Other Appointments: Work due on the day of the event should be given to the teacher on that day before or after the missed class. The student is responsible for getting assignments that will be missed. Assignments for the missed class are due at the regularly scheduled due date. For example, students leaving early for a game are to turn in their assignments to the teacher before they leave for the game. Missed tests should be made up before or after school or during AP Time. If the event is all day, tests should be made up the next school day. For example, if a student misses a scheduled test due to an appointment that morning, they are to take the test that afternoon after school. Arrangements need to be made for transportation.

Absences Due to Family Trips: Students may get their missed assignments upon their return to class following the trip. All written assignments must be turned into the appropriate teachers within one week after the trip. Canvas will have most of what we are doing (we will be doing most learning evidence assignments on paper).

What to do when we have guests in room: This is not the time to visit. If someone comes in and needs to speak to the teacher, you should review your notes or begin your assignment without talking. If someone comes in and needs to address the class, give them your full attention so that the announcement can be made quickly, and we can return to work.

Paper heading:
Right top of paper (above line):
Name
Date/Period
Assignment (title and page #)

Paper Passing: Pass your papers to the side of the room. Make sure that all papers are facing the same direction.

Class Rules:

1. Raise your hand to be heard.
2. Listen to the person speaking.
3. Show respect to yourself and others
4. Be a Leader
5. 7 p’s-proper, prior, planning, prevents, pitiful, poor, performance! (Plan all you can
6. Do what you are supposed to do, when you are supposed to do it, because that’s how it’s done (best).

Academic Integrity Statement

To be college-, career-, and community-ready, students in the Deer Valley Unified School District are expected to demonstrate academic integrity. Academic integrity is all about being honest and fair in your schoolwork. It means doing work that is entirely your own and giving credit to others (including generative Artificial Intelligence tools) through proper citation when you use their ideas or words.
If you have questions about the guidelines for academic integrity, you should discuss them with your teacher.

Academic Dishonesty Statement

Academic dishonesty refers to any action that compromises the integrity of academic work or evaluation processes. This includes but is not limited to:  

• Copying or stealing another person’s work or data (plagiarism);  
• Allowing another person to copy one’s work;  
• Doing another person’s classwork;  
• Creating more than one copy of one’s work for distribution;  
• Providing another person with the answers on tests or quizzes;   
• Noncompliance with teachers’ test-taking procedures;
• Unauthorized copying or development of software; and
• Unauthorized use of generative Artificial Intelligence.

Consequences for instances of academic dishonesty range from a conference and loss of credit (student will be given another opportunity to show mastery of learning) up to a 5-day suspension and loss of credit.

Artificial Intelligence

In the Deer Valley Unified School District, we are committed to providing our students with the best possible education while ensuring their safety, privacy, and well-being. As part of our ongoing efforts to enhance learning experiences, teachers may incorporate generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the classroom for students. 

Students must adhere to the specific guidelines provided in the assignment details. If no guidance around the use of generative AI is provided, students should follow the “restrictive” level (see chart). Teachers should direct students to contact their teacher before submitting classwork if the student is unsure if the tool or website they are using is permitted on a specific assignment.