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NAMS Grade 7 to 8 Math Recommendations

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NAMS Grade 7 to 8 Math Recommendations
NAMS Grade 7 to 8 Math Recommendations

Good evening Grade 7 Families,

I hope that this message finds you well. I wanted to re-share the message I sent Monday evening about math recommendations below and also here.

Please be sure to review the entire message if you have not done so already.

Thank you,

Jorge Goncalves

Principal

 

Message from Monday, May 12, 2025

Each year, Grade 7 Math and AMS teachers are asked to make student recommendations for one of two Grade 8 Math courses, Grade 8 Math  & Grade 8 Algebra. Students received their math recommendations on Tuesday, May 13, 2025.

Below you will find the following information: 

  • Course Descriptions
  • What course is your child recommended for?
  • Course Override Process

8th Grade Math

NAMS will continue to use Illustrative Mathematics as its core curriculum.  The 8th grade Math will focus its instruction on 8th grade math standards.  

The topics of study for math are as follows:

  • Rigid transformations and congruence
  • Dilations, similarity, and introducing slope
  • Linear relationships
  • Linear equations and linear systems
  • Functions and volume

You may find the flowchart of math course offerings from Grades 8-12 here.

8th Grade Algebra

NAMS will continue to use Illustrative Mathematics as its core curriculum. The 8th grade Algebra course will focus its instruction on 9th grade Algebra standards. Since this 8th grade Algebra course is designed to prepare students for Freshmen Honors Math in High School, the focus of the curriculum will be on 9th grade Algebra standards, with teachers strategically weaving in 8th grade concepts and standards as needed.  The Algebra class will be more rigorous than the 8th grade math class, which will focus on 8th grade standards exclusively.   

The topics of study for Algebra are as follows:

  • Linear equations, Inequalities, and Systems
  • Two-variable statistics
  • Functions
  • Introduction to exponential functions
  • Introduction to quadratic functions 

You may find the flowchart of math course offerings from Grades 8-12 here.

How do teachers make recommendations?

Placement recommendations are contingent based upon the following criteria:

  • Grade 5 Math MCAS results and grade 6 Math MCAS results
  • Grade 7 Fall and Winter NWEA MAP testing results
  • Grades earned for the first two trimesters of grade 7 math and AMS
  • Work habits and work completion for the best opportunity for success in grade 8

Where can I find what course I have been recommended for?

Math recommendations may be found in PowerSchool now.  After you have logged into PowerSchool, you will want to select the “Class Registration” option on the left side of the screen. You will not be able to see this information using the PowerSchool App so please be sure to log into your PowerSchool account via a computer.   

Course Override Process

We feel that it is very important to your child’s future math success to be placed in the correct level of math for grade 8.  If you choose to override the teacher’s recommendation, please complete the online Recommendation Override Online Form here by Friday, May 23, 2025. You may also complete, print, and return a paper copy. You may find the form here and attached as a pdf document. Ms. Nightingale, your child’s guidance counselor, will also have copies available in her office.

Please note: 

The online Recommendation Override Form must be received by Friday, May 23, 2025 so that we are able to team our students for the 2025-2026 school year.

If a parent/guardian wishes to  override the teacher’s recommendation, the following criteria will apply:

  • After or before school help offered by eighth grade math teachers will not be individual or remedial in nature for the algebra course.
  • The student’s progress will be monitored periodically and a grade at the end of the first trimester  lower than a “C” will result in a change in class assignment.
  • Please note that a change in one course will necessitate at least one other course change when rescheduling.
  • Students/Families can make a request after the start of the school year to move into the Grade 8 Math class.

Summer Math Opportunities

We would like all students to return to school in September ready to expand their knowledge.  Listed below are topics that students should be ready to use upon their return to school in eighth grade.  Below the list of topics are some free resources students may use to help make sure they are prepared for the eighth grade math courses.

  • Integers
  • Absolute value
  • Order of operations
  • Combining like terms and distributive property
  • Adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing rational numbers
  • Evaluating variable expressions
  • Solving 1-step, 2-step and multi-step equations and inequalities
  • Solving proportions
  • Using percents to solve problems (discount, markup, tax, commission)
  • Mean, Median, Mode of a data set
  • Finding Angle measures of intersecting lines and using parallel line relationships
  • Area, perimeter and circumference of 2 dimensional shapes
  • Surface area and volume of 3 dimensional shapes
  • Statistics and Probability

Online Resources