Grade 7:  M a t h
1022003_23121_1.png  Philosophy
Mathematics is not what it used to be.  The focus is now on problem-solving skills and helping students understand the "why" as well as the "how" of mathematics skills.  We encourage students to explore, discuss, even play in order to help them understand concepts more deeply.  We focus on the many ways to get to the right answer, not only on the answer itself.
1022003_23327_2.png Math in French
Every year parents and students are concerned about the teaching of Mathematics in French.  I can understand this concern, particulary as parents often feel unable to help their children at home as they would like to.  I must say however, that I have had very very few students who struggled in Mathematics because it is taught in French in grades 7 and 8.  The very nature of Mathematics requires providing numerous examples and allowing for time to practise new skills.  

There are a few things that we do to make the transition from English to French Math easier.  
  • The grade six teacher often takes some time at the end of the year to review basic math words in French.  
  • Also,  I often provide English equivalents for specific French Math words, especially when they are different from the English (which is quite rare).  
  • There are a few English copies of our math textbook.  Students can refer to these to clarify their understanding.
A final thought on this topic.  Many students confuse two separate issues.  Grade seven Math is quite a bit more challenging than grade six Math.  We cover more territory and we begin to study more complex concepts such as Algebra and Integers  (positive and negative numbers).  Many students struggle because the expectations are more demanding, not simply because the concepts are being taught in French.
 
If you find that Math being taught in French is a concern for your family.  Please contact me so I can answer your questions and help put you and your child at ease!


 Math Plans for the Year
Go to the Halton Cloud to see tentative plans for the year for Grade Seven Math.  All students, both English and French, follow the same math program at Aldershot.  Teachers work together to develop program and deliver it to students consistently.  Remember that the plans are flexible and may change as the year progresses, depending on the needs of the students and the pace at which they are developing in their math skills.
1022003_24850_0.png  Math Strands
The Ontario Curriculum divides Mathematics into five strands.  Here is a brief overview of each.
8282003_30158_1.png Number Sense and Numeration
This strand deals with numbers and the patterns and systems that they follow.  Topics in this strand include:  whole numbers, fractions, decimals, percents, ratios, positive and negative numbers, and place values.  This strand also covers basic number sense:  factors, multiples, exponents, squares and square roots.
8282003_30849_2.png  Measurement
Measurement refers to anything that we measure.  It may involve money, time, linear distances, perimeter, area or volume as well as the Metric System.  In grade seven we focus on area of two dimensional shapes such as triangles, parallelograms, trapezoids and irregular shapes.  We also study surface area and volume of a variety of right prisms.
8282003_31018_3.png Geometry and Spatial Sense
Geometry and Measurement are very closely related. Geometry is the study of shapes, both two- and three-dimensional.  Geometry also incorporates the study of angles and relationships between angles.  In grade seven we focus on symmetry, congruency, and types of triangles.
8282003_31409_4.png  Patterning and Algebra
In the elementary years, students begin by learning about patterns:  predictable series of objects or numbers.  From here, students begin to learn that numbers can be represented by letters (variables) in order to represent more complex patterns.     In grade seven we learn how to use variables to replace numbers, how to simplify algebraic expressions and equations by combining like terms, how to evaluate expressions by substitution and how to solve simple equations by trial and error.
8282003_31813_5.png   Data Management and Probability
Data management is all about collecting , presenting, analyzing and evaluating data.  Skills include how to calculate mean, media, mode and range as well as how to display data using charts and graphs (ie. tally charts, stem and leaf plots, bar graphs, line graphs, circle graphs, histograms, pictograms).  We also discuss how to accurately graph data and how to identify graphs that do not accurately represent the given data.
 Useful links
 
 
Nombres en français
 Explanation of some numbers in French:  
 Word Search with numbers 1-49 in French:                                                                        
 A hangman game for numbers in French:

 

Plan Cartésien (Cartesian Plane)

Explanation of the Cartesian Plane in French

        http://www.cslaval.qc.ca/sitsatlll/maths2003/cartesien.html

Interactive Cartesian Plane

        http://smartboards.typepad.com/smartboard/files/coordinates1.swf

    

Valeur de position (Place Values)

A site in French explaining place values:

     http://biblio.alloprof.qc.ca/PagesAnonymes/DisplayFiches.aspx?ID=2003

An interactive animated lesson about the importance of the decimal:

     http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/mf5ed/html/lessons/1/M5-1.swf

 

Arrondissement des nombres (Rounding numbers)
A brief review of rounding numbers in French.  Scroll down to number 9 to find it:
A matching game to review rounding numbers.  Click on two cards to find the match.  For example, 17,46 and 17,5 are a pair because one is the other rounded ot the nearest 10th:
A step by step explanation in French of how to round numbers:

  

Comparer et ranger les nombres décimaux (Comparing and ordering decimal numbers)
An interactive site that helps students practise ordering decimal numbers 
 
Théorie des Nombres:  Facteurs, multiples, premiers et composés (Factors, Multiples, Prime and Composite numbers)
Interactive animated lesson on factors, multiples and prime/ composite numbers
        http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/mf5ed/html/lessons/2/M5-2.swfVideo explaining how to find the GCF (Plus Petit Facteur Commun)
Video explaining how to find the LCM (Plus Petit Commun Multiple)
Site explaining how to identify the PPFC and the PPCM of two numbers
Three sites on factors, multiples, prime and composite numbers:
Sites on square roots, squares and exponents:


 

Fractions

Les fractions équivalentes (Equivalent fractions)

        http://siteexomath.free.fr/5ieme/simplification_de_fractions.htm

        http://www.mathematiquesfaciles.com/fractions-2-simplification_2_19210.htm

Trouver le dénominatuer commun (Finding the common denominator) 
Soustraire les fractions (Subtracting fractions)   
 

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