Mathematics
Welcome to the Magruder Mathematics Department page!
Every member of our math team believes that all students have the ability to learn, succeed, and even enjoy the challenge of mathematics. Nothing is more satisfying to our team than watching a student's face light up when they work through and finally "get" a concept.
Math, and maybe more importantly the reasoning skills it gives students, is not just used in high tech or science careers. Whether we realize it or not, we are using our math skills everyday. A few examples are: when we go shopping, cooking, banking, or even playing sports.
Mathematic Pathways
It all starts with a journey to acquire a strong foundation.
Everyone learns and grows at their own pace. This is very true when it comes to learning mathematics. That is why TUSD has structured its math courses to fit a student's level of practical understanding and skill. The Math Pathway is designed to move a student along with the proper level of rigor and learning speed that the student is comfortable with.
| Pathway A | Pathway B | |
|---|---|---|
| 6th Grade Year | 6th Grade Course | 6th Grade Accelerated (6th grade course plus 1/2 of 7th) |
| 7th Grade Year | 7th Grade Course | 7th Grade Accelerated (1/2 of 7th plus 8th grade course) |
| 8th Grade Year | 8th Grade Course | Algebra 1 |
| First Year High School | Algebra 1 | Geometry |
For more in depth Pathway Information click here to see the TUSD's parent slide presentation.
Is one pathway better than the other?
NO. Both are designed with college and career readiness in mind. We want to emphasize that the best placement should be determined by your student's current knowledge level and learning pace.
How does my student get placed in the Accelerated program?
Teachers first review student work for accelerated readiness and conceptual understanding. They also look at class performance, modeling and maturity level. Next, the Smarter Balanced Assessment (also known as CAASPP) math scores are evaluated. Scores must be above average for all the following areas: Concepts & Procedures, Communication Reasoning, Problem Solving, and Modeling. If all of the above indicate that the Accelerated Program is a good fit for your student then a joint decision between teachers, administrators and the family can be made.
General Topics* covered in our math courses
*Please note: this is a general overview not a complete curriculum list
| 6th Grade Math | |
|---|---|
|
Factors and Multiples |
 |
| 6th Grade Accelerated Math | |
|---|---|
|
(6th grade course plus 1/2 of 7th) All 6th grade topics ( see above) 1/2 of 7th Grade Course topics: |
 |
| 7th Grade Math | |
|---|---|
|
Ratios and Proportional Reasoning |
|
| 7th Grade Accelerated Math | |
|---|---|
|
(1/2 of 7th plus 8th grade course) Plus all of 8th Grade Course (see below) |
 |
| 8th Grade Math | |
|---|---|
|
Real Numbers |
x |
| Algebra 1 | |
|---|---|
|
Relationships between Quantities |
x |
What if my student needs extra support?
Please contact your student's math teacher with any concerns. Our teachers are best reached by email and will respond as quickly as possible.
We do have many supports in place depending on the circumstances. For example, we utilize AMP time (click to read more) and have an afterschool invitation only program called the Magruder Math Academy (MMA) (click to read more), We also have special Intervention classes for those who need additional daily class support.