Richard Barrett

Welcome to Middle School Math in Room 318 at Aspen View Academy to what we expect to be another great year for all. My name is Richard Barrett, and I will be your child’s homeroom/Advisory (period 1) teacher and Math Teacher. This is my fifth year teaching Middle School Math at AVA and I'm excited to meet your child. I began my teaching career in 1996. I bring a lifetime of experiences to my classroom that I believe will best serve my students in their educational journey in Middle School (and beyond). As a lifelong learner I will always strive to be better at all that I do and find better ways for my students to learn.

When I am not at AVA, I am home with my wife Ann, and our two children, Kellan (10) and Brynley (8), and our Golden Retriever, Aspen (5). Our family loves to camp, cook, garden, bike, play cards, travel, play pickleball, swim, and laugh as much as we can. Our recent love is Mexican Dominoes which has created mutliple game nights for us at home.

This year, we are learning and exploring math concepts in Into Math in preparation for 8th grade Math, Algebra, and Geometry either at AVA or in High School. The 2025-2026 school year at AVA will be an exciting, and an exploratory experience for all. I am looking forward to getting to know each of my Middle School Students that I will teach in my classroom and build relationships with them to help them in Math and in life. It is my goal to show them that they can take risks, try new things, and have a positive math experience, including failure, which led me to our motto in Room 318, 'we will fail to succeed'. At AVA, we will be better every day. I look forward to seeing you all in math this year.

 

If you have any questions or concerns during the school year, please feel free to email me. I look forward to working with your child in Middle School Math this year.

All the Best,

Mr. Barrett 🙂

[email protected]

25-26 Class Bell Schedule

7:45 to 8:00 Advisory/Homeroom (Same as Period 1 Math 7)

8:00 to 9:09 1st Period (Math 7)

9:013 to 10:03 2nd Period (Specials/Steam)

10:07 to 11:02 3rd Period (Math 8)

11:06 to 11:56  4th Period (Specials/Steam)

12:00 to 12:55  5th Period (Advanced 2 Math -7th Grade)

1:00 to 1:20 Lunch (7th Grade)

1:20 to 1:40 Recess (7th Grade)

1:45 to 2:40  7th Period (Math 7)

2:45 to 3:25 8th Period (Explorations)

3:25 to 3:30 (Advisory/Homeroom)

Course Syllabi

The broad scope of learning for Into Math is separated into Lessons, Modules, and Units. Below is a list of Modules that will be taught in this course. Middle School Math in my classroom instruction will cover three levels. Math 7, Accelerated Math 7, and Advanced Math 2. Below you will find the Syllabus for each.

Math 7 Syllabus

Unit 1: Proportional Relationships

• • • Identify and Represent Proportional Relationships
    • Proportional Reasoning with Percents

Unit 2: Rational Number Operations

• Understand Addition and Subtraction of Rational Numbers
• Add and Subtract Rational Numbers
• Multiply and Divide Rational Numbers
• Solve Multi-Step Problems Using Rational Numbers

Unit 3: Model with Expressions, Equations, and Inequalities

• • • Solve Problems Using Expressions and Equations
    • Solve Problems Using Inequalities

Unit 4: Geometry

• • • Draw and Analyze Two-Dimensional Figures
    • Analyze Figures to Find Circumference and Area
    • Analyze Surface Area and Volume

Unit 5: Sampling and Data Analysis

• Proportional Reasoning with Samples
• Use Statistics and Graphs to Compare Data

Unit 6: Probability

• Understand and Apply Experimental Probability
• Understand and Apply Theoretical Probability

 

Advanced Math 2 Syllabus

Unit 1: Transform and Construct Geometric Figures

• • • Transformations and Congruence
    • Draw and Analyze Two-Dimensional Figures
    • Transformations and Similarity

Unit 2: Equations and Inequalities in One Variable

• Solve Linear Equations
• Solve Problems Using Inequalities

Unit 3: Similarity, Slope, and Linear Functions

• • • Angle Relationships
    • Proportional Relationships
    • Understand and Analyze Functions
    • Systems of Linear Equations

Unit 4: Data Analysis and Sampling

• • • Scatter Plots
    • Proportional Reasoning with Samples
    • Use Statistics and Graphs to Compare Data
    • Two-Way Tables

Unit 5: Applications of Real Numbers and Exponents

• Real Numbers
• The Pythagorean Theorem
• Exponents and Scientific Notation

Unit 6: Area and Volume

• Analyze Figures to Find Circumference and Area
• Cross Sections, Surface Area, and Volume

Unit 7: Probability

• Understand and Apply Experimental Probability
• Understand and Apply Theoretical Probability

 

Class/School Expectations: Work Hard! & Be Kind!

• Treat each other politely and kindly
• Treat school and personal property respectfully
• Follow teacher requests
• Be prepared for class
• Make a sincere effort in your work, and request help if you need it
• Solve conflicts with care and respect
• Follow all school rules and policies
• No cell phones or smart watches. All personal devices must be off, on airplane mode, or school mode and kept in backpack or locker.
• No Gum!

 

Policies and Procedures

How to be Set Up for Success in Math!

• NO PENS!
• Be on time for class
• Be Prepared for class when class starts with all materials:
• Computer - fully charged
• Into Math Student Edition Book
• Black Math Notebook (grid paper style)
• 2 sharpened pencils, with erasers
• Homework completed and out to be reviewed
• Pencil bag with all supplies inside
• Your brain (gray) and heart (pink)
• Your curiosity
• Your smile

• Turn in all assignments completed and on time
• Raise your hand from your seat and wait until called upon when asking a question, making a comment, or answering a question
• If you need to write down your question, do so until you can be called upon to answer

 

Grading

• 50% Assessments (Summative Assessments)
• 50% Homework Assignments, (40% Quizzes & Exit Tickets, 10% Participation & HW)
• 7th Grade grading policy: 
  • 100 – 90% = A        
  • 89 – 80% = B        
  • 79 – 70% = C          
  • 69 – 60% =  D         
  • 59 – 0 % = F
• Standard Grading Scale 

Grade Redemption

If a student fails a Module Test, or receives a grade they are not happy with, and wants to put in the extra work to perform better, they will have one opportunity to improve their score. The student must schedule time with their teacher to get extra help. Students may only take a different version of the Module Test.

Students will be able to retake the Module Test up to one week after the grade has been entered in Infinite Campus. The learner, not the teacher or parent, must schedule an appointment for the retake.

 

7th Grade Retake Policy

Quarter 1 Retake allowed 1x on Module Test for a better grade

Quarter 2 Retake allowed 1x on Module Test for a better grade

Quarter 3 Retake allowed 1x on Module Test for an average of your two scores

Quarter 4 Retake allowed 1x on Module Test for an average of your two scores

 

8th Grade Retake Policy

Quarter 1 Retake allowed for A's and Below

Quarter 2 Retake allowed for C's and Below

Quarter 3 Retake allowed for D's and Below

Quarter 4 No Retake allowed

 

All grades will be kept in Infinite Campus. Google Classroom, Into Ed scores, and Infinite Campus DO NOT align, so please refer to Infinite Campus for current and final grades.

If a learner demonstrates “Academic Dishonesty” on any assignment or assessment, he/she will receive 50% credit for the first offense.  ZERO percent credit will be given on a second offense.

Homework

All homework must be turned in and completed on time. Homework is intended to be practice for skills learned in the day’s lesson. At times, homework may be short or longer, depending how much students have completed in the allotted time in class.

All homework assignments will be reviewed the following day. On occasion during the week, homework may be collected for a grade. 

It should take AVA math students, on average, no more than 20-30 minutes for each homework assignment. If homework is taking longer, students are expected to communicate with Mr. Barrett in class to determine needed support.

Absent Work

Students will be given two days for every one day absent to complete work. Absent work can be found on the student’s google classroom page or the student may ask for it upon his/her return to school. It is the student’s responsibility to get the assignment(s) and complete it within the given time frame.

Late Work Policy 

Students will lose 10% credit for each day an assignment is late, after it is due, down to 50% (after five days). The late work timeline starts once the assignment or assessment is entered in Infinite Campus as missing.

Students are expected to complete all work and assignments each day and turn it in on time. In the event a student is unable to turn in an assignment on time, there will be a 10% reduction per day for a maximum of 50% of their original completion grade. After 5 days, the maximum grade a student can receive is 50%.

 

How long is late work accepted after the due date before it becomes a zero?

Q1 - 3 weeks

Q2 - 2 weeks

Q3 -1 week (Day 6 is a zero)

Q4 - 1 week (Day 6 is a zero)

 

 

Make Up Work

Students will have two days to complete any assignment or assessment missed due to an excused absence. If completed in this time, the student will be given full credit. If not turned in within this time period, students will be subject to the late work policy.

 

Typical Daily Agenda (Lesson length/days are approximate and will vary depending on Lesson, Module, and Unit)

• Introduce the Unit-STEM Task at the start of each Module
• Are you Ready?-Introduce the Module and Objectives for each lesson
• Build Understanding-Begin lessons and access prior knowledge
• Connect Concepts and Skills - Apply concepts learned and explore deeper understanding of Objectives
• Differentiated Instruction (when necessary)
• Close the Module-Summative Assessment (at the end of each Module)

1. Warm Up, Mental math, Word problems, other various skill builders ) – (5 minutes)
2. Review homework for completion – (5 minutes)
3. New Concept – (10-15 minutes)
4. Guided Lesson Practice of new concepts – (10-15 Minutes)
5. Independent Practice of new concepts– (15 minutes)
6. Closure/Wrap Up/Assess-Review concepts learned from the day, Exit Ticket assign homework – (5 minutes)

I look forward to working with your child in Middle School math this year.

All the Best,

Mr. Barrett 🙂

[email protected]