Descriptions of the Mathematics Learning Standard Grades 7–8

Below are descriptions for the New York State Mathematics Learning Standard and activities for addressing each strand with your child.

Number Sense and Operations

Students understand numbers, multiple ways of representing numbers, relationships among numbers, and number systems. They also understand meanings of operations and procedures, and how they relate to one another. They compute accurately and make reasonable estimates.

Encourage your child to look for integers, fractions, and decimals in familiar places. For example, your child can practice working with percents in everyday situations involving sales tax, discounts, and tips. Whenever your child accompanies you to the store, have her estimate the amount of tax that will be added. Your child can also help you determine the amount that a waiter should be tipped.

Algebra

Students will represent and analyze algebraically a wide variety of problem solving situations. They also perform algebraic procedures accurately and recognize, use, and represent algebraically patterns, relations, and functions.

Play the simple game "Who am I?" Here's an example. "Five more than I am is 17. Who am I?" (The answer is 12.) Your child will need to work backwards to answer this question. You can make the game more difficult as you play it. A more difficult version is the following: Seven more than half of me is 13. Who am I? When your child gives an answer, make sure he or she puts it back into the original statement to check that it works.

Geometry

Students use visualization and spatial reasoning to analyze characteristics and properties of geometric shapes. They identify and justify geometric relationships, formally and informally and apply transformations and symmetry to analyze problem solving situations. They also apply coordinate geometry to analyze problem solving situations.

Part of understanding geometry is knowing how figures change when rotated, reflected, or translated. A good way to discover these relationships is by tracing a pattern in different ways on a piece of paper. Make a pattern out of cardboard or heavy paper and trace it onto a piece of paper. Turn it a quarter turn to the right and trace again. Slide it over to another position and trace a third time. Then flip it over and trace one last time. Have your child look at how the figure changes with each adjustment, and label each new image with "reflection," "translation," or "rotation."

Measurement

Students determine what can be measured and how, using appropriate methods and formulas. They use units to give meaning to measurements and understand that all measurement contains error and are able to determine its significance. They also develop strategies for estimating measurements.

Ask your child to look at a graph in a newspaper or magazine and describe the information that is presented. How are the stated conclusions supported by the evidence in the graph? Sometimes conclusions are made that are not particularly evident in the data display. Encourage your child to be critical of these situations and to decide what reasonable conclusions can be drawn.

Statistics and Probability (Grade 7 only)

Students collect, organize, display, and analyze data. They make predictions that are based upon data analysis and understand and apply concepts of probability.

Have your child explore ways that probability concepts emerge in everyday life. For example, talk with your child about the probability of winning the lottery. How many possible outcomes are there? Do you expect to win? Does the game involve a risk worth taking?