Welcome to Jr. High Math
Mr. Stan Markowski

A Little Bit About Us:
November 29, 2007

Dear students and parents,

I hope everyone had an enjoyable and relaxing Thanksgiving and are not too sad to return to school. Christmas Break will be here before we know it, but before we get there, the material for both algebra and pre-algebra will be getting more difficult for some. I ask that you remind your children to remain focused (as I will continue to do) and ensure that they are aware of what they understand and don't understand in class. If a student is ever struggling or confused, all they need to do is ask me for help.

Because of some of the complications with the voice mail system at the school, the resource team has been gracious enough to let me use their phone and answering machince for school purposes. You can call (925) 855-1868 and leave a message for me, but just be sure to mention my name in your message (so they know it is for me). I can always be reached via email, or you can flag me down as I roam around the school--just try not to talk business while I'm in the middle of the street during carpool.

Algebra:
Dr. Varon and I have been working closely together to ensure that we are on the same page as far as what we cover in class and our pace of instruction. We will be preparing students for the high-school entrance exam, which consists of many critical thinking and word problems. We are currently working with polynomials, and will move onto factoring as we get closer to Christmas.

Pre-Algebra:
I feel that my experience in teaching algebra has helped me determine what to focus on with the 7th grade students, and at times we will stray from the book a bit to help give them a solid foundation in pre-algebra. Many of the concepts we cover this year will be re-introduced in algebra in 8th grade (and once again in 9th grade for most students). The more the students comprehend and hold onto, the better off they will be next year. We are currently working with fractions and decimals, and will be moving our way towards ratios, proportions, and percents as we approach Christmas Break.

Fifth Grade Science:
First of all, let me congratulate you on taking the time to find this page. I am delighted to be able to teach one of my favorite subjects from my time in the fifth grade, and it has been a pleasure to work with Mrs. Douthit. We share a similar outlook on what to expect and how to teach the students, and there is a great deal of consistency between our methods. We have just wrapped up our unit on chemisty (called "matter" in the textbook), and will be moving onto a more friendly and interesting subject, the solar system. Please feel free to contact me directly if you have any questions or concerns regarding your child, or you may ask Mrs. Douthit to do so. It is my pleasure to be able to work with the fifth-graders once again.

Once again, please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have about your child, and I am always willing to help out in any way that I can.

Sincerely,

Stan Markowski