Middle School Math Enrichment Program 2023

District 97 will offer Math Enrichment Bridge Courses for Acceleration and Summer Math Review Courses for students in grades 5-7. Below you will find course descriptions for all bridge and review courses being offered this year. Registration forms may be accessed in each section. 

Please contact Dr. Tawanda Lawrence at [email protected] regarding questions about Math Enrichment Bridge Courses for Acceleration and Summer Math Review Courses. Dana Aviles may be contacted at [email protected] for all registration questions.

Math Enrichment Bridge Courses for Acceleration

Students in grades 5-7 who are interested will receive the opportunity to learn course content to advance to the next level of math instruction.

All bridge courses for acceleration will begin in Trimester 3 (March 9 - June 9) and continue during the summer (June 13 - June 30 (M-F) 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. or 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., location TBD) NO CLASSES ON JUNE 19. During Trimester 3, 6th and 7th grade students will participate in the bridge course during the school day based on the established schedule at Brooks and Julian. Fifth grade students will be provided this course at their home school on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

All students in grades 5-7 who participate in a Trimester 3 bridge course for acceleration must commit to continuing their learning during the summer in order to conclude course content and take the end of course exam in person on Friday, June 30, 2023. Consistent bridge course attendance during Trimester 3 and summer sessions is essential for student success. Students are expected to maintain 80% attendance for all bridge courses. Students should arrive and depart on time every day, and families should inform the teacher if an unexpected illness or issue arises which impacts their attendance. Note, attendance will not prevent a student from taking the end of course exam.

Students who score 80% or higher on the end of course exam and participate in the 2023 Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) in English Language Arts/Literacy and mathematics will advance to the next level of mathematics for the next school year.

2023 Math Enrichment Bridge Courses for Acceleration (Trimester 3 + summer)
Math 6 Bridge Course for Acceleration Current 5th grade students
- Test into Math 7
Math 7 Bridge Course for Acceleration

Current Math 6/7 students 
- Test into Math 8 

Math 8 Bridge Course for Acceleration

Current Math 7/8 students 
- Test into Algebra I/Integrated Math I 

Registration will open on Wednesday, January 25, 2023
 Registration will close and payment is due on Wednesday, February 15, 2023 by 11:59p.m. 

The registration fee for this course is $150.00 which includes a $25 non-refundable deposit. 

Independent Study

Current 6th and 7th grade students who are unable to attend the Middle School Math Enrichment Bridge courses during the school day have the opportunity to enroll in Independent Study. 

Independent Study is offered to current 6th and 7th grade students who are unable to participate in the Trimester 3 and summer bridge course. A course outline will be provided to students enrolled in Independent Study. Mathematics resources will not be provided by District 97. Independent Study is not available for 5th grade students as it is important that students transitioning into middle school receive direct instruction from District 97 staff, are exposed to the District 97 mathematics curriculum, and follow the scope and sequence outlined for the Math 6 Bridge Course for Acceleration. 

The following two in-person testing dates will be held for Independent Study students: Friday, June 30, 2023 (location and time TBD) OR Friday, July 14, 2023 (for Independent Study students ONLY) at 9 a.m. at District 97's District Office located at 260 Madison Street.  Independent Study students must be able to attend one of the testing dates. Students who score 80% or higher on the end of course exam and participate in the 2023 Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) in English Language Arts/Literacy and mathematics will advance to the next level of mathematics for the next school year. 

Registration will open on Wednesday, January 25, 2023
Registration will close and payment is due on Wednesday, February 15, 2023, by 11:59 p.m. 

There is no registration fee for the Independent Study Course for Acceleration.

Summer Math Review Courses

Students in grades 5-7 who are interested will receive a review of course content from the previous school year.

Review courses will be offered to all students in grades 5-7 during the summer only to provide opportunities for students to review grade level Illinois Learning Standards in mathematics and engage in challenging performance tasks. Summer math review courses will be offered (June 13 - June 30 (M-F) 8 a.m. - 10 a.m. or 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., location TBD) NO CLASSES ON JUNE 19. 

2023 SUMMER MATH REVIEW COURSES  
Introduction to Middle School Math Current 5th grade students
Math 6 Review Current 6th grade students
Math 7 Review Current 7th grade students

Registration will open on Monday, February 27, 2023
 Registration will close and payment is due on Monday, April 24, 2023 by 11:59 p.m. 

The registration fee for this course is $45.00 which includes a $15 non-refundable deposit.

Middle School Math Enrichment Course Descriptions

Current 5th Grade Students:

Incoming 6th grade students have the opportunity to take the Introduction to Middle School Math Review course or Math 6 Bridge Course for Acceleration

Introduction to Middle School Math Review

The course is designed to prepare 5th grade students for middle school mathematics. Classes will provide additional support to students who need to review the 5th grade Illinois Learning Standards in mathematics. There will also be opportunities for students desiring to be challenged. Topics covered will include fraction and decimal operations, proportions, and geometry. Homework will not be given for this class.

Math 6 Bridge Course for Acceleration (current 5th grade students may test into Math 7)

The course will focus on the skills and content from Math 6. Topics covered will include understanding ratio concepts and using ratio reasoning to solve problems; applying and extending previous understandings of 

  • multiplication and division to divide fractions by fractions,  
  • numbers to the system of rational numbers,
  • arithmetic to algebraic expressions; 
  • reasoning about and solving one-variable equations and inequalities and representing and analyzing quantitative relationships between dependent and independent variables.

Students who score 80% or higher on the end of course exam and participate in the 2023 Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) in English Language Arts/Literacy and mathematics will advance to Math 7 for the next school year. Students can expect to receive homework for this class.

Current 6th Grade Students

Incoming 7th grade students have the opportunity to take the Math 6 Review course or Math 7 Bridge Course for Acceleration

Math 6 Review

The course will focus on digging deeper into the skills from Math 6. Topics covered will include understanding ratio concepts and using ratio reasoning to solve problems; applying and extending previous understandings of 

  • multiplication and division to divide fractions by fractions,  
  • numbers to the system of rational numbers,
  • arithmetic to algebraic expressions; 
  • reasoning about and solving one-variable equations and inequalities and representing and analyzing quantitative relationships between dependent and independent variables.

Homework will not be given for this class.

Math 7 Bridge Course for Acceleration (current Math 6 students may test into Math 8)

The course will focus on the skills and content from Math 7. Topics covered will include analyzing proportional relationships; applying and extending previous understandings of operations with fractions; using properties of operations to generate equivalent expressions and solving real-life and mathematical problems using algebraic expressions and equations. Students who score 80% or higher on the end of course exam and participate in the 2023 Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) in English Language Arts/Literacy and mathematics will advance to Math 8 for the next school year. Students can expect to receive homework for this class.

Current 7th Grade Students

Incoming 8th grade students have the opportunity to take the Math 7 Review course or Math 8 Bridge Course for Acceleration.  

Math 7 Review

The course will focus on digging deeper into the skills from Math 7. Topics covered will include analyzing proportional relationships; applying and extending previous understandings of operations with fractions; using properties of operations to generate equivalent expressions and solving real-life and mathematical problems using algebraic expressions and equations. Homework will not be given for this class.

Math 8 Bridge Course for Acceleration (current Math 7 students may test into (Algebra I/Integrated Math I) 

The course will focus on the skills and content from Math 8. Topics covered will include working with radicals and integer exponents, understanding the connections between proportional relationships, lines, and linear equations; analyzing and solving linear equations and pairs of simultaneous linear equations; defining, evaluating, and comparing functions; using functions to model relationships between quantities; understanding congruence and similarity using physical models, transparencies, or geometry software and understanding and applying the Pythagorean Theorem. Students who score 80% or higher on the end of course exam and participate in the 2023 Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) in English Language Arts/Literacy and mathematics will advance to Algebra I/Integrated Math I for the next school year.  Students can expect to receive homework for this class.

Independent Study

If your incoming 7th or 8th grade student is unable to participate in the bridge course for acceleration, you may choose an Independent Study option. Independent Study is not available for incoming 6th grade students. The table below outlines the courses for Independent Study:

2023 Middle School Math Independent Study

Current GRADE

Current Course

2023 Summer Independent Study Course Course to Advance to for 2023-2024
6th Grade Math 6 Math 7 Bridge Course for Acceleration Math 8
7th Grade Math 7 Math 8 Bridge Course for Acceleration Algebra I/Integrated Math I

End of course exams will be administered to Independent Study students on the dates provided below only.  Students who score 80% or higher on the end of program exam and participate in the 2023 Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) in English Language Arts/Literacy and mathematics will advance to the next level of mathematics for the next school year.

  • Friday, June 30, 2023 (Time and Location - TBD)
  • Friday, July 14, 2023 at 9 a.m. (District Office located at 260 Madison Street) for Independent Study students ONLY

2023-2024 Mathematics Acceleration Pathways and Mathematics Course Placement:

Bridge courses for acceleration are offered to students as one of two pathways to Algebra I/Integrated Math I by eighth grade. You may access the charts that include the two pathways students in grades 5-7 may select to be considered for acceleration in the area of mathematics here

Brooks and Julian will communicate mathematics placement for the 2023-2024 school year to families in July. Please contact April Capuder, Brooks Middle School principal at [email protected] or Jeremy Christian, Julian Middle School principal at [email protected] if you have questions regarding your student’s math placement.

Important Dates to Remember

Bridge Course for Acceleration
(Trimester 3 and Summer)
Dates
Registration for the Bridge Course for Acceleration - Opens Wednesday, January 25, 2023
Registration for the Bridge Course for Acceleration - Closes and Payment Due Wednesday, February 15, 2023
Trimester 3 Session - Begins Thursday, March 9, 2023
Trimester 3 Session - Ends Friday, June 9, 2023
Summer Session - Begins Tuesday, June 13, 2023
Summer Session - Ends Friday, June 30, 2023
End-of-Course Exam Friday, June 30, 2023
Independent study dates
Registration for the Independent Study - Opens Wednesday, January 25, 2023
Registration for the Independent Study - Closes Wednesday, February 15, 2023
Independent Study - Begins Thursday, March 9, 2023
Independent Study - Ends Friday, June 30, 2023
End-of Course Exam

Friday, June 30, 2023 
OR
Friday, July 14, 2023 (for Independent Study students ONLY)

Summer Math Review Course Dates
Registration for the Summer Math Review Course - Opens

Monday, February 27, 2023

Registration for the Summer Math Review Course - Closes and Payment Due Monday, April 24, 2023
Summer Session - Begins Tuesday, June 13, 2023
Summer Session - Ends Friday, June 30, 2023