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Learning Standards Standards

What does a student learn in ?

This is the year math runs on ratios and negative numbers. Students work with positive and negative numbers on a number line, then use them to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in real situations like temperature or money. They use ratios and percents to solve problems with tips, discounts, and scale drawings. By spring, students can find the unit rate from a table, work with negative numbers, and solve a two-step equation like 3x + 5 = 20.

  • Ratios and percents
  • Negative numbers
  • Two-step equations
  • Probability
  • Scale drawings
  • Statistics
Source: Delaware Delaware Content Standards
Year at a glance
How the year usually goes. Every school and district set their own curriculum, so treat this as a guide, not official pacing.
  1. 1

    Working with positive and negative numbers

    Students start the year adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing with negative numbers. Expect to see them reasoning about temperature drops, money owed, and points lost in a game.

  2. 2

    Ratios, rates, and percents

    Students use ratios and percents to solve everyday problems like tips, discounts, taxes, and recipe scaling. They learn to spot when two quantities grow at the same steady rate.

  3. 3

    Expressions and equations

    Students write and solve equations with letters standing in for unknown numbers. Word problems get longer, and students start showing their steps to find an answer.

  4. 4

    Geometry and measurement

    Students find the area and circumference of circles and the volume of boxes and prisms. They also work with scale drawings, like shrinking a room down to fit on graph paper.

  5. 5

    Statistics and probability

    Students compare data from two groups, like test scores in two classes, and figure out the chances of events such as a coin flip or a spinner landing on red. They use small samples to make predictions about larger groups.

Mastery Learning Standards
The required skills a student should display by the end of Grade 7.
Standards for Mathematical Practice

  • Make Sense of Problems

    DE-MATH.MP.7.1

    Students read a math problem carefully, figure out what it is actually asking, and keep trying even when the first approach does not work.

  • Reason Abstractly

    DE-MATH.MP.7.2

    Students take a real problem, strip away the story to work with the numbers, then put the context back to check that the answer actually makes sense.

  • Construct Arguments

    DE-MATH.MP.7.3

    Students explain why their math answer makes sense, using examples or logic to back it up. They also listen to a classmate's reasoning and say specifically what holds up or what doesn't.

  • Model with Mathematics

    DE-MATH.MP.7.4

    Students use math to make sense of real situations, like figuring out a budget, reading a graph, or planning a schedule. The goal is to see math as a tool for solving problems that actually come up outside of school.

  • Use Tools Strategically

    DE-MATH.MP.7.5

    Students choose the right tool for the job, whether that means a calculator, a quick estimate in their head, or working it out on paper. The skill is knowing which tool fits the problem.

  • Attend to Precision

    DE-MATH.MP.7.6

    Students use exact math terms, label answers with the right units (like inches or dollars), and check their calculations carefully. Sloppy shortcuts lead to wrong answers, so precision matters at every step.

  • Use Structure

    DE-MATH.MP.7.7

    Students notice patterns and hidden structure in math problems, like spotting that two expressions are equivalent or that a shape has symmetry. Recognizing that structure helps students solve problems faster and with fewer steps.

  • Express Regularity

    DE-MATH.MP.7.8

    Students notice when the same steps keep showing up in a problem and use that pattern to find a shortcut or rule. Over time, they check whether the shortcut holds up and explain why it works.

K-8 Mathematics Content

  • Counting and Number

    DE-MATH.K8.7.1

    Seventh graders work with whole numbers, fractions, and negative numbers to solve problems. They use number-system rules to compare, convert, and calculate across all three types.

  • Operations and Algebraic Thinking

    DE-MATH.K8.7.2

    Seventh graders write and solve expressions using addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. They set up equations to match real problems, then work through the steps to find the answer.

  • Measurement and Data

    DE-MATH.K8.7.3

    Students read and build tables and graphs, then use the numbers to draw conclusions about what the data shows. This standard covers the reasoning behind summarizing information, not just plotting points.

  • Geometry

    DE-MATH.K8.7.4

    Students sort, describe, and measure flat shapes like triangles and rectangles alongside solid shapes like cubes and cylinders. They use angle measures, side lengths, and other properties to put shapes into categories and explain why they belong there.

  • Ratios and Proportional Relationships

    DE-MATH.K8.7.5

    Students use ratios and proportions to solve everyday problems, like figuring out unit prices, scaling a recipe, or finding a missing measurement when two quantities are related. The math connects to situations they actually encounter.

Assessments
The state tests students at this grade and subject take.
State Summative

DeSSA: Mathematics (Smarter Balanced, Grades 3-8)

Delaware's spring summative math test for grades 3 through 8, aligned to the Delaware Math Standards.

When given:
spring
Frequency:
annual
Official source
Common Questions
  • What math should students be doing by the end of the year?

    Students work with positive and negative numbers, solve problems with ratios and percents, and write and solve equations with a variable. They also calculate things like sales tax, tips, and discounts, and reason about chance using simple probability.

  • How can families help with math homework at home?

    Ask students to explain their thinking out loud before checking the answer. If they get stuck, have them draw a picture, try smaller numbers, or estimate first. The goal is steady reasoning, not speed.

  • Where do students usually struggle this year?

    Negative numbers and integer operations trip up many students, especially subtracting a negative. Proportional reasoning is the other common sticking point. Students often set up ratios but mix up which quantity goes where.

  • How do percents show up in real life at this age?

    Students should be able to figure out a tip at a restaurant, a discount on a sale price, or how much sales tax adds to a total. Practicing with real receipts and menus at home makes this stick faster than worksheets.

  • How should ratios and proportional reasoning be sequenced across the year?

    Start with unit rates and proportional relationships in tables and graphs, then move to percent problems once students can identify the constant of proportionality. Save multi-step percent change problems for later in the unit, after integer operations are solid.

  • What does it mean to solve an equation at this grade?

    Students solve equations like 3x plus 7 equals 22, where they need to undo two steps to find the variable. They also write equations from word problems, which is often harder than the solving itself.

  • How will students be ready for eighth grade math?

    Students should be fluent with positive and negative numbers, comfortable solving two-step equations, and able to recognize proportional relationships in tables, graphs, and equations. If those three areas feel automatic by spring, the jump to eighth grade goes smoothly.

  • What is a good five-minute math practice to do at home?

    Pick one skill and do three or four problems, not twenty. Integer practice, a percent off a price, or solving one equation works well. Short and frequent beats long and occasional.

  • How much time should be spent on statistics and probability?

    Plan for about four to six weeks total, usually near the end of the year. Students compare data sets using measures of center and spread, and use simple probability models to predict outcomes. Real data from sports, weather, or surveys keeps it grounded.