Do you want to be successful in this
class? If so, follow
these five suggestions:
Have you ever watched a basketball player practicing free throws, or a
pianist learning a difficult passage?
They may get things wrong again and again, but eventually they get it
right. At that point do they stop? NO!
They know that in order to improve, they must practice things the RIGHT
way. When you get a set of problems
wrong, and then get your misunderstanding corrected in class, or figure out on
your own what you had been doing wrong, you must practice this new
technique! Don’t assume that you will
remember how to do something the right way without practicing it. Practice, practice, practice! Read the “Learning Mathematics” essay for
more information on being successful in math.
Expectations:
You are
expected to come to class prepared and ready to work. This includes having the homework assignment
complete and having all necessary materials (pen/pencil, paper, textbook,
etc.). You are expected to be in your assigned seat with materials ready when
the bell rings. You should begin work on
the daily QuickStart problems as soon as class begins. You are expected to put forth consistent, quality
effort throughout the course. It is your
responsibility to seek additional help when needed. Any behavior that detracts from a student’s
ability to learn or my ability to teach will not be tolerated.
Teacher Availability: I am available in Room 619 before and after school
and during my prep period. As I often
have commitments after school (Chess Club, Key Club, meetings, etc.), you may
want to check with me if you plan to come in outside
of class.
Attendance: Attendance in class is crucial to success. Therefore, absences must be kept to an
absolute minimum. Make-up work from
excused absences must be completed as soon as possible with a maximum of two
days for each day missed. Make-up work should be obtained from another student,
the web site, or the teacher (without interrupting the class). Part of being a
responsible student includes notifying the teacher if you know you will be
absent. Students receiving an unexcused absence will receive no points for the
work they missed while absent.
A student
who arrives late to class, within the first 10 minutes, is considered tardy and
will receive a one-hour after school detention.
Three unexcused tardies in the same class will be considered an
unexcused absence. A student who arrives
unexcused after the first 10 minutes of class, or not at all, is absent
unexcused and will receive a one-hour after school detention and/or a Saturday
Morning Detention. For additional information on the attendance policy, refer
to the Student Handbook.
Part of being prepared for class
includes obtaining an “Admit Slip” if you were absent—no matter what the
reason. If you are late to class, or
must leave class, to obtain an “Admit Slip”, you will be given an unexcused
tardy. There is often a long line at the
attendance office immediately before school.
If you need to obtain an “Admit Slip,” plan ahead to
go to the attendance office before the line forms. You may also receive an unexcused tardy if
you arrive at class unprepared and must leave class to get your book, homework,
etc.
Web Site: You will be assigned a PIN with which you can access
your grades on my web site. You will not
receive printouts of your grade. You are expected to check the website on a
regular basis. At the web site there are other items, such as assignments,
worksheets, and reviews. The address of
the site is http://www..com. Once you have received your PIN you will be expected to
complete an information form available on the web site.
Daily Work: Your Daily Work should be kept in a notebook or three-ring
binder. Each day’s Daily Work must
contain the day, date, and your name.
Each day’s work needs to be clearly separated from other days’ work. You
will receive points for Daily Work when it is collected, through notebook
quizzes and/or through daily quizzes. To
receive all of your points, you must have each day’s QuickStart, notes, and
assignment complete and correct. Any
handouts should be kept with your Daily Work.
Assessment: In addition to Daily Work, you will be evaluated
based on your performance on tests, quizzes, and projects. Quizzes may be announced or unannounced. On most days there will be a very short Daily
Quiz, usually worth 3 to 5 points. Quizzes and tests will make up the majority
of your final grade. On the last day of
the term, the quiz grade that lowers your grade the most may be dropped. You may not share a calculator on tests and
quizzes without prior permission. Anyone caught cheating on a test or quiz will
receive an automatic grade of “F” for the entire term.
Grading: Grades will be determined based on total points. Points earned will be totaled, divided by the
total points possible, and that percent will be rounded to the nearest
integer. Letter grades will be
determined based on the
99% |
- |
100% |
A+ |
90% |
- |
91% |
B+ |
80% |
- |
82% |
C+ |
66% |
- |
67% |
D+ |
0% - |
94% |
- |
98% |
A |
85% |
- |
89% |
B |
71% |
- |
79% |
C |
62% |
- |
65% |
D |
59% |
92% |
- |
93% |
A- |
83% |
- |
84% |
B- |
68% |
- |
70% |
C- |
60% |
- |
61% |
D- |
F |
Food and Drink: Food and
drinks are acceptable as long as they do not become a problem. Wrappers, cans, bottles, etc. must be
properly disposed of.
Hallway Passport: Any time
you must use the hallway during class time, you must complete your Hallway
Passport, have it signed, and take it with you.
Electronic Equipment: Any
unauthorized electronic devices (pagers, cell phones, etc.) that are seen or
heard may be confiscated. Confiscated items may be picked up from a Dean (Room
425) by a parent/guardian after
Changes: Any changes to this syllabus will be announced in
class and/or posted on the web site.