Algebra 2 Bulletin Board

Classroom Policies

Attendance. The standard is that you will be in class, seated, ready to start, on time. Graded work missed during absences due to illness will be made up within 2 days of your return (or within the number of days missed). Homework and graded work during scheduled absences must be presented in advance of the absence or will result in a score of 0 (zero). An unexcused absence will result in a score of zero for any graded work missed.  Please refer to the grading policy for more information about how attendance can affect your grade.

Behavior. Common courtesy and decency are the norm. As classroom procedures are developed, you are expected to follow them.  Respect yourself, respect your classmates, respect your teacher. I will extend full respect to you, as well. Behavior contrary to this guidance will result in punishment to fit the crime. Standard rules apply: no eating/drinking, no writing on desks or walls, …

Participation. I don’t like to lecture, preach, or chalk-talk; I prefer discussion of the material. You will learn more by participating in class discussions, being prepared to answer questions (pay attention, stay awake!), and being willing to help your classmates. Don’t be afraid to ask relevant questions!  When working in groups, each member receives the same grade provided there is sufficient evidence of satisfactory participation by each group member.

Preparation and Homework. You will have reading and problem assignments prior to each class meeting except scheduled tests. You are prepared for class if you have read the prescribed material and worked on the homework with an open, alert mind, and have made a sincere, 30-minute effort to complete all assigned problems. Homework that is submitted one day late will be earn a maximum of 50% credit; two or more days late will earn at most 25%.

Collaboration. On routine homework, you may generally receive any help you desire EXCEPT DIRECT COPYING (to include paraphrasing). On electronic quizzes (see grading policy) you may use your own textbook or notes, but no help from any individual (student, parent, teacher, internet, etc.). On other individual work, you may not receive any help (except from your teacher) unless it is specifically allowed in the assignment instructions. On group work outside class, you may obtain help from outside sources with your teacher's permission, but all help must be cited in your bibliography.

Academic Integrity.  On any written work you prepare outside of class, you must cite any reference you use, other than your textbook or class notes and handouts (APA format).  In particular, be sure to cite any web site other than one I assign.  On tests and (paper) quizzes you will be asked to sign a pledge indicating that you have neither given nor received help (other than what is allowed in instructions). On electronic quizzes, you will be reminded before pressing "submit" that by pressing the submit key from within your password-protected account, you are pledging that you neither gave nor received help.  On other work, you may follow the collaboration guidelines above, but you must cite assistance where appropriate. Cheating hurts you because you don't learn as much as you're capable of; it hurts others because they see cheaters beating out honest work; it's just plain wrong. I expect you to be forthright in your work, submit only your own work, and not to help others cheat. If you violate the spirit of this expectation, you will be referred to the Assistant Director, and may earn a "0" grade AND deductions from classwork grade. A little note: chronic absence on test days is a form of cheating—it allows you more time to master the material than your classmates, and is blatantly unfair.  Even if your parents call you in sick.

Attitude. I like math; I hope you do. I also like helping student learn math. I intend to have fun with the math we will discuss; if you let yourself, you might find that you can have fun with math too. I especially welcome your questions that extend or go beyond what we are studying (I might defer the answer until it fits in with the lesson, though). We have a great deal of material to cover; some of it may be difficult for you. If so, please seek help from one of your friends, from your parents, from me, or from another teacher before you get too frustrated. A frustrated mind is a closed mind. Open minds have more fun, are more productive, and may result in longer life and increased happiness. My mind is open, too: I know that this is not your only subject at Uni. If a conflict arises, help me to help you work around it by warning me in advance. I’m happy to get the chance to work with you this year!!!

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 “Required Homework” guidelines

 Each night, you will have a small number of “required” problems, and several “suggested” problems.  All required problems will be collected and graded.  Each day’s required problems must be submitted with full explanations, in pencil, with your name and the due date marked at the top.  If the problem is a word problem:  define all variables, write equations, explain why equations are correct; solve, showing steps or explaining how; explain how your solution answers the question.  For other types of problems:  copy the problem, show all work (including any necessary graphs, labeled with scales and axes) as you solve it.  Explain why your answer is correct.

If you are unable to solve the problem, in order to earn R for a chance to revise the problem you must:

1. Write down what you tried for the required problem.
2. Write down definitions or examples (you can write “Example 4, p. 153”) from the text or from your class notes that are pertinent to the problem.
3. Work several of the “suggested” problems that address the same objective(s).  Show your work.

Revisions

Every homework or test item that is marked R, F, or 0 may be revised.

Homework revisions:  revisions are due the first day of the week after the graded work is returned to you (usually Monday).  If you did not submit the homework, it must be submitted by the first day of the next week in order to get credit.  Note that a “permanent” F or 0 on any homework means your best possible quarter grade is C.  If the homework is marked F, you should see me before revising it: there were serious problems, and I want to make sure you don’t waste your time learning something incorrectly.  If the homework revision is incomplete (to include missing explanation; read the “required homework” guidelines above) or incorrect, the grade will be R at best (and a “permanent” R on any homework means your best possible quarter grade is B).

Test revisions:  After each test (unless it’s an unexcused absence), you will have the opportunity to submit a correction, within 3 school days, for any problems on which  you earned a grade of R or below.  You may use your textbook and/or your own notes.  Attach a separate page on which you provide detailed corrections, fully explained (using sentences), for each item.  Your sentence(s) of explanation should explain why your new answer is correct—don’t give “excuses” about why you missed the problem the first time around.  A correct re-submission will earn a grade of M.    I strongly suggest that, before re-submitting a test item, you re-read the textbook section(s) related to the objective tested, and you look over all homework items you submitted for that objective.  You may ask ME (and nobody else!!!) for help on test revisions, and I will help you provided you demonstrate that you have already looked over the appropriate text reference and homework problems.

Grading Policy

There are 3 components of each quarter grade; each component is discussed below: 

1. Unit objectives (5-6 per unit, two units per quarter),
2. Daily points, and
3. Mallard quizzes.

 In addition to these graded items, I will make notes about certain "learning characteristics," less quantifiable, but still valuable, skills and attitudes for mathematics students and professionals to strive toward:

• Communication:  speak, read, write, and listen well.
• Learning in community:  cooperate, collaborate, share; volunteer.
• Computational skill:  work problems efficiently and correctly.  This takes practice!
• Conceptual understanding: you get the big picture, and you can explain it or use the concepts; you're able to estimate answers.   You ask good questions.
• Persistence:  stick with a problem, learn from mistakes.
• Logic:  You work sequentially (and spatially?) to prove concepts, and you can judge the reasonableness of answers.

Each quarter, grades will be assigned in accordance with the criteria below.  This table doesn’t list all possible circumstances, but you are guaranteed at least the grade below.  I reserve the right to append a minus or plus to a letter grade to indicate that the work was very close to meeting the next lower (minus) or higher (plus) standard.

“PASSES”

·         Each quarter, students may use up to two homework passes.  Passes may be used to make homework grades disappear (that is, an R, F, or 0 grade on homework will not be counted against the grade).  Each unused pass may be redeemed for two “daily” points at the end of the quarter.

·         Each quarter, students may add up to 15 points to one Mallard quiz.  This will happen automatically.  These points will NOT be divided among two or more Mallard quizzes; only the LOWEST Mallard quiz score will be increased by 15 points.

·         A test/quiz “E” grade may be used to “purchase” one daily point (the test/quiz item grade becomes “M”).

Semester grades will be the average of the two quarter grades.  Any necessary rounding will be in the direction of the semester exam grade (during finals weeks, both semesters).  A semester exam grade significantly different than the average of the quarter grades may raise or lower the semester grade by one letter. 

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Extra Credit:  From time to time, extra credit opportunities may be announced (usually on Compass), but no more than one submission per student per week will be accepted.  Extra credit problems may be used to replace item grades of "F."  They also add to "classwork points."

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Syllabus

Technology:  Students will be expected to use a TI-83 or TI-83 plus graphing calculator (alternatives may be acceptable) daily in class and on homework.  In addition, students will need periodic access to the worldwide web outside of class, and may find a good spreadsheet useful on the home computer (not required).  Students will use spreadsheets and Mathematica in class and on some projects (both are available on Uni network computers).

Note: Time frames are very rough estimates; we'll spend more or less time on a unit depending on how the class as a whole is doing.  The sequencing shown below is my (summertime) best guess of how the course will flow; it may be necessary to adjust midstream.

Text reference is to Algebra 2: An Integrated Approach, by Larson, Kanold, & Stiff 

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