Course Requirements and Policies
I. How the course will be taught:
The class will be taught through a combination of teacher presentations and problem solving sessions. Every day you will review your homework in small groups for the first 10 minutes of class. This time should be spent comparing answers, getting help with the problems you had trouble with, and helping others with ones that you may have gotten but they had trouble with. After homework has been checked and corrected, some new topics will be presented or explored, and you’ll work on some new problems.
II. How to be successful in this class:
A. Come to class prepared and be organized– You should get a 3-ring binder. You should keep all homework, classwork, notes, and assessments in it. I will occasionally do surprise notebook checks. You’ll need a graphing calculator- TI 83 or TI 83+. Bring these and something to write with to class everyday. Bring your completed homework and be ready to review it with your group when class starts.
B. Participate - Class participation is huge! It includes answering questions in class, but more importantly means discussing homework with your group, putting your homework solutions on the board, helping people when they have trouble and getting help when you need it, participating in discussions, participating in group work, explaining your answers to the class or to your group, asking questions, and being in class on time.
C. Get extra help – Don’t fall behind! Math builds upon itself so get help as soon as you need it. I’m available 2 J blocks a week (TBA). Don’t just wait until a quiz or exam- small pop quizzes are totally fair game in this class too. Go to the Math Center now located on the second floor of the Cutler House. A schedule will be posted at the start of the year. It’s a great place to study, ask questions, or to just do your work.
D. Be a good person- Be nice. Don’t cheat. Pretty much the only way to get on my bad side is to be mean or cheat. Copying homework counts as cheating. Don’t do it!
III. Classroom policies:
A. Respect – Always show respect to your classmates, yourself, and your teachers. BE NICE.
B. Attendance
Absences-I will adhere to the school's policy on unexcused absences and/or frequent tardies*. Be sure to have your parent/guardian call the school before 10:00 a.m. on any day that you are absent so that you will be excused. In the event of an unexcused absence from class, you will not be allowed to make up any work missed and will receive a zero on assessments for that day, including quizzes, tests, and homework. Your participation grade will be lowered by 10 points for each unexcused absence.
* First Unexcused Absence: The teacher assigns the student detention for
the teacher's next J block.
Second Unexcused Absence: Absence is reported to the students' housemaster
who then assigns the student an administrative
detention. Parents are notified by telephone
call or comment slip.
Third Unexcused Absence: The student will receive a grad of "N"
(failure due to poor attendance) for the term.
Tardies - If you are late, enter class quietly. If it is an excused tardy, hand me your note. For unexcused tardies, your class participation grade will be lowered by 5 points for each one. Also, you will only receive half credit on homework the day of an unexcused tardy. An unexcused tardy over 20 minutes counts as an unexcused absence.
* Three Unexcused Tardies = One Unexcused Absence
Make up work– When absent, the day you get back you should get the notes and work you missed from a classmate and from the missed work folder. To get full credit on your missed homework and, you must show it to me within the same number of days that you missed.
Bathroom Breaks- Each student is allowed six "free" bathroom (water) breaks per term (not cumulative!). The student may not use more than one per week. You do not have to ask permission. Sign your name, date, and time in the Bathroom Book and go out. Only one student allowed out at a t time. No breaks during tests, quizzes, or during the first or last ten minutes of class. Your visit should be no longer than five minutes. When you
return, sign back in. If you go out more than your free allotment you must make the time back during J-block.
C. Homework policy - In order to be successful in math, you must practice every day and be prepared to discuss homework in class. Homework is assigned almost every night. In order to receive full credit, every problem must be attempted and work shown clearly. Half credit is given for partially completed homework. You can show me me one day late homework for half credit.
D. Quizzes & Tests - You will typically have a chapter test and mid chapter quiz. I may also give you little unannounced mini quizzes (just a question or two) if there’s time. They won’t be super hard, but just there to make sure you’re keeping up. You will only have 1 chance to take any quiz or test. Make-ups are given only if you have an excused absence. You should always make corrections to quizzes and tests after they are returned. Don’t let anything slide!
E. All school rules apply. See The Handbook.
IV. How grades are determined:
Grades will be calculated on a traditional scale. Quizzes, tests, homework and class participation are all integral components of your grade. A midyear and final exam will be given.
I. How the course will be taught:
The class will be taught through a combination of teacher presentations and problem solving sessions. Every day you will review your homework in small groups for the first 10 minutes of class. This time should be spent comparing answers, getting help with the problems you had trouble with, and helping others with ones that you may have gotten but they had trouble with. After homework has been checked and corrected, some new topics will be presented or explored, and you’ll work on some new problems.
II. How to be successful in this class:
A. Come to class prepared and be organized– You should get a 3-ring binder. You should keep all homework, classwork, notes, and assessments in it. I will occasionally do surprise notebook checks. You’ll need a graphing calculator- TI 83 or TI 83+. Bring these and something to write with to class everyday. Bring your completed homework and be ready to review it with your group when class starts.
B. Participate - Class participation is huge! It includes answering questions in class, but more importantly means discussing homework with your group, putting your homework solutions on the board, helping people when they have trouble and getting help when you need it, participating in discussions, participating in group work, explaining your answers to the class or to your group, asking questions, and being in class on time.
C. Get extra help – Don’t fall behind! Math builds upon itself so get help as soon as you need it. I’m available 2 J blocks a week (TBA). Don’t just wait until a quiz or exam- small pop quizzes are totally fair game in this class too. Go to the Math Center now located on the second floor of the Cutler House. A schedule will be posted at the start of the year. It’s a great place to study, ask questions, or to just do your work.
D. Be a good person- Be nice. Don’t cheat. Pretty much the only way to get on my bad side is to be mean or cheat. Copying homework counts as cheating. Don’t do it!
III. Classroom policies:
A. Respect – Always show respect to your classmates, yourself, and your teachers. BE NICE.
B. Attendance
Absences-I will adhere to the school's policy on unexcused absences and/or frequent tardies*. Be sure to have your parent/guardian call the school before 10:00 a.m. on any day that you are absent so that you will be excused. In the event of an unexcused absence from class, you will not be allowed to make up any work missed and will receive a zero on assessments for that day, including quizzes, tests, and homework. Your participation grade will be lowered by 10 points for each unexcused absence.
* First Unexcused Absence: The teacher assigns the student detention for
the teacher's next J block.
Second Unexcused Absence: Absence is reported to the students' housemaster
who then assigns the student an administrative
detention. Parents are notified by telephone
call or comment slip.
Third Unexcused Absence: The student will receive a grad of "N"
(failure due to poor attendance) for the term.
Tardies - If you are late, enter class quietly. If it is an excused tardy, hand me your note. For unexcused tardies, your class participation grade will be lowered by 5 points for each one. Also, you will only receive half credit on homework the day of an unexcused tardy. An unexcused tardy over 20 minutes counts as an unexcused absence.
* Three Unexcused Tardies = One Unexcused Absence
Make up work– When absent, the day you get back you should get the notes and work you missed from a classmate and from the missed work folder. To get full credit on your missed homework and, you must show it to me within the same number of days that you missed.
Bathroom Breaks- Each student is allowed six "free" bathroom (water) breaks per term (not cumulative!). The student may not use more than one per week. You do not have to ask permission. Sign your name, date, and time in the Bathroom Book and go out. Only one student allowed out at a t time. No breaks during tests, quizzes, or during the first or last ten minutes of class. Your visit should be no longer than five minutes. When you
return, sign back in. If you go out more than your free allotment you must make the time back during J-block.
C. Homework policy - In order to be successful in math, you must practice every day and be prepared to discuss homework in class. Homework is assigned almost every night. In order to receive full credit, every problem must be attempted and work shown clearly. Half credit is given for partially completed homework. You can show me me one day late homework for half credit.
D. Quizzes & Tests - You will typically have a chapter test and mid chapter quiz. I may also give you little unannounced mini quizzes (just a question or two) if there’s time. They won’t be super hard, but just there to make sure you’re keeping up. You will only have 1 chance to take any quiz or test. Make-ups are given only if you have an excused absence. You should always make corrections to quizzes and tests after they are returned. Don’t let anything slide!
E. All school rules apply. See The Handbook.
IV. How grades are determined:
Grades will be calculated on a traditional scale. Quizzes, tests, homework and class participation are all integral components of your grade. A midyear and final exam will be given.