Advanced Algebra Syllabus 2017-18

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Advanced Algebra is a mathematics course that is geared towards increasing the number of students who take mathematics beyond Algebra and Geometry. Advanced Algebra emphasizes algebraic expressions and forms, especially linear and quadratic forms, powers and roots, and functions based on these concepts. Students study logarithmic, trigonometric, polynomial and other special functions both for their abstract properties and for modeling real-world situations.

MATERIALS:

For this class you will needthe followingona daily basis: pencils, a 3-ring binder, loose leaf paper or a spiral notebookfor homework, and a graphing calculator (preferably a TI-83, TI-84, orN-spire). You will be told when you need your device in class. The textbook will be used sparingly for some assignments or additional resources.

GRADING:

Arrowhead has a “C or better” policy in effect for its math department. A student must attain at least a C- in a math class to be able to progress to the next course. This policy is an attempt to raise standards and give a better chance of success in the next course. Arrowhead policy states it DOES NOT use rounding to calculate grades.

Grading Scale18 Week CriteriaSemester Criteria

90 – 100 ATests50%18-Week85%

80 – 89.99 BQuizzes35%Final Exam15%

70 – 79.99 CHomework 10%

60 – 69.99 DProject 5%

0 – 59.99 F

TECHNOLOGY/DEVICE POLICY:

Cell phones, laptops, and other technology are not allowed to be out in my classroom unless specified by me. When students enter the room they will drop off their cell phone in a hanging cell phone holder which will keep their device safe until the period is complete. Students who fail to do this will have their device confiscated if their device is seen. Parents will be contacted if this happens three times.

Students: This is your attendance and you will be marked tardy if your device is not in the cell phone holder. If you do not own a cell phone or do not bring one to school, please discuss with me.

ATTENDANCE/TARDY POLICY:

Students’ attendance in class has a direct effect on their ability to do mathematics. If a student has an excused absence it is the student’s responsibility to get any make-up work. With our short class periods we have a limited amount of time for each lesson, so being tardy to class is unacceptable. To be on time and ready to learn, you must be in your seat with your materials out on your desk. Walking in when the bell rings counts as a tardy. Students will be given three verbal warnings about tardiness with the fourth being a Saturday detention.

CLASSROOM CONDUCT/ATTITUDE & EFFORT:

Respect is the key word in this classroom. Respect for other students, the teacher, and school property is essential to create a positive learning environment. General school rules apply at all times. In addition the following rules apply to this class:

1)Students are to be in their seats when the bell rings and remain there until the teacher dismisses the class. (4 tardies results in a Saturday detention)

2)Student bathroom habits will follow a college pattern. This means they may use the restroom at any time without permission. However, they are responsible for any material that they miss. Excessively long “bathroom breaks” will cause restrictions imposed by the teacher.

3)Students will act like young adults and be held to those standards at all times.

PERSEVERANCE:

Students will be presented with problems, activities, questions, projects, etc. that are not going to be easy to solve or immediately obvious on how to approach. Part of this class will involve working through our struggles and not getting immediate answers of “what to do”. This is to help students to develop critical thinking strategies, intrinsic questioning, and self-reliance in difficult areas.

ADDITIONAL HELP:

It is expected that you will need help from time to time. This is a difficult course and self-advocating for yourself is a sign of personal strength, not weakness. In college you will have to attend your professor’s office hours or you will not get any help. Practice this now instead of waiting!!! My free periods are 1st7th hours. I can usually be found in the classroom during these times. I am also available to help after school. I drop my daughter off at daycare so I will not be available before school until about 7:00am. If for some reason my free periods do not match up with yours, other math teachers hold tutoring study halls throughout the day (usually in their classrooms). Additionally, Students Assisting Student Success (SASS) are available on Tuesdays and Thursdays. They are there to help answer your questions, so use them when you need them!!! See me if you need help finding assistance.

HOMEWORK:

Homework will be given almost everyday. The assignments will generally take 20-30 minutes to complete. Each assignment is intended to be an opportunity to apply and extend learning as students work through the problems. Research has shown that students who put more effort into their math homework outperform their peers. Students are expected to check answerson-line dailyand make revisions to incorrectly solved problems. At the end of each chapter, you will turn in all homework assignments for grading. Work is expected and full points will not be earned if work is missing!!!

QUIZZES:

There will be several quizzes for each chapter and they will each be worth 10 points. Quizzes will only have a couple of problems and are meant to assess current knowledge of the material as well as be informative feedback to guide your studying for the test. Four quiz scores will be dropped at the end of the semester. If a quiz is missed, you have the choice to make it up in the testing center (junior study hall) or have it go down as one of your dropped quizzes. Quizzes must be made up before the end of the chapter. Once the test is taken, quizzes no longer serve their main purpose of helping to guide future studying.

TESTS:

Tests will be given at the conclusion of each chapter. Students have 3 days upon returning from an excused absence to make arrangements to make up a test. Any missed test must be made up before the conclusion of the next chapter. If you miss a test on an unexcused absence, you will be downgraded. All students have the option of retaking one test per semester. To take a retake, a student must accomplish two tasks. First, the student must have turned in all daily homework assignments for the chapter to be retaken on time and received at least a C grade. Second, the student must meet with me to discuss mistakes made on the first test. The retake will then be available in the testing center until the next chapter test is taken. I weight the retake test more heavily than the original test (2/3 retake to 1/3 original). I do not simply replace the original grade. The last test of the semester may not be retaken based on proximity to the final exam.

PROJECT:

During the exponential unit there will be a project to show your understanding of exponential models. You will work with one other person in class and have some class time to work on it. The project will count for 5% of your total grade.