Andover High School

Algebra I

Course Syllabus

Instructor Information

Instructor Name: Mrs. Ashley Cole

Class Location: 701

Phone: 216-4800 Ext. 31701

E-Mail:

WIKI: www.mrscolemath.pbworks.com

COURSE INFORMATION

Course Description: This course is the foundation for high school mathematics courses. It is the bridge from concrete to the abstract study of mathematics. Topics include simplifying expressions, evaluating and solving equations and inequalities, and graphing linear and quadratic functions and relations. Real world applications are presented within the course content and a function’s approach is emphasized. The Kansas College and Career Ready Standards are the guidelines for this course and can be found at http://www.ksde.org

Course Objectives: Students will analyze the given problem and decide which mathematical method would be best to solve the problem.

Required Materials and Supplies: Algebra textbook (provided), TI-84 graphing calculator, box or package of sharpened or mechanical pencils, ruler, notebook paper, 1” 3-ring binder, box of Kleenex, tube of Clorox wipes, package of Expo dry erase markers, 3 individual rolls of scotch tape, hand sanitizer.

Method of Evaluation: Grades will be weighted as follows:

Grading Scale
A / 100 – 90%
B / 89 – 80%
C / 79 – 70%
D / 69 – 60%
F / 59 – 0%

Homework 15%

Quizzes 20%

Tests 50%

Semester Final 15%

Homework: Assigned on a daily basis. Homework will be due at the beginning of the second class period, unless otherwise noted. Most homework will be graded by the student, and then passed forward for collection. All work should be shown in solving problems.

All papers MUST have the student’s name, hour, date, and lesson number in the upper right hand corner of the paper or the paper will be given a zero. I will repeat: NO NAME PAPERS WILL BE GIVEN A ZERO!!

Full points are awarded for correct answers; half-credit is given for incorrect attempts. A problem left unattempted is worth zero points. Students should come to class/advisory/after school prepared to ask any questions covering the homework before the day it is due.

Homework is an essential part of learning mathematics. Positive participation during classroom discussion is highly recommended. It is your responsibility to understand all work assigned. If you do not understand, ASK QUESTIONS!!! Most concepts cannot be learned simply by listening to the teacher; YOU MUST PRACTICE!!

Corrections: Students may make corrections on all homework assignments and quizzes for up to half of the points missed (e.g., an original score of 50% may be corrected up to a score of 75%). They may be turned in up until the chapter test. Corrections must be worked on a separate piece of paper, with “CORRECTIONS” and the name of the assignment across the top of the page; it should then be stapled on top of the original assignment. Please turn these in to the late work slot. Corrections and late work will not be immediately graded; please be patient. Note: Corrections are NOT the same as test retakes.

Projects: Students will complete projects throughout the semester/year. Project grades will be included in either the Quiz or Test categories, depending on the size of the project. Most of them will be specific to the content. The Math Binder project is a long-term requirement:

Classroom Binder: Students will organize the syllabus, all bellwork, notes, homework assignments, quizzes, and other materials in a 1” 3-ring binder (supplied by the student). The instructor will guide students in organizing their binders for reference when completing homework and studying for exams. The binder will be checked on occasion. Students will receive grades for maintaining their binders upon each chapter test. These will be graded during testing. The objective of this project is to enhance student organization, note-taking, and study skills. Each grade taken for the binder will be weighted equally. Students are strongly encouraged to use their binders during homework and studying.

Late Work: Late work will only be accepted up until the day of the unit test. All late work is worth only half credit, so it is to your advantage to turn in completed homework on time.

General Expectations

Students are to be in their assigned seats, fully prepared for class, when the bell rings. They are to immediately begin working on the day’s bellwork assignment. Bellwork may consist of problems that review content, as well as questions regarding upcoming content.

To ask permission to leave the room, students are to raise their hands, wait to be acknowledged, and state their request and the reason for it. The teacher will either grant or deny the request. If granted, students will receive written permission to leave the room and must carry it on their persons until they return.

If a student is unprepared for class, then he or she must retrieve the necessary materials, if possible, and accept a tardy. Students must have two sharpened pencils at all times, so there is no disruption if a lead breaks. Before asking the teacher for paper or pencil, the student must ask at least two other students. All of this must occur before instruction begins, two minutes after the bell rings.

Students are to be dismissed by the teacher and not the final bell. When the bell rings, they are to wait quietly, with attention focused on the teacher. Once the teacher dismisses class, the students may begin collecting their belongings to leave class.

Expectations During Instruction

Once the teacher enters the instruction space (the front of the classroom) and brings the class to attention, students are expected to become silent and focus attention on her. During instructional time, students are expected to remain seated, facing the teacher, following along, taking notes, and answering questions when prompted. Students will exhibit respect for the teacher and others by not talking, sleeping, eating, grooming, using inappropriate technology, or engaging in any other inappropriate behavior.

Students wishing to speak or ask to leave their seats must raise their hands and wait to be acknowledged.

Expectations During Class Activities

Class activities may include group work, guided practice, computer work, student presentations, or any other activity the teacher wishes to assign in class. Student conversation must be on topic, with all students on task at all times, while maintaining an appropriate volume level. Students are to remain in their assigned groups and may not roam the room. Again, whenever the teacher enters the instruction space, all attention is to be focused on her.

INSTITUTIONAL POLICIES

Make-Up Work: It is the student’s responsibility to obtain make-up assignments from teachers following an excused or unexcused absence. In general, two days are given to complete daily work missed for each day of excused absence. For extended illness, the student will be limited to a total of 5 school days following their return to make-up work missed. Exceptions to this rule can be made through special arrangements with the teacher or administration. No make-up credit will be allowed for unexcused absences. Students may miss the opportunity to earn daily participation points for non-school related absences.

Tardies: Students are tardy if they are not in their assigned seat with all required materials when the bell rings. Students are allowed 1 free tardy per class, each semester. Beginning with the 2nd tardy, 30 minutes detention time will be assigned by the classroom teacher to be served in the school-wide detention room. Failure to serve detention within 1 calendar week of being assigned results in a write-up and doubling of detention time by the administration.

Academic Dishonesty: Students are expected to maintain academic honesty and integrity at all times throughout their high school career. Academic dishonesty (as in cheating or plagiarism) is not acceptable. Cheating includes copying another student’s work or answers from elsewhere and submitting it as one’s own. Plagiarism is the use of another person’s original ideas or writing without giving credit to the true author. A student who engages in any form of academic dishonesty will be subject to the loss of credit for the work in question, as well as other disciplinary measures. Repeated occurrences could result in the student being removed from the class with no credit.

All policies and guidelines from the Andover High School Student Handbook will be enforced.

INSTRUCTOR POLICIES

Technology: Only appropriate technology is allowed in the classroom. This includes calculators and any other device deemed acceptable by the instructor. Inappropriate technology includes MP3 players, CD players, radios, cellular devices, beepers, pagers, tablets, and any other devices deemed inappropriate by the instructor. If an inappropriate device is seen by the instructor, it will be confiscated and given to the main office, at which point only a parent/guardian may pick it up. Repeat: NO CELLPHONES, period.

Preparation: All students are required to bring the necessary materials to class. If a student must leave class to get any required materials, they will receive a tardy and owe a 30 minute detention.

Class Expectations

The classroom rules are as follows:

(a) Come to class with all supplies and materials, ready to learn;

(b) Respect the rights, opinions, and property of others;

(d) Be alert and attentive; and

(e) Exercise poise and self-control.

*All rules, policies, and plans are subject to change at the discretion of the instructor.

Please sign and return this page to the course instructor.

(Worth a homework grade)

Due: Friday, August 22nd

Required Materials and Supplies: Algebra textbook (provided), TI-84 graphing calculator, box or package of sharpened or mechanical pencils, ruler, notebook paper, 1” 3-ring binder, box of Kleenex, tube of Clorox wipes, package of Expo dry erase markers, 3 individual rolls of scotch tape, hand sanitizer.

I have read and understand the policies as outlined in the course syllabus. I agree to abide by them and work hard to succeed in this class.

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Student Signature Parent/Guardian Signature

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Student name printed Parent/Guardian name printed