WELCOME to the WORLD FAMOUS
Pre-Calculus
LEARNING EXTRAVAGANZA!!!
2017-18 edition
HOSTED BY: SCOTT DEGITZ-FRIES
NOW PLAYING IN 1710
E-mail Address:
Phone Number: (314) 415 - 9707
Pronunciation: the “day gets freeze”ing when it’s time for Calculus
University of Missouri – St. Louis (UMSL) class : MATH 1030 College Algebra
The following is information you need to know about your Pre-Calculus class this year. Keep this sheet to refer to as needed. You will be held responsible for all information within it throughout the school year.
A. Here is my schedule:
Red Days Blue Days
Block 1: Plan (7:35-9:05)Block 2: Honors AP Calculus AB
Block 3: Pre-CalculusBlock 4: Academic Lab
Block 5: Pre-CalculusBlock 6: Plan (11:23-12:53)
Block 7: Honors AP Calculus BCBlock 8: Honors AP Calculus BC
B. Additional Help:
1. Help outside of class will primarily be given during academic lab. This is the best time to get extra help as I will have time to help you and your classmates together and individually if time permits. I highly encourage and downright BEG you to use this time to get assistance from me. You may use time during lab to work in groups with your classmates to fully understand the concepts of each section or ask me questions directly about homework you worked on the night before or during lab. Correct use of academic lab will help you and I tremendously in our effort to help you be successful.
2. I will also be available after school on most Mondays and Wednesdays (and occasionally on Thursdays) for help. After school help will be offered if you need more one-on-one individual help and have made sufficient effort in class. Other times can be scheduled as well, just talk to me about it. Please ask me before you come in so I can be sure I will be in my room when you get here. I am here to help you succeed and answer your questions – so don’t be afraid to ask them. It’s my job!
C. Important Information
1. You can get to my website by going to pshwired.net, clicking on Teacher Web Pages then searching for my name. Homework will be posted on my website in the Pre-Calculus Calendar link and notes will SOMETIMES be available there as well. This resource is for students who are absent or if we run out of time in class. It is NOT so that you don’t have to write the notes, and/or homework, down in class.
2. I will post homework on my website the day it is given and post upcoming tests/quizzes there when dates are known. Then, after checking homework and/or grading tests, they will be posted on Infinite Campus.
3. I will be using the Remind website/app to send texts to you with reminders when I feel it’s necessary. To join the group, you can either go to text @degprecalc to 81010, or download the free app on your smartphone and enter the class code @degprecalc. Please take the time to join this ASAP.
4. This class may be taken for 3 college credit hours through UMSL. You will get credit for MATH 1030 College Algebra. Sign-up for credit through UMSL will take place second semester. I am on the adjunct faculty at UMSL so I will assign your UMSL grade based on your grade in this class. You must sign up during registration if you want to take this class for college credit. UMSL will not accept late registration. I will give you the registration form and other necessary information as it becomes available to me.
D. Grading Procedures
1. The grading scale is as follows (and yes, I round up .5’s but nothing lower):
A93-100 C73-76
A- 90-92C-70-72
B+87-89D+67-69
B83-86D63-66
B-80-82D-60-62
C+77-79F59 and lower
2. Grades will be based on 55% Tests, 15% Quizzes/Projects, 10% Homework, and 20% Final.
3. Homework WILL be assigned every night and you NEED to do it every night!
Homework is the main deciding factor in if you’re successful in this class or not. Honestly. Truly. Believe me. Please make the effort and you CAN be successful. Homework will require a significant effort on your part, and will be essential to your success in Pre-Calculus. Homework grading procedures will vary. Grades may be taken by daily spot checking, homework quizzes, or short daily navigator quizzes over homework. Homework and navigator quizzes can be given without notice. You MUST make a complete effort on all homework in order to do well on the assessments. PLEASE do your homework!!! It’s just not fair to yourself to expect that you’ll be successful at Pre-Calculus without working, and it will create too much stress on you.
4. We will take a significant amount of notes in this class nearly every day. Please have a notebook set aside for this, and be ready to copy down the notes. These will be very helpful as you attempt to complete your homework, & are a good reference as you study for the chapter test or finals.
5. Late Work -- This is a college class. Late work is not acceptable and will not help you to be successful. I will check assignments not necessarily from the night before, so you must bring ALL of your homework from the current unit to every class. If homework is collected or checked, you must turn it in ON TIME to receive full credit. Late work turned in before the test is ½ credit. Homework will not be accepted for credit after the test.
6. Formative and summative assessments: Before taking a test, you must put your phone in your bookbag and put your bookbag in the front of the room. Assessments will not be released to go home, but can always be reviewed in my classroom. If missed, assessments must be made up within the next week after school. Please note that tests take 2 after school sessions to make up – one for each part of the test. If for some reason you can’t there after school on these days, see Mr. Degitz-Fries to make other arrangements if possible. Tests can NOT be made up in academic lab. If you are absent the day before a test, you will be expected to take the test on the originally scheduled day.
7. We will periodically be working with a TI-Nspire Navigator in class this year, and grades will be taken on the work you do on the Navigator. Navigator grades will be put into the grade book as quizzes.
8. RETAKE POLICY: You may retake any test (within teacher discretion) IF you complete the following steps: 1. Complete all test corrections 2. Complete a “ticket to the test” 3. Complete the review for the original test by the original test day 4. Complete ALL homework from the unit before the original test day. 5. Come in for the retake within 2 weeks from the date the test was handed back.
E. Attendance and Tardy Policies
1. According to school policy, parents have 24 hours to call in a student’s excused absence. After that the absence will be unexcused.
2. If you have an unexcused absence on a test day, you will receive 50% of the score you earn on the test. If any work was collected or checked on a day when you have an unexcused absence, you will lose credit for that work. In other words, DON’T SKIP MY CLASS. You need to be here to do your best (and to enjoy my teaching, jokes, singing, stories, fun discussions, games, etc.).
3. Tardies (beyond the first) and unexcused absences will result in an after school detention being assigned. Tardies will result in a one hour detention, and unexcused absences will result in a 3 hour detention. Failure to serve the assigned detention will result in additional disciplinary action.
4. Your citizenship grade for the course will be linked to your attendance, as well as to your conduct in class. If you have an unexcused absence or excessive tardies, you will receive an I or U.
F. You will need to bring the following with you EVERY DAY:
1. Pencils & Erasers
2. Notebook & folder for class notes and homework
3. Your Pre-Calculus book (YES, you NEED to bring this to class)
4. A graphics calculator (preferably a TI-84, TI-Nspire, or TI-Nspire CAS)
5. Your completed homework from the previous night and the entire current unit
H. Classroom Etiquette
1. There is no tolerance for disrespect in this class…
to anyone…at any time. Period.
2. Learning cannot take place in a chaotic environment. I expect you to behave as courteous, responsible young adults with respect for your classmates and for me. Good students know that hard work and commitment will provide the best opportunity for success.
3. NO FOOD OR DRINK (except water) will be permitted in the classroom at any time. If you have some, leave it in your locker
4. You WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO HAVE HEADPHONES OR CELL PHONES OUT DURING CLASS AT ANY TIME, unless otherwise specified during class by me, so leave them in your locker or bookbag and be sure they are turned off. If your cell phone rings during class, I see you texting on it, or you get it out at all during class, I MAY give you one warning and then it will be confiscated and placed in the CELL PHONE JAIL until the end of class. Refusal to give up your device when asked will result in a referral to your administrator.
5. Team and class activities are expected to be participated in by all students at all times, to facilitate understanding and community. Any refusal or unwillingness to participate will result in disciplinary procedures or 0 on classwork points.
Two final notes from Mr. Degitz-Fries:
1. This is an upper level math class. You CAN do this, but you have to make a decision to be successful, make the effort, come to class, and be engaged in all activities and lessons. Even if you’ve heard it’s tough, please know that you CAN do it if you make these decisions now and carry through.
2. I look forward to helping you be the best Pre-Calclus student you can be. Whether you like math or not, you CAN be successful in Pre-Calculus! I am here to make that happen for you. Get ready to work hard, sing, think critically, analyze, and have some fun along the way!