Integrated Mathematics 2, 2009-2010

Ms. Carolan

Materials Needed:

  1. A graphing calculator (Texas Instruments 83, 83-plus, 83-silver, 84, 84-plus, and 84-silver are good).
  2. A 2" wide (or wider) 3-ring binder to be used for math class alone
  3. Dividing sheets with tabs for 3-ring binder. One package of 5 sheets.
  4. A spiral notebook to be used for the "Toolkit" section of your binder.
  5. Lined paper for your 3-ring binder. About 200 sheets.
  6. Pencils and Pens

Participation Grading:

Daily grades are based on a 4 point rubric assessment of Tests & Quizzes, Participation, Homework, and Resource Binder (notes and portfolio).

0 / Refusal to work Not in group
Absent Disciplinary Action Required
1 / Little or no participation Wasted Time
Missing Supplies
2 / May have copied work Minimal contribution to group
Poor/ineffective group work Missing supplies
3 / Positive contribution to group Has supplies
Some misuse of time
4 / Sustained positive contribution to group Uses time wisely
Works effectively Has all supplies
Satisfactory progress on assignment Star Student

Quarter and semester grades are an average of each of the following four categories (see below for specific weights): Tests & Quizzes, Participation, Homework, and Resource Binder (notes and portfolio). An F in any of the 4 categories makes you eligible to receive an F for the quarter.

A / Outstanding effort and exemplary work. This is demonstrated by rubric scores of 4 (some 3s) consistently throughout the quarter. All required work and assessments will be completed and the resource binder will be well maintained.
B / Above average effort and work. This is demonstrated by rubric scores of 3 (with some 2s or 4s) consistently throughout the quarter. All required work and assessments will be completed and the resource binder will be well maintained.
C / Good work and effort. This is demonstrated by about the same number of rubric scores of 2 and 3 consistently throughout the quarter. All required work and assessments will be completed and the resource binder will be well maintained. Students demonstrating effort over the quarter and demonstrating improvement in grades may be eligible for a C even with some early rubric scores of 1.
D / Some successful work or progress shown. This is demonstrated by rubric scores of 1 and 2. Some work samples may be incomplete. The resource binder may be unorganized. Progress throughout the quarter may be limited, as demonstrated in the assessments.
F / Serious lack of effort and limited progress. This is demonstrated by rubric scores of 0 and 1. A rubric score below 1.59 in any category makes a student eligible for an F. Students with rudimentary resource binders are eligible to receive an F.

The cut-offs to earn an A, B, C, D, or F are given below. Again please be aware that grading on a rubric is not the same as grading on the “traditional” grading scale. Also just to reiterate, an F in any of the four categories (Tests and Quizzes, Homework, In-class work, and Binder) means you will earn an F for the quarter. To calculate your grade we turn everything into a 4 point assignment as based on the numbers out of 4 listed above. Furthermore each category, Homework, Tests and Quizzes, Binder, and Participation are not weighted equally. I will use the following weights for each category.

Homework: 25%

Tests and Quizzes: 50%

Participation: 15%

Binder 10%

Attendance:

Attendance is Required! Coming to Class is Essential.

  • Students with 7 absences per quarter may not receive a grade higher than C.
  • Students with 9 or more absences are eligible to receive an F (no quarter credit). When a student has missed 9 days, they have attended 4 days every week, on average. Missing one day per week is unacceptable.
  • Students need to bring their math tools every day: pencil, binder (if taken home) and graphing calculator.
  • Students may NOT bring any food, drink, iPods, MP3 players, or CD players to class. Students will be given 1 reminder, after this all issues will be handed over to the administration.

Coming to Class On Time is Essential.

  • Three tardies count as one absence.
  • Being late is disruptive to the entire class. Excessive tardiness is grounds for disciplinary action. We will follow the school policy with tardies and detentions.

Homework:

Regularly completing your homework is the easiest way to succeed in this course. I expect your homework to be completed each night. Homework will be scored using the four-point scale shown above. Furthermore, you will receive two homework grades, a homework completion grade and a homework accuracy grade. The procedure is described below.

  • Receive an assignment sheet on Monday
  • Complete your assignment on the day it is assigned
  • Date and label each assignment on a separate sheet of paper
  • Organize all assignments for one (1) week so they are ready to be handed in the following Monday
  • Using your week’s work of completed assignments, complete a “Homework Accuracy Check” on the following Monday
  • Turn in an organized packet of homework assignments with your name on it and turn in your completed “Homework Accuracy Check”

***Failure to comply with the attendance policy, the tardy policy, or the homework policy will
result in phone calls to your parents/guardians.

Honors Credit:

Every student has the option to take this class for honors credit. If you would like to do this, please have your parents/guardians indicate that on homework assignment attached to the parent letter. Requirements for earning honors credit include: Completing additional/different homework questions on EACH assignment, taking an honors version of each test and quiz, showing exemplary responses with complete and clear explanations, using diagrams and examples to support answers, demonstrating a total understanding of the concepts that goes beyond the required information. Failure to meet any of these criteria will result in regular credit for the course.

Where to Find Me:

I will either be in the Math Office (room 141) or our classroom (room 112) during the school day.

I can help students before school, during lunch, or after school by appointment. Come and see me long before you have a homework check: DON’T LET IT ALL PILE UP!!! If you come and see me for homework help you can guarantee yourself a perfect accuracy check!!!