Precalculus
Teacher: Mrs. Kathleen Stinefelt
School phone: 240-236-7200
Email address:
Text: Precalculus with Limits: A Graphing Approach, published by Larson/Hosteler/Edwards
Dear Student and Parent/Guardian,
The world of numbers is something that is inescapable in this technological age. It is therefore important that all students develop a great deal of confidence and understanding of mathematics.
My primary goal this semester is to create a positive, comfortable, yet challenging environment in which each student is able to extend upon the mathematical processes that have been previously taught. I believe it is essential that each student be able to approach a task using logic and reasoning skills.
The students will have many opportunities to solve problems at varying levels of difficulty. They will create equations, designate the process to be used to solve the equation and finally solve the equation, neatly showing the steps required to arrive at the answers.
I will be following the established mathematics curriculum that was developed to meet the needs of the Precalculus student. The textbook that will be used is only one of the various tools that will be used to reinforce concepts taught in the classroom. Computers, calculators, newspapers and charts will be utilized as well. Your child will also be asked to write solutions to problems on the board or the overhead projector and explain his/her calculations to the class.
Each day your child can expect a warm-up that may focus on previously taught material applied in a new way or possibly a word or logic problem. There will be time for checking homework and introducing new information with instruction to ensure that each student comprehends the material. Please encourage your child to ask for help if needed.
Work will be graded on the student’s effective use of problem solving strategies and the accuracy of the solution. If data was collected it must be appropriately displayed and well organized. Any final conclusions must be based on the logical analysis of the data and supported with sufficient details.
Assigned homework will be collected. If a student is absent, she/he is expected to complete the assignment within 2 days and hand it in for credit. Homework/classwork is worth 20% of the term grade. Quizzes are worth 30% and tests will be 50% of the final grade. The student’s final grade for the course will be computed in the following way: 40% of first term’s grade plus 40% of the second term’s grade plus 20% of the score received on the final exam. Tutoring is available before and after school.
The student needs to plan to bring to class every day the assigned textbook, paper, graph paper,pencil and a graphing calculator. All work must be completed in pencil.
It is important that we work together to ensure that your child will be successful and will achieve to his/her best ability. Please feel free to contact me if you have a question or concern. I am looking forward to a very successful semester for each of us.
Sincerely,
Kathleen Stinefelt
240-236-7281