Algebra 1 Handbook2012-13

Welcome to Mrs. Knutzen’s Classroom360-709-7855

Contents

Introduction & Welcome…..……………………………………………………………….. 2

Textbook information…………..……………………………………………………………. 2

Required Materials……………….……………………………………………………………… 2

Resources …..………………………………………………………………………………………… 3

General Classroom Responsibilities…………………………………………………… 4

Homework policies……………………………………………………………………………… 5

All About Grades ………………………………………………………………………………… 6

Absences………………………………………………………………………………………………6

Testing / Retesting.……..……………………………………………………………………….. 7

EOC Standards ……………….…………………………………………………………………….8

EOC allowed formulas…………………………………………………………………………10

Classroom Procedures & Expectations ……….…………………………………….. 12

This handbook belongs to______Period______

If found, please return to room _____

Mrs. Knutzen 2012-13Page 1

Introduction & Welcome

Welcome to Mrs. Knutzen’s Algebra1 class! I am looking forward to working with you and hope that your year is both fun and challenging. This handbook contains almost everything you need to know about this class and my expectations. Please keep it with your math notebook at all times so that you can review classroom information regularly.

Algebra 1 is a foundational math course in high school, setting you up for future mathematics courses.By the end of this course you will increase your knowledge of problem solving; real numbers; variables; linear functions, equations and inequalities; quadratic functions and equations; exponential functions and equations; radical functions; and statistics.

Proficiency of Algebra 1 standards will be measured on the End of Course Exam (EOC). Currently a passing score of 400 is a graduation requirement. These standards will be taught, practiced and reviewed throughout the school year. For more detail on these standards, please see page 9 of this handbook. You may also contact me at anytime if you have questions or concerns about this requirement.

Textbook information

Burger, Edward, et al. Algebra 1. Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 2007

Home Book number ______

Required Materials

Please have the following materials with you every day:

Mrs. Knutzen 2012-13Page 1

  • Algebra handbook
  • class notebook and pocket divider (either a math binder or a section of a large binder)
  • notebook paper (could be a composition book)
  • graph paper (could be a composition book)
  • #2 pencils (1 box to be kept in class)
  • highlighter pen (helpful)
  • 3 x 5 notecards
  • scientific calculator

Mrs. Knutzen 2012-13Page 1

Calculator Notes: Cell phones and I-pod calculators are not allowed; please check out a calculator at the library if necessary. The calculator is not intended to replace your thinking; you should be doing most simple calculations in your head. A calculator is required on the Algebra 1 EOC. Though the graphing calculator is accepted, it is not necessary at this level.

Online resources, login information and other helpful resources

Mrs. Knutzen’sWebPages

Skyward Family Access login:______password______

Holt online access login:______password______

Your online textbook has many additional resources available. You can view video lessons, see worked-out problems from homework, take interactive practice tests and quizzes, play games, and much more!

Catchup Math login: bhhswolfpack password______

If you would like additional practice on a particular unit or would like to review, see me for a free Catch-up math account.

Brightstorm login:______password______

Purplemath

Coolmath

Math Center

Student and teacher tutors will be available in the math center on Tuesday and Thursday,

2:15 - 3:15. No appointment is necessary. Come as you are!

After-school with Mrs. Knutzen

As I am a part-time teacher, after school sessions are only available by appointment.

PACK time

Until further notice, PACK time is reserved for targeted intervention and students will attend by invitation only. Please plan to use your PACK time in your 2nd period class as a study hall.

General Classroom responsibilities

Be present

Be your own advocate: your presence, both physically and mentally, insures your success.Stake a claim in the classroom by making sure I know who you are, in a good way!

Be prompt

Arrive to class on time each day, ready to begin class at the bell. Two minutes wasted every school day equates to 6 hours of missed learning opportunities in a school year.

Be Prepared

Have required materials every day. (See page 3) Assignments and/or handouts completed on time can help avoid the snowball effect as the quarter progresses. An important reminder: awell fed and restedbrain performs tasks and retains knowledge at a higher level.

Be Willing to Try

Ask lots of questions…and show confusion appropriately. The classroom is a gym for your brain, so don’t be afraid to sweat. Rule of thumb: it takes 24 repetitions to achieve 80% accuracy.

BeHelpful

Get to know your classmates. Your willingness to help those around you creates a fun and productive learning environment.

Be Honest

Sharing papers only hurt others ability to learn. If a friend asks you if he/she can copy your paper, try this: “I can’t let you copy my paper, but I’d be happy to help you with your assignment.”

Be Neat

Picking up after yourselfallows others a pleasant working environment!

Be Respectful

Cell phones and portable listening devices cause distractions to a healthy learning environment and must be out of sight and sound at all times. Students using a cell phone in class can expect to have the phone taken and held for the remainder of the period. Repeated cell phone violations will result in an office referral and loss of phone for the remainder of the day.

Be Informed

Take responsibility for and ownership of your progress.Make it a habit to regularly check your grade status using Skyward. Let me know if youfind any errors, asImake unintentional mistakes like everyone else. Graded work must be shown before correction can be made.


Homework procedures and policies

How much homework should I expect?

You should expect to be assigned Algebra home practice every day. Your homework should take 15 to 20 minutes. If you need help, please refer to page 3 of this handbook for resources. Consider calling a helpful classmate to re-explain the assignment.

Name & Phone number of classmate: ______

Correcting your homework

Any odd problems from the textbook need to be corrected using the back of your book, prior to coming to class. Even answers will be corrected in class immediately after the warm-up. You are responsible for correcting your own paper and fixing your mistakes. This is the only in-class time to get help on problems you may have missed, so come to class prepared. Corrected assignments are due by the end of the class period.

Name

SCORE 11/13 Date

Standard A.1.2.a

------

Warm-up:

1. 2. 3.

p. 32 #1 - 19

------

Original Work Corrections

1.

3.

5.

7.

All About Grades

Daily Work (preparation)15% of the grade

  • warm ups
  • classroom and home practice
  • class notes

Assessment (performance)85% of the grade

  • section quizzes
  • unit tests
  • final exams

Late Work

All late work must be turned in one day prior to the final unit test, except in the cases of excused absences. If you have work to turn in late, please correct it, score it, and turn it in to the ‘late’ bin. These will be posted to Skyward at my earliest convenience. For credit, please include your name and class period.

B+ 87C+ 77D 65

A 93B 83C 73not sufficient for advancement

A- 90B- 80C- 68to Geometry

Absences

Whenever possible, please avoid scheduling appointments during math class. In the event of unavoidable absence, however, please do the following:

On the day(s) of the absence:

Check Mrs. Knutzen’s webpage to find out what we did in class that day.

Add the assignment (if any) to your Unit Organizer.

If you feel well enough and have the time, try to do the assignment from that day using the Holt online lessons for help.

When you return to school:

Use the notebook in the classroom tocorrect yourassignment that was due on the day of the absence; turn in the assignment to your class bin with “ABSENT” marked at the top of the page.

Make arrangements with Mrs. Knutzen to get extra help on what you missed, if needed.

Testing

Quizzes

Quizzes are given mid-unit and end-of-unit based on standards learned and practiced. Scores will be recorded in the grade book. If you score higher on the unit test for those standards, then your quiz score will be dropped. If your final unit test score is lower than the quiz score, both scores will be kept to average the standard grade.

Testing

A test will be given at the end of each unit. In order to meet standard on the unit test, students must score at least 80%. Students may use one 3 x 5 note card during a test; calculators are allowed after the unit one test.

Final Exams

A final quarter test will measure your proficiency on the standards practiced throughout the quarter. These are the same standards measured on the End of Course Exam. See pages 8–9 for details of standards.

Retesting

A retest is required for every standard score below 80%. The retest will be given in class and students must finish the followingfor each standard:

Complete error analysis on test

Complete reteach handouts and all original work assigned

Correct the reteach handouts in the classroom

Show all preparations to Mrs. Knutzen for permission to retest

A retest will not be offered to students who did not complete the necessary preparations. If you miss the retest in class, you must schedule an appointment with Mrs. Knutzen after school before the end of the quarter. No retests allowed after the week prior to posting quarter grades.

EOC Standards

Mrs. Knutzen 2012-13Page 1

Mark after meeting 80% of standard on final exam:

A1.1. Core Content: Solving problems
A. Select and justify functions and equations to model and solve problems.
B. Solve problems that can be represented by linear functions, equations, and inequalities.
C. Solve problems that can be represented by a system of two linear equations or inequalities.
D. Solve problems that can be represented by quadratic functions and equations.
E. Solve problems that can be represented by exponential functions and equations.
A1.2. Core Content: Numbers, expressions, and operations
A. Know the relationship between real numbers and the number line, and compare and order real numbers with and without the number line.
B. Recognize the multiple uses of variables, determine all possible values of variables that satisfy prescribed conditions, and evaluate algebraic expressions that involve variables.
C. Interpret and use integer exponents and square and cube roots, and apply the laws of properties of exponents to simplify and evaluate exponential expressions.
D. Determine whether approximations or exact values of real numbers are appropriate, depending on the context, and justify the selection.
E. Use algebraic properties to factor and combine like terms in polynomials.
F. Add, subtract, multiply, and divide polynomials.
A1.3. Core Content: Characteristics and behaviors of functions
A. Determine whether a relationship is a function and identify the domain, range, roots, and independent and dependent variables.
B. Represent a function with a symbolic expression, as a graph, in a table, and using words, and making connections among these representations.
C. Evaluate f(x) at a (ie. f(a)) and solve for x in the equation f(x) = b.
A1.4. Core Content: Linear functions, equations, and inequalities
A. Write and solve linear equations and inequalities in one variable.
B. Write and graph an equation for a line given the slope and the y-intercept, the slope and a point on the line, or two points on the line, and translate between forms of linear equations.
C. Identify and interpret the slope and intercepts of a linear function, including equations for parallel and perpendicular lines.
D. Write and solve systems of two linear equations and inequalities in two variables.
E. Describe how changes in the parameters of linear functions and functions containing an absolute value of a linear expression affect their graphs and the relationships they represent.

Italicized standards will appear on the EOC, but not be scored as a graduation requirement.

EOC Standards

Mrs. Knutzen 2012-13Page 1

Mark after meeting 80% of standard on final exam:

A1.5. Core Content: Quadratic functions and equations
A. Represent a quadratic function with a symbolic expression, as a graph, in a table, and with a description, and make connections among the representations.
B. Sketch the graph of a quadratic function, describe the effects that changes in the parameters have on the graph, and interpret the x-intercepts as solutions to a quadratic equation.
C. Solve quadratic equations that can be factored as (ax + b)(cx + d) where a, b, c, and d are integers.
D. Solve quadratic equations that have real roots by completing the square and by using the quadratic formula.
A1.6. Core Content: Data and distributions
A. Use and evaluate the accuracy of summary statistics to describe and compare sets.
B. Make valid inferences and draw conclusions based on data.
C. Describe how linear transformations affect the center and spread of univariate data.
D. Find the equation of a linear function that best fits bivariate data that are linearly related, interpret the slope and y-intercept of the line, and use the equation to make predictions.
E. Describe the correlation of data in scatterplots in terms of strong or weak and positive or negative.
A1.7. Additional Key Content
A. Sketch the graph of an exponential function of the form y = ab^n where n is an integer, describe the effects that changes in the parameters a and b have on the graph, and answer questions that arise in situations modeled by exponential functions.
B. Find and approximate solutions to exponential equations.
C. Express arithmetic and geometric sequences in both explicit and recursive forms, translate between the two forms, explain how rate of change is represented in each form, and use the forms to find specific terms in the sequence.
D. Solve an equation involving several variables by expressing one variable in terms of the others.
A1.8. Core Processes: Reasoning, problem solving, and communication
A. Analyze a problem situation and represent it mathematically.
B. Select and apply strategies to solve problems.
C. Evaluate a solution for reasonableness, verify its accuracy, and interpret the solution in the context of the original problem.
D. Generalize a solution strategy for a single problem to a class of related problems, and apply a strategy for a class of related problems to solve specific problems.
E. Read and interpret diagrams, graphs, and text containing the symbols, language, and conventions of mathematics.
F. Summarize mathematical ideas with precision and efficiency for a given audience and purpose.
G. Synthesize information to draw conclusions, and evaluate the arguments and conclusions of others.
H. Analyze a problem situation and represent it mathematically.

EOC allowed formulas


Classroom Procedures & Expectations

Teacher-Directed
Instruction
Student Interview / Collaboration Time
Warm-up
Working in Pairs
Work time
Group Activity / Independent Assessment
C /
  • No Conversation unrelated to the lesson.
  • Voice Level: 0 - 1
/
  • Conversation allowed
  • Voice Level: 1 - 3
  • Speaking with partner about activity.
/
  • No Conversation
  • Voice Level: 0

H /
  • Raise your hand.
  • Keep it raised until acknowledged.
/
  • Ask your partner / group.
  • If none of you know the answer, raise your hand.
  • Go on to the next question or step until the teacher can help.
/
  • Raise your hand.
  • Keep it raised until acknowledged.

A /
  • Take notes.
  • Work on tasks.
  • Give verbal or written responses to teacher-presented tasks.
/
  • Read directions on activity and complete each task defined.
  • When finished, wait quietly for the next set of instructions.
/
  • Work on Assessment.
  • Show all necessary work.

M /
  • Permission needed to leave your seat.
  • Restroom only if emergency (10/10).
  • Wait to use the pencil sharpener.
  • Please wait to get a drink.
/
  • Permission needed for the restroom (10/10).
  • Permission needed to go for a drink (10/10).
  • Pencil sharpener – Yes
  • Movement must be assignment related.
/
  • Permission needed to leave your seat.
  • No Restroom.
  • Pencil sharpener – with permission.
  • Finish assessment before getting a drink.

p / Looks like …
  • Students are on task.
  • Students give attention to the speaker.
  • Whole-class engagement.
  • Electronic devices are out of sight and sound.
/ Looks like …
  • Pairs or groups are helping each other.
  • 100% participation.
  • Electronic devices are out of sight and sound.
/ Looks like …
  • Students are working entirely alone.
  • Eyes are on own papers.
  • Electronic devices are out of sight and sound.

S / “Success is simple. Do what's right, the right way,
at the right time.” Arnold H. Glasow

Mrs. Knutzen 2012-13Page 1