Expectations

EXPECTATIONS

SUPPLIES: In class each day, students should have the textbook (covered), an erasable writing instrument, paper, and the math notebook. It is also helpful to have a small ruler and graphing calculator (protractor and compass are also optional).

ASSIGNED WORK: Reading material and homework are scheduled a full unit (generally a chapter in the text) at a time. Schedules and objectives are distributed to students on assignment sheets. Each student is required to keep a notebook for this class. In it are to be kept class notes, written homework assignments, handouts, quizzes and tests. It is collected on a regular basis and graded for completeness.

There will be a written assignment nearly every day which should take on average 20 minutes to complete. Students are encouraged to form “study groups” with classmates, and are permitted to help each other with homework. Students are permitted to work ahead on the assigned problem sets provided they are able to understand the new material by reading the text. Homework may be spot-checked on occasion. Sometimes an assignment may be collected and graded.

Whenever possible, students will be provided with the correct answers to assigned work so that they may check their work as they progress and consequently they may know with which problems they are having difficulty. A notebook containing detailed solutions to assigned problems is available in the classroom and students may compare their work with these as needed. In class, a sampling of assigned problems (generally initiated by student questions) will be presented in detail.

The math notebook (which may be a spiral notebook, pocket folder or section in a 3-ring binder, but NOT just a pile of papers stapled together) is required. It is collected at the conclusion of each unit, graded for completeness (and returned) during the class period in which the test is given. It usually counts 20 points.

WRITTEN WORK; All work should be done legibly, with pertinent steps shown. This pertains to homework, board work, and tests. Set-ups should be written out (even if the final value of the answer will be obtained from a calculator). Scratch paper is always available from the teacher if a student has none. Writing on desktops is prohibited, and any student observed writing on the desk will be required to come after school to clean one or more classroom sets of desks.

CLASS ROUTINE: In general, class time will be used as follows:
                        1) quiz or test (if scheduled)
                        2) review of assigned problems
                        3) discussion of new material
                        4) study time and individualized help

MAKE-UP WORK: Work missed due to excused absences should be made up within one week of the student's return. After this period of time, the teacher may deduct up to five percent for each day's additional delay. In cases of extenuating circumstances, student and teacher may agree to other arrangements.

LATE WORK: Homework and worksheets are accepted late but 10% of the assignment’s value is deducted. Students who are absent on the day when a worksheet is due will be penalized as outlined unless the work is turned in when the student returns, the absence has been officially excused and the excuse is submitted when the student returns to class. Take-home tests (or portions of tests) are due without fail at the stated deadline. Students who are absent when the test is distributed will receive an appropriate deadline when they are given the test. Students who are absent when the test is due should be advised that the value of the late work goes down by 50% for each day it is late, and so they should arrange to have the work delivered in a sealed envelope to school by the deadline.

GRADING POLICY: Grades are determined by percentage average computed by dividing the number of points a student has earned during the grading period by the number of points that were possible. Incomplete work counts as a zero for that assignment. Work is generally not "curved" and no grades are "dropped". Points students will earn come from the notebooks (about 10% of the grade), unit tests 100 points each (about 60%), and other work--quizzes, worksheets, reading, internet, and journals (about 30%). Extra credit problems are given occasionally, but they are generally more challenging work and should not be depended on to replace required work. Extra credit is never accepted late.

Test revisions are accepted on 100-point tests. They are due one week after the test has been returned. Their maximum value is 25% of the points missed on the test (or whatever it takes to bring the score up to 60, whichever is HIGHER). To earn the maximum number of points, students must redo every problem on the test--this time correctly, showing all steps of the work carefully. Any problem that is not done on the revisions, or that is done wrong will result in one or more points being deducted from the revision points. On tests which have a "choose m problems from a group of n problems" format, all of the problems on the entire test must be done on the revisions if a student wishes to receive maximum points.

             In order to earn a grade students must achieve a minimum percent as follows
                        A = at least 90%
                        B = at least 80%
                        C = at least 70%
                        D = at least 60%

At the end of each semester, a final exam is given. County policy values this exam at 25% of the semester grade.