Class Expectations

According to Professor Lee of Washington University, "Mathematics is the single field of human endeavor in which we are the most certain of the correctness of our knowledge."  We use algebra everyday.

The main goal of this class is to help you acquire a deep understanding of and appreciation for  algebra. You will learn to think about it in a more confident and focused manner.

A secondary goal of this class is to help you become adept at mathematical communication. Opportunities to improve your communication skills on several levels will arise throughout the class (see below for details): speaking precisely about mathematical ideas in class; writing informally about mathematical ideas on this Blog; and writing careful mathematical conclusions on homework assignments.

Grading Setup
Test 35% (keep all test in your binder upon their grading and return)
Homework 30%
Participation 15% (Blog Activities, Behavior, Attendance, Supplies, Projects)
Final Exam 20%

Homework
You will need a 2 inch binder to store all of your homework assignments on 3 hole loose leaf paper.
You should include your name, lesson number, and the assigned problems.

Homework will be graded in two forms QUANTITY and QUALITY.

QUANTITY Homework will be checked every day.  You receive 1 point for  attempting all problems.  If you do not know how to attempt a problem, you should write down the entire question to receive credit.  At the end of each unit you will receive a final quantity grade out of a total of ten points (minus one for each uncompleted assignment).

QUALITY Homework will be graded based on the correctness of several randomly selected problems grade by the teacher. I may collect any single assignment at any given day to check for a QUALITY grade.  You will receive up to ten points for a QUALITY assignment grade.

Attendance
You must come to class if you are at school. If you are not here when I take attendance you will be marked absent. If you arrive late I will change the mark to tardy. If you have a note your tardiness will be excused. (Note: excessive absences can prohibit you from passing the class) For every unexcused absence you will lose a whole point from your final average. For every three unexcused tardies you will lose a whole percentage point to your final average.

If you miss class you are still responsible for the homework. The best way to prepare for a trip is to get your assignment in advance.

BEHAVIOR
Disruptive or offensive behavior will not be tolerated. Offensive language is not used in my room.

NO CHEATING! Do not roam your eyes around the room. Please keep your eyes on your own paper to avoid even the appearance of looking at the answers of classmates it may be mistaken as cheating.

CELL PHONES
Cell phones must be turned off and put away at all times during class. A violation of this policy will result in the removal of the phone and it will be given to Paul Hayward.

EXTRA HELP
We all need a little extra help every now and then. While every effort will be made to answers questions during class, there may be times when you need further clarification. I will be regularly available to help students with math during:

Wednesdays @ Lunch

Please contact me as soon as you become uncomfortable and we will find a time even outside of these times to get you help. I’m more than willing to work with you, but I also expect you to make the effort and show me you are invested in learning. If you are having trouble with any part of my class, let me know and I will help you. I am a big helper, that’s my job.

The Path to Success!!

You can succeed in math and in this course if you:

1. Respect everyone in the class at all times. We all work at different paces and use different methods. Please respect those differences.
2. Always be on time and prepared for class.
3. Have read the lesson and done the homework.
4. Show all your work
5. Check your work carefully so that you know what’s hard for you and mark the items on your homework that you want to discuss in class.
6. Review your class notes every night before going to bed.
7. Always get extra help from the teacher when you feel you are falling behind.
8. Find one or two people to be your study partners and form a study group.
9. Make the class work for you by making sure you get your questions answered, and listening to what other students have to say. Your classmates have great ideas, sometimes better than my ideas, so, be attentive. They may also ask questions you want to ask. Listen to your classmates.
   
10. Participate regularly on the class blog