Algebra II

"Perfect numbers, like perfect men, are very rare."

-- Descartes
 

How are points, lines, parabolas, hyperbolas, circles, and ellipses related?

Course Description

Algebra II is an expansion of the concepts covered in Algebra I.  Students will gain an increased understanding of algebraic concepts while also learning problem-solving, teamwork and communication skills.  Applicability to real-world problems and word problems are emphasized.  Successful completion of this course provides the necessary preparation for higher-level math courses, including Trigonometry and Pre-Calculus.  Algebra II will focus on the following:

Students who successfully complete this course should be able to:

I expect every student to come to class on time, prepared with all necessary materials and completed assignments, and most importantly, a positive attitude and an open mind.  Each day a student comes to class unprepared a point will be deducted from their class participation grade (see ‘Grading Policy’ below).  Every student has something unique to offer our class and is, therefore, a valuable member of our learning community.  Coming to class unprepared reduces everyone’s experience.  I expect students to respect each fellow student, their property, the classroom and the teacher.  Finally, I expect students to be persistent.  It takes effort to grasp some mathematical concepts.  Anyone can show effort when something is easy; what defines one’s character is how hard they try when things get tough.  With persistence and a solid effort, everyone can succeed in this course.

You can expect me to come to class prepared each day with a positive attitude and an open mind.  Each student learns differently and I will make every effort to accommodate these differences through a variety of instructional methods.  You can expect me to grade fairly and to return assignments in a timely manner.  If additional help is needed outside the classroom, I will typically be available in Room 5 before school starting at 7am and after school Monday through Thursday.

Student grades take into account several aspects of the learning experience:

The elements comprising the quarter grades are defined below.  Mid-term and Final Exam formats and content will be discussed in class prior to the exams.

Classwork (10%) – Any in classwork (i.e. bellwork, worksheets) will fall under this category.  All classwork should be documented in the student portfolio. 

Each assignment is worth 1 point and will be graded as credit or no credit.  Full credit is given if an effort is made to complete the assignment.  There is no partial credit given.

Homework (10%) – Homework is necessary to practice learned math concepts and will be assigned most nights.  I understand that students will have homework from more than one class a night, and some students also have part-time jobs.  Therefore, the homework assignments will typically be short and every effort will be made not to give homework on Fridays.

Each homework assignment is worth 2 points and is graded on effort.  It will be common for there to be 2 homework assignments from which to chose.  Completing either assignment will earn full credit.  Full credit (2 points) is given if the student has put in an honest effort to complete the full assignment in a legible fashion.  Half credit (1 point) is given if the assignment is not complete or illegible.  Every time a student fails to turn in assigned homework, they must submit a written reason for not having the homework.  These will be kept on file and will be shared with parents if the problem persists.

Journal (10%) – The journal will contain the following types of entries:

• Daily Thoughts (1 point each)
  • At the end of most classes, the last 5 minutes will be spent writing daily thoughts on an assigned topic to get the students to relate to the material covered in class that day.  These will be worth 1 point each and are graded on effort.  There are no wrong answers to daily thought assignments.
• Type 1 Writing (1 point each)
  • Type 1 writing simply gets ideas on paper and is analogous to brainstorming.  There are no wrong answers, but students must meet the specific quantity of ideas.  Each assignment will be graded as full or no credit.
• Type 2 Writing (5 points each)
  • Type 2 writing is similar to Type 1 writing in format, with quantity and time as parameters.  The count is evaluated in a Type 2 assignment.
• Type 3 Writing (25 points each)
  • Type 3 writing assignments are short essays, usually 3-5 paragraphs, on topics we cover.  Students are graded on criteria specified for that particular assignment.

Portfolio (5%) – This course requires the maintenance of a dedicated portfolio of all class work, including class notes, homework, classwork, journal, quizzes and tests.  Each quarter, the student portfolios will be evaluated based on the level of organization and completeness.  This is where it is important to ensure dated class notes, classwork, homework, quizzes, tests, and journal assignments are present in the correct sections of the portfolio.  If a student is unhappy with the assigned grade, they will be given one additional opportunity to resubmit their portfolio for review.  Second reviews must occur within 2 days.  Only the highest grade will be logged.

Quizzes (25%) – Quizzes will be given on a regular basis to ensure the concepts are understood before moving forward.  This is where students have the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge of the topics covered.  If a student is unhappy with their performance on a quiz, they have the opportunity to resubmit it with documented corrections for the missed problems.  Students must correctly solve the problem and legibly document the step or concept originally missed.  Corrected quizzes are due within 2 days.  The submitted problems, if correct, earn 50% of the original credit.  For example, if a student earned a 50% on a quiz, but then correctly answered all questions on the resubmission, they would receive a 75% for the quiz.  There will be no unannounced quizzes.

Class Participation (5%) – All students are expected to attend class daily, respect each individual in the community and actively participate in each class. In terms of weight, I have made this area of grading second only to tests.  I truly believe each one of us has something unique to offer the class.  Only through working together can we make the largest strides.  Student contributions in these areas are rewarded here.

Tests (35%) – Tests will be given at the end of each chapter to ensure the concepts are understood before moving forward.  This is where students have the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge of the topics covered. If a student is unhappy with their performance on a test, they have the opportunity to resubmit it with documented corrections for the missed problems.  Students must correctly solve the problem and legibly document the step or concept originally missed.  Corrected tests are due within 2 days.  The submitted problems, if correct, earn 50% of the original credit.  For example, if a student earned a 50% on a quiz, but then correctly answered all questions on the resubmission, they would receive a 75% for the quiz.

Extra Credit – Students will be given opportunities throughout the course to earn extra credit.  All extra credit assignments are optional.

The following policy will be strictly adhered to regarding late work for Algebra II.  Please refer to the Student Handbook for definitions of excused and unexcused absences.  In some situations, extensions may be granted for extended excused absences.

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