- Metro Academic and Classical High School
- Algebra 150
- Algebra 150 Course Policies
Perniciaro, Paul - Mathematics
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Algebra 150
Course Policies for 2023/24
Teacher: Paul Perniciaro E-mail: paul.perniciaro@slps.org
Office: Room 215 Office Hours: 9:00-10:15 MTThF(In upstairs teacher workroom)
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Course Overview:
- This is a first year algebra course in which you will learn to reason symbolically and which will prepare students for success on the Missouri EOC.
-The key content involves writing, solving, and graphing linear and quadratic equations, including systems of two linear equations in two unknowns.
-Quadratic equations are solved by factoring, completing the square, graphically, or by application of the quadratic formula.
-The course also includes study of monomial and polynomial expressions, inequalities, exponents, functions, rational expressions, ratio, and proportion.
-Algebraic skills are applied in a wide variety of problem-solving situations.
-Emphasis is placed on having a thorough understanding of functions and the ability to switch between graphical, numerical, analytical, and verbal representations of functions.
-While calculator usage will be kept to a minimum during classtime and on most assessments, there will be a number of times throughout the school year that students will be taught how to use various features of graphing calculators. Each student will have access during class to a graphing calculator. For practice and usage outside of class, I would suggest a couple options:
-Download a free emulator on your computer/laptop through this link: wabbitemu. Here is a video link if help is needed installing wabbitemu install video.
-For iOS (apple phones and tablets) there is an actual TI-84 emulator found in the AppStore.
-For Android devices, there is a free emulator through the Google Play store called wabbitemu which I believe is free.
Owning a personal graphing calculator is another option and will be useful throughout and beyond high school as well. If buying I would steer towards a TI-84 or TInspire, as those are the models most used in college. Please research for the best fit, and I have resources and some working knowledge of a few models.
- We will be using Savvas enVision Algebra 1 2024 as our textbook, provided by the district. For access to Savvas Realize (the online book and homework sets) each student has their own username and password. Their username is (FirstInitial(LastInitial)(metro2022). For myself it would be ppmetro2022. The password is (FirstInitial)(LastInitial)(12345!). For myself it would be pp12345! If you have a hyphenated last name, the (LastInitial) includes both letters. If you are having troubles getting logged in, try the first two letters of your last name instead of just the first. If you are still struggling getting connected, please contact me through e-mail or Teams. Here is a link to SavvasOnline .
-All of the course material and homework sets will be placed on the class’s Teams page as well as on my personal SLPS website, found by going to Metro’s homepage and clicking on faculty and then my name.
Course Grade:
Students’ grades are composed as follows:
Unit Tests 40%
Homework/Projects 10%
Classwork/Notes/Quizzes 40%
Semester Exam 10%
…and upon the following scale:
89.50-100.00 = A
79.50-89.49 = B
69.50-79.49 = C
<69.50 = F
Tests:
-All tests are announced and held during class times. Some will follow the EOC test format to ensure success at the end of the year, composed of two separate assessments, one skill based and the other a performance assessment. Most tests will be 20-25 questions in length. Some tests will be composed of a calculator and non-calculator portion. Some tests will have multiple choice and constructed response questions. Some test questions could incorporate review from past sections. The semester and year end final are comprehensive.
-It is your responsibility to make arrangements in advance to take the test if you will be absent. You will have three days to make up the test after an excused absence. A missed test will result in a zero. An unexcused absence (cutting class) will result in a zero for the test.
Test Retakes:
Anyone may retake any test. Retesting material and fixing mistakes is essential to learning. The higher of the two scores will be the final mark. You will only receive these extra points if you follow these five steps:
- Correct all incorrect problems during review after receiving test back.
- Complete a set of retake problems.
- Take advantage of tutoring sessions for guided practice and filling knowledge gaps.
- Set up an appointment for a retake within two weeks of receiving test back.
- Re-take the test.
Note: The semester final exams are not eligible for retake.
Classwork/Notes/Quizzes:
-A ‘Do Now’ will be on the board when you enter the classroom most days. It is expected you enter the classroom and begin working. Some will be a review of the prior lesson while others may be an introduction into the current lesson. Some will be collected and graded and some will not. There will be a time limit imposed for the completion of ‘Do Nows’
-Throughout the course we will perform investigations into various topics. There may be both individual and group activities that may be collected for a grade.
-Notes will occasionally be graded in this class, having random note-checks at any time. How you take notes is very important. Watch me or your peers, listen to what myself or another student is saying, and then write what is on the board. If you miss an explanation because your head is in your notebook, your notes will be virtually meaningless.
-Quizzes will be given for each section, after instruction is given, time to complete homework is used, and homework problems are reviewed by the teacher.
Homework:
-Homework will be delivered in one of two ways:
- Textbook homework will be assigned in sections. Textbook homework is due and will be collected in class the day after the corresponding lesson. All assignments will be completed in a notebook which will be checked during the Do Now time.
- Online homework sections are due at the end of each unit, graded on the day of that unit’s assessment, it is the assignment called MathXL for School: Additional Practice in SavvasRealize Online. While it is completed in Pearson
- Textbook homework will always be accepted late, but points will be lost based upon the number of days late. Online homework must be completed by the test day to receive full credit. When entering scores for the online, there are two grades, one for completion of all the homework and one for accuracy as recorded by the website.
-Learning in isolation is ineffective. I encourage collaboration and peer-teaching. That said, there is a fine line between working together and copying. If you don’t put any effort into your homework, your tests scores will show. Mathematics cannot be learned without working through and sometimes struggling through the problems. Letting someone copy your homework does them a disservice and can earn yourself a zero.
Extra Credit
-There are chances throughout the entire semester to earn extra credit by doing the online MathXL for School: Enrichment. All regular online homework must be completed with a score of 7 or above to earn the extra credit. Extra Credit is also due at the end of each unit on test day, and it will earn points directly applied to either the quiz grade attached with that respective lesson or homework points, as most benefits the student.
Classroom Rules and Important Information
- Respect. Respect all others at all times. Pay attention when I am addressing the class and while another student is addressing the class. Respect one another's property and that of the room.
- Participation. Be seated and prepared when class starts, stay the whole period, be alert and attentive, ask questions and let me occasionally hear your voice.
- Be Prepared. Have paper, pencil, everything you need for class before it starts. You each will be given a Timeline/Assignment Guide outlining everything that we will do throughout the chapter. Follow it. Don't get behind. Listen to the lectures. Take notes.
- Be Here. Limit your absences and tardies to an absolute minimum. Getting behind in a math class is not an enjoyable experience. Ask for help, from myself, from classmates, from a tutor, just get help and keep working hard.
- Attendance/Tardiness I will take attendance as soon as class period starts. If you are late please come with a valid note. Chronic tardiness will be progressively handled in the following manner for each semester:
3 tardies-conversation with student
4 tardies-notification to parents
5 tardies or more-reference to the office and loss of test retake privileges
- Progress Reports. You can easily check your grades online through Tyler SIS360 at any time. I am usually quick about entering homework and quiz grades. Exam grades may take an extra day or two. If you happen to need a printout of your grade report, let me know in person or by e-mail and I can have one prepared for you.
- Laptops/Cell Phones. Cell phone usage is becoming a greater problem each year and I have seen it virtually destroy a students’ opportunity to learn. Once the class period starts, your phones (and other like devices) are to be put away.
- Absences and Make-Up Lectures. If you are absent or know you will be absent in the future, I strongly encourage you to seek internet resources to familiarize yourself with the missed topic. Youtube and KhanAcademy are fantastic resources – all you need to do is enter the concept name in the search field.
- Study Groups. I cannot emphasize enough the benefit of getting together with a small group on a regular basis and working together. You will find that if you are struggling with the concepts and truly use this opportunity wisely. Teaching someone else is a great reinforcement of your own skills.
- Digital Footprint. Digital networking will be a valuable tool and resource we will all share. Please keep all posts, suggestions, comments, images, and advice given on our sites friendly, appropriate, and on-topic. Violation of this policy will result in being uninvited to the group.
Honesty and Academic Integrity:
-Metro has extremely high regard for academic integrity and, as such, has zero tolerance for any and all forms of academic dishonesty. Academic dishonesty includes but is not limited to, all forms of cheating on any assessments, essays, or assignments (copying, taking pictures, group chats with answers, etc.), plagiarism, and any other unethical academic behavior. Any student in violation will receive no credit (zero/F letter grade), a family meeting will be scheduled, and a notation of the violation will be in the student’s school record.
-The use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools, such as Chat GPT, has the potential for misuse and often borders on plagiarism. At Metro, we utilize Turnitin to disrupt plagiarism and ensure the integrity of ALL student work. If it is deemed that a student has used any AI tool to complete an assignment, the student will receive no credit (zero/F letter grade), a family meeting will be scheduled, as well as a notation of the violation in the student’s school record.
-Any academic dishonesty violation will affect recommendations written by the school for any student applying for post-secondary institutions, scholarships, and other educational programs.
-Please note that it is cheating to seek out answers or unfair advantages before tests. It is also cheating to share any information about a test to someone who has not yet taken the exam. Violation of these policies will result in immediate failure of the test and loss of retake privileges.