Listed below, you will find the course syllabus for Precalculus. There are additional items listed here that are not covered in the abbreviated version handed out in class. Please be sure to read all items carefully, and if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
All items presented here are superseded by the policies found in the Student Handbook for Piqua High School. It is assumed that all students are familiar with the Student Handbook and the rules contained within. All rules and policies found in the handbook will be adhered to in this class at all times.
Precalculus
Syllabus, Classroom Rules, and Expectations
Teacher: Mr. Kerns
Dear Parents, Guardians, and Students,
Welcome to the 2014-2015 school year at Piqua High School. This course will be Precalculus which focuses on strengthening Algebra 2 skills and introducing students to the theory, notations, and operations often encountered in Calculus. Our primary focus will be on strengthening the skills needed in a typical Calculus course, and we will prepare students for a traditional Calculus 1 course. Some of the topics we will cover will include parabolic functions, equations and their graphs, solving systems of equations, manipulating polynomials, matrices, logarithms, conic sections, and trigonometric functions. We will use an open-ended, investigative approach to the class as we explore ideas, data, patterns, and algebraic relationships that model real-world applications. Mathematics is very much like learning a new language, including vocabulary and complex structures, so I encourage everyone to work together, ask questions, and be ready to build strategies that will help you take ownership of your own learning. A complete version of this document is also available on the class website at www.mathmovers.com.
Classroom Expectations
1. Be respectful at all times
- This includes not talking while others are talking
- No cell phones or other electronic devices in class (Zero Tolerance)
- No bullying, inconsiderate remarks, or laughing at another student
- This classroom is a safe haven for all learning and all students
- Raise hand to be called upon
2. Be Prepared
- Bring all necessary materials to class with you EVERY DAY
- Bring books, pencils, paper, graph paper, calculator, erasers
- Be in class on time; being tardy will not be tolerated
- Take daily notes
- Use the restroom before you come to class – classes are only 42 minutes long so no restroom breaks will be given except in documented cases or extreme emergencies
3. Keep textbooks covered and respect all property in the classroom
4. No food or drink permitted in the classroom
Materials Needed
1. Graphing Calculator – TI 84 is sufficient for this class. I have a classroom set, but it is helpful to have your own for homework.
2. College ruled paper
3. Graph paper
4. Pencils and erasers
5. Notebook (or 3 ring binder) to keep all notes, papers, tests, and quizzes neatly organized
6. Math Notebook -- A spiral notebook should be sufficient
Grades
All work must be shown – NO WORK, NO CREDIT!! Please complete all assignments in pencil only (no ink). Grades will be based on a point system as follows:
Homework: 5-10 points
Quizzes: 20-60 points
Tests: 80-100 points
Projects: 200 points
Extra Credit: will only be given on rare occasions, so take advantage of it when it is
offered. (Students are not eligible for extra credit if they have any missing
assignments!!)
Extra credit will also be given based on A’s, B’s, and C’s for test. Anyone
receiving an A on a test or quiz will earn 5 “Bonus Bucks”, anyone
receiving a B on a test or quiz will earn 3 “Bonus Bucks”, and anyone
receiving a C on a test or quiz will earn 1 “Bonus Buck.” These “Bonus
Bucks” can be redeemed at any time as extra credit for the quarter or
semester, or they can be used in place of a homework assignment. The
choice is yours.
Points may be adjusted on assignments based on the length and difficulty of the assignment. I will also consider classroom participation, effort, and positive attitude into account when determining final grades. It is imperative that you come to class with a positive attitude and a willingness to work at your very highest level of academic abilities. I demand nothing less, and I demand that nobody settles for anything less!
Make-up work is the responsibility of the student and must be submitted promptly upon your return to the class. If you are absent, you can call the school, me, or a friend to get the missed assignment. You can also check my website at mathmovers.com where you will also find all the homework assignments listed. Late work will be accepted, but it will have a mandatory reduction in the overall grade (to be determined by how long the assignment is out).
Anyone caught cheating in any way will receive a grade of “0” on the assignment or test they were caught cheating on. Anyone caught with an electronic device out during a test or quiz will automatically receive a “0” for that grade. It will be assumed that the student is looking something up on their device, and this will be considered cheating. Therefore, any devices out during tests will result in the forfeiture of a grade for that assignment, regardless of why the device was out. This is the only warning that will be given. Students must also show work in order to receive credit for any assignment or on any test. Any work submitted without work will also be given a grade of “0.”
NOTE: IF CELL PHONE OR OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICE USAGE BECOMES A PROBLEM, THEN STUDENTS WILL HAVE TO SURRENDER THEIR DEVICE TO THE TEACHER IN ORDER TO TAKE ANY TEST. IF A STUDENT REFUSES, IT WILL RESULT IN AN AUTOMATIC 0 FOR THAT TEST.
Note: it is a good idea to save all of your papers to review for tests and semester exams. Also, it helps to keep your papers just in case I forget to enter a grade. If you throw something away, and I forgot to enter the grade, then you will have to redo the assignment to get credit for it!
SLO – Student Learning Objectives
This test is used to determine whether students are progressing through their math curriculum. Students will be given the test in the fall and spring. Students will receive a score of 20/20 just for completing this test during the fall and winter. However, during the spring test, students will only receive a 20/20 if they show a year’s worth of growth. If they do not show a year’s worth of growth, then their grade will be 0/20. These tests are important and will be one of many factors used to determine a student’s placement in next year’s math course. (This may be subject to change depending on departmental requirements).
Discipline Plan
1st offense: warning (either verbal or written)
2nd offense: email or phone call home to parent, guardian, or legal custodian
3rd offense: ½ hour detention after school with me
4th offense: office referral (removed from class) and phone call to parent
Items that constitute following the discipline plan include:
1. Being late to class
2. Cell phone or other electronic device out in class
3. Disrespectful or disruptive behavior during class, horseplay
4. Not being prepared for class with all necessary materials
5. Asking to leave the class for various reasons
6. Cheating on any assignment
7. Not turning in homework
Other items may be included at the teacher’s discretion, and, depending on the severity of the violation, a student may not go in the order listed above for offenses. Something of a severe nature may warrant skipping all the way to removal from class without going through the other steps first.
Questions
If any student, parent, or guardian ever has any questions, please feel free to contact me at any time. Do not let questions build up and become a barrier to your learning. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A DUMB QUESTION EXCEPT FOR THE ONE NOT ASKED!! I am available at the school as early as 7:00am and from 2:30pm until at least 3pm every day if you need to speak with me in person. Anyone can also get a hold of me through the school’s front office or via email. My email address is kernsm@piqua.org. I also encourage parents and students to check the class website located at www.mathmovers.com; here I will post the latest information regarding the class, homework, and any upcoming events as needed. This is a great place to visit, as well, if any student is absent from class and needs to know the assignments for when they return.
I look forward to working with all of you this school year as I anticipate a fun, challenging, and activity-filled experience for everyone involved.
Note: all material contained in this course syllabus is subject to change at any time in order to better serve the needs of the students, teacher, and/or the Piqua High School community.
All items presented here are superseded by the policies found in the Student Handbook for Piqua High School. It is assumed that all students are familiar with the Student Handbook and the rules contained within. All rules and policies found in the handbook will be adhered to in this class at all times.
Precalculus
Syllabus, Classroom Rules, and Expectations
Teacher: Mr. Kerns
Dear Parents, Guardians, and Students,
Welcome to the 2014-2015 school year at Piqua High School. This course will be Precalculus which focuses on strengthening Algebra 2 skills and introducing students to the theory, notations, and operations often encountered in Calculus. Our primary focus will be on strengthening the skills needed in a typical Calculus course, and we will prepare students for a traditional Calculus 1 course. Some of the topics we will cover will include parabolic functions, equations and their graphs, solving systems of equations, manipulating polynomials, matrices, logarithms, conic sections, and trigonometric functions. We will use an open-ended, investigative approach to the class as we explore ideas, data, patterns, and algebraic relationships that model real-world applications. Mathematics is very much like learning a new language, including vocabulary and complex structures, so I encourage everyone to work together, ask questions, and be ready to build strategies that will help you take ownership of your own learning. A complete version of this document is also available on the class website at www.mathmovers.com.
Classroom Expectations
1. Be respectful at all times
- This includes not talking while others are talking
- No cell phones or other electronic devices in class (Zero Tolerance)
- No bullying, inconsiderate remarks, or laughing at another student
- This classroom is a safe haven for all learning and all students
- Raise hand to be called upon
2. Be Prepared
- Bring all necessary materials to class with you EVERY DAY
- Bring books, pencils, paper, graph paper, calculator, erasers
- Be in class on time; being tardy will not be tolerated
- Take daily notes
- Use the restroom before you come to class – classes are only 42 minutes long so no restroom breaks will be given except in documented cases or extreme emergencies
3. Keep textbooks covered and respect all property in the classroom
4. No food or drink permitted in the classroom
Materials Needed
1. Graphing Calculator – TI 84 is sufficient for this class. I have a classroom set, but it is helpful to have your own for homework.
2. College ruled paper
3. Graph paper
4. Pencils and erasers
5. Notebook (or 3 ring binder) to keep all notes, papers, tests, and quizzes neatly organized
6. Math Notebook -- A spiral notebook should be sufficient
Grades
All work must be shown – NO WORK, NO CREDIT!! Please complete all assignments in pencil only (no ink). Grades will be based on a point system as follows:
Homework: 5-10 points
Quizzes: 20-60 points
Tests: 80-100 points
Projects: 200 points
Extra Credit: will only be given on rare occasions, so take advantage of it when it is
offered. (Students are not eligible for extra credit if they have any missing
assignments!!)
Extra credit will also be given based on A’s, B’s, and C’s for test. Anyone
receiving an A on a test or quiz will earn 5 “Bonus Bucks”, anyone
receiving a B on a test or quiz will earn 3 “Bonus Bucks”, and anyone
receiving a C on a test or quiz will earn 1 “Bonus Buck.” These “Bonus
Bucks” can be redeemed at any time as extra credit for the quarter or
semester, or they can be used in place of a homework assignment. The
choice is yours.
Points may be adjusted on assignments based on the length and difficulty of the assignment. I will also consider classroom participation, effort, and positive attitude into account when determining final grades. It is imperative that you come to class with a positive attitude and a willingness to work at your very highest level of academic abilities. I demand nothing less, and I demand that nobody settles for anything less!
Make-up work is the responsibility of the student and must be submitted promptly upon your return to the class. If you are absent, you can call the school, me, or a friend to get the missed assignment. You can also check my website at mathmovers.com where you will also find all the homework assignments listed. Late work will be accepted, but it will have a mandatory reduction in the overall grade (to be determined by how long the assignment is out).
Anyone caught cheating in any way will receive a grade of “0” on the assignment or test they were caught cheating on. Anyone caught with an electronic device out during a test or quiz will automatically receive a “0” for that grade. It will be assumed that the student is looking something up on their device, and this will be considered cheating. Therefore, any devices out during tests will result in the forfeiture of a grade for that assignment, regardless of why the device was out. This is the only warning that will be given. Students must also show work in order to receive credit for any assignment or on any test. Any work submitted without work will also be given a grade of “0.”
NOTE: IF CELL PHONE OR OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICE USAGE BECOMES A PROBLEM, THEN STUDENTS WILL HAVE TO SURRENDER THEIR DEVICE TO THE TEACHER IN ORDER TO TAKE ANY TEST. IF A STUDENT REFUSES, IT WILL RESULT IN AN AUTOMATIC 0 FOR THAT TEST.
Note: it is a good idea to save all of your papers to review for tests and semester exams. Also, it helps to keep your papers just in case I forget to enter a grade. If you throw something away, and I forgot to enter the grade, then you will have to redo the assignment to get credit for it!
SLO – Student Learning Objectives
This test is used to determine whether students are progressing through their math curriculum. Students will be given the test in the fall and spring. Students will receive a score of 20/20 just for completing this test during the fall and winter. However, during the spring test, students will only receive a 20/20 if they show a year’s worth of growth. If they do not show a year’s worth of growth, then their grade will be 0/20. These tests are important and will be one of many factors used to determine a student’s placement in next year’s math course. (This may be subject to change depending on departmental requirements).
Discipline Plan
1st offense: warning (either verbal or written)
2nd offense: email or phone call home to parent, guardian, or legal custodian
3rd offense: ½ hour detention after school with me
4th offense: office referral (removed from class) and phone call to parent
Items that constitute following the discipline plan include:
1. Being late to class
2. Cell phone or other electronic device out in class
3. Disrespectful or disruptive behavior during class, horseplay
4. Not being prepared for class with all necessary materials
5. Asking to leave the class for various reasons
6. Cheating on any assignment
7. Not turning in homework
Other items may be included at the teacher’s discretion, and, depending on the severity of the violation, a student may not go in the order listed above for offenses. Something of a severe nature may warrant skipping all the way to removal from class without going through the other steps first.
Questions
If any student, parent, or guardian ever has any questions, please feel free to contact me at any time. Do not let questions build up and become a barrier to your learning. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A DUMB QUESTION EXCEPT FOR THE ONE NOT ASKED!! I am available at the school as early as 7:00am and from 2:30pm until at least 3pm every day if you need to speak with me in person. Anyone can also get a hold of me through the school’s front office or via email. My email address is kernsm@piqua.org. I also encourage parents and students to check the class website located at www.mathmovers.com; here I will post the latest information regarding the class, homework, and any upcoming events as needed. This is a great place to visit, as well, if any student is absent from class and needs to know the assignments for when they return.
I look forward to working with all of you this school year as I anticipate a fun, challenging, and activity-filled experience for everyone involved.
Note: all material contained in this course syllabus is subject to change at any time in order to better serve the needs of the students, teacher, and/or the Piqua High School community.
