Syllabus

Mr. Howard

Foothill High School

Honors Algebra II

bhoward@pleasantonusd.net

Welcome to Mr. Howard's Honors Algebra II class at Foothill High School!  This will be a year full of mathematical exploration and discovery!  Student will be refining their real world problem solving skills by using a problem-based curriculum in class. We are excited to be able to support your student in their journey toward knowing, using, and enjoying mathematics.

Textbook: Core Connections Algebra 2 Overview

Core Connections Algebra 2 is the third course in a five-year sequence of rigorous college preparatory mathematics courses that starts with Algebra I and continues through Calculus. It aims to apply and extend what students have learned in previous courses by focusing on finding connections between multiple representations of functions, transformations of different function families, finding zeros of polynomials and connecting them to graphs and equations of polynomials, modeling periodic phenomena with trigonometry, and understanding the role of randomness and the normal distribution in making statistical conclusions.

On a daily basis, students in Core Connections Algebra 2 use problem-solving strategies, questioning, investigating, analyzing critically, gathering and constructing evidence, and communicating rigorous arguments justifying their thinking. Under teacher guidance, students learn in collaboration with others while sharing information, expertise, and ideas.

The course is well balanced between procedural fluency (algorithms and basic skills), deep conceptual understanding, strategic competence (problem solving), and adaptive reasoning (extension and transference). The lessons in the course meet all of the content standards, including the “plus” standards, of Appendix A of the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics. The course embeds the CCSS Standards for Mathematical Practice as an integral part of the lessons in the course.

Key concepts addressed in this course are:

• Visualize, express, interpret and describe, and graph functions (and their inverses, in many cases). Given a graph, students will be able to represent the function with an equation, and vice-versa, and transform the graph, including the following function families: 

  • absolute value

  • exponential

  • linear

  • logarithmic

  • piecewise-defined

  • polynomial

  • quadratic

  • square root

  • trigonometric

• Use of variables and functions to represent relationships given in tables, graphs, situations, and geometric diagrams, and recognize the connections among these multiple representations.

• Application of multiple algebraic representations to model and solve problems presented as real world situations or simulations.

• Solving linear or quadratic equations in one variable, systems of equations in two variables, and linear systems of equations in three or more variables, including solving with graphical methods.

• Use of algebra to rewrite complicated algebraic expressions and equations in more useful forms.

• Rewriting rational expressions and arithmetic operations on polynomials.

• The relationship between zeros and factors of polynomials.

• Operations with complex numbers, and solving quadratic equations with complex solutions.

• Modeling periodic phenomena with trigonometric functions.

• Solving trigonometric equations and proving trigonometric identities.

• Calculating the sums of arithmetic and geometric series, including infinite geometric series.

• Concepts of randomness and bias in survey design and interpretation of the results.

• Use of a normal distribution to model outcomes and to make inferences as appropriate.

• Use of computers to simulate and determine complex probabilities.

• Use of margin of error and sample-to-sample variability to evaluate statistical decisions.

• Understand logarithms and their inverse relationship with exponentials.

• Use logarithms to solve exponential equations.

Notebook:

You will need to keep an organized notebook for this course. Below is one method of keeping a notebook. Ask your teacher if you should follow these guidelines or if there is another system you should follow.

• The notebook should be a sturdy, three-ring, loose-leaf binder with a hard cover.

• The binder should have dividers to separate it into five sections:
  TEXT
  HOMEWORK
  CLASSWORK/NOTES
  TESTS AND QUIZZES
  LINED AND GRAPH PAPER

You should put your name inside the front cover of your notebook so it will be returned to you if you lose it. Put your phone number and address (or the school's address, if you prefer) on the inside front cover. It will also help to put your name in large, clear letters on the outside so if someone sees it they can say, "Hey, Julia, I saw your notebook in the cafeteria under the back table."

Your notebook will be your biggest asset for this course and will be the primary resource you will use to study, so take good care of it!

Additional Materials

1. Pencil & Paper (lined and graphed)

2. Notebook and binder

3. A whiteboard marker 

4. A scientific calculator Ti-30X IISA and a Ti-83+ graphing calculator or similar (TI-84) 

RESOURCES 

Textbook: Core Connections Algebra 2 ebooks.cpm.org       

Go to https://enroll.cpm.org/ and use the enrollment Pin for your period:

3rd: NHJJH

5th: D7FJA

6th: ML5LM

Class Website: bit.ly/bhowmath

Grading Policy

Letter grades for progress reports, quarter grades and semester grades will be assigned by the following scale. Grades will not be rounded. 

Categories:

20% - Classwork/Homework

10% - Quizzes

55% - Tests

15% - Final

Extra Credit:  

No extra credit will be available.

Absence Policy:

Use the calendar to see what you missed and review the material on your own time. If you are absent you will be excused from the classwork points from that day and notes will be provided on our website: bit.ly/bhowmath If you are absent for a Quiz or test it is your responisibility to schedule a time to make it up during Access/Flex class or at the end of our class if time allows. 

Exam Policy:

Work must be shown to justify answers. All work and steps must be shown to earn partial credit. 

Tests will not be curved. 

CLASS RULES:

• Be prompt, prepared, proper, and pleasant.  Treat others with kindness.

• Respect others right to learn and be prepared to help, and learn, from one another.

• You will be in your seat, ready to begin class, at the start of class and have all appropriate materials out. 

• When you come into class, you will be ready to work and will leave all conversations at the door.

• No food, drinks, or gum in the classroom; bottled water is okay.

• Cell phones and devices should be off and put away unless approved

• All students must be familiar with and follow all school rules

Consequences are:

• 1st offence: Warning

• 2nd offence: Detention & Contact Guardian

• 3rd: offence: Referral 

• 4th: Sent to Adminstration