Honors Algebra 2 & Trigonometry
Class Location: Room 116
Class Location: Room 116
functions and their graphs
multiplication and division of polynomials
exponent and logarithmic systems
quadratic equations
rational expressions
trigonometric math
Pacing Guide: Chapter 5: Trigonometric Functions
For several weeks, this class will be learning about the different aspects of trigonometric functions. The topics and dates we will be addressing are:
-Section 5.1 Measuring Angles: Last school days in December before the final exam
-Section 5.2 Right Angle Trigonometry: January 6 - January 9 (with MAP testing on January 8)
-Section 5.3 Trigonometric Functions of Any Angle: January 12 - January 14
-Section 5.4 Trigonometric Functions of the Unit Circle: January 15 - January 20
-Section 5.5 Graphs of Sine and Cosine Functions: January 21 - January 23
-Section 5.6 Graphs of Other Trigonometric Functions: January 26 - January 30
-Section 5.7 Inverse Trigonometric Functions: February 2 - February 3
-Test Review: February 4 - February 5
-Test: February 6
This Week's Classes/Assignments
All Assignments can be viewed in the Canvas portion of the class. (Two weeks are posted.)
This week, the students will be studying graphing aspects of trigonometry. This week's homework will be submitted for grading on Monday, January 26.
Here is the schedule for this week:
Monday, January 19:
MLK Jr. Holiday - No School
Tuesday, January 20:
Students will be learning how to graph sine and cosine functions.
Homework:
Complete pages 564 (#1 - #12 all problems, #27, #28). Your teacher will provide the trigonometric graphing paper.
Wednesday, January 21:
Students will be learning how to graph sine and cosine functions.
Homework:
Complete the practice worksheet provided in class.
Thursday, January 22:
Students will be learning how to graph sine and cosine functions.
Homework:
Complete pages 564 (#43, #44, #58, #69, #70, #71, #73). Your teacher will provide the trigonometric graphing paper.
Friday, January 23:
Students will be learning how to graph sine and cosine functions.
Homework:
Complete pages 564 (#43, #44, #58, #69, #70, #71, #73). Your teacher will provide the trigonometric graphing paper.
This week, the students will be studying aspects of graphing all trigonometric functions. This week's homework will be submitted for grading on Monday, February 2.
Here is the schedule for this week:
Monday, January 26:
Students will be learning how to graph other trigonometric functions. Today, we will be studying graphing tangent.
Homework:
Complete the tangent portion of worksheet provided in class and in Canvas.
Tuesday, January 27:
Students will be learning how to graph other trigonometric functions. Today, we will be studying graphing cosecant.
Homework:
Complete the cosecant portion of worksheet provided on Monday.
Wednesday, January 28:
Students will be learning how to graph other trigonometric functions. Today, we will be studying graphing secant.
Homework:
Complete the secant portion of worksheet provided on Monday.
Thursday, January 29:
Students will be learning how to graph other trigonometric functions. Today, we will be studying graphing cotangent.
Homework:
Complete the cotangent portion of worksheet provided on Monday.
Friday, January 30:
Students will be learning how to graph other trigonometric functions. Today, we will be studying graphing all trigonometric functions with all possible variables.
Homework:
Complete the worksheet provided in class and in Canvas. Sine and cosine problems need to be fully graphed. All other trigonometry functions are multiple choice problems.
All homework from this week will be submitted for grading on Monday, February 2.
HONORS ALGEBRA 2 AND TRIGONOMETRY - 2025/2026
Course Instructors: John Glaser and Lorena Glaser
Emails: glaser_j@aps.edu and glaser_l@aps.edu
COURSE OVERVIEW: The Honors Algebra 2 and Trigonometry class is designed to be a later high school math course that expands foundations in algebra and trigonometry to prepare students for future advanced math classes like AP Calculus AB and AP Statistics. The course covers functions and their graphs, multiplication and division of polynomials, exponent and logarithmic systems, quadratic equations, rational expressions, and trigonometric math. This class is designed to bridge a gap that has occurred since the Covid-19 lockdowns where many incoming calculus students have had major gaps in their math skills. These recent math skill gaps have limited many students’ success in AP Calculus AB. This class is designed to address those gaps before students join the AP Calculus AB class next year.
LEARNING OUTCOMES/INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVES: The purpose of math is to help students develop problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. Learning more algebra and trigonometry concepts helps students to analyze and model real-world phenomena and relationships, and to analyze and communicate their thinking processes. This course focuses on improving students’ understanding of content and skills learned in early high school, deepening students’ understanding of mathematical models for complex real-world applications, improving students’ problem-solving strategies, and improving students’ ability to communicate their mathematical reasoning using mathematical and verbal responses.
More specifically, upon successful completion of this course, the student will have acquired the following knowledge and skills:
Demonstrate the fundamental principles of complex algebra, geometry, and trigonometry.
Understand the concepts of functions and their graphs.
Describe the properties of different functions and their graphs.
Describe the relationship between the different mathematical situations and how they relate to each other.
Understand and compute the different aspects of algebra and geometry.
Apply math skills to solve mathematical problems and/or situations.
Construct and analyze graphs from raw data.
Analyze graphical representation of data.
CLASS TEXTBOOK: Our class textbook will be College Algebra & Trigonometry (2017) by Julie Miller and Donna Gerken. We will have class sets in the classroom to use and students will check out a book from ECA to keep at home.
COURSE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES:
Daily attendance to the class is imperative. New concepts will be introduced every class and missed material may vitally impact future learning in the class. Homework can be expected every day. For the first semester, 30-45 minutes of homework will be typical. For the second semester, 30-60 minutes of homework will be typical.
Students are expected to keep a binder in which all notes, classwork, and homework will be kept. Since this class is a somewhat college-preparatory class, the homework will be given daily, but occasionally the homework will be due in groups of assignments. Students are expected to turn in the homework for grading on the day the assignment is due. Late homework can be submitted one day late with a 10% penalty, per ECA late homework policies.
STUDENT SUPPLIES NEEDED FOR ALGEBRA 2
Three-ring binder or spiral notebooks
Notebook paper
Graphing paper
Pencils
Graphing calculator (A class set of TI-Inspire calculators will be in the classroom.)
Compass
Protractor
CLASS GRADE BREAKDOWN
This class is designed to bridge a gap that has occurred since the Covid-19 lockdowns that shown that many incoming calculus students have had major gaps in their math skills that have limited success in calculus. This class’s grading structure will be close to the grading structure of ECA’s AP Calculus AB class to help those future calculus students be successful in the future.
Tests and quizzes – 50% of overall average
Classroom work – 30% of overall average
Final exam – 20% of overall average
Other ECA/CEC Policies
Cell phone policy: At ECA/CEC, inappropriate cell phone usage is not allowed in the classroom. If Mr. Glaser notices a student is using a cell phone without permission, he will confiscate the phone and return the phone to the student at the end of class. Repeated violations can result in Mr. Glaser giving a student’s cell phone (or other devices) to the administration. The school’s policy on cell phone retrieval will then need to be followed by the student or the parent to have the phone returned.
Tardy policy: Students are expected to be on time to their classes. Tardy students will not be allowed to enter the class. They will be sent to the administrative offices, per ECA/CEC policy. Students who are occasionally tardy will miss important information that may not be repeated later in the class.