About Algebra

Please read all the information below then sign the form at the bottom.  To read more about me, click on the About Coach Saiz tab on the left

Description

Welcome to Middle School Algebra!  By completing this class you will be take Geometry next year as a Freshman, which allows you to take an 'extra' math class your senior year!  You are not allowed to retake Algebra in 9th grade if you pass it in 8th.  You will receive a high school math credit for this course, but the grade earned will not be counted in the calculation of grade point averages (this will be marked as pass/fail.)  You still have to take four (4) additional math credits in grades 9-12.  The purpose of taking Algebra 1 in the eighth grade is to allow students the opportunity to advance further in mathematics.  Those taking Algebra 1 in the eighth grade should be students who have a high interest in math and/or science and are planning to take Pre-Calculus, AP Calculus, AP Statistics and/or AP Computer Science before they graduate from high school.  

Course Overview

• Year-long Course Overview

• TEKS for the Course, by Unit

• Denton ISD Instructional Resources

Textbook and Canvas

All students will receive a textbook.  The Textbook also serves as our workbook and primary source of material.  The book is where we will take most notes.  You will need an addition spiral notebook (or composition book) to take notes that are not from the textbook.  All of our Assessments and a copy of class notes will be on Canvas. 

Classroom Supplies

You will need lots of paper (regular and graph), a pencil and a 1 subject spiral notebook or composition book in addition to your Chromebook and Textbook.  You are allowed to use a graphing calculator but it is not required that you purchase one.  You can use Desmos' online graphing calculator, or the app 'Calculate84'.  

Late Work Policy

Because this is an Honors class the students will be held to a higher standard regarding late work, so No late work! 

Cheating

Cheating will not be tolerated.  Cheating includes but is not limited to using others or forbidden information sources during a quiz or an exam as well as coping information directly from another student on homework assignments.  Students caught cheating will be given a Zero on the assignment and will be referred to the office for further disciplinary actions.  

Evaluation

The grading scale is set by the district.  Please refer to the Student Code of Conduct under Middle School Grade calculations.  Major Assessments will count 80% and Minor Assessments will count 20%.  Minor Assessments may be given at any time while Major Assessments will be announced in class and online about a week in advance.  Students who wish to retake assessments will be required to complete all teacher requirements per school policy.  Homework Quizzes, which consist of questions from the various homework assignments count as Minor Grades.   There will be NO Extra Credit given during the year.  You can expect at least 3 Major grades and at least 6 minor grades during each grading period.

Reassessments

Reassessments will only be allowed for Major Assignments.  In Honors math, Minor Grades cannot be reassessed. 

Removal from Course

 A student may request to be removed from Algebra any time before the end of the 1st grading period by scheduling a meeting with myself and their grade level counselor.  

Course Outline

1st Grading Period  - Equations, Inequalities & Functions

2nd Grading Period  - Slope, Linear Functions & Inequalities, and Systems of Equations

Fall Semester Final - Week of December 15

3rd Grading Period  - Exponents, Radicals and Polynomials

4th Grading Period  - Quadratics

Spring Final - Week of May 18

Algebra STAAR Test – April 28

Practice STAAR - TBD (February-March)

PSAT (8th grade only) - October 24th

Beginning of Year IXL Diagnostic test - August 19 - Sept 5

Middle of Year IXL Diagnostic test - Dec 8 - Dec 19

End of Year IXL Diagnostic test - May 4 - 15 

***To see date ranges for individual Unit tests, please check Canvas or the Class Agenda

*Information stated above is subject to change at teacher discretion.  Please check the syllabus (Important Info) in canvas for updates and feel free to contact me.

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