A. COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course makes the transition from arithmetic to algebra by developing an understanding of an ability to use mathematical concepts, principles and processes.  The number system (with literal and signed numbers), fundamental operations, linear equations, special products and factoring, fractions and fractional equations, and powers and roots constitute the core of the course. The primary objectives of the course are to increase the student’s ability to solve problems and to familiarize them with mathematical symbolism in preparation for higher math.

B.  COME PREPARED WITH NECESSARY SUPPLIES: 

•Binder (½ or ¼ inch rings) or Folder  •Pencils, Pens, Highlighter  

•Composition Book or 70 pg spiral •Chromebook (charged and ready for use each day)

C.  COURSE RESOURCES: 

• Google Classroom:

  • Google Classroom will be our “home base”. 

  • All announcements will be posted in Google Classroom. 

  • Students will join Google Classroom during the first week of school.

• Mr. McCoy’s website (used for daily lessons & other resources):  www.sites.google.com/lkstevens.wednet.edu/mathwithmccoy

• Big Ideas Math (used for daily assignments and test enrichment):  www.bigideasmath.com

• Delta Math (used for daily work enrichment practice):  www.deltamath.com

• Khan Academy (used for quiz enrichment practice & chapter redo work):  www.khanacademy.org

D.  WHAT TO DO IF ABSENT:  

• Go to Google Classroom and see what we are doing on the day you are missing.

• Go to the website:  www.sites.google.com/lkstevens.wednet.edu/mathwithmccoy

• Watch online video using your note packet.

• Complete the online assignment in Big Ideas (if one has been assigned): www.bigideasmath.com 

E.  CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS: 

Our classroom will strive to be organized, efficient, and on task.  

1. Always remember:

• Be Present (Absence always hurts performance.  Skills build on each other)

• Be Prompt (Tardy = out of seat when the bell rings)

• Be Prepared (Always have the necessary materials to participate in class)

• Be Productive (Remain in your seat and stay on task until it is time to clean-up)

• Be Polite (We must pick up after ourselves and respect others space and property)

• Be Positive (You are capable, try your hardest and ask for help when needed)

2)   Respect the rights of others:

• No put-downs

• No profanity

• No trespassing (on others’ property, space, or time)

• THE GOLDEN RULE:  TREAT OTHERS AS YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED.

F.  HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS (MATH):

• A minimum of 3 math credits

G.  GRADING PROCEDURES: 

Your semester grade will be based on the following items:

20% = Daily work* (daily assignments, problem solving, warm-ups, citizenship, etc.)

30% = Quizzes, Pop Quizzes, Spiral/Composition Notebook checks**
40% = Chapter Tests**

10% = Final Exam (cannot retake)

Advanced High School Placement (8th grade students)

Advancement to Geometry next year requires a “B” average to be maintained.

*H.  DAILY WORK POLICY:

Showing Work:

• Most practice work for this class will be assigned online.

• Assignment work should be shown in a spiral notebook or composition book.  Students should list:

  • Assignment Title, Book Section and Date on the top line of each page.

• Each chapter there will be a Spiral/Composition notebook check of student work &/or lesson notes. 

  • This Notebook check will be counted as a quiz grade.

Checking your work:

• Each online problem will have a button that can be clicked on to check answers, students should USE IT.  If a problem is missed then it should be reworked.  If a student does not know what they  are doing wrong, they should ask for help (they should have their work ready to show me). 

• There is a Live Tutor option available Sunday – Thursday after 7pm for students to use on selected problems.

• Remember students also have access to my website (www.sites.google.com/lkstevens.wednet.edu/mathwithmccoy) that has an In class video lessons as well as many other resources.

Due Dates, Make-up work, Late Assignments, Enrichment &  Scores:

• All assignments should be completed by the assigned due date listed (usually the next day).

• Students are only eligible to receive credit for an online assignment if they have earned a 70% or higher.

• Scores for online assignments will be downloaded and entered in the gradebook on the 

day before a Chapter Quiz and the day before a Chapter Test.  

• LATE ASSIGNMENTS:  

  • Any assignments submitted after the quiz/test that it leads up to, will be worth a maximum of 70% of the score earned on that assignment.  

  • Assignments submitted  after the day of the quiz that it leads up to will require a ASSIGNMENT COMMUNICATION FORM to be filled out on my website: www.sites.google.com/lkstevens.wednet.edu/mathwithmccoy

  • Students must earn at least a 70% to receive credit.

• Chapter Enrichment opportunities are provided to help reinforce concepts.  These opportunities will be made available via Delta Math (used for daily work enrichment practice):  www.deltamath.com.  Points earned from these Enrichment opportunities will be considered extra work and will be added to a student’s Daily work grade at the end of the semester.    

**I.  TEST / QUIZ RETAKE POLICY: 

Quizzes:  

• Quiz retakes are not offered; however, Enrichment opportunities are available to help students gain better conceptual understanding and to provide opportunities for students to raise a quiz score.

  • Chapter Enrichment opportunities are provided to help reinforce concepts.  These opportunities differ from the daily work enrichment opportunities and require student work to be submitted at the end of the chapter on the provided paper.  Each concept must be practiced until 100% accuracy is achieved.  These Enrichment opportunities will be made available via Khan Academy (used for quiz enrichment practice):  www.khanacademy.org.  Points earned from these Enrichment opportunities will be considered extra work and will be added to a student’s quiz score for that chapter (not to exceed 100% during 2nd semester).

• Pop quizzes and notebook check scores are not able to be changed.

Test guidelines:

• The week before semester Final Exams students will be able to retake one test.  

  • The Test Retake will be an online version of the Chapter Test.

  • The new score replaces your old score (better or worse).

  • All work for that chapter must be completed at 70% or higher.

  • The online Chapter Practice Test must be completed with a 100% score 

  • Work for the Practice Test must be turned in on the assigned paper.

  • The RETAKE will be completed during class.

  • The score the student earns on the RETAKE is their final grade for that chapter test.

• Chapter Enrichment opportunities are provided to help reinforce concepts.  These opportunities differ from the daily work and quiz enrichment opportunities and require student work to be submitted on the provided paper.  Each concept must be practiced until 100% accuracy is achieved.  These Enrichment opportunities will be made available via Big Ideas Math:  www.bigideasmath.com.  Points earned from these Enrichment opportunities will be considered extra work and will be added to a student’s test score for that chapter (not to exceed 100% during 2nd semester).  

  • If the Enrichment opportunity is completed with 100% accuracy prior to the chapter test, then 10% will be added to the the test score.  

  • If the Enrichment opportunity is completed with 100% accuracy after the chapter test, then 5% will be added to the the test score.

• If a test is failed a student can complete  Chapter Redo work in Delta Math:  www.deltamath.com  All assignments are required to be completed. Completing a Chapter Redo will raise all scores (daily work, quizzes and tests) for that chapter to at least a 60%.  

  • Please note Chapter Redos are not available for the last chapter of each semester.

The Cavelero Cell Phone/Electronic Device Policy 

Your learning is important. 

We do not want cell phones/electronic devices interfering 

with your learning or the learning of others.

• The expectation for cell phones and other personal electronic devices such as headphones, earbuds, etc.., at CMHS is that they are off and away during academic time. 

• As students enter the classroom, the expectation is that they place their phone in the phone storage and swap it with a calculator in their assigned pocket. 

• Earbuds and other electronic devices (including watches) should remain in bags unless instructed otherwise.

Parents may not be able to immediately make contact via cell phone with their child.  

Please call the Cavelero main office at 425-335-1630 when circumstances necessitate immediate contact.

Failure to follow this policy can result in any of the following:

• Confiscation of phone, earbuds or other electronic device(s) for the remainder of the period.

• Confiscation of phone, earbuds or other electronic device(s) for the remainder of the day 

(with parent notification). 

• Parent needing to pick up item(s) at the office after school.

To avoid misunderstandings, if your child will not be bringing a cell phone to school with them please email me to let me know: mark_mccoy@lkstevens.wednet.edu

Families please read over this policy and make sure that there is an understanding of classroom expectations in regards to phones, earbuds and any other electronic device.