Syllabus

“Pure mathematics is, in its way, the poetry of logical ideas.”

-Albert Einstein

Algebra I Syllabus

Teacher: Mr. Fawcett

Website: http://sites.google.com/site/fawcettsmathclass/

Book Used for Class: Prentice Hall – Algebra I (Click here to access this book online)

Course Description:

Algebra I is the introduction of variables, constants, expressions and equations. Topics covered are: solving equations, applications of slope, inequalities, solving systems of equations, simplifying expressions, understanding order of operations, using properties (field axioms), arithmetic operations with positive and negative numbers, polynomials, factoring, graphing (linear and quadratic equations), etc knowledge.

Objectives:

Students will be able to:

- Interpret graphs and data and explore their relationships

- Graph data on a coordinate plane

- Understand probability and its holding theories

- Graph and describe different types of change

- Know how to compose and decompose functions and how to find inverses of basic functions.

- Simplify and perform basic operations on rational expressions, including finding common denominators.

- Understand exponents and their properties

- Know basic theorems of exponents

- Solve linear equations and absolute value equations

- Solve linear equations and absolute value inequalities

- Solve systems of linear equations and inequalities using algebraic and graphical methods

- Know when it is possible to simplify, solve, substitute or evaluate equations and expressions

- Understand the algebraic language and notation for functions.

*There are many other topics in mathematics that will be covered throughout the course of this year; this list only provides a few of the “big rocks” in the curriculum.

Instructional Methods:

Cooperative Learning, Board Work, Lecture, Class Discussions, Individual Work, Writing, Application of Content to Real-Life, etc.

Required Materials:

The following materials will be REQUIRED for every student when he/she enters the classroom:

- required book, loose-leaf paper, pencil, & Brain. (A calculator is not necessary for this class and is not allowed to be used for the majority of the year!!)

*The teacher is not responsible for any materials needed for this class. This responsibility falls upon you, the student!!

Classroom Procedures/Policies:

1. You are expected to do all homework assigned. You will have one day for every day absent (up to one week) to present makeup work. Any work that is late, will be accepted for half credit if turned in before the end of the Chapter Test and one third credit if turned in before end of the current Quarter. No credit will be given if turned in after this time period. Students are expected to check for his/her missing work using our PowerSchool software from home.

2. You are expected to come to class prepared; i.e.: books, notebooks, calculator, and pencils are to be brought every day (unless told otherwise).

3. You are to follow and uphold the criteria established in the student-parent handbook.

4. You are to respect the property and rights of all individuals in the class; no disruptive or hurtful behavior.

Bellwork:

There will be some kind of bellwork that will be assigned at the start of EVERY class. This usually short assignment (5-min) can be taken as a grade or will be used to review topics previously learned. Sometimes the bellwork could be as simple as checking answers and/or asking questions with fellow classmates. There will then be a time to review the bellwork and to go over the previous assignment afterwards. THIS WOULD BE THE TIME TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS!!!

Homework Quizzes will be given during this time in class (see below to learn about Homework Quizzes).

Homework:

Students can expect about 10-35 minutes of homework almost every night, depending on the days events, tests, etc. It is the responsibility of the student to make up homework within one day of his/her absence. The student can ask either the teacher or a fellow classmate for the assignment missed. Homework will be collected and/or reviewed on a regular basis.

All homework must have the student name,, assigned pages and the section to which the problems come from on top of his/her paper turned in. These will be recorded in the grade book as such. Any assignment turned in without any of these, will not be accepted.

A list of the weekly assignments can be found on this website under "Assignment Calendar". Also, if the student is missing any worksheets and/or tests/quizzes, then he/she can find them in the designated folders located in the front corner of the room.

Homework Quizzes:

Students can expect at any given time a Homework Quiz. Instead of collecting that days assignment, the teacher could give a quiz reflecting problems/questions similar to that particular assignment. Homework is allowed to be used on all Homework Quizzes. In most cases, Homework Quizzes are worth as much as the assignment would have been if turned in. These are mostly graded as a class and each solution is discussed/explained thoroughly.

If a student is absent on this day, then all he she must do is turn in that assignment when he/she comes back to school to get the credit for that Homework Quiz.

Tests and Test Corrections:

There will be given a Chapter Exam at the conclusion of each chapter to assess the student mastery of the taught material. Each student will have the opportunity to then complete Test Corrections after receiving that Chapter Exam back to which he/she could receive up to half the missed points. The directions for said Test Corrections can be found on this website under the subheading "Test Corrections" on the main page.

Note-taking:

Notes will be required for all students and will be checked on a regular basis. Notes will be part of the participation grade. Students may choose to print my notes offline or he/she may choose to take his/her own notes in a notebook or binder. Each section MUST be labeled and notes MUST be legible!! If I cannot read them, I cannot grade them.

Attendance:

Students must be present to pass. No student will leave the classroom once the bell has rang indicating the start of the class period. No student shall enter after the bell has rang without a signed excuse from the designated staff member/parent.

Grading Scale:

A+ 98-100

A 93-97

A- 90-92

B+ 88-89

B 83-87

B- 80-82

C+ 78-79

C 73-77

C- 70-72

D+ 68-69

D 63-67

D- 60-62

F 0-59

Grade Categories and Weights:

Your grade will not be calculated on a straight-forward point system. Instead, they will be weighted using the following categories and Weights.

Tests and Quizzes - 60%

Homework, Notes and Homework Quizzes - 40%

Within the Tests and Quizzes category however, each entry will be calculated as points. For example, a 30 point Quiz will not be weighted the same as a 120 point Test. Each will be worth as much or as little as the total point value.