ALGEBRA 1 REQUIREMENTS, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND GRADING I. Requirements 1. Each student is expected to enter the room quietly, take his/her seat, and be ready to work at the designated time class begins. The school tardy policy as presented in the Student Handbook will be enforced. The students are expected to have their homework and supplies ready when the tardy bell rings. 2. Each student is recommended to bring the listed materials to class everyday. This includes books, paper, pencils, highlighter pen, erasers, two correcting pens, daily assignment book, 1-2 bound graph paper (1/4 ) notebook for Classwork / Homework for the year, 1-2 spiral or bound notebooks for Notes for the year (can be a second bound graph paper book), and 1 3 ring binder that has a transparent cover. (A personal ruler with centimeters and inches and a protractor should be kept at home for homework.) 3. Each student is to have his/her book covered properly. Book covers will need to be replaced periodically to protect the book from damage. 4. Each student is to show respect for the teacher, fellow students, and themselves by following classroom rules such as: Speak kindly to others. Follow directions. Demonstrate ideal listening skills. Use time wisely and work on the task assigned. Socializing is to be done during nutrition and lunch, not during class. Maintain self-control to help create a positive learning environment. Food, drinks, and/or gum may not be brought to class.
II. Responsibilities 1. Each student is responsible for turning in all work assigned in class. (MAXIMUM LIMIT OF 1½ HRS. OF WORK at home-see letter in this packet.) Our philosophy is that homework provides time to practice each skill presented in class. To receive full credit, homework must be out of the binder and on the student s desk when the bell rings. A maximum of half credit will be given for work turned in one class meeting late, and zero credit will be earned and recorded the next class meeting for any missing work. 2. Each student is responsible for keeping an organized notebook for their classwork/homework as well as a Note book. A table of contents in the notes section will be an excellent reference tool. Keep organized! 3. For excused absences, each student must make up class work, homework, quizzes, and tests. Each student will have the number of days absent plus one to make up the work missed. Each student must make arrangements with the teacher the day he/she returns from an absence to make up quizzes and tests. All Make-Up Tests and Quizzes will be administered during normal class time and not at lunch or after school. The teacher will not ask the student for any work, quizzes, or tests that need to be made up. BE RESPONSIBLE. 4. Students are responsible for checking the class website for homework and important information. Each student is to get at least two phone numbers from different people in the class so he/she may phone them for information or assignments missed while absent. Also, select a good partner that can be relied upon to take good notes in case of absence. 5. Each student will be expected to do a Math Test Corrections assignment after every test in class. The student is to explain and correct his/her error(s) on each test, demonstrating mastery of specific concept(s). Since this is an important classwork assignment, it will be worth 25 points and count as an academic grade, as well as for the Work Habits grade. All Tests will be stored in the classroom and are available for review by appointment only.
6. Each student is responsible for group work as well as his/her own individual work in each class. You are to work with your group on the class work and not do your own individual homework. Students not participating with their group can earn no greater than an S in citizenship. 7. Each student is responsible for cleaning up his/her work area before the class will be dismissed to leave. The teacher will dismiss the class. III. Grading A. Letter Grades Each assignment category is weighted differently. The breakdown for grades each quarter is weighted as follows: Homework/Classwork (10%) Quizzes (20%) Individual Tests (50%) Spiral Benchmark or Final Exam (20%) Grades are calculated using the following grading scale: 99-100% A+ 97-93% A 92-90% A- 89-88% B+ 87-83% B 82-80% B- 79-78% C+ 77-73% C 72-70% C- 69-68% D+ 67-63% D 62-60% D- 59% F B. Citizenship A check system will be used during class to hold students accountable for the classroom rules. Quarterly Citizenship grades will be assigned as follows: 0-2 Outstanding 3-4 Satisfactory 5-6 Needs Improvement 7 + Unsatisfactory
C. Work Habits A Work Habits grade will be based upon the completion percentage of both classwork and homework. Quarterly Work Habits grades will be assigned as follows: 95% Outstanding 94-85% Satisfactory 84-75% Needs Improvement 74% Unsatisfactory D. Technology Due to the presence of many items of technology, including a SmartBoard, MAC Laptop and Classroom Jeopardy, it is understood that no student will be permitted to handle any of the equipment without consent of the teacher (me ). This equipment is a privilege to use and if it is not treated with respect, the use of the equipment may be taken away. Training on how to use equipment will be given when needed. IV. High School Math Placement Requirements Geometry Placement Requirements Students taking Algebra I in the middle school must achieve a strong B (85% or better) average of the 3 rd and 4 th Quarters combined to move into Geometry at the high school in their 9 th grade year. To meet these requirements, students may NOT score below 80% in either the 3 rd or 4 th quarter. Students earning a grade below an 85% average of the 3 rd and 4 th Quarters combined, will be required to retake Algebra I in high school to gain a stronger foundation in Algebra 1 before going on to the next levels. 7 th grade students taking Algebra I in the middle school must achieve an A- (90% or better) in the 4 th quarter to move into Geometry in their 8 th grade year.
V. Homework Policy: Since classes meet every other day with the block schedule, homework will be assigned each class period and is due the next class meeting. For instance, if a class meets on Thursday, the homework is due on the following Monday. Friday assignments are due on the following Tuesday. I have suggested to the students that they do their homework on the night it is assigned. That will allow them the opportunity to come see me the next day to clarify any questions they may have. To help your child be successful, it is suggested that you follow the guidelines below: Create a study routine where the student can work uninterrupted by distractions such as the phone, television, etc. All materials need to be provided in their study area so time will not be wasted. Students need to set a 1½ hour (maximum) time limit on the assigned homework. (This time does not include interruptions such as phone calls from friends, television, etc.) After working ¾ of an hour, the student should select a variety of problems from the ones not yet completed and finish those in the last ¾ hour. ALL THE PROBLEMS ASSIGNED DO NOT NEED TO BE COMPLETED. REMEMBER, HOMEWORK IS PRACTICE. However, if your child was not able to complete every problem assigned, just write a note at the top of his/her homework paper stating that he/she worked diligently for 1½ hours and include your signature. He/she will receive full credit, even though all the assigned problems were not completed. If you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail your teacher and/or set a time to meet with him or her. All teachers will have their homework posted on their websites and/or in the classrooms. Their availability to meet with students will also be posted. We hope this will be a productive year for your child where he/she will gain in self-confidence as well as developing higher level math skills.
Have a wonderful year! The 7 th and 8 th Grade Math Department NOTE TO MY STUDENTS PARENTS: I am looking forward to working with your child this year and helping them grow toward achieving their full potential as a world citizen. Over the course of this year, besides the growth of mathematical skills, I will help guide each of my students in the development within themselves of the qualities of reliability, responsibility, and respect. I also stress to them my motto, You are responsible for your own learning. I share with them the importance of practice in achieving excellence in any skill presented. The assignments he/she will receive as classwork / homework this year are designed so each student can develop mastery of the mathematical skills, as well as to become fast, efficient, and accurate in them. Quizzes and tests are where the student demonstrates his/her understanding and mastery of the concepts and therefore, are weighted accordingly. I look forward to working with all of you. I have read the Algebra 1 expectations with a parent and understand all of the requirements, responsibilities, and grading policies. With the signing of this contract, I make a commitment to follow these guidelines throughout the school year. Student Signature Period Date Parent Signature Date Teacher s Name ***PLEASE READ THE MATH REQUIREMENTS, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND GRADING CONTRACT CAREFULLY WITH A PARENT. SIGN THE COMPLETE CONTRACT AND RETURN THIS LAST PAGE OF THIS SIGNED CONTRACT TO YOUR MATH TEACHER ON THE ASSIGNED DUE DATE. THE FIRST SECTION IS TO BE KEPT IN YOUR NOTEBOOK.