Secondary Math 3 -Syllabus
Course Description/Overview/Welcome Statement
Course Title: Secondary Mathematics 3 Honors
Teacher: Miss Nelson
Email: melanien@provo.edu
Classroom: A2-5
Course Information:
- 1.0 Credit
- Grades 9-12
- Fee: $15
- Prerequisites: SM2 teacher recommendation
- Homework: 2-3 Hours per Week
- Degree of Difficulty: 3
- Credit Type: M, ME, NCAA
Course Description
Math is the study of numbers, structure, space, patterns and change. In this section of Secondary Math 3 Honors students will focus on logarithmic, rational, and radical equations. They will study polynomial equations and learn to solve for roots. They will revisit right triangle trigonometry and expand their study to include circular trigonometry. The course also includes sequences and series, systems of non-linear equations, and statistical analysis.
Learning Expectations
Final term grades will be on a weighted scale
70% assessment of standards
30% individual practice and participation during in class learning activities.
Learning Expectations
In order to earn credit, students will need to master each standard in the course. Each terms standards can be found on PowerSchool, and in class will be broken down into even smaller learning targets. The standards will be graded on a 5 point scale.
5 – High, Excellent Level of competence
4 – Moderately High, Above average level of competence
3 – Average level of competence
2 – Emerging Low, Below average level of competence
1 – Beginning Low, Low or partial level of competence
Incomplete – No demonstrated competence, or insufficient evidence of competence
When a student does not achieve competence, it is expected that they will work with the teacher during intervention time (this will be designated class time used to reteach material) and if necessary to come in before or after school to relearn material and work towards retesting.
Assessment of Progress
Assessments
To provide a more accurate representation of what the student has mastered, quizzes will be assigned weekly/bi-weekly depending on the needs of the students. The quizzes may include content we have covered earlier in the year, to see if students have maintained mastery of specific concepts. Students will be allowed to retake similar questions that they answered incorrectly, rather than the entire quiz again. However, they must do the following before a retake is granted: (1) Look over and fix their 1st quiz (2) Discuss with the teacher about their process and thinking on the questions answered incorrectly and (3) complete a set of practice problems recommended by the teacher.
I hope that with the frequent use of quizzes that proper help and intervention can be provided throughout the term instead at the end of the unit. To see if students understanding of concepts has been maintained, there will an end of term test that will encompass all of the essential standards learned during that term. The end of term test will be given approximately a week before the end of the term to allow make-ups and opportunities for students to prove mastery of concepts they have missed. The results of the end of term test will be compared with the results of the quizzes to determine the final grade for each standard assessed.
Individual practice assignments also serve to inform the students about their progress. As a teacher, I will use this information to decide if I need to reteach topics, but in many cases, it will be the student’s responsibility to get help if they struggle with these types of assignments.
Success Criteria
Students will need to achieve a level of mastery (1 or higher) of all of the standards (approximately 12 per term) in order to pass each term. Assessments can be attempted multiple times until the student shows mastery of these standards. To be successful students will need to demonstrate problem solving skills while paying attention to real-life meaning, using appropriate units, and precision. More specific details of success criteria will depend on the specific task, and will be posted in the classroom, and be available to parents if requested throughout the school year.
Course Materials
Course Materials
- A textbook will be checked out from the library. In class, it will be accessible electronically so it is not necessary to bring it to class.
- Purchase of a graphing calculator is recommended but not required. We have a class set of Casio fx-9750gii calculators that every student is allowed to use in class. The Casio calculator is cheaper and the interface is simpler than the TI calculators. If you’d like to purchase a graphing calculator then I’d recommend the TI-83 plus, TI-84, TI-89 or Casio fx-9750gii.
- The only required material is a notebook and pencils.
Classroom Procedures
Behavior
Students have the right to learn in a safe and productive environment. No student has the right to take this right away from others. The following expectations are established to ensure these rights:
- Respect others.
- Be prepared for class.
- Be on task.
- Follow classroom procedures.
- Be a contributing member of your group.
- Follow technology expectations.
Students who choose not to follow classroom expectations will be reminded once. If the student continues behaving inappropriately, they will be referred to administration for a lunch detention. If the student continues behaving inappropriately after receiving a lunch detention, parents will be contacted, and he or she may be referred to administration for further discipline.
Snacks are permitted in my classroom, but any drinks must have a sealable lid. This is a privilege that will be taken away if they become a distraction, or if any trash is not properly disposed.
Technology
The students will use chromebooks during class on a regular basis, accessing the internet through their school assigned email account. We expect students to adhere to the district Acceptable Use Policy (http://provo.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/ti-acceptusepol.pdf). Students who abuse technology will be reported and lose schoolwide access to the devices according to policy.
Electronic devices (iPods, MP3 players, cell phones, etc.) are not allowed in class, except when used for instructional purposes at the teacher’s discretion. If students use these items inappropriately during class, they may be confiscated and given to school administration as per school policy. Parents must come to the school to retrieve confiscated electronics.
Assignments & Late Work
Individual Practice (Classwork or Homework): The purpose of individual assignments is to help students learn the concepts needed to prepare them to achieve mastery on the assessments. Often the work can be completed during class time, but some homework will also be required. Students should plan on between 1 and 3 hours of homework per week, but that figure will vary depending on the individual and the topic. These assignments will be graded by the students, and while they are only a small portion of their final grade they are designed to provide enough individual practice in order to be prepared for the assessments. Late work will be accepted, but will only be worth half credit. (Reasonable exceptions regarding partial credit for late work will be made especially when honest effort is consistently demonstrated, please contact me if you feel an exception is warranted).
Assessments: Retest are allowed without penalty, but additional work will be required to help improve their understanding of the standards before being retested.
Attendance
Students are expected to be on time and in class every day. Unexcused absences will mean that the students are not able to participate in the learning activity for that day and points for that portion of their grade will be lost.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, students needing special accommodations may contact me for alternative arrangements.
Calendar of Due Dates for Major Assignments
During a term, both formative and summative assessments can be attempted multiple times, until students are able to show mastery of that standard. In order to earn credit for a term, all assessments for that term must be completed by the last day of the term.
(Term 1: October 18th, Term 2: January 12th, Term 3: March 16th, Term 4: May 25th)
Progress Reports and Report Cards
Students, teachers, and parents can monitor student progress on PowerSchool (https://grades.provo.edu).
Connecting Home to School
Please contact me via email: melanien@provo.edu
Personal Statement and other items (optional)
I greatly love math!! I enjoy sharing that with my students.