July, 2011
Dear Parents:
Congratulations on your child’s continued success in math! As a result of
your child’s performance in Algebra 1 last year, he or she has been placed in
Honors Geometry for the 2011-2012 school year. As you may be aware, this year
we will be teaching this course on the middle school campuses rather than
having the students go to the high school for Honors Geometry. We are excited
about the opportunity to provide this course on our middle school campuses.
With this change, the purpose of this letter is to clarify the course
expectations, grading, and criteria for success in Honors Geometry which are
uniform across all the middle schools in IUSD.
Course Description:
Honors Geometry is a high school college prep class where students discover
geometric properties by experimentation and observation. Students will learn
about plane geometry, solid geometry, coordinate geometry, trigonometry, and
proofs. Expectations for the Middle School Honors Geometry course mirror the
expectations for Honors Geometry at all IUSD high schools.
Course Expectations:
1. Honors Geometry is a rigorous course that requires students
constantly review and keep up with both the new and previously taught content
in the course. Homework will be assigned Monday through Friday evenings.
Students should expect to spend approximately 60 minutes per night completing
assigned problems, reviewing previously taught material, and studying for
future quizzes and tests. Homework must be complete to receive credit.
2. The most effective homework routine for Honors Geometry is to follow
these steps in this order: update your definition and conjecture list, make
flash cards for your new conjectures, understand and learn the conjectures,
complete all problems assigned, and correct and re-work all missed problems
on the previous homework assignment.
3. Consistent attendance is very important. Each student is responsible
for making up class notes and assignments whenever he or she is absent. It is
also important that should a student not have a complete understanding of the
information presented in class, they seek assistance from their teacher at
the earliest opportunity.
4. Academic Honesty is expected from each student. Each student should
always do their own work. Do not allow others to copy your work. Test papers
and quizzes may not be removed from the classroom and must be turned in no
matter how poorly you think you may have done. Anyone caught cheating will
receive a “0” on the test or quiz and will also be reported to the school
office for further disciplinary action.
5. Students may use a scientific calculator when appropriate. Graphing
calculators are not to be used in the class.
6. For each chapter in the textbook, there will be at least one quiz and
a chapter test. In addition, there will be a trimester final exam that is
cumulative approximately every 12 weeks. No additional time will be allowed
beyond the assigned testing period for individual students to complete
quizzes, chapter tests or trimester final exams. Quizzes are designed to
provide a checkpoint on the material instructed in the first part of each
chapter. Quizzes, chapter tests and trimester final exams may not be re-taken.
Grading:
1. Students will receive a formal grade report approximately every six
weeks. At the end of each trimester (approximately every 12 weeks) students
must have an overall percentage of at least 83.0% to remain enrolled in
Honors Geometry for the subsequent trimester. Students who are not achieving
a score of 83.0% or better at the end of each trimester will be re-assigned
to Algebra 1 for the remainder of the school year.
2. To progress to Honors Algebra 2 for the subsequent school year,
students must receive a grade of B or better each of the 3 trimesters in
Honors Geometry.
3. Homework will count 15% of the overall grade, quizzes will count 25%
of the overall grade, and chapter tests and trimester final exams will count
60% of the overall grade. There is no opportunity for extra credit.
4. Trimester final exams will be equivalent in value to 1.5 chapter
tests.
5. Parents and students may monitor their progress in the course by
using the Parent Portal at http://my.iusd.org .
We look forward to having your child continue their success in math in Honors
Geometry. If you have any questions, please contact your child’s teacher.
Sincerely,
Sarah Armstong, Lakeside
Mary Chiaverini, Plaza Vista
Kim Cardoza, Rancho San Joaquin
Karen Feng, Sierra Vista
Linda Gavin-Morand, Sierra Vista
Bryan Kinney, South Lake
Staci Birchler, Venado
Sue Khorashadi, Vista Verde
Mark Sontag, District Math Coordinator
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Student Name: (Print):
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Student Signature: _________________________________________Date:
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Parent Signature:
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