Pre-Algebra 7

 

Miss Arnold

Room:  B137

Phone:  507-263-6800 ext. 3302

Email: arnold.stephanie@cannonfallsschools.com

School Website: www.cannonfallsschools.com

Textbook Website: www.pre-alg.com

Login: PREALG Password: mEdUw8ufr4

 

Text:  Glencoe’s Pre-Algebra

 

Course Description:

 

Topics covered in this course include: problem solving, numerical and algebraic expressions, relations, integers, absolute value, the distributive property, equations, powers, exponents, rational numbers, fractions, decimals, percents, ratios, proportions, inequalities, functions, linear equations, slope, intercepts, and coordinate graphing.  The curriculum is also highlighted by number theory, probability, statistics, and geometry topics throughout.

 

Materials:

 

1.      Agenda Book

2.      Spiral Notebooks  

3.      3-Ring Binder  

4.      Loose Leaf Paper

5.      Book Cover

6.      Scientific Calculator

7.      Pencils and Erasers

8.      Folder

 

 

Expectations:

 

1. Come Prepared

-Have all your materials and be ready to learn

2. Be Respectful

-Be on time, be in your seat, and raise your hand

-Respect yourself, others, property, and the teacher

-Respect other’s right to learn

3. Follow Directions

-Listen, do what is expected of you, and ask questions

4. Do Your Best

-Give 100% effort

 

In addition to classroom expectations, please refer to the Cannon Falls Middle/High School Student Handbook for other school-wide behavior expectations.

 

Consequences:

 

1. Verbal Warning
2. Refocus Form
3. Conference with Teacher in Hallway, Isolation within the Classroom
4. Teacher Detention (1/2 hour before or after school) or Structured Lunch
5. Office Detention (1 hour on Tues., Wed., or Thurs. at 3:05 p.m. in B100)
6. Removal from Class for Office Visit, ISS, OSS, or Restorative Measures

 

At any level of consequence, the classroom teacher reserves the right to advance to a higher step in list to accommodate the severity of the misbehavior. 

 

The classroom teacher will make contact with the office administration and the student’s parents or guardians for ongoing and/or severe misbehavior.

 

Tardiness:

 

When a student is tardy to the school day, he/she must report to the office immediately to attain a tardy pass to class.  Whenever a student comes in tardy to math class, they should not disturb the class that is already in session, put their pass on my desk, and quietly take their seat.  When the student has an unexcused tardy to math class throughout the day, he/she will face the following consequence: 3 unexcused tardies will be one hour detention (CFMS/HS policy).

 

Absences:

 

Either before an absence or upon return from an absence, it is the responsibility of the student to get their make-up work.  Students can get make-up work from the school website, from their peers in class, or directly from the teacher.  Parents or guardians can request make-up work for pick up in the office during a student’s absence.  Teachers will provide the make-up work to parents in this manner when a reasonable amount of time is given.  If make-up work is completed within a reasonable amount of time, there will be no penalty to the student’s math grade.  Check the mailbox in the front of the room for missed assignments.

 

Passes:

 

Each quarter, students are issued three passes in math class to use for bathroom visits, locker visits, to get a drink, or to go to the nurse.  When a student has used all three passes, he/she can no longer leave the classroom.  Exceptions are made for emergency situations.  When a student has a pass from the office or another teacher, he/she may leave the room when there is a natural break in the class period.

 

Strategies for Success:

 

First of all, students are expected to pay attention, listen well, and take good notes during class.  They are also expected to ask lots of questions if they don’t understand what they are learning.  In addition, students are expected to copy down the assignment correctly and read all directions carefully.  They are also expected to put their name on all their schoolwork.  For math assignments, quizzes, and tests, students are expected to show all their work because partial credit may be given for showing work.  The more work shown, the easier it is for the teacher to understand what the student was thinking.  Even if the answer is wrong, the process may have been correct.  Lastly, students are expected to complete all problems.  Problems on math assignments, quizzes, and tests should never be left blank.  Students should guess, even if it may be completely wrong.  Success cannot occur if no attempt made.

 

Extra Credit:

 

Some students try to rely too much on extra credit to get the grade that they desire. As a result, they become lazy in their daily work because they think they can do extra credit later to make up for it.  It is my belief that extra credit should challenge or enrich students above and beyond their daily work.  With that said, there are a few opportunities for extra credit in math class.  First of all, students can turn in their three unused passes at the end of each quarter for extra points toward their overall grade.  Also, students can do challenge problems or extra assignments for extra points toward their overall grade. Lastly, students can attempt bonus problems on quizzes or tests for extra points on the quiz or test grade. 

 

Academic Honesty:

 

In math class, it is expected that each student’s schoolwork is a true and accurate representation of his/her own effort and knowledge.  Academic dishonesty or cheating is defined as “using someone else’s words, work, answers and/or ideas and claiming them as your own.”  Cheating in math class may include but is not limited to copying answers from the back of the text, copying answers off of peers’ papers, or using a calculator when instructed not to.  Any violation of this academic expectation will result in zero credit for the schoolwork submitted.  Any student involved in an incident of cheating is subject to this consequence.

 

Food/Beverages:

 

Students may bring water bottles into math class, but pop and other beverages are prohibited.  Students may chew gum in math class as long as it’s not visible, but candy and other food items are prohibited.  The teacher may designate exceptions for special occasions such as holidays or birthdays.

 

 

Grading:

 

Semester & Quarter Grades:

 

Your semester grade consists of two quarter grades and a cumulative semester final.  The semester final is worth 10% of your semester grade.  Each of the two quarters is worth 45% of your semester grade.  Each quarter your grade is made up of the following three components:  class work, assignments, and tests, quizzes, & projects.

 

Classwork: 15%

 

Daily Warm-Up Problems

 

Warm-up problems will be given at the beginning of almost every class period.  Students are expected to come in, sit down and start the warm-up problems without talking to their peers.  We will correct them as a class afterwards and will be worth 6 points (1 point per problem).

 

Notebook Checks

 

At the end of the first half of the chapter and the end of the second half of the chapter, class work notebooks are checked for neatness, organization, accuracy and completion.  The class work notebook grade will include defined vocabulary words, class notes, examples and anything used to get ready for the next lesson (standardized test practice, mixed review or practice quizzes).  Your notebook should also have any graph papers or other learning materials that went along with the lessons.

 

Assignments-25%

 

Assignments will be graded randomly between completion and correctness.  Each assignment will be worth 10 points (example:  I may grade the even problems on Monday and Tuesday and then on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday grade on completion only.  Then the next week I may grade the even problems on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and then grade Tuesday and Thursday on completion.  Etc.).

 

Odd answers are always in the back of the book so students can check themselves as they go through the assignment.  After the daily warm-up problems are completed, we will go over any problems that may have come up during the previous day’s assignment. 

 

Completed homework assignments have work shown with the answers.  A late assignment is only accepted if it is make-up work from an absence (full credit) or if it is one day late.

 

 

Quizzes and Projects:30%

 

Quizzes will be given about twice a chapter after assignments have been graded.  These will prepare you for the chapter test at the end of each chapter (about 2 or 3 a quarter).  There will also be vocabulary quizzes given.  There will also be projects throughout the school year (scale drawings, tessellations, stock market, and the history of math).  There will be NO RE-TAKES on these.

 

Tests: 30%

 

There will be a test at the end of each chapter worth 100 points.  If you are having problems on your homework or quizzes, make sure you are asking for help because there will be NO RE-TAKES on these. 

 

 

 

 

 

Grading Scale: