A. Course Description
Algebra 1B is the second half of the Algebra 1A/1B sequence. As such,
it covers the second half of the typical Algebra I course. The course
follows the topics typical of a first year high school algebra course;
these topics can be reviewed in the table of contents in your text. In
addition to learning beginning algebra, the course has the following
goals:
• to help you further develop your problem solving skills;
• to develop your communication skills by presenting your ideas orally and
in written form;
• to do quality work and to have you make assessments of your own work and
the work of others.
B. Contacting Me
I encourage you to let me know what I can do to support you. Feel free
to talk with me informally whenever it's appropriate to do so. If you'd
like some privacy, we can schedule an appointment. Here are some other
ways that you, or your parents, can reach me or can get information on
homework:
• E-mail: hillmath@hotmail.com
• Web-site: www.teacherweb.com/CA/CasaGrande/Hill;
homework assignments are posted on this site, as well as other class
information. The homework information on the web site is typically
updated in the early evening of the day the class met.
C. Expectations and Requirements
1. You are expected to do your own work, but you are encouraged to work
with a partner or in small groups whenever possible. I encourage you
to seek teacher and/or peer help as needed.
2. You are expected to work to achieve the goals noted in Part A by being
an active and cooperative participant in the class. Points will be
deducted for not having required materials in class, being off-task,
being uncooperative, and for behaviors that distract from the learning
environment.
3. Required Materials
a. Textbook d. Binder paper
b. Algebra IB Notebook e. Graph paper (1/8 or 1/4 inch squares)
c. Pencils and pens
4. The Algebra IB Notebook is a way of organizing your work for the class.
A 3-ring binder is recommended, but the way you organize your work is
up to you. For your notebook grade, you must show me that you have an
organized system that allows you to quickly locate any of your work for
the current semester. I will look for these items when I grade your
Algebra 1B Notebook:
• this sheet (Algebra IB Course Requirements)
• Classroom Expectations sheet
• Homework Record and Test Record
• organized homework
• organized tests and quizzes
The Homework Record should have columns providing the following
information:
Assmt. No. Date Points Earned Total Points/Points Possible
The Test Record should have columns providing the following
information:
Test No. Points Earned/Points Possible Total Points/Points Possible
Both records should be kept up-to-date.
5. You are required to have your Notebook and all other required materials
in class with you each class day. Notebooks will be graded at random
points in the semester and will be worth 55 points/semester.
D. Procedures
1. Homework
a. I prefer that your homework is done in pencil, but the choice is
yours. The requirement is that the work is neat, legible, and can
be easily followed.
b. Problems should be copied and work needs to be shown on all problems
where it is practical to do so. Your homework sheet is where your
work should be shown, rather than on a separate "scratch sheet".
Homework assignments that have only a set of answers on them will
receive little or no credit.
c. Each homework assignment should be labeled with your name, the date
of the assignment, the assignment number, and the assignment itself.
d. You are responsible for seeing that your homework is corrected and
for seeking help from your classmates or the teacher for problems
that you do not understand.
e. Homework is due when the bell rings at the beginning of the period.
2. Makeup and Late Work
a. You may turn in 3 assignments per semester one class period late
without penalty. Each late assignment after that will have 5 points
deducted from its score.
b. If you're absent the day that a quiz or test is given, you should
plan on taking it in tutorial the day you return to school, even if
you don't have math class that day. Tests that are not made up by
announced deadlines will be recorded as zeroes.
c. You have one day to make up homework for each class day absent.
Utilize tutorial as needed when you're absent so that you can keep
your work caught up.
3. Notes
a. Notes and sample problems should be copied whenever they're given in
class.
b. Notes should be labeled with the day's date and the text section or
concepts that they cover.
4. Quizzes and Tests
a. Quizzes will cover short sections of material and may or may not be
announced.
b. Tests usually will cover whole chapters and will be announced ahead
of time.
c. Work for quiz or test problems needs to be shown in a neat and
orderly manner where it can be readily found in order to receive
credit. No work shown, no credit given.
d. If you know in advance that you are going to miss a quiz or test
because of a school or family activity, talk to me ahead of time and
it may be possible to take the test early.
E. Grading
1. Grade reports will be issued every 6 weeks. The first two
reports of the semester are basically progress reports to
alert you and your parents as to what your grade in the
class is at that point in the semester. Your semester
grade will be cumulative over the entire semester. The final
semester grade is the only one that will "count" and go on
your permanent transcript.
2. I'll grade your notebook once each semester. Your notebook should be
in class and ready to be graded every class day. Notebooks that are
not available when asked for will be late and downgraded.
3. Your letter grade for a grading period will be based on your classwork,
homework, quizzes, tests, and other sorts of assessment. These
components of your grade will be weighted, on a scale of 100% possible,
in the following manner:
a. Six-week Progress Reports
Tests, Quizzes, and Other Assessments 70%
Homework and Classwork 30%
(Test Pct. x .70) + (HW Pct. x .30) = Your Progress Report Percentage
b. Semester Grade
At the semester, I will compute a percentage in the same way as for
the 6-week reports, which I'll call your "Semester Homework and Test
Percentage".
Semester Homework and Test Percentage 80%
Semester Final Exam 20%
.80 x [(Test Pct. x .70) + (HW Pct. x .30)] + (Final Pct. x .20) =
Your Semester Percentage
c. Letter Grades
98-100% = A+ 88-89% = B+ 78-79% = C+ 68-69% = D+
92-97% = A 82-87% = B 72-77% = C 62-67% = D
90-91% = A– 80-81% = B– 70-71% = C– 60-61% = D–
59% or less = F
