Frequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common questions of students and parents.
- What if I blank on tests?
- Are you really here to give us help?
- What should I bring to class?
- What happens if I bomb a test?
- When can I take retakes?
- ACT Preparedness?
- What math do I HAVE to take?
- What would you recommend I take?
- What are Mathletes?
- What is WYSE?
What if I blank on tests?
My grading is broken down in such a way that if you keep up on your homework
and your behavior in class is good. Tests can be what they were meant to
be, an evaluation of your learning.
10% - Behavior/Participation (This is yours to lose)
50% - Homework & Quizzes
40% - Tests
Do not get all worked up, show me what you have learned. Relax and realize
the majority of your grade is your daily personal responsibility.
Are you really here to give us help?
Yes, I am usually here between 7-7:15 in the morning, if you need earlier let
me know. I am always here after school at least until 4pm if not later. If
I have a meeting or other obligation I will let you know that I cannot meet
with you. I am also available during lunch, I stay in my room during lunch
to make myself available during the school day also. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF MY
ASSISTANCE IF YOU NEED IT.
What should I bring to class?
Make sure you bring your book, paper, and a pencil. You should be aware
anything that is handed into me is to be done in pencil, I will give one
warning anything following will be a zero in the grade book. If you will
need a calculator for class please make sure you bring it with you.
What happens if I bomb a test?
There are two options. If you are in one of my courses that I use review
quizzes for evaluations, I will drop the lowest one of the quarter, but the
problems on these come directly from your homework and should have been seen
by each student a minimum of twice, once as homework and once in class.
If you fail a test, I will give you one week from when we go over the results
to retake to improve your grade to a maximum of 70 (or passing). The score
will not exceed this no matter your score out of fairness to other, this is
to allow you an opportunity to correct a bad test without hurting you the
entire year. It is your responsibility to come see me on retaking it.
When can I take retakes?
Any retakes will have to be arranged outside of classroom time. That time is
for learning and retakes are your responsibility to be made up on your time.
ACT Preparedness?
For those Juniors and other underclassmen that are planning to take the ACT
you should be made aware of some information prior to scheduling your classes.
To ensure you have covered all the material in the mathematics prior to the
ACT you will want to have been enrolled in the ALG III/PRE CALC course, Pre-
Algebra only covers 25% of the test, ALG I will have less than half the
material covered, but Geometry will have over 90% of the material covered.
ACT 60 Questions
15 - Pre-Algebra
14 - Elementary Algebra
17 - Plane Geometry
1 - Statistics and Probability
9 - Coordinate Geometry
4 - Trigonometry
What math do I HAVE to take?
According to state law, any student coming into high school and those
currently in 9th and 10th grades are required to take an Algebra course and a
Geometrically included course. For our school you will be required to have
completed Alg/Geom II Part 1 for 3 year minimum to satisfy school
requirements.
What would you recommend I take?
The order of progression for high school courses are
Alg/Geom I Honors
Alg/Geom I (Parts 1 & 2)-This is not a weighted course and will be the same
as honors but taken over a two year period.
Alg/Geom II Honors
Alg/Geom II (Parts 1 & 2)-This is not a weighted course and will be the same
as honors but taken over a two year period. If you have chosen to take this
route and are planning on college I would highly recommend that you take Part
2 your senior year to keep fresh and be better prepared for college.
Pre Calculus
Calculus (For the first time, YES)
Alg/Geom I Honors Alg/Geom I Honors Alg/Geom I Part I
Alg/Geom II Honors Alg/Geom II Part I Alg/Geom I Part II
Pre-Calculus Alg/Geom II Part II Alg/Geom II Part I
Calculus Pre-Calculus Alg/Geom II Part II
I cannot encourage you enough that if you are going to college to take all
four years of mathematics to better prepare you for college.
What are Mathletes?
This group of self-titled individuals are hard working and dedicated to show
that students at Edinburg can compete with any school in math. We go to
regional ICTM competitions on a Saturday morning, I feed pretty well, and if
you succeed there as some did this year, you move to state and all this will
be recorded in your school files. This does look good for colleges.
What is WYSE?
This is an academic competition that I am hoping to bring to this upcoming
school year and it deals with all subject areas where we compete on a JV and
Varsity squad levels.