Mystic Valley Regional Charter School

Algebra I

Syllabus

SY 2009/2010

 

Teacher Contact Information:

Mr. Rolanti

Electronic Mail: mrolanti@mvrcs.org

 

Books:

 

You will be issued one textbook for the duration of the school year.  You are financially responsible for any damage that may come to the text (don’t write in them please).  The cost to replace a book is approximately $55. Each textbook needs a book cover.

 

Calculators:

 

You need to have a graphing calculator for this class and bring it with you each day.  I highly suggest purchasing the Ti-83 or Ti-83+. These calculators will survive and be useful well past the time you graduate from college…if you take care of it.

 

Required Materials:

 

By Monday, August 31, 2009 you need to acquire the following:

·         A three ring binder. (This 3-ring binder is for math only.)

·         A 1 subject spiral notebook (graph paper).

·         3 binder dividers

·         A 3 hole file folder

·         A supply of 3-hole punched, Graph paper

·         A red pen

·         A pencil (wooden or mechanical-these are better)

·         A supply of pencil lead (if you use a mechanical pencil)

·         A covered, non-electric pencil sharpener (if you use wooden pencils)

·         An eraser

·         A case for pens and pencils

·         Book cover

 

You need to use these materials to create the following sections in your Binder.

1.       Notes (this is just your spiral notebook)

2.       Homework (this is just your file folder)

3.       Handouts

4.       Assessments and tests

 

Grading Policy:

 

Your grade will be calculated as a weighted average of the following categories:

·         Tests – 50%

·         Homework – 30%

·         Class Participation – 20%

 

All individual marks are calculated as a simple percent.

 

 

 

Final Year Marks will be tabulated using a weighted average as follows (round to the nearest percent):

·         Quarter 1:  20%

·         Quarter 2:  20%

·         Semester 1 Exam:  10%

·         Quarter 3:  20%

·         Quarter 4:  20%

·         Semester 2 Exam:  10%

 

Late Work:

 

Homework assignments or assessments that are submitted after the established due date will be marked 10% below the item’s maximum score for each day beyond its due date. The homework rubric is located on teacherweb.

 

Establishing Due Dates for a planned absence (admin. was notified): 

 

• Homework that was supplied by the teacher prior to the child’s departure will be submitted the day of their return or be marked late. 
• Homework that was not supplied by the teacher prior to the absence will be submitted within the number of school days the student was absent or be marked late.
• Assessments that were announced prior to the child’s departure will be completed the day of their return or as originally scheduled. 
• Assessments that were announced in the child’s absence will be completed within the number of school days the child was absent.

 

Establishing Due Dates for an unplanned absence: 

 

• Homework that was assigned prior to the student’s absence will be submitted the day of the student’s return or as originally scheduled.
• Homework that was assigned during the child’s absence will be submitted within the number of school days the student was absent or be marked late.
• Assessments that were announced prior to the student’s absence will be completed the day of their return or as originally scheduled. 
• Assessments that were announced in the child’s absence will be completed within the number of school days the child was absent.

 

Students will use the following upper left heading on all submitted assignments:

<Name>

<Class>

<Assignment>

<Due Date>

 

Workload:

 

You will have a homework assignment every evening with one day off per week.  Extra worksheets will be posted on teacherweb.

 

Homework Notification:

 

Every Friday the homework for the following week will be posted on TeacherWeb, and you will write it in your planner.

 

Performance Notification:

 

You will be issued a paper progress report approximately once per week.  You will be expected to take the paper report home and have your parents sign it.

Classroom Rules:

 

In this class, we will follow the school rules, policies and procedures as documented in the MVRCS Parent and Student Handbook. Students are always expected to conduct themselves in a safe, respectful, and truthful manner.

 

 

1.       Follow directions the first time they are given.

2.       Be in an appropriate learning position at all times.

3.       Keep hands, feet and objects to yourself.

4.       Get attention the appropriate way.

5.       Transition quickly and quietly.

6.       Be prepared for each class.

7.       Speak to classmates and adults in a respectful manner.

8.      Stay in your seat.

9.       Use hand signals to ask for permission to leave seat.

10.   Sign in and out when leaving/entering the room.

 

 

In this classroom, we have two additional, essential rules:

 

11.    Take responsibility for your own learning.

 

This means,

·         Do all the work yourself. Never, ever, ever cheat, even if you think nobody will find out. Besides violating the character value of honesty, breaking the school’s academic honesty policy (see the  MVRCS Parent and Student Handbook for details), and risking major disciplinary consequences, you are missing the opportunity for the mathematics practice that will help you learn. Also, you are hiding your mistakes from your teachers, making it very difficult for us to know where you need help.

·         Ask questions. If you are confused, raise your hand and ask for help.

·         Get extra help when you need it. Mr. Rolanti offers before and after school extra help by appointment. This extra help can take place in the morning from 7 am to 8 am or afternoon 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm.

·         If you miss a class then you have missed something important, see me!

 

12.   Help others learn.

 

This means,

·         Allow others to focus on the work. Work in a quiet, un-distracting manner. Save non-math-related conversations for another time, such as recess or after school. Be focused yourself, and this will help others to focus.

·         Explain math ideas to others. At times, you will have a chance to speak to the class or to your neighbors about math. If you feel confident about the work we are doing, you do your classmate a great service by listening to their questions and explaining the ideas.  Don’t let them simply copy your work, but help them understand the work so that they can do it themselves.