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NAME:
Mr. Opoku
SCHOOL:
School for the Talented and Gifted, Townview Magnet Center
CLASS:
Algebra I and Algebra II Pre-AP, Grades 9 and 10
SCHOOL PHONE:
972-925-5970 (6305)
It's been a great privilege and pleasure to be at TAG! This is my third
year here, though my sixth in the Dallas Independent School District. Last
year was a "blast"-one of the best in my eigth or more years of teaching. I
say eight or more because I have been in and out, sometimes on part-time
basis. All put together, I have been around students for about ten years.
My teaching carrier started in Ghana, West Africa, in 1991 when I taught
physics and mathematics at the pre-college level (Sixth Form). In 1993, I
left to work as a process metallurgist and later, a shift manager of a gold
processing plant. My degree is in metallurgical engineering-the science of
metals. Three years into that, I yearned for another degree-an
MBA. That brought me to the University of North Texas for an MBA in
production and operations management. I worked at UNT in various positions
including being a research assistant at the Department of Engineering
Technology. All these years, my love for teaching
never waned. It was probably "genetic". My dad was a long time teacher.
Several years into his retirement people called him “Teacher Opoku". Growing
up, I probably never heard anyone call him anything else. For me, it's been
more of Mr. "O", which sounds crisp and neat because it doesn't take as many
muscles as the full name. Amazingly, most TAG students have no difficulty
saying it fully.
I love students and believe as teachers, we have the honor and
responsibility of helping them to make choices and decisions that can affect
how they embark upon the rest of their lives. Thanks for the hardworking
efforts of our students and the support we enjoy from our administrators and
parents.
There is no doubt on my mind that we can prepare all of them to go to any
college, or anywhere they aspire to be and play productive and responsible
roles in their communities.
I look forward to another successful year of higher goal attainment and
fulfillment.
Algebra II Pre-AP is a more rigorous treatment of concepts developed in
Algebra I. The course builds on Algebra I and delves more into
advanced topics that require hard work, consistent effort and mathematical
discipline in order to achieve mastery. Algebra II Pre-AP is also presented
at a much deeper level than regular Algebra II. Topics covered (see Course
Outline) include all DISD mandated curriculum as well as areas that are not
necessarily contained in the curriculum but which foster greater
understanding and mastery of algebraic concepts and principles, and provide
a richer view of mathematics as a whole.
Course Outline
Semester 1
Functions and Functional Relationships
Domain and Range of Functions, Graphs of Functions
Parent Functions (Linear, Quadratic Square Roots, Inverse, Exponential and
Logarithmic) Transformation of Parent Functions, Inverse Functions
Linear Equations and Inequalities, Graphs of Linear Equations and
Inequalities
Systems of Equations and Inequalities, Graphical and Matrix Solutions
Quadratic Equations and Inequalities (Algebraic and Graphical Solutions,
Complex Number Solutions, Solution from Tables)
Pythagorean Theorem and Extensions
Semester 2
Use of Matrices and Properties of Exponents to Solve/Transform Equations
Quadratic Equations and Inequalities
Graphs of Rational Functions, Limitations on Domains and Ranges, Asymptotic
Behavior
Graphs of Parent Functions
Rational Equations and Inequalities
Data Collection and Representation, Graphical Interpretation
Exponential and Logarithmic Functions, Equations and Inequalities
Conic Sections (Graphs and Equations)
Mission Statement
Our mission is to utilize all available resources to help students acquire
the skills they need to navigate comfortably through advance courses in
mathematics, especially AP Calculus, and enjoy mathematics as a problem
solving tool.
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