CLASS INFORMATION -- GEOMETRY

REQUIREMENTS FOR DOING WELL

There are three basic requirements for doing well in this class: 1) hard work 2) persistence 3) knowledge of and skill with Algebra. You will also be required to think. Geometry is the first math class in high school that can be considered college preparatory, and thinking, analyzing your own work, and synthesizing concepts and ideas into a coherent whole will be required of you in college and beyond. The society and job markets of the 21st century need individuals who can think for themselves, work cooperatively, communicate well, and solve real world problems that are not well-defined.

GRADING

Grades in this class are not competitively based. In other words, I have no set requirement for so many A’s, B’s, etc. If all of you work hard enough to get an A, that would be wonderful. Grades are based on 90-100 being an A, 80-90 a B, and so forth as described in the student handbook. Grades are broken down in this class into three categories for each quarter: 1) homework/seatwork -- 10%, 2) typed notes with self-assessment page - 10%, and 4) Tests --80%. 40% of each semester grade will be alloted to each quarter and a written semester exam in first semester will count for 20 percent of the semester grade. Grades at any time will be based on work completed up to that point.

Homework/seatwork-- 10%

This category includes practice homework, and seatwork. Practice homework is graded on attempts, not correct answers. When graded, incorrect answers on practice homework are circled and students are encouraged to get help on problems they did not understand. Because of this policy, NO LATE HOMEWORK IS ACCEPTED! Practice homework is just that -- practice on concepts covered in class. It is essential that students attempt all problems on homework and get help when they do not understand where their mistakes were made. Only in this way will there be true understanding of all the material.

Seatwork is graded in a fashion similar to practice homework, but may vary depending on the assignment. Seatwork is work done in class and graded in class. Seatwork and homework are not returned to students unless requested. Students are strongly encouraged to keep relevant seatwork and homework for study purposes.

Typed Notes- 10%

Notes on all lectures for a quarter must be typed and any diagrams must be redone neatly and clearly. Notes will include information from any textbook sections assigned for reading in class. Notes must be dated in chronological order. Notes will be graded on completeness. Notes will not be accepted if they are not typed.

Tests- 80 percent

There will be 10 major tests during the year with 6 being initially administered in the first semester, and 4 being administered during the 2nd semester. Until the exam is made up, student grade on the test will be a zero. Students who earn less than a 70 percent on any exam may redo the test at any time prior to the end of the semester (the specific date determined by the teacher), to bring the grade on that test up to a 70 percent. All questions missed must be redone in the presence of the teacher without notes before the grade will be raised.

PET PEEVES

Throwing things in class. Disrespect for yourself, your peers, and me. Vulgar language. Students out of their seats without permission. Taking things off my desk without my permission.

MATERIALS NEEDED

Pencils, pens, 3 ring binder (small) for notes and typed notes, calculator (4 function with square root, but a graphing calculator is highly recommended since it will be required in future math classes), compass, ruler.

Additional Information

Problem grading

Problems on tests will be graded in the following manner. Each problem will generally be graded in fourths, although some problems will be weighted with more points due to difficulty. A student will earn full credit for a problem if the student shows work which leads to a correct solution to the problem. A student will earn 3/4 credit if there is one minor mistake but the rest of the solution reveals that the student understands the concepts needed to solve the problem. A student will earn half credit on the problem if work is shown but a major concept is misunderstood or several minor mistakes are made in attempting to find the solution. A student will earn 1/4 credit on a problem by attempting the problem. A student will earn no credit for a problem if it is blank.

Self-Assessment Page

The self-assessment page will a part of every typed notebook. In the self-assessment page you will write on the following topics: 1) What you felt the most important topic or concept was for the quarter and why, 2) What was the most interesting topic or concept covered and why, 3) What you did best at during the quarter, and 4) How you think you can improve your grade, motivation, and learning for the next quarter. The self-assessment page will be 30 percent of your notebook grade and is a chance for you to reflect on what you are learning.

Honors Geometry option

Students may take Honors Geometry. This option requires students to do 12 problems of the week over the first three quarters of the school year, six in each semester. These will represent 20 percent of each quarter's grade. Students who opt to take Honors Geometry must do so within the first five days of the semester. Grading for Honors Geometry will be: 5 percent Homework/Seatwork, 20 percent POWs, 5 percent typed notebook, 70 percent tests.