Course Description and Syllabus 2013-2014

Course: Prep Period: Email: Website: Pre-Calculus Teacher: Ms. B. James 5th Period (12:51 - 1:48 pm) Telephone: (760) 955-3200 x39704 beajames@vvuhsd.org http://msbjamesahs2013-14.weebly.com

Course Description This course is intended to provide the mathematical background needed for calculus and assumes that students have taken and sufficiently passed geometry and two courses of algebra. It integrates graphing technology which helps develop mathematical concepts that play a key role in calculus through exploration of algebraic, graphical, and numerical perspectives. Such topics cover linear, polynomial, exponential, and logarithmic models which can be constructed from data by using the regression capabilities of a calculator. Concepts in trigonometry will also be developed during the second semester. Materials Textbook: Precalculus: A Graphing Approach by Holt Graphing Calculator: TI-84 ($125) or 83 or Casio 9860 GII ($80) or 9850 series Alternative to graphing calculator: Dynamic software like Geometers Sketchpad ($9.95/student/yr) or GeoGebra (free applet from geogebra.org) Separate binder/notebook or section for pre-calculus to keep notes, assignments, and handouts Student Expectations I have high expectations for you. I believe you all plan to go to college or at least want to make sure you have opportunities extended to you after you graduate from high school. Misbehavior should be a thing from the past. I believe that all students have the ability and should have the opportunity to learn and enjoy math in our classroom. Because of the importance of every student achieving to their fullest potential, any students disrupting the classroom instructional process will not be tolerated. All students are responsible for their own behavior and learning. Students are expected to conduct themselves in an acceptable and responsible manner, and to follow all rules that apply to the Adelanto High School Discipline Policy. Every student and staff member has the right to learn and be safe, and no one has the right to interrupt learning or make others feel unsafe! Classroom Rules The following rules have been developed with your learning and safety in mind: 1. Be in your seat, ready to work when the bell starts to ring. Have all necessary materials, (i.e., books, notebooks, paper, pen, etc.) out and ready to be used. If you are not ready, you are not on time and will be marked tardy accordingly. 2. Only water is allowed to be consumed in class. Please refrain from eating in class unless permission is granted (during lunch). Gum is not allowed on campus so this should not be an issue! 3. Be respectful and courteous. Electronic devices will only be used when given permission to aid with the instructional process. 4. Be here now. Personally groom yourself and look at personal pictures outside of the classroom. Use your class time wisely. 5. Be responsible for your own actions. Do unto others as you would have them do to you.

A) Positive Consequences
1. Success, a passing grade, verbal praise 2. Positive notes sent home 3. Positive phone calls home 4. Positive NTI messages sent home 5. Homework and Test incentives B) Negative Consequences 1st offense: Warning. 2nd offense: Time after bell. 3rd offense: Time after bell and phone call home. 4th offense: Demerit QR documentation/Referral/Class suspension/Phone call home. Student will be asked to sit outside to wait for admin pick-up. Severe Disruption: Student sent immediately to office, possible expulsion from class. Attendance, Tardy and Hall Pass Policy Attendance and promptness to all classes are vital for success in passing this class. It is very important to be in class and ready to begin before the bell rings. Attendance to all classes is highly encouraged. If you are absent, it is your responsibility to get your make up work. You will have twice the number of days you are absent to complete any missed homework assignments. If your attendance is excused I will excuse you from the class work. If your attendance is not excused, you will receive a 0 for the class work assignment. Be sure to always call or bring a note to give to the office which clears your missed attendance. Make sure you are on time and ready to work every day! DO NOT get behind! Tardies are defined by rule #1 above and will be handled with the appropriate negative consequences. The school tardy policy will be enforced. Being a student is your job at Adelanto High School. If you are late to work, eventually you will get fired. For AHS, eventually you will be assigned Saturday School. You are paid according to the work you do, the quality of your work, and the time you spend on it. If you are absent or tardy it will affect your grade, just like getting a cut in your paycheck. Hall passes are limited to 3 per quarter. This includes anytime you need a pass to leave class. Please use them wisely!!! Grading Scale as Determined by Victor Valley Unified High School District A = 90% to 100% B = 80 % to 89% C = 70% to 79% D = 60% to 69% F = Below 60% Percent Breakdown and Categories Tests 45% Quizzes 15% Homework 10% Class Work 15% Final/Interims 15%

Pre-Calculus is a college-prep course. This is why your test grades are weighed so heavily. Class work assignments are to be turned in on a daily basis. It is important for you to complete your assignments when they are assigned; but, homework will be due by the end of the week (Friday). Fridays homework will be due by the following Wednesday for grade checks on Thursday. Even though I have given you some time to complete your assignments, it would be best for you to complete them on the day they are assigned. This way you will always be prepared for a pop-quiz or mini-assessment. To be successful in this class you will have to keep up. Copied work or cheating of any kind will result in a zero!! Do not let anyone copy your hard work. Do not cheat yourself or sell yourself short. You are not helping a fellow classmate by letting them copy. You are allowing them to stay stuck in land of unknowing. Instead of giving them a fish, teach them how to fish. =) Math is the gate keeper to college, but writing gets you through it. We will be doing a lot of writing and using a lot of paper! You are expected to speak and write math. We will be using the Cornell Style of note taking. If you are unsure about this method please let me know or see helpful hints on your class website.

All work will be graded by point totals and student growth. Grades will be based on completion of class work, homework, notes, quizzes, tests, journal assignments, learning logs, projects, and student participation. The above weighted scale will be used to determine your overall grade. Do not let time pass you by. If you do not understand something, please do not hesitate to ask for help. Most likely there is someone else in the class that is confused too. We must clear up the misconceptions. =) Technology Unfortunately, our school site was not given the funds to purchase graphing calculators for its students. Yet this pre-calculus course requires a lot of analysis in which graphing calculators would make the tasks more accessible. If you cannot afford to purchase a graphing calculator suggested under the materials area, access to a computer with dynamic software would work wonders. The only problem is you would have to wait until you get home to use your computer. Some great free graphing calculators online that are available to you may need you to update your browser as well as download an applet. Downloading the applet through geogebra.org will not harm your computer. You may even be able to use it through its website. Geogebra.orgs applet is useful for all types of math classes. Ive even used it with statistics. Desmos.com has an online graphing calculator that even allows you to evaluate summations. You will have to make sure you have an updated browser in order for it to work. Chrome by Google works best. I havent found an awesome graphing calculator app yet but they are available. Maybe the ones I would have to pay for would work wonders. If you cannot afford a graphing calculator at this time, downloading an awesome app to your smartphone may save you some money. It will also enable you to do some analysis in class instead of waiting to go home or use someone elses calculator. Either way, we will make this work. I do not want you to feel you will be unsuccessful without this tool, but it will make your mathematical life a lot easier. Your investment in a graphing calculator will help you with all of the math classes you have yet to take. You will need one in calculus and statistics for the AP exams. It will even help you with your college math courses. I am still working on trying to get a class set. Maybe we can do some fundraising. =) Assistance Always ask questions if you do not understand something. Whether it is a question about policy or math, I will do my best to always be here for you. If you need to speak to me privately, I am available as you need me. I will be available for tutoring most days during A lunch. On collaboration days I will be available during both lunches. Just let me know ahead of time if you would like to meet with me so that I can make arrangements for us to meet in the library or pod lounge during B lunch. I can only meet on collaboration days (early out) for B lunch students. Otherwise, I will have tutoring for you Mondays after school until the late bus comes or 4 pm. If Monday happens to fall on a holiday, I will make arrangements to be there for on a Wednesday or Friday after school. Otherwise, come see me during lunch. =) Parent meetings can be arranged through the counseling office. I will do my best to keep parents posted on student performance in class, but please do not hesitate to call or email me with your concerns. I will be using NTI phone messages from time to time. So please make sure your contact information is up to date with the school office. To subscribe to the Remind101 class for this course, text @ahspc13 to (714)907-4323 to get confidential one-way messages texted to you from me. You may also sign up via email. Send an email to ahspc13@mail.remind101.com. Visit www.remind101.com to learn more. I look forward to a successful year with you!

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