Course Expectations for Geometry, Algebra II, Pre Calc and Advanced Math

ü       THIS IS YOUR EDUCATION, SO YOU MUST BE THE MOST ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN IT! Always make your best effort, seek to improve every day, and understand you’ll be a lifelong learner. Your student handbook will be followed, so read them.  In this classroom math is the first priority. Manage your time accordingly. Make the most of this opportunity. You are shaping your future daily!

ü       Students will have the following materials each day: notebook for notes and assignments, a pencil and pen to correct work, and an assignment book to keep track of all assignments. (Since we now have carpet, you are responsible for the paper fragments that fall when you tear the assignments from these ‘notebooks’ you use. A better way would be you having a 3 ring binder and filler paper. In the teacher handbook and during our first day of inservice, we were instructed to have students pick up trash after each class. This was followed by the verbal instruction to “write up anyone who does not!” The taxpayers of this district have invested many dollars in the appearance of this room and you will reward their faith in you.

ü       If a student misses a class for any reason, it is the student’s responsibility to secure the assignments and get them completed on the student’s time. The student handbook provides a timeline. In past years students have repeatedly ignored this. With the change in eligibility rules, and parents asking the online grades be kept current, I will enter a zero for all work missed.  Once completed in a timely fashion the grade will be recorded.

ü       Assignments will be graded on a five-point scale. Correctly label these in the upper right corner with your complete name, the page number, class and period. More than one assignment can be on a page as long as they are labeled and easily found. Success in math requires organized and legible work displayed in an easy to follow manner. Late papers make the wrong impression. All problems should be worked out completely with the answer circled. If a student has many incorrect problems on the lesson read the material again and work thorough the examples. Make an honest effort. If there is still difficulty in understanding the lesson, see your instructor. This will be 20% of the quarter grade.

ü       There will be a variety of test or quiz opportunities. Occasionally an assignment will be picked up and checked as a quiz. This is the other 80% of the quarter grade.

Grading Scale:                       Our grade books have the following descriptions of what each level looks like in action!                                    

A   95 - 100

A-  93 – 94

B+ 91 – 92

B   87 – 90

B-  85 – 86

C+ 83 – 84

C   78 – 82

C-  76 – 77

D+ 74 – 75

D  70 – 73

D- 68 – 69

F   67 and below 

Scores:

Homework                             Quiz/Tests

__   ___   __  __                   _________

__  __   __     __                   _________

__    ___   __    __                _________

___    __   __    __                _________

___   __   __   __                  _________

___  __   __   __                   _________

___   __   __   __                  _________

___    __   __  __                  _________

__   ___   __   __                  _________

__    ___   __   __                 _________      Keep it up-to-date.

This past year the line was crossed. In the first 5 years here, occasionally a remark was made or as action observed that could be forgiven, but not at the pace they are occurring now. The real world will not put up with it, so start practicing for that adventure.

EX. 1 A well meaning (?) student informs me that “studies show that if you repeat something 7 or 8 times, you will learn it”. Just who is the ‘you’ in this statement. This student meant the first ‘you’ to be the teacher and the second ’you’ to be the student. This is typical of the mentality that believes school is a place where students come to watch teachers work. Here’s a news flash! It is the student in both instances. My advice to you is make every effort to get it the first time. Along with this episode another fits nicely. A student told a teacher “it’s your fault, you keep giving us more chances”. Real world lesson – lots of people pay for the mistakes of a few, so think through what could be the possible outcomes of what you feel like blurting out before you do.

EX. 2  In recent years teachers have heard the comment at inservice days “the kids do so well here, but have trouble after they leave here”. My response first is maybe they’re not doing so well here. A grad gets a job shortly after graduation which was a very good one considering this student’s experience. After 2 or 3 months this person had “a problem with his boss” so he quit. Last I knew he is still out of work. Here’s a news flash! Amazingly this person didn’t realize you need to follow direction, prove your competency, get along with your coworkers, and there’s a reason he’s the boss!

EX. 3 For four years I have explained to classes there are many resources the student can use. (Let’s ask Ms. Heetland, she knows everything!) I have 2 old dictionaries students may use to enlighten themselves. After 4 years in my classes, a top student went to a major university. (Here’s a news flash!) These schools are different from here, so the school routine you’ve developed will not work! At first semester midterm this student had a project due, but did not understand one part of it. My dictionaries had the definition. Major universities have lots of information sources. I’d bet the student had not attended all classes and had paid indifferent attention when there. The student did ask Ms. Heetland and then insinuated BGM had not prepared them. Here’s a news flash! You have to do much more than you believe is necessary. A classmate of this student told people after the first month of college “It’s easy. There’s not much to do!”  The tune changed and once again “you BGM teachers have to push us more”. Why? Am I going to be there for the next 20 or so years pushing you? The student continues until cut off by a question, “Did you ever finish that last project your senior year?” Student responds, “That’s a low blow!” Here’s a news flash! Since when is the truth a low blow? This same student said of a relative having a rough go after a couple of years of college, “Too much partying!” What type of person would be so critical of others, but have no insight into their own weakness.

EX. 4 A graduate gets off to a good start, a little wobbly the next year, and more difficulties the next. Their response is “There has to be something wrong with a system that takes in 4 000 Freshman and only graduates 2 000 Seniors.” Here’s a news flash! That is the system. They’ll take your money first, so you better be serious for the long haul.

EX. 5 Two others from that same class went to another university. When we talked over Thanksgiving, they said, “You know all that math we had our senior year? We went through that in weeks, and now we’ve got all this new stuff to learn!” Here’s a news flash! A university is different from high school! You are expected to learn at a much more rapid pace with 2 or 3 hours outside of class for each hour in class. That was the rule, now it may be more demanding.

EX. 6 My niece (Jeometry) as a college freshman was struggling in Economics with a concept. Her dad has a business degree and tried to help her a bit. He said, “She had read it, but obviously had not worked through the concept!”

Last year I provided each student with online tutorials to help their understanding. The first student asked, “Will it help me?” The second after delaying for weeks, “Ok, which ones do you want me to do?” I’ve spent hours after school setting these up specifically tailored for students in areas they need help. Here’s a news flash! These types of responses fit with the students that tried the tutorial, but missed several in 10 – 15 minutes of work, and then magically log back in and get a perfect score in a minute. You are only fooling yourself.

A student misses the first 2 days of a new chapter. After a couple more days says to me, “Can we go over this again in class!” Here’s a hint, be in class! Pay attention in class and put in the effort needed including outside of class. There will be an article on the bulletin board about the effects of globalization on you and your future. World events hit you right in the gas tank. The immigrant marches shows what big business has done and intends to continue. Doctors now email xrays and test results around the world for analyzing. Lawyers email legal documents etc. and call center help lines for state government end up in Mumbai.

The challenge is there! What are you doing to prepare to meet it? What skills are you developing now that will help you in 3, 5, 10, 20 or more years from now? This is a golden opportunity for you to be as well prepared for your future as possible. If you are so certain you know what the future holds, stop by my desk and give me the winning powerball numbers for the next drawing. That’ll make me happy, and you have proven you know better. Until then I am here to give you the benefit of my education and experience. Make the most of this opportunity and wisdom begins! A. Baier