Be Responsible* Be Respectful* Be There, Be Ready* Follow Directions
 
Algebra
Mrs. Sostak
 
          Welcome back!  Algebra is the first of your Math classes required for graduation, so success is really important to your future.  It is a class that will move very quickly and challenge you significantly as a mathematician, but I promise that if you work hard and truly give this class your best effort, you will do well.  In June, you will take a Regents exam.  Success on this exam is determined by your effort all year, so be sure to keep up with your work and ask questions whenever you don’t understand something.  I look forward to working with you this year, with your help it will be your best year yet!
 
Classroom Rules:

1)     Treat everyone like you want to be treated.
a.      Be respectful
b.     Listen
c.      Build each other up (Don’t tear each other down)
 
2)     Never settle for less than your best.
a.      Be on time
b.     Be prepared
c.      Do your homework
d.     Be in control of your own learning
 

          Homework is a significant portion of your grade.  Practice is critical to success in Math.  Therefore you can expect homework every night.  Regular homework should take about 45 minutes or less if you are concentrating and not getting distracted.  I expect you to try your best on each homework assignment.  I encourage you to help each other, but copying someone’s work is cheating.  It is wrong!  If you are caught cheating, both papers will count as a zero that cannot be made up.  Homework will be graded as follows:

 
4:(100%)   everything complete, all work shown, neat, corrected in class
 
3: (75%)  most problems complete, most work shown, neat, not corrected in class
 
2: (50%) many problems undone, little work, not organized or neat
 
1: (25%)  only answers, missing a lot of work, not neat
 
0: (0%)   not done
 

Late work: Work will not be accepted late.   You will receive a 0 for this assignment that cannot be made up.  Have homework ready when you walk in the door.

 

Heading
          Label every assignment with the following heading:
 
Name                                        Assignment
Date                                         Period

 
Supplies

1)     3-ring binder
2)     Dividers (Sections for Each Unit)
3)     Loose-leaf paper
4)     Graph paper
5)     Minimum of a scientific calculator(TI30x IIs  is the best)
          Optional :  graphing calculator (TI83 Plus) to be left home to use with
                           homework.
6)     Pencils (mechanical pencils work best) All Math work must be done in pencil. (Hand held pencil sharpener)
7) Pens:  Notes may be taken in pen

 
Grading: 
 

Your quarter grade will be composed of:
40% Tests
20% Quizzes
25% Homeworks (see above rubric)
15% Labs: must be completely correct at end of lab period
Class Participation (see rubric) (counted as a Quiz Grade)
Notebook (neatness and accuracy) (counted as a Quiz Grade)
 
Final Avg: (Q1+ Q2+ Q3+ Q4 +Regents Exam) /5

 
 
Absences:

          If you are absent from class for any reason, you are responsible for handing in the homework due that day as well as finding out what the assigned homework was.  In addition, you must catch up on the notes taken that day.

 
Textbook:
 
“Integrated Algebra”, Amsco 2007
 
Websites:
All HW is posted on my teacher page on www.libertyk12.org
 
Videos of lessons/ HW notes pages on www.emathinstruction.com  (etexts)