COURSE EXPECTATIONS 2007-2008 TEACHER: Mr. Beckwith
COURSE: Advanced Topics in Mathematics PHONE: (978) 341-2490 x7115
EMAIL: abeckwith@colonial.net ROOM: S-28
WEBSITE: http://mail.colonial.net/~abeckwith
Welcome! I am looking forward to an exciting year in this class that you should find engaging, challenging, and rewarding. Below are a few guidelines to get us started...
EXPECTATIONS:
1. Be Prepared and On Time - Bring your three-ring binder, a pencil, and a calculator to
class every day.
2. Take Pride in Your Work - Be proud of what you accomplish, work hard, and do
your best.
3. Be a Team Player - Work together towards success for every member of our class.
Please offer assistance to those who need it and do not be afraid to ask for help.
4. Be Kind and Courteous - Negative comments, put-downs, and talking while
someone is speaking will not be tolerated. Repeated offenses will result in after-
school detention and a call home.
CLASSROOM PROCEDURES:
1. Pencils - In a mathematics class, you must use a pencil. You may have to try a problem more than once, and I want you to be able to write a lot of information on your paper without fear of making a mistake.
2. Binder - Keep your notes, handouts, and quizzes/tests well-organized in a three-ring binder. Please have some blank paper and a folder in this binder at all times.
3. Tardiness - If you are tardy, please make sure that I receive your late pass and you must sign in to the Late Book. Tardiness without a pass will result in detention.
4. Bathroom - One student at a time may go to the bathroom - please write your name on the back board so that others will know that someone is out. Unless it is an emergency, please do not go when I am introducing a new concept or checking homework.
5. Dismissal - Stay in your seat until the bell rings. Do not gather by the door. Be sure to return your chair and desk to their original positions before leaving.
6. Class Opener - At the beginning of class, there may be questions on the board or on your desk. Please begin working quietly on the problems.
7. My Absence - If I am absent, the expectations for our classroom do not change. I expect that you will conduct yourself in a respectful manner.
8. Calculator - A TI-83 or TI-84 graphing calculator is required for this course. If you cannot afford to buy one, please speak to me about borrowing one from the Math Dept.
9. Cell Phones - If you own a cell phone, you must shut if off before entering my class. Sorry, but if your phone rings in class, I will take it and you can retrieve it after school.
GRADING POLICY:
Quarter Grade: Your quarter grade will be computed by dividing the total points you have earned by the total possible points available.
Homework - 3 pts. each
Quizzes - 10-40 pts.
Tests - 70-90 pts.
Classwork/Projects - point values will vary based on assignment
Semester Grade: Your semester grade will be computed as follows:
Quarters 1 & 2: 45% each
Final Exam: 10%
EXTRA HELP:
I am available for extra help during my free blocks (C, E, & G) and before and after school. I highly encourage students to see me outside of class to get questions answered and clear up any confusions. For this course, visiting the teacher on duty in the MARC may not be as useful a resource as it would be for other courses. Don’t be shy - please ask for help!
HOMEWORK:
1. Homework will be checked for completeness, not correctness. All problems must be honestly attempted, and you must show your work (a list of answers is not acceptable), otherwise, I will assume that you simply did not look at or attempt the problem. If space is not provided for answers, you should write out your work and answers in your notebook with the title of the homework at the top.
2. Each homework assignment is worth 3 points. It will be graded according to the rubric below:
3 All problems were attempted. Work was labeled and clear and neat. Work showed real
effort. Homework was on time.
2 Most problems were attempted. Average effort. Work was messy and unclear.
1 Few problems were completed. Work was very messy and unclear. Little effort.
0 No problems were completed/no effort OR homework was copied from
another student
3. Late assignments lose one point for each day they are late.
4. If you repeatedly miss assignments, you will have an appointment with me after school to discuss the matter.
ATTENDANCE/ABSENCES:
You are responsible for reading and following the school’s attendance policy as stated in the Student Handbook.
For one-day absences, on the day you return, you should:
• Show me the homework that was due the day that you were absent
• Pick up any handouts that you missed
• Copy down the homework assigned on the day that you were absent and complete
it for the next class period, along with the current assignment
• Take any quiz or test given on the day you were absent
• Take any test that is being given that day (even if you’re out the previous day, the
test won’t contain anything new from the day before - the day before is a review day)
• Arrange to copy any missed notes from a classmate
• For any lengthy or known absence, see me to discuss a makeup schedule.
• SCHOOL POLICY: All work missed due to excused absence MUST be made up within one week of return to school, except in the case of an absence of more than one week
Unexcused Absences (“cuts”) will results in a zero on any tests, quizzes, or homework assignments for that day.
Field Trips: for any school field trip, college visit, or family trip that voluntarily takes you out of school, see me before the trip to get a FIELD TRIP FORM. This merely ensures that you minimize the impact the trip has on your success in my class.