Algebra 2 Syllabus 2020-2021 School Year Distance Learning
Course: Algebra 2 Instructor: Mr. James Persellin Email: [email protected] Website: Google Classroom – password protected: students are REQUIRED to check their email on a daily basis. :: The instructor reserves the right to alter this syllabus as needed :: Course Description: Algebra 2 treats topics that are traditionally covered in second-year algebra. Topics covered include: linear relations and functions, graphical solutions to simultaneous equations, radicals, roots of quadratic equations including complex roots, inequalities and systems of inequalities, conic sections, logarithms and antilogarithms, exponential equations, basic trigonometric functions, and a wide spectrum of word problems. Norms, Expectations, and Policies For Distance Learning
Assignment Policy Turn in all assignments on time and in the manner specified in class. Due to the nature of distance learning and the unprecedented circumstances this year, I am extending some flexibility for deadlines for assignments on a case by case basis. Please read each assignment instruction carefully for the due date. If the student has extenuating circumstances please email me as soon as possible. I reserve the right to NOT extend a deadline if I find it appropriate to do so. If you have an excused absence, you will be given extra days to complete missing work. Not to exceed two weeks from the date of the original assignment. The student is responsible for communicating with their instructor when they are absent from class. Grading- Grades will be posted on Google classroom (student view) and they will be updated on family link (student and parent view). Please make sure that you are checking both Google classroom and Family Link on a regular basis. Grades will include the following categories:
BELLWORK: (8%) DONE IN THE FIRST 5 MINUTES OF CLASS FOR ATTENDANCE. IN SCHOOL: Ongoing assessment occurs daily as well as at test time. Allowing students to demonstrate correct solutions daily provides the teacher with the opportunity to assess not only the student’s answer but also his or her methods. Bell work is turned weekly on Friday. AT HOME: This is also the time that attendance will be taken. This may be either by answering a problem on google classroom, or by answering a question in a zoom chat.
NOTEBOOK: (8%) IN SCHOOL: Notebooks will be used to record example problems, formulas, definitions, proofs and theorems. Identify all entries with the date and lesson number. Take notes, outline the section, including title: Chapter, section and part 1 or 2.- include examples, key concepts, vocabulary. There will be a notebook check at the middle and at the end of each chapter. AT HOME: (A) For textbook notes you are to outline each section covered. Pictures of the notes will be emailed to me at the end of each chapter. (B) For Khan Academy, you will take notes as you watch the videos or reading assignments. Pictures of these will be emailed to me at the middle and at the end of each chapter. Send me the notes from the Khan videos as this is the only way I know that you are watching them so you need to do this. Please include that they are notes in the title/subject. These points are being added to your grades! It will be important to keep two separate sets of notes and that they each have a proper heading.
HOMEWORK: (16%) Textbook Assignments: Do the problems assigned and posted on Google Classroom. Post these assignments in Google Classroom. Be sure to have your name, the page number and the problems assigned at the top. Show all the work, don't just give me answers. Khan Assignments: After you have watched the video or read the notes and have taken notes on them you will do the practice problems. There usually 4 problems in a set, you want to get 3 of the 4 right. If you don't it will give you a review and you try again. Write out the practice problems, show all work, include a heading, (ex. Introduction to Logarithms, Practice 1). Khan practice problem sets must be emailed to me at [email protected]. Be sure to have a heading that includes, your name, period, topic, and practice set number.
The philosophy of this class is that you learn by doing. Since you learn by doing the problems repetitively, the teacher’s overriding responsibility is to ensure that every student does every problem in every assignment set. If students work the problems, they will learn and they will understand. If students do not work the problems, they will not learn. It’s that simple. Assignments need to be turned in on time. Late assignments will lower your grade. All steps used to solve a problem must be shown. Assignments turned in with answers only will not be graded. As always, it is important that you model your solutions on a separate piece of paper and that you indicate the section you are working on. I will be working on my end to post assessments and grades. Students should send me a picture ([email protected]) where I will be checking and giving credit.
TEST AND QUIZ STUDY GUIDES: (8%) Study guides for quizzes and tests are given out several days before the quiz/test and are due the day of the quiz/test. All steps must be done to receive credit. Some will be GC assignments and some will be Khan Academy assignments. All GC assignments are to be answered in GC, where all Khan assignments are send to my website as pictures.
TESTS and QUIZZES: (40%) Quizzes are given after one or two sections are covered and Tests are given at the end of the chapter. Make-up tests are to be done within three school days. Quiz/Test corrections can only be done if you turned in the completed study guide and came in/or asked for help before the test. Corrections and new problems must be done in the presence of the teacher (zoom if required). Some points will be earned depending on the accuracy and completion of the work. Corrections must be done before the next test.
Final Exam (20%) In alignment with district policy, the course will include a final semester exam that will be worth 20% of the total course grade. The rest of the assignments will make up 80% of the course grade.
REQUIRED TEXTBOOK AND MATERIALS: Students are expected to be in class on time, ready to work, attentive, participate in class and have the proper supplies with them. Materials that should be brought to class are: 1. TEXTBOOK: Algebra 2 2. TWO SPIRAL NOTEBOOKS AND PENCILS 3. LOOSE LEAF NOTEBOOK PAPER; 3- RING BINDER 4. GRAPHING CALCULATOR 5. ASSIGNMENT PLANNERS 6. Students are responsible for checking their aoths.net email at least one time per day. 7. Internet connection
Dress Code: Nothing overly revealing, No offensive language, racist, sexist, obscene, or gang-related message on clothing. No overly distracting clothing or accessories. *Dress code is applicable for “live” classrooms, video response recordings or projects and any other digital/online school related activities during distance learning. Please revert to the district dress code for on campus learning.
Absences: If the student is feeling ill and is unable to attend class online please make sure that the parent/guardian reports the child as absent to the school as soon as possible. If the student will be absent for an extended period of time please also notify me by email as well.
Academic DishonestyAny form of cheating is taken seriously at AOTHS. Copying assignments, tests answers and plagiarism are all forms of cheating that will result in disciplinary probation, parent contact and no assignment credit. A second offense may result in dismissal from The Academy of Tucson.
Anti-HarassmentIndividuals have a right to an educational environment free from bias, prejudice and bigotry. As members of this classroom community, students are expected to refrain from participating in acts of harassment that are designed to demean another student’s race, gender, ethnicity, religious preference, disability or sexual orientation.
It is important to remember that the online classroom is still a classroom. Please consider that the same basic classroom expectations will still be in place whether you are in the physical classroom or the digital classroom. The following list is not an exhaustive list and can be amended at any time, by the teacher. Overall, the primary expectation is that we build a strong classroom community, where it is safe for each person to interact with one another in a considerate and respectful manner.
Participate:
Participation is an extremely important part of this class. This builds our classroom community, makes our learning space strong, and also allows me to evaluate. If you participate in conversations, posts, and smaller assignments it will help prevent the need to give larger, daily assignments.
Google classroom- Our classroom will be virtual and we will be meeting on “Google classroom” daily. It is an expectation that students will check in every day using this platform.
Zoom/Google Meet and similar Live classroom apps- We will be using “live” classroom platforms (depending on which platform is most appropriate to the occasion and what is working the best at the time) during the week. It is expected that students will attend these “classes” and adhere to the norms and guidelines as set forth in this syllabus and school expectations.
Digital open source textbook and other resources- We will be using a digital textbook and other online resources so that students will be able to access from the classroom or elsewhere. It is important that you learn to navigate these resources and ask questions early on if you have any difficulty with them.
Various digital resources (labs, video responses, whiteboards, etc)- In order to promote “active participation” within the digital learning environment and our remote learning classroom I will be using a variety of digital tools. It is expected that students will participate by engaging in these tools and activities. Please let me know if you are having any trouble using these resources on your equipment or network.
Keeping track of the Details: It is my responsibility to post assignment instructions and deadlines and it is your (the student’s) responsibility to understand, keep track of, and adhere to the assignment deadline. It is also your responsibility to communicate with me if you are confused or if you have any questions OR to request an extension on the assignment deadline.
Read first and read thoroughly: Take some time to read through the ENTIRE post and each of the previous discussion post responses before writing your own response. If the original post asked a specific question, or is giving specific instructions on how to respond to the post please make sure to respond using this criteria. If this is a discussion post, which requires whole class responses, please make sure that you are not simply “parroting” someone else's idea . This gives the impression that you are not fully engaged in the discussion. By following the directions carefully, you are maximizing your chances of success!
Turning in and Submitting files the correct way: During distance learning, you won’t be printing assignments and handing them in as you might be used to. Therefore, knowing how to properly submit your work online is very important for your success in this class. It is your responsibility to submit each assignment as stated in the directions on the assignment.
Think before you “speak” (type):Please remember that whatever you type in our online classroom is part of a permanent digital record and is considered public. This includes anything in chat boxes, comment boxes, discussion posts or otherwise. Please make sure that you are considering what you are typing and commenting before you post. This is an important reminder about sharing any personal information and it is also important to keep in mind with regards to being respectful towards others. Think of it in terms of sharing only that information that you would be comfortable sharing as if you were standing up in front of a class. This tip will help serve as a good self-regulation guide.
Be kind and polite: Distance learning and online communication comes with a certain amount of anonymity because you aren’t standing face to face. Often, this has sometimes led to rude behavior as people have a perceived feeling of “invisibility” that they can hide behind. I want to make it very clear that this is still our classroom and our community, despite that we may be in a virtual space and not a physical space.. You will be expected to maintain the same level of respect towards your classmates and teacher, as you would in a physical classroom. In an online setting, politeness becomes even more important, because communication can be even more challenging. So I am counting on all of you to help build our community into a positive, supportive, and fun learning environment that everyone can feel safe to express themselves and their opinions, without fear of judgement, or peer ridicule. Make it a point to be kind towards one another- even if you disagree with someone.
Respect Diversity: It’s an ethnically rich and diverse, multicultural world in which we live. Use no language that is—or that could be construed to be—offensive toward others. Racist, sexist, and heterosexist comments and jokes are unacceptable, as are derogatory and/or sarcastic comments and jokes directed at religious beliefs, disabilities, and age. (Borrowed from: http://teaching.colostate.edu/tips/tip.cfm?tipid=128)
No Flaming!: Criticism must be constructive, well-meaning, and well-articulated. Please, no tantrums. Rants directed at any other contributor are simply unacceptable and will not be tolerated. The same goes for profanity. The academic environment expects higher order language. (Borrowed from slcc.instructure.com/-etiquette-and-netiquette)
Don’t abuse the chat box or comment sections: Comment sections are used to communicate for many reasons in our Google classroom. Sometimes it is to complete an assignment by answering discussion posts, sometimes it is to ask questions, and sometimes it is to talk with one another. Please make sure that you do not abuse the comment section and keep the distractions down. Use this part of our classroom for class related information and communication for the most part as this is a valuable resource. The same is true for the chat box that is used while we are in a video style meeting (such as Google meet or Zoom). The chat box should NOT become a side discussion/chat room the same way you would not be talking during class. Keep the off-topic chatter to a minimum and stay focused.
Use your own name when entering classroom: Please make sure that when you enter a live classroom on Google Meet (zoom, etc) that you are using your real name and not a “screen name” or a “nickname” that I am unfamiliar with. This is an important safety consideration and there will be no exceptions. I expect the same when you are posting in Google classroom or submitting assignments.
Audio/Mute/Video Buttons (Video communication): When we meet through video communication, either as a whole class, small group, or in a conference, it is expected that you will attend the meeting with sound (audio button) on and your video on. I would like for you to enter the meeting and immediately put your mute button on (if it is not already muted for you). If, for any reason you are not able to show video, or you are experiencing issues with your audio, etc. please let me know. I completely understand that there are many different situations and we may all need to work around some different scenarios from time to time. Do not hesitate to contact me as I am very willing to be flexible with this. However, showing up with video and audio on, as often as possible, will build our community, and promote participation, which is so valuable and important to our class success.
Proper Writing Style (written communications): It is very easy to become lax and informal while using an online format for posting comments and answering discussion questions. Please keep in mind that this is an academic setting and the use of academic writing is expected. Please use language and a writing style that is appropriate to that setting. Do your best to use correct spelling, grammatical construction and sentence structure for each writing activity. Try to think of each writing as if you were writing an academic paper. This means that “text” jargon such as “brb” or “gtg,” are not appropriate in this format so please keep that in mind as you are posting discussions or using the chat box while answering questions during our video classroom meetings.
Communication: Good communication is the cornerstone of success! Email is the easiest and fastest way to communicate with me so please feel free to send any questions or concerns to: [email protected]. Also, it is imperative that I have the best email that parents/guardians will be checking most frequently as I will sometimes send important information to all parents via email. I would also encourage parents/guardians and students to check Family Link for updates. The High School Newsletter is typically sent out weekly and is a very good resource for general information. If you are having any trouble accessing student email or Family Link please contact the school @ 520-733-0096.