Course Overview
The curriculum we have chosen to use for our math classes here at Bitney College Prep is called CPM, "college preparatory math." It is a non-traditional method of learning math that utilizes group work and emphasizes communication and questioning. To put it simply, it is the scientific method applied to mathematics. Students who learn math using this method "own" their math in a way most students don't get to experience until late in their study of mathematics in college. Unfortunately, few are curious enough to endure the drudgery of lots of practice without the understanding that comes from "doing" math. In our math classes, you will be doing math in a very real sense. You will not be mindlessly copying math from the whiteboard and practicing what you don't understand until you can do it by rote!
Class Expectations
You are required to come to class on time with a pencil, math book, and paper, ready to learn. Algebra 2, PreCalculus and Calculus students will need graphing calculators. Sometimes you may be working in groups, which may be different from the way you have studied math in the past. You will be responsible for working together, which means you may be explaining and sometimes questioning your group members. At all times you are encouraged to ask questions for clarification, as well as to promote discussion and discovery.
Homework
Homework will be assigned Monday through Thursday. After going over new concepts in class, you will be expected to complete roughly ten problems for homework. The following day you will come to class prepared with any questions you have about the homework. By the end of the period your homework paper will be completely correct. You’ll then receive 5 points for your on-time, complete, and correct work. No late work is accepted. If you are excused with a full day’s absence, your work still needs to be completed and corrected on your own time using the answers in the back of the book, Hotmath, a friend’s assignment, or your study hall time with me. Keep all daily returned assignments because everything will be turned in before taking quizzes and tests. (So if you were absent or haven’t done an assignment, it still needs to be done and correct so that you can turn it in before taking the test.)
Note Taking / Classwork
After going over homework we will either be working in groups, working through problems as a class, or I will be lecturing. This will be your classwork for the day and everything must be recorded. Anything written on the board, needs to be written down by you. You will turn this in with your homework the following day. If you are absent, it is your responsibility to get these notes and assignments from a friend, copy them into your own writing and turn them in with your excused homework before taking the test. Your note taking/ classwork will be graded on a five point scale based on completeness and accuracy
Mid-Unit Quizzes and Tests
Because our units are so long, I’ll be giving mid-unit tests as well as end of the unit tests. In order to take your test you must turn in all of your homework and classwork for the unit so far. All of this work should have 5’s if you have been doing your work and aren’t absent. If you have been absent or did the work late, this is the time that you will get graded on that work. The purpose of tests is for checking for understanding and mastery after thoroughly working on a concept
Remember to use your study hall time wisely. I expect you will only need 30 minutes to complete your homework. Study hall time can also be used to go over all the work for the unit, especially anything that hasn’t been making sense. Make up practice problems for yourself and practice, practice, practice. Good luck in this new semester. Remember that earning your A starts on the first day of class.
How Grades are Computed
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Assignment Categories |
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|
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Letter Grades |
| Homework |
25% |
A: 90% and above
B: 80% and above
C: 70% and above
D: 60% and above
F: below 60% |
| Note Taking / Classwork |
25% |
| Mid-Unit Quizzes |
5% |
| Tests (end of unit) |
20% |
| Final Exam |
20% |
| Study Hall |
5% |
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