Honors Geometry Course Syllabus
2023-2024

Many fields depend upon mathematics to test their theories and designs. Mathematics can model observations to discover relationships and test solutions, yet mathematics itself depends upon logic and reason to justify its claims. We will use graphing, analytic, and numerical methods to discover and understand mathematical postulates and theorems. We then can use these theorems to justifying our conclusions whether it be for mathematical rigor, or for scientific, engineering, financial, or some other application.

We need to understand these theorems. The more you can explain, the more you will retain! So help each other as you work through homework and classwork by asking for and offering explanations why a method or conclusion might be correct. I will usually be available before school Monday through Friday 7:30-8:00 am in Room ?404? . I will usually be available after school Tuesday through Friday 7:30-8:00 am in Room ?101? .

• To master the course's curriculum you need to think and work on the ideas of the course in between classes. Homework is usually assigned from the textbook, though it may also include a worksheet.
• Homework is due each class, usually from the topic(s) covered from the previous class. Homework is turned in electronically (MML, DeltaMath, or Blackbaud) before 8:00 AM of the day of the next class.
• Late homework will only be accepted if there was an excused absence or other extenuating circumstances.
• Grading of homework is based on the following:
  Each page must have:
  1. the student's name and seat location in the upper right corner
  2. class period & date
  3. the assignment's chapter and section number,
  4. each question & diagram (if appropriate) needs to written out.
  5. an honest attempt at an answer (showing appropriate work).
  6. a legible appearance (No scratch work in the margins).
  7. 4 points is the maximum score each homework, according to the following rubric:

     4	3	2	1	0
     Complete, accurate and neat	Name not on every page, or incorrect answer on one or more problems or necessary work (to arrive at the answer shown) is missing for one or more problems	Answers only (Questions not written out) for one or more problems or One or more problems not attempted	Most problems were not attempted	Nothing submitted in time

• Homework assignments posted on Portals (Blackbaud) are linked to my website Mathorama (no password needed):
  https://hw.mathorama.com (you dont need to sign in with this link) and MML

• To help motivate you to prepare for class, practically every class will have some sort of evaluation. This will take the form of either a Quiz, a Homework Quiz, or a Test. Test dates are found on the homework assignment sheet, as well in the PortalsPlus calendar.

  At least a TI-84 family of calculator, which is ideal for use on the future AP Exam Exams (and is the reason that one of them is required for the course). Calculators with a "CAS" feature are not permitted on quizzes and tests (for example, NO n-spire calcs permitted).

  Quizzes

  In general, quizzes are based based on combining ideas from current and past homework assignments and examples done in class (including review problems). You usually have 10-20 minutes to complete a quiz. Keep in mind that all quizzes and tests may also include some question from a previous chapter (or previous course). I hope that this would encourage you to spend more time going over topics that you still need to master (rather than just "writing off" a chapter and never learning a skill which you will actually need next year). If you use a Pen, a CAS calculator, or a calculator when it was not permitted, your score will not be curved.

  Homework Quizzes

  Short Homework quizzes are based primarily on the current homework problems in order to motivate you to do your assignments on time. Webwork assignments are also scored in this category. If you use a Pen, a CAS calculator, or a calculator when it was not permitted, your score will not be curved.

  Chapter Tests

• Chapter tests are administered after covering a significant body of work, usually after each chapter of the text (usually every other week). Sometimes however, a large chapter is divided into two parts, with a Chapter Test after each. Chapter Tests integrate chapter topics into your problem solving skills, and you are usually only permitted 60 minutes to complete. If you use a Pen, a CAS calculator, or a calculator when it was not permitted, your score will not be curved.

  Projects

• Projects are assigned to encourage the communication of mathematical insights and to help deepen your understanding of a particular topic. Projects take on a variety of forms including online activities, compass constructions, videos, posters and proof presentations.
  
  
  

  Classwork

• Each class will include some sort of activity. This might include individual or group worksheets, board work, demonstrations, or questions on an activity (computer activity, project or video). Any class where you are disruptive, off-task, impede a classmate's work, or fail to be prepared, you cannot recieve full credit.

  An example of not being prepared is not having the previous homework, notes, pencil or textbook out at the start of the lecture, or failing to bring your book, paper, pencil, charged iPad or calculator to class. Please turn off your phone and/or wireless device(s) and put them in your book bag outside.

  If you were absent, you must bring your yellow re-admit slip to the next class, since an unexcused abscence counts for 0% for any assignment that day.

  Semester Exams

• There is a special schedule during "Finals Week" to allow for a long, cumulative examination of your mathematical skills. To help your test taking skills, the test employs the "SAT" and "AP" style of questioning. These thought provoking questions are designed so that an average student can answer about half of them correctly, so that the remaining questions can assess higher levers of mastery. The raw scores are therefore transformed into the usual scale (where 70 is a C, 80 is a B and 90 is an A). The best score will always score 100%. If you use a Pen, a CAS calculator, or a calculator when it was not permitted, your score will not be curved.

  Extra Credit

• The Math department does not permit extra credit.

Expectations

1. Be respectful. As you are a St. Francis student, I expect cooperative and responsible behavior in and out of class. Perhaps most importantly, have respect for yourself; honor the effort and quality of your work, and the work of others. By being on time and staying until dismissal, you respect everyone.


2. Be prepared. This means doing your assignments as well as getting your sleep. It means having a charged iPad, Calculator, paper, and pencil. It's hard to do the job without the tools. Imagine learning to drive without a car (or a golf club)? You NEED sleep. You NEED to schedule time to be prepared.


3. Be willing. To be willing to improve means you are willing to make mistakes. Math takes time and effort—for anyone. It is even more difficult if you are too hard on yourself for making mistakes. Mistakes are how your learned to walk, speak, write, and throw a ball. Mistakes are required for learning, yet for some reason, many talented people do themselves a disservice by negative "self-talk." A "goof" or a "blunder" in your subtraction does not mean you or anyone else are suddenly without intelligence. No author publishes their first draft. Expect to be fully human and make mistakes. If you don't expect mistakes, you will never find and fix them. The secret of a good photographer is to take A LOT of photos, and expect to throw away a lot of "mistakes." I hope you eventually become as thankful for your progress as much as your success.
   
4. Be Honest. You don't have to be perfect, but I expect you to be faithful to the truth, and humble about your limitations. I promise to do the same. Together I hope we will be diligent in our efforts that you may eventually delight in the marvel that is Mathematics!

Classroom Discipline

1. DO NOT DISRUPT CLASS Mobile communication devices must be in your backpack stored in the designated area. Offering and using VPNs are forbidden by school policy. For the sake of the majority of the class, those who disrupt a class lesson by talking, disturbing someone, or throwing any object will not be tolerated. Disciplinary measures may include written assignments or cleaning of the classroom. Chronic or severe disruptions warrant a phone call home and/or a detention.

2. DO NOT ABUSE SCHOOL PROPERTY You are responsible for your work place and will be held accountable to keep your desk and its environs clean. Feet should remain on the floor, never on the desk. All four feet of the desk must also remain on the floor.

3. DO NOT ABUSE YOUR TIME Take advantage of the class work sessions. The iPad will be used in the classroom and students are expected to arrive at each class with the device sufficiently charged. There are only a limited number of loaner iPads available in room 405, so it is best to make sure your iPad is ready to be used. External battery packs are an affordable way to make sure you never without a charged iPad.

   The pace and rigor of the class is such that any time distracted by the iPad will significantly impact a students' progress in a negative way. To help focus your attention, please double-click the home button and quit all communication and entertainment apps before class begins. Students will be expected to monitor their behavior with the iPads with little direction from the instructor. Any time or attention diverted by technology will result in a decreasing chance of a successful performance in this class.

   As per the student handbook, students are responsible for work missed due to absence the day they return. If you are present and a quiz or test is scheduled, you must take it. Make-up tests usually have more (or more difficult) questions. It is a good idea to have the contact information of several classmates to see what material and assignments were covered during your absence. If you miss a quiz you cannot gain any points for it. If you know you will be absent for a test, you may schedule to take it before the actual test date if prior arrangements have been made with the instructor. In the case of an extended illness special arrangements should be made with the Academic Vice Principal, Mr. Trujillo.

4. LIVE UP TO YOUR GOOD NAME You are expected to exhibit the attributes of a St. Francis Golden Knight: courteous attention, gracious cooperation, and dedicated to improving themselves and others. Each can readily be seen in the thoroughness and orderliness of your work, as well as how you offer, ask, and accept help from others.

Grading

It reminds me of how the Presidential election works, using the electoral college instead of popular vote. If all the candidate's supporters are in the same state, it isn't as effective as having supporters in different states, since to with the election, you have to win over a lot of big states. Similarly, it would be best for a student to do well in as many categories as possible, especially the categories that are worth more.

The gradebook automatically does the following calculation:

(It works like judging the pole-vault or high jump, rather than horseshoes.) While plusses and minuses are indicated on the grade report, they are ignored when computing the student's grade point average (GPA). So a "B+" and a "B-" are worth the same grade points.