Accelerated Math I

COURSE SYLLABUS
Arabia Mountain High School

Teacher(s): Mrs. Speller Phone Number: (678) 875 - 3725

Email: sharelle_speller@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us
Room Number/s: E206

Tutorial Hours: Tuesday & Thursday

Semester: Spring 2010
7:15am – 7:45am
Textbook: Core-Plus Mathematics – Course 2 Textbook Cost: Current Value

Department Philosophy: We believe that by creating an environment conducive to learning, building

positive rapport with students, and employing differentiated instructional strategies, we can promote
student success. Furthermore we believe that each student can be successful in learning to: value
mathematics, become a mathematical problem solver, communicate and reason mathematically.

Course Description: This is the first in a sequence of mathematics courses designed to prepare students to
take AB or BC Advanced Placement Calculus. It includes radical, polynomial and rational expressions;
functions and their graphs; quadratics and radical equations; fundamentals of geometric proofs; properties
of polygons, circles and spheres; coordinate geometry; sample statistics, and curve fitting.

Course Prerequisites: Teacher recommendation and successful completion of Algebra I Hybrid or

Advanced 8th Grade GPS

GPS Standards:
MA1A1. Students will explore and interpret the
characteristics of functions, using graphs, tables,
and simple algebraic techniques.
MA1G1. Students will investigate properties of
geometric figures in the coordinate plane.
MA1G2. Students will understand and use the
language of mathematical argument and
justification.
MA1G3. Students will discover, prove, and apply
properties of triangles, quadrilaterals, and other
polygons.
MA1G4. Students will understand the properties of
circles.
MA1G5. Students will find and compare the
measures of spheres.
MA1D1. Students will determine the number of
outcomes related to a given event.
MA1D2. Students will use the basic laws of
probability.
MA1D3. Students will relate samples to a
population.
MA1D4. Students will explore variability of data
by determining the mean absolute deviation (the
average of the absolute values of the deviations).
MA1N1. Students will represent and operate with
complex numbers.
MA1A2. Students will simplify and operate with
radical expressions, polynomials, and rational
expressions.
MA1A3. Students will analyze quadratic functions
in the forms f(x) = ax² + bx + c and f(x) = a(x – h)² +
k.
MA1A4. Students will solve quadratic equations
and inequalities in one variable.
MA1A5. Students will investigate step and
piecewise functions, including greatest integer and
absolute value functions.
MA1D5. Students will determine an algebraic
model to quantify the association between two
quantitative variables.

RELATED STANDARDS ADDRESSED:

MA1P1. Students will solve problems (using appropriate technology).
MA1P2. Students will reason and evaluate mathematical arguments.
MA1P3. Students will communicate mathematically.
MA1P4. Students will make connections among mathematical ideas and to other disciplines.
MA1P5. Students will represent mathematics in multiple ways.
MRC. Students will enhance reading in all curriculum areas
Course Outline
SEMESTER ONE Units Number of days
Unit One Functions 6 weeks
Unit Two Polygons 5 weeks
Unit Three Circles and Spheres 5 weeks

SEMESTER TWO Units Number of days

Unit Four Data Analysis 4 weeks
Unit Five Algebraic Investigations 7 weeks
Unit Six Putting the Pieces Together 4 weeks

Grading Scale
Area Included in Area Percentag
e
Classwork/Homework Labs 25%
Journal writing
Cooperative group assignments
Teacher activities
Worksheets
Notebooks
Journals
Participation
Teacher observation
Checklists
Discussions
Tests Posttests 40%
Chapter tests
Unit Tests
Research paper
Major Projects (6-weeks or longer)
Weekly Tests
Performance Performance-based assignments 20%
Benchmark Post assessments
Presentations
Oral
Dramatic
Written
Unit Projects
Technology-based
Quizzes
Final Exam EOCT 15%

Total: 100%

This is an EOCT course and the EOCT is 15% of the final grade:
Final Grade = (Course Grade)(.85) + (EOCT)(.15)
Required Materials:

Students are responsible for bringing the following to class DAILY: 3-ringed
binder (at least 1.5”),
3 tabbed-dividers (Class Notes/Classwork, Homework, Tests & Quizzes &
GHSGT), #2 pencils (assignments will not be accepted unless written
in pencil), loose-leaf & graphing paper, and a TI-Nspire graphing calculator.

*You will need a pencil everyday. You will be required to redo any work done in ink that needs
to be turned in or checked for a grade. Otherwise, it will not be accepted. Ink may only be used
for personal notes.

*All students are required to have a GRAPHING CALCULATOR (TI-Nspire is suggested),

PAPER, PENCILS, AGENDA BOOK, AND NOTEBOOK EVERYDAY!!!

Classroom Rules:
In addition to the school rules, the following rules will also apply in the
classroom:
1. Be Prompt: On time and ready to begin.
2. Be Polite: Be respectful at all times to self and others.
3. Be Prepared: Come with book, notebook, agenda, pencil and paper
EVERYDAY.
4. Be Protective: Be respectful of materials and property.
5. Be Productive: Use time wisely and accomplish all that you can.

Classroom Expectations: You are expected to:

1. Abide by the classroom and school rules.
2. Be in class, seated, and prepared for class to begin before the tardy
bell rings.
3. Pay attention, take notes, and participate in class discussions,
demonstrations, and activities.
4. Demonstrate the steps to achieve a solution and indicate that
solution clearly (i.e. SHOW ALL WORK).
5. Be here daily and on time. When you miss a day, you miss a lot.
6. Give me an honest effort everyday.
7. You are responsible for getting your own makeup work. It must be
done promptly!

HOMEWORK POLICY

Homework is an extension of the classroom learning process. It is one method to help

students establish self-discipline and study skills. Homework also is a way to keep
parents informed and involved with schoolwork. Homework will be posted on the class
web page prior to the assignment and checked daily.
Students will keep a homework checklist (under Listing Folder on my website) in
the front of their notebook to be checked and signed by the teacher as verification
that the homework assignment was completed. Homework is checked for
completion, not accuracy. It is the students’ responsibility to ask questions during
class when we check the homework answers.
10 points – full credit: 5 points – half credit: 0 points – no credit (homework not
completed)
Students who fail to complete homework assignments are assigned to Saturday School,
held twice a month. If the missing assignment is a homework assignment, it is the
students’ responsibility to view their homework checklist for the missing assignment.
Attachments will not be provided at Saturday school. Assignments completed in Saturday
School are graded for full credit. Therefore, all work should be accurate and FULLY
completed to receive credit. Should a student fail to attend Saturday School, the
assignment is due on the Monday or the next full school day of attendance for the student
following Saturday School with a grade reduction of 10 points. Continued failure to
complete the assignment will warrant a referral to an administrator.

Reassessment Policy
The goal of any summative assessment is to assess the level of mastery on a set of
performance standards. Often, students perform on some assessments better than others.
Therefore, reassessment should be used as a learning opportunity and students should
take more responsibility for learning. There is no minimum grade for reassessment. Full
credit is the maximum grade for reassessments. The student is required to attend at least
one tutorial session for re-teaching prior to the reassessment. Reassessments must
occur within the same nine-week marking period as the original assessment.

Make-up Work
Students who have excused absences are afforded an opportunity to complete missed
work after their return to school. Students have three days for each day of absence to
complete schoolwork missed due to an excused absence. Failure to complete the missed
work by the designated deadline will warrant an assignment to Saturday School.

Amnesty Days
Students who complete work on Amnesty Days are not eligible for reassessments or
Saturday School.
*The teacher reserves the right to alter this syllabus at any time in order to
maximize student achievement and success.

Accelerated Math I Course Syllabus

Arabia Mountain High School

Spring 2010
Mrs. Speller

Your child received the course syllabus on the day they entered my classroom. He/she
was instructed to read and sign the course syllabus and to have a parent sign it also. This
signature sheet will count as the first homework assignment. It is due Thursday,
January 7, 2010.

I understand and will follow this Spring 2010 Math I Syllabus.

___________________________ ______________
Student Signature Date

I understand and support my child’s Spring 2010 Math I Syllabus.

___________________________ ______________
Parent Signature Date

Parent Information

____________________________________________________
Parent(s) or Guardian Name

_______________________________
______________________________
Daytime Phone Number Alternate Daytime Phone Number
_______________________________________________________________________
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Parent(s) E-mail Address

Contact Preference (Circle One): Phone or E-Mail

Comments for Mrs. Speller:

Mrs. Speller’s Contact Information – Parents please write this information down.
E-mail: sharelle_speller@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us
Class Website: http://fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us/~SHARELLE_SPELLER/