Gomes - A-G Algebra 1 syllabus (2024-25).pdf

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A-G Algebra 1 5057

Instructor: Cheryl Gomes

On-site at Modesto

 

Please review the CWCS Master Class Syllabus that will be used in the Parent/Student Orientation course.

Instructor Information 

Cheryl Gomes

Email: cgomes@cwcharter.org 

Phone: (707)-365-5633 ~ you may text this number

In Person Sessions:  Tuesdays 9:30 - 10:30 AM and Online Sessions: Thursdays 9:30 - 10:30 AM

Class Information

Office Hours: by appointment

 

• Semester 1 - First Class Meeting 8/19/24

Last Day to Add or Drop is 9/9/24 (Students will be charged the full price of the course if dropping the class after this deadline.)

• Semester 2 - First Class Meeting  1/7/25     

Last Day to Add or Drop is 1/21/25 (Students will be charged the full price of the course if dropping the class after this deadline.)

Important Class Dates

 

Fall Dates

• 12: First day back to school
• 19: First day of fall Canvas classes
• 2: Labor Day holiday
• 9: Add/Drop date 
• 10-11: Fall break holiday
• 11: Veteran’s day holiday
• 22-29: Thanksgiving break
• 16-20: A-G Finals schedule
• 20: Last day of semester
• Winter Break

Spring Dates

• 7:  First day back to school / First day of spring Canvas classes
• 20: MLK Holiday
• 21: Add/Drop date 
• 14-17: President’s Day holiday
• 21-28: Spring break
• CAASPP testing
• May 12-16: A-G Finals schedule
• May 23: Last Day of School

 

 

Class Overview 

This is an a-g (college-prep) course, intended to prepare students for further math courses. The course is rigorous and fast-paced with extensive use of and dependence on mastery of prerequisite skills. Students should expect to spend 1-1.5 hours each day (M-F) on the assigned sections. 

• Classes are based on active discussion of topics using academic vocabulary. Each class period will focus on questions regarding the previous (homework) assignments, instruction of new topics, activities involving mathematical reasoning, assessments, problem solving, and investigations or group work.  Students should bring questions to class each day.
• The class meets Tuesdays on-site at the Modesto learning center & Thursdays Students are expected to actively participate in class discussion; this gives the instructor an opportunity to identify strengths and weaknesses of the students and identify concepts that need more instruction.  Students will receive participation points for attending class and participating.  Attendance is required. If an absence is necessary, the student should notify the instructor in advance and plan to upload complete notes (all pages of interactive workbook) from class to earn partial credit.
• Students should expect to spend 1 hour each day, Monday-Friday, completing an assigned lesson and studying. Much of the learning is done independently by the student with the guidance of parents.  Many students find it helpful to have a personal tutor or take advantage of drop-in coaching at the learning centers, to assist with homework questions.
• Students will be doing most of their work online at hrw.com.  Assignments are posted on Canvas in weekly modules for students to download/upload and to track grades. Parents (and other support people) are encouraged to sign-in to Canvas to “observe” the student.  This will allow you to see all notifications, assignment details, submissions and grades for your student in real time.  Work is graded/posted weekly.
• Support is available via email or online by appointment with the instructor. Please be sure to share a screenshot or clip of the question as well as your thoughts on the problem.
• Assessments are taken at the end of each unit. Error analysis/corrections are required if mastery is not demonstrated on first attempt.  A final exam and semester project will determine the final assessment portion of the overall semester grade.     

Prerequisites

• Completion of Math 8 or Pre-Algebra with grade C or above. 
• Study skills (mastery):
  • Ability to read text and take notes.
  • Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide whole numbers, integers, fractions, and decimals fluently.
  • Ability to graph coordinates and graph linear equations (y=mx+b) and inequalities
  • Ability to simplify basic algebraic expressions (distributive property, combine like terms) and solve basic algebraic equations
  • Understanding of middle school academic math vocabulary

Course Curriculum and Materials

Required curriculum. 

This may be available at the Learning Center on a first come basis.  If needed, ESs can order curriculum using the OPS catalog which will have the most up-to-date pricing. Students will need:

• HMH Algebra 1: Analyze, Connect, Explore.( ISBN: 9780544206991 ) Student Edition (required). Students will use this interactive workbook to take notes during class as well as show work for homework.

Other Materials

• Graph Paper (Graph composition notebook recommended)
• Pencils, colored pencils, & erasers
• Graphing Calculator (HP Prime or TI84 recommended).  TI84 may be available at the Learning Center on a first come basis or FREE HP Prime app is available online on google play (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.hp.primecalculator.free&hl=en_US ).
• .
• 3X5 notecards (for vocabulary & concept flash cards)

 

Other Course Requirements 

• Reliable Internet access 
• Gmail Account and ability to open/create word documents and pdfs (Adobe Acrobat Reader) 
• HRW.com link
• Canvas Login link (https://cwcs.instructure.com/login/canvas)

 

Math Department Webpage

Math Department Webpage

 

Course grade 

The final course grade will be based on the following: 

• 25% Attendance/Participation 
• 25% Daily Homework/other practice assignments/projects
• 25% Module/Unit Tests/Quizzes 
• 25% Final Exam 

 

Extra Credit: "Extra" credit is not commonly offered. The grades are based on the categories and percentages listed above. An occasional extra credit opportunity may be built in, but should not be counted upon to "boost" one's grade.

 

Final Exam & Projects: The proctored final exam will determine 25% of the overall grade.

a-g Finals are scheduled at proctored test sites as follows:

Dec. 16th:       Fall Semester a-g Finals

May 12th:        Spring Semester a-g Finals

Grading Scale:

90%-92%:       A-        93%-96%:       A            97% and above:          A+

80%-82%:       B-        83%-86%:       B            87%-89%                    B+

70%-72%:       C-        73%-76%:       C            77%-79%                    C+

60%-62%:       D-        63%-66%:       D            67%-69%                    D+

below 60%:     F

Attendance is required.   The Truancy Policy applies to Canvas courses. An unexcused absence may be counted as a truancy.  Attendance credit will not be given for unexcused absences.  Students are responsible to complete work whether they are present or not.

• Excused Absence is defined as:
  The parent shall notify the teacher by phone of the absence at least 24 hours* prior to the time the class meets.
• Unexcused Absence is defined as:
  An absence that does not accompany a parent phone call to the instructor at least 24 hours* prior to the time the class meets.

*If there are extenuating circumstances that do not allow for at least 24 hours, then the teacher must still be notified prior to the start of class; allowances may be made depending on the circumstances. Examples of extenuating circumstances: car accident, sudden illness, etc. Students should arrange a "back up plan" in case of unexpected computer problems the day of the class (i.e. make pre-arrangements to go to a neighbor, friend, relative, library, etc.)

Making Up a Missed Class

Attendance credit for excused absences will be granted by the instructor based on the quality of the make-up work. To make up a missed class session, the student must view the recording of the online session (which will be posted as a link on the Canvas website shortly after the session ends), submit a summary of the class (all pages of workbook covered in that lesson) in Canvas.  On-site missed classes will need to be completed independently (no recording) and submit all pages of that day’s agenda for partial credit. 

 

Module Quizzes and Unit Tests

• Quizzes for each module will be assigned on my.HRW.com to be completed WITHOUT assistance on the Date assigned. Quizzes will not be accepted for full credit once the test closes.
• Unit tests will be administered on-site or on Canvas to be completed WITHOUT assistance on the class day assigned. Tests will not be accepted for full credit once the test closes.
• Specific instructions for the Module, Unit, Midterm, and Final Exam tests will be given in class, including procedures for submission and due dates.
• Students will have the opportunity to submit a complete error analysis (test corrections) for partial credit on each test or quiz. This encourages students to address deficits discovered in the assessment and to show their new understanding of concepts.

 

Daily Homework & practice performance task projects

• Homework activities include assignments on my.hrw.com and other instructional activities posted on Canvas or given in live class sessions.
• Daily assignments will be given at least a week at a time posted on the Canvas Modules and designed to take 1 hour per non-class-meeting day.  Students should manage their own time to complete the assigned exercises by the end of the week.
• Note: hrw.com homework follows the pattern of the independent study in the workbook, so students should show work in their workbook.  Each assignment should take about an hour.  If an assignment is taking significantly more than an hour, please discuss with instructor for strategies and/or accommodations.
• The ES does not need to submit a Quarterly Progress Report, but student/parent should show work in workbook during learning record meetings to catch any struggles early.
• It is in the student's best interest to keep up with the course pacing guide and not fall behind. Late work will NOT be given full credit. A late penalty of up to 10% per week will be deducted from the student’s score.
• Absent/Late Work: Math Department classes will not accept late work after the close date of the assignment. Typically lesson assignments will be closed at the end of each unit.

 

ES Responsibilities

• Log in to Canvas and sign up as an observer of your student. 
• Check Canvas for announcements and the student’s updated weekly assignments. 
• Sign off and date class assignment sheet on Pacing Guide at each learning record meeting and keep for records.  
• Contact me EARLY if the student is having any difficulties. 
• If you must drop a student for extenuating circumstances with the approval of your ES Advisor and Executive Director from a regular course, you need to have them removed from the class list in SIS. The ES is responsible to make sure that the instructor is notified when one of their students drops from a class.  If the student is removed from the class list prior to the start date, there will be no charge to the student’s IF, otherwise, the student account will be charged the full amount of the class. This applies even for School funded classes. 

Student Responsibilities 

• Log on to Canvas the day before courses start to be sure everything is working. If not, contact your ES right away. 
• Spend an hour every day studying math. Check Canvas for announcements, complete daily online homework on my.hrw.com, show your work in your workbook.
• Make flash cards for any vocabulary or concepts presented in class.
• Attend the Scheduled classes every week and be on time. If you miss a session, please email the instructor BEFORE THE MISSED CLASS. Then make sure that you upload the notes (all pages of the interactive notebook) to Canvas.
• Participate in class discussion and take notes in your workbook.
• Complete assessments on Canvas and submit WITH WORK SHOWN by due dates. Complete corrections if you get anything wrong. 
• Talk to your parents about what you are learning, any struggles you have, and ALL grades you earn (good and bad).

Parent Responsibilities 

• Assist Student in logging on to Canvas before first class.  Make sure they are familiar with the Canvas and my.HRW.com. 
• Attend first online class with student to learn of expectations (or review student’s notes from on-site class and ask questions as needed)
• Reteach lessons as needed and teach lessons not covered in class (elementary online courses only).  
• Review student’s daily work and check grades in Canvas regularly; Provide feedback to instructor regarding student’s progress.  
• Be sure students attend and participate Notify me prior to class if a student will be absent.
• If a class is missed, make sure your student uploads complete notes from interactive workbook based on the concepts of daily agenda and completes the assigned homework.