Friday, August 28, 2015

Honors Geometry Syllabus 2015/2016

Honors Geometry Course Syllabus

Mr. Landers                                                                         toby.landers@rsd.edu 
Room 2602                                                                           967-6500

Course Description and Overview:

Honors Geometry is a year-long middle-level math course.  Successful completion of algebra is a prerequisite for this course.  Successful completion of this course will enable a student to enroll in Algebra 2.


Over the course of the year we will cover the following topics:


ü  Points, Lines, Planes, and Angles
ü  Deductive Reasoning
ü  Parallel Lines and Planes
ü  Congruent Triangles
ü  Quadrilaterals
ü  Inequalities in Geometry
ü  Similar Polygons
ü  Right Triangles
ü  Circles
ü  Constructions
ü  Areas of Plane Figures
ü  Areas and Volumes of Solids
ü  Coordinate Geometry
ü  Transformations



Course Objective:
ü  Students will increase their logical reasoning ability and spatial visualization skills.  Having these skills and being able to communicate them will be needed in higher math classes and everyday life. 

Course Materials  (to bring to class every day)
ü  A notebook and paper, including graph paper  (3-ring binder with sectional dividers)
ü  Ruler, pencils, and erasers; 
ü  If tests and quizzes are done in pen, however, there will be a 5% deduction.
ü  Scientific calculator, compass, textbook and protractor.

In-Class Expectations
ü  Eating and drinking is not allowed in class, unless the liquid is water.  I do allow gum in class, provided it is not seen or heard.
ü  Electronic device policy:  If I see it or hear it, I collect it and you get it back at the end of class. 
ü  Phones are not to be used as calculators in this class.  If you need a calculator, you can borrow one, but I would suggest you obtain a scientific calculator to use for this course.  
ü  All tardies are recorded and handled by the office.  Be in your seat when the bell rings.
ü  Keep the language positive in your conversations with and about others.  No swearing please.
ü  The desks are clean.  Please keep them that way by not writing on them. 
ü  Respect others by listening well and responding appropriately when they are done speaking.
ü  During group or partner work, work and share the responsibility with who you are working.
ü  If you’ve got a question or comment, please raise your hand and wait to be acknowledged.
ü  Use your class time well.  Use the class-time that I give you to get started on your homework.

Absences
è If you are absent, you have that number of days plus one to make up your work.  If you are gone 1 day, you have 2 days to get the make-up work turned in.  If you are absent 5 days, you will have 6 days to get the make-up work turned in.
è It is the responsibility of the student to obtain all missing work due to absences.  Communicate well so small problems do not turn into big ones. 




Be ready to work every day!  Math is a doing sport!  It is not a spectator sport!

Grade Calculation:

Tests: Tests are worth 50% of the grade.  There will be a test given at the end of each chapter and at the end of each semester.  The semester test will be worth the equivalent of two regular test scores.  Any student absent from class is expected to make-up the test upon returning.  It is the responsibility of the student to arrange a make-up time with the teacher. 

Quizzes:  Quizzes are worth 35% of the grade.  Quizzes will be given on a regular basis throughout each chapter.  Any student absent on the day of the quiz is expected to make-up the quiz upon returning.  It is the student’s responsibility to arrange a make-up time with the teacher.      

Homework: Homework is worth 15% of the grade.  You will grade your own paper in class before turning it in.  Papers turned in with no name will receive no credit for that day’s homework.  Papers with no appropriate work shown / diagrams drawn will also receive no credit. 

Late Policy:  Homework assignments turned in late will receive a 50% deduction.  Assignments turned in more than 1 week late will be given a zero.  Late is defined as after we collect them at the beginning of class.




Grading Scale

93-100  à  A              83-86   à  B                73-76   à  C                            60-66  à  D

90-92    à  A-             80-82   à  B-              70-72   à  C-                            0-59  à  F
87-89    à  B+             77-79   à  C+              67-69   à  D+                        


Online Communication

I post a blog on a regular basis of the ongoing assignments for this class.  It is listed under the Honors Geometry heading on the blog.  This information is also communicated in the classroom. 

Blog site address:                     LandersmathHHS.blogspot.com

Regular (almost daily) homework is a part of this class, so keeping up with the assignments and knowing the schedule is a key part of success in Geometry.   

Final Note:
I am looking forward to having you in class.  If you or your parent/guardian have any questions for me, please feel free to contact me using the contact information above.  I am also here at Hanford before and after school each day.



Parent/Guardian signature:  _______________________________________           Date:  ______________

Student signature:  ______________________________________              Date:  ______________




Geometry Syllabus 2015/2016

Geometry Course Syllabus

Mr. Landers                                                                             toby.landers@rsd.edu                              Room 2602                                                                              967-6500

Course Description and Overview:

Geometry is a year-long middle-level math course.  Successful completion of algebra is a prerequisite for this course.  Successful completion of this course will enable a student to enroll in Algebra 2.


Over the course of the year we will cover the following topics:


ü  Points, Lines, Planes, and Angles
ü  Deductive Reasoning
ü  Parallel Lines and Planes
ü  Congruent Triangles
ü  Quadrilaterals
ü  Inequalities in Geometry
ü  Similar Polygons
ü  Right Triangles
ü  Circles
ü  Constructions
ü  Areas of Plane Figures
ü  Areas and Volumes of Solids
ü  Coordinate Geometry
ü  Transformations



Course Objective:
ü  Students will increase their logical reasoning ability and spatial visualization skills.  Having these skills and being able to communicate them will be needed in higher math classes and everyday life. 

Course Materials  (to bring to class every day)
ü  A notebook and paper, including graph paper  (3-ring binder with sectional dividers)
ü  Ruler, pencils, and erasers; 
ü  If tests and quizzes are done in pen, however, there will be a 5% deduction.
ü  Scientific calculator, compass, textbook and protractor.

In-Class Expectations
ü  Eating and drinking is not allowed in class, unless the liquid is water.  I do allow gum in class, provided it is not seen or heard.
ü  Electronic device policy:  If I see it or hear it, I collect it and you get it back at the end of class. 
ü  Phones are not to be used as calculators in this class.  If you need a calculator, you can borrow one, but I would suggest you obtain a scientific calculator to use for this course.   
ü  All tardies are recorded and handled by the office.  Be in your seat when the bell rings.
ü  Keep the language positive in your conversations with and about others.  No swearing please.
ü  The desks are clean.  Please keep them that way by not writing on them. 
ü  Respect others by listening well and responding appropriately when they are done speaking.
ü  During group or partner work, work and share the responsibility with who you are working.
ü  If you’ve got a question or comment, please raise your hand and wait to be acknowledged.
ü  Use your class time well.  Use the class-time that I give you to get started on your homework.

Absences
è If you are absent, you have that number of days plus one to make up your work.  If you are gone 1 day, you have 2 days to get the make-up work turned in.  If you are absent 5 days, you will have 6 days to get the make-up work turned in.
è It is the responsibility of the student to obtain all missing work due to absences.  Communicate well so that small problems do not turn into big problems because of a lack of communication. 




Be ready to work every day!  Math is a doing sport!  It is not a spectator sport!

Grade Calculation:

Tests: Tests are worth 50% of the grade.  There will be a test given at the end of each chapter and at the end of each semester.  The semester test will be worth the equivalent of two regular test scores.  Any student absent from class is expected to make-up the test upon returning.  It is the responsibility of the student to arrange a make-up time with the teacher. 

Quizzes:  Quizzes are worth 30% of the grade.  Quizzes will be given on a regular basis throughout each chapter.  Any student absent on the day of the quiz is expected to make-up the quiz upon returning.  It is the student’s responsibility to arrange a make-up time with the teacher.      

Homework: Homework is worth 20% of the grade.  You will grade your own paper in class before turning it in.  Papers turned in with no name will receive no credit for that day’s homework.  Papers with no work shown / diagrams drawn will also receive no credit. 

Late Policy:  Homework assignments turned in late will receive a 50% deduction.  Assignments turned in more than 1 week late will be given a zero.  Late is defined as after we collect them at the beginning of class.




Grading Scale

93-100  à  A              83-86   à  B                73-76   à  C                            60-66  à  D

90-92    à  A-             80-82   à  B-              70-72   à  C-                            0-59  à  F
87-89    à  B+             77-79   à  C+              67-69   à  D+                        

Retesting Policy

A student can ask to retake one test per semester if they so desire.  The highest score that can be earned on a retest is 85%, and the grade on the retest is the one that will be recorded.  It is the student’s responsibility to ask for and arrange a time to retake the test with the teacher. 


Online Communication

I post a blog on a regular basis of the ongoing assignments for this class.  It is listed under the geometry heading on the blog.  This information is also communicated in the classroom. 

Blog site address:                     LandersmathHHS.blogspot.com

Regular (almost daily) homework is a part of this class, so keeping up with the assignments and knowing the schedule is a key part of success in Geometry.   

Final Note:
I am looking forward to having you in class.  If you or your parent/guardian have any questions for me, please feel free to contact me using the contact information above.  I am also here at Hanford before and after school each day. 





Parent/Guardian signature:  _______________________________________           Date:  ______________

Student signature:  ______________________________________              Date:  ______________


  

Welcome to the school year 2015-2016

Welcome to school year 2015-2016

Hi everyone,

Welcome to the 2015-16 school year here at Hanford High.  I'm looking forward to a great year, and I hope you are too.  A little about myself.  I'm starting my 8th year teaching at Hanford, but I've had several different experiences in my 24 years, including a 13 year experience of teaching at an international school in the Phillipines.  I'm a math and science teacher, so there have been a number of different courses in both those areas that I have taught over the years.  My wife and I have three boys -- two in elementary school and one in middle school -- so I enjoy being a part of all their activities.  I look forward to getting to know you this year and hear more of your own story.

A big part of having a great school year is getting off to a good start.  Good habits of work routines and regular communication about class expectations are things that I want to help you develop in my class this year.  Regularly reading this blog is part of that process.  I will use this blog to communicate with you the various assignments and upcoming tests/quizzes that we have talked about in class.  This same schedule will be posted on the board in the room.  This is just another way to let both you and your parents know what we are doing in class and what responsibilities you have here in class.

I will have two headings for each of my blog entries -- one for honors geometry and one for geometry.  Be careful to read the correct one so you won't be confused!  If you do have questions, please don't hesitate to contact me via email, as I will check that regularly throughout the day up until about 4 pm.  If you email after that, I most likely won't get back to you until the next day.

Here is my school email address:    toby.landers@rsd.edu


Again, welcome to the new school year.  Hanford is a great school and has a lot of great offerings for students to be involved in and make a positive impact.  It all starts with a great attitude in the classroom though.  I look forward to doing all I can to help make this year a successful one for you.

Mr. Landers