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College Preparatory Mathematics- Geometry Connections
Introduction:
Geometry Connections covers many mathematical topics such as problem solving, transformations of figures, angle relationships, proportionality, similarity, trigonometry, proof, and various shape properties. We work extensively at applying set theorems and postulates and find creative and logical ways to draw more conclusions. College Preparatory Mathematics is a program rooted in mastery over time and designed to incorporate multiple mediums of instruction. It strongly emphasizes the use of team work and justification to arrive at a final answer.
Objectives:
Student Expectations:
Ø Students will come to class prepared for the day’s lesson. This means that students will have their books, a pencil, and paper for note taking and problem solving as well as any specific items for a particular lesson. If special supplies are needed I will give ample time to obtain those items.
Ø Students will bring to every class any work that is due for that day. All homework is to be complete as soon as the bell rings unless previously discussed.
Ø Students will participate in all activities in class, including warm ups, worksheets, puzzles and/or games, and daily team activities designed to learn the material.
Ø Students will be organized, having a central location for all handouts, homework, and returned tests.
Ø Students will respect each other and the materials provided.
Teacher’s Note:
The Oakland Early College Mathematics curriculum is designed, created, and implemented with the assumption that ALL students enrolled will try their best to listen, engage, and complete any and all tasks throughout the course.
Tests:
Through the duration of the course we will cover several chapters of the CPM Geometry Connections book. Each chapter will have two or three assessments on the new content from that chapter. Furthermore, each and every assessment will be comprised of approximately a fifty-fifty split of new material from the current unit and review material from either units past or even continued refreshers in algebra one content. More specifically, the team test will cover new material and will contain some review items and will be done as a group. The team test could be graded in a variety of ways but as long as the groups are communicating and working together, the grading method will not make a difference. The individual test will be approximately one week after the team test. The individual assessment will be an individual test covering the same new material that the team test covered, using different questions to evaluate similar concepts. Although the team tests are graded assignments, they should be viewed as review for the individual test and should give students a chance to realize what more they need to learn from the chapter. On both the individual and team assessments there will be several problems that are review problems that the students should understand. At the end of the course there will be a final exam testing material covered.
Grading Policy:
While the final letter grade will be based on homework, team tests, individual tests, and the final exam, those details are all outlined in the grading breakdown. Specifically though, much of my grading is based on multiples of threes. Rarely do I grade problems based solely on right or wrong. The three point and the six point model rubric are outlined below.
6- Student has demonstrated exceptional proficiency on this item.
5- Student has good understanding of the item but has made a minor error in computation or understanding.
4- Student has demonstrated a minimal understanding of the concept assessed.
3- Student does not demonstrate an understanding of the concept assessed though shows solid subject matter thought.
2- Student attempted the assessment item.
0- Student did not attempt the assessment item.
The three point model looks like this:
3- Student has demonstrated exceptional proficiency on this item.
2.5- Student has good understanding of the item but has made a minor error in computation or understanding.
2- Student has demonstrated a minimal understanding of the concept assessed.
1.5- Student does not demonstrate an understanding of the concept assessed though shows solid subject matter thought.
1- Student attempted the assessment item.
0- Student did not attempt the assessment item.
Miscellaneous Notes:
Ø Throughout the Geometry Connections course we will be using the TI-nSpire graphing calculators. We will have a classroom set for student use in class, but the calculators will not be allowed to leave the classroom. It is in the best interest of the students to access to a graphing utility of their own.
Ø The CPM series also has a great internet resource for parents and students. I encourage all to visit www.cpm.org and look at the parent guides. These guides follow more of a traditional approach to mathematics education and directly correlate with the units in which we work.
Late Submission:
All assignments that are submitted after the assigned due date and time will be considered late and subject to a deduction in points. The amount of deduction will be dependent on the assignment and tardiness of the task. As a guideline, tasks that are submitted shortly after the due date may qualify for a reduction up to one quarter of the points possible. Tasks that are submitted after the completion of the unit for which they were assigned and prior to the completion of the following unit could be reduced up to one third. Any task submitted after the following unit may possibly earn half credit.
College Preparatory Mathematics- Geometry Connections
Introduction:
Geometry Connections covers many mathematical topics such as problem solving, transformations of figures, angle relationships, proportionality, similarity, trigonometry, proof, and various shape properties. We work extensively at applying set theorems and postulates and find creative and logical ways to draw more conclusions. College Preparatory Mathematics is a program rooted in mastery over time and designed to incorporate multiple mediums of instruction. It strongly emphasizes the use of team work and justification to arrive at a final answer.
Objectives:
- Students will work together to master many complex Geometric and algebraic concepts.
- Students will demonstrate their mastery of these concepts in a variety of ways, including homework, team tests and individual tests.
Student Expectations:
Ø Students will come to class prepared for the day’s lesson. This means that students will have their books, a pencil, and paper for note taking and problem solving as well as any specific items for a particular lesson. If special supplies are needed I will give ample time to obtain those items.
Ø Students will bring to every class any work that is due for that day. All homework is to be complete as soon as the bell rings unless previously discussed.
Ø Students will participate in all activities in class, including warm ups, worksheets, puzzles and/or games, and daily team activities designed to learn the material.
Ø Students will be organized, having a central location for all handouts, homework, and returned tests.
Ø Students will respect each other and the materials provided.
Teacher’s Note:
The Oakland Early College Mathematics curriculum is designed, created, and implemented with the assumption that ALL students enrolled will try their best to listen, engage, and complete any and all tasks throughout the course.
Tests:
Through the duration of the course we will cover several chapters of the CPM Geometry Connections book. Each chapter will have two or three assessments on the new content from that chapter. Furthermore, each and every assessment will be comprised of approximately a fifty-fifty split of new material from the current unit and review material from either units past or even continued refreshers in algebra one content. More specifically, the team test will cover new material and will contain some review items and will be done as a group. The team test could be graded in a variety of ways but as long as the groups are communicating and working together, the grading method will not make a difference. The individual test will be approximately one week after the team test. The individual assessment will be an individual test covering the same new material that the team test covered, using different questions to evaluate similar concepts. Although the team tests are graded assignments, they should be viewed as review for the individual test and should give students a chance to realize what more they need to learn from the chapter. On both the individual and team assessments there will be several problems that are review problems that the students should understand. At the end of the course there will be a final exam testing material covered.
Grading Policy:
While the final letter grade will be based on homework, team tests, individual tests, and the final exam, those details are all outlined in the grading breakdown. Specifically though, much of my grading is based on multiples of threes. Rarely do I grade problems based solely on right or wrong. The three point and the six point model rubric are outlined below.
6- Student has demonstrated exceptional proficiency on this item.
5- Student has good understanding of the item but has made a minor error in computation or understanding.
4- Student has demonstrated a minimal understanding of the concept assessed.
3- Student does not demonstrate an understanding of the concept assessed though shows solid subject matter thought.
2- Student attempted the assessment item.
0- Student did not attempt the assessment item.
The three point model looks like this:
3- Student has demonstrated exceptional proficiency on this item.
2.5- Student has good understanding of the item but has made a minor error in computation or understanding.
2- Student has demonstrated a minimal understanding of the concept assessed.
1.5- Student does not demonstrate an understanding of the concept assessed though shows solid subject matter thought.
1- Student attempted the assessment item.
0- Student did not attempt the assessment item.
Miscellaneous Notes:
Ø Throughout the Geometry Connections course we will be using the TI-nSpire graphing calculators. We will have a classroom set for student use in class, but the calculators will not be allowed to leave the classroom. It is in the best interest of the students to access to a graphing utility of their own.
Ø The CPM series also has a great internet resource for parents and students. I encourage all to visit www.cpm.org and look at the parent guides. These guides follow more of a traditional approach to mathematics education and directly correlate with the units in which we work.
Late Submission:
All assignments that are submitted after the assigned due date and time will be considered late and subject to a deduction in points. The amount of deduction will be dependent on the assignment and tardiness of the task. As a guideline, tasks that are submitted shortly after the due date may qualify for a reduction up to one quarter of the points possible. Tasks that are submitted after the completion of the unit for which they were assigned and prior to the completion of the following unit could be reduced up to one third. Any task submitted after the following unit may possibly earn half credit.