Foundations of Math 3

Fall 2016
Instructor: Jennifer Smith
Room: 2316
Email: jmith26@wcpss.net
Website: jsmith26.weebly.com
Office Hours: Wednesdays 2:30-3:30 or by appt.

Welcome to Math Foundations of Math 3. I am very excited and honored to be working with you and
your student this semester. I have high expectations for each student. I sincerely hope that we will
have a successful and positive experience. My goal is to prepare each student for Math 3 and help
prepare each student for life after high school.
Course Description:
Mathematics Standards for High School
The high school standards specify the mathematics that all students should study in order to be college
and career ready. The high school standards are listed in conceptual categories:
Linear Programming
Polynomial Functions
Logarithmic Functions
Proofs
Trigonometry
Statistics
Foundations of Math 3 is a semester long course. A teacher made final exam will be given at the end
of the semester.
Required Materials:
Three-Ring Binder

Dividers

Pencils

Loose-Leaf Paper

Graph Paper

TI-83 Plus or TI-84 Plus Graphing Calculator

Colored Pen/Pencil

Grading:
Grading Scale:
Tests
Quizzes
Homework
Classwork

50%
25%
10%
15%

A
B
C
D
F

90 100
80 89
70 79
60 69
Below 60

Final Grade = 0.40(First Quarter Grade) + 0.40(Second Quarter Grade) + 0.20(Final Exam)
Tests will be announced one week in advance if at all possible. Review problems will be given as
homework on the night preceding a test.
Class work will be given daily. When the class work is collected it, will randomly be graded for
correctness (accuracy), and count as a class work grade.

Quizzes will be done throughout each unit. Students will be informed at least one day in advance if
they have a quiz. Students should study their notes by reworking problems from notes, and homework
assignments, especially problems they missed or were difficult in order to prepare for the quizzes.
Doing, not looking, is the best way to study math. Math takes practice.
Homework will be given nightly and discussed the following day. Homework will be checked for
completeness daily. Every problem must be attempted to receive full credit. It is not okay for a
student to leave a problem blank and say, I didnt understand. I know there will be times that
students are confused or need extra help. If a student does not understand a problem, they need to
make an effort to look back at their notes or online. If the student is still confused they can write a
sentence about what is giving them trouble. As the teacher, I need to see that each student makes an
honest effort. Remember that I am not grading for accuracy and that math takes practice.
Cumulative Reviews will be given approximately every four weeks. These will be collected and graded
for correctness. The purpose of the cumulative review is to review for the final exam the entire
semester. Students will have approximately one week to complete the cumulative review.
Performance Tasks will be given throughout the semester. Students will receive directions as well as
grading rubrics for each performance task. Performance tasks may be individual or group in nature.
Make-up Work is work resulting from excused absences. Homework will be assigned daily. In
addition, regular attendance is essential. You will miss something if you are absent. It is the
responsibility of each student to make up work in a timely manner. It is also the responsibility of any
absent student to make an effort to learn the material that he/she missed in class. This will require
getting notes from a classmate, and/or using the internet. If a student is absent he/she will have one
day for each absence to make up missing assignments, after which time it will be considered late
work (see below). Students who are absent the day before a quiz or test will be expected to take the
quiz/test if he/she is present on the day of the quiz/test if no new material was covered during the
absence.
Late Work: Late homework, although frowned upon, will be accepted and marked down one letter
grade per day late.
Retest Policy: Students are allowed to retest any test provided they met the following conditions:
1. Attend at least one tutoring session prior to taking the retest. You must sign up to attend
tutoring during lunch. You will need a pass in order to be able to leave the commons.
2. The higher score will be the score that is entered into the gradebook for that unit test.
Communication:
My website, jsmith26.weebly.com, will be used regularly to post work done in class, homework, notes,
and videos. However, I ask you be patient with me on this front, for this is new territory for me. Please
feel free to email me for work or with any questions or concerns, jsmith26@wcpss. Students must use
their wcpss email to contact me.
Expectations:

Be On Time
Being on time is means a student is in their seat ready to go when the bell rings.
Be Prepared
Please be sure to take care of all personal business before you arrive in class.
Have a writing utensil. Sharpen your pencil at beginning of class if needed.
Have your homework on your desk ready to be checked at the start of class. If I have to wait to
check homework it will be counted late.
Be Productive
Begin the warm-up activity as listed on the board
Participate in the class and group discussions
Ask for assistance when needed
Dispose of trash on your way out of the classroom
Upon return to class from an absence, please be sure to check the absent folder for make-up
work and ask a neighbor for notes.
Be on task, not on your device doing non-class activities
Be Respectful
Follow the Golden Rule
Take care of the classroom and supplies.
Do not have earbuds in ears at inappropriate times. I will let you know if the time is appropriate.
Clean up after yourself
Do not disrupt other by getting out of your seat at inappropriate time or by eating or drinking in
class.
Expectations are posted in the classroom.
Each student is required to follow all class, school, and county expectations.
Classroom Consequences:
1st Offense: Student will receive a warning and be given a chance to correct his or her behavior.
2nd Offense: Students will receive a 10-minute lunch detention, and parents will be notified.
3rd Offense: Students will receive an after-school detention, and a parent-teacher conference
will be requested.
th
4 Offense: Students will receive an office referral, and parents will be notified.
Any highly disruptive offense, such as fighting, violent outbursts, or extreme cases of disrespect,
will result in immediate removal from the classroom and an office referral.