2015-2016
Mr. HermanVoice Mail: 920-648-2355 Ext 357
Room: 112Office Hours: 3:02-3:45 & by appointment
Email:
Classroom Expectations
To be successful, you need to:
- Be in class everyday. Poor attendance is the greatestbarrier to building a solid understanding of the mathematics.
- Be in your assigned seat and ready to learn before the bell rings.
- Bring the appropriate supplies to class
- Respect other students, staff, and the building. All students have a right to learn.
- Cell phones and other electronic devices need to be off and away during lectures, group work, and quizzes/tests.
- Take responsibility for your own education. Students need to actively pay attention, take notes, complete homework, ask questions for clarification, and seek help when they struggle.
Required Materials and Supplies
- 3-ring binder,(at least 2”,) or a folder used exclusively for math
- Two notebooks that fasten in your binder, (one for homework, one for notes,) orloose-leaf paper
- Pencils and erasers
- Scientific calculator. (A graphing TI-83, TI-83+or TI-84+is strongly recommended. This is a calculator you can use throughout high school and college.) You will NOT be able to use your phones on assessments.
Grading
Your quarter grade will be calculated in the following manner based on a total points scale:
- Homework Completion – 2 points per day
- Homework Checks- 10 points
- In-class activities- 5-10 points per activity
- Quizzes – 50 points
- Tests –100 points
Semester grade weights are as follows:
Quarter 1 – 40% / Quarter 2 – 40% /Semester Final – 20%
For the grading scale, consult the district handbook.
Homework
Students will receive homework on a daily basis. All work is to be shown. The answers to the homework will be provided. Assignments are to be completed and checked by the student before class starts. The purpose of the homework is to give studentsa chance to practiceand receive feedback on the skills and ideas that they will later be tested on. Students will be able to ask questions on the homework when it is due.
Homework Checks
Students will frequently be given short assessments, (3-5 questions,) designed to ensure they understood how to complete their homework assignments. These will be given in the first 10-15 minutes of class. Students will only have 10-15 minutes to complete the assessment. These questions will all come directly from the homework that was assigned two classes prior. We will go over any questions that students have on the homework when it is due. (In other words, if you do the homework and get help on any questions that confuse you, you should do VERY well on these checks.)
Absent From Class:
When you are absent, it is your responsibility to find out what you missed, and what you need to make up that work. This includes getting handouts, copying notes from a classmate, and rescheduling tests/quizzes.
Extra Help
In order to be successful in this class, you need to demonstrate that you understand the material. You need to spend time and struggle with the material in order to gain an understanding of it. If you are having problems with the homework or any of the topics covered in class, you need to get help. Getting help may mean working with a classmate, (who has a solid understanding of the material,) looking online for help, or seeing me after school or during advisory for additional assistance. I am available most days of the week after school. Do NOT wait until the day before a test or quiz to ask for help. It is important and beneficial for you to do the work when it is assigned so you do not fall behind.
Students: Have a parent/guardian read over the syllabus, fill out the information on the last page, and then tear it off and return it to me as soon as possible.
Dear Parent or Guardian,
This is my second year teaching at Lake Mills High School, and my tenth year overall. Last year I had a great time working with students and meeting families. The Lake Mills community has been very welcoming and the high school has been a great place to teach. Lake Mills High School provides exceptional academic and social experiences for its students which I am proud to be a part of. This year, I am looking forward to meeting more families and helpingstudentssee the value of mathematics.
I am very passionate about teaching math. My goal every day in the classroom is to create activities that allow students to discover the mathematics through explorations, conjecturing, discussions, and collaborative revisions in groups with their peers. I want my students to explain the mathematics to me, rather than the other way around. When a class works together to generate, explain, and test out an idea, they are more likely to remember it and understand how it connects to what they already know.
Students frequently ask the question, “When am I ever going to use this in my life?” Skills developed and improved during math classes, such as being able to collaborate to solve problems, reasoning through an argument, communicating and justifying solutions, and critiquing the reasoning of others, are used in almost all careers and in everyday life. I want students to see the real world applications and understand that every day people are using math and science to create a better and safer world.
I understand that there are some students who have struggled with math in the past. I do my best to make sure students feel comfortable and supported. Not everyone comes in to class with the same background knowledge or learns at the same pace. I believe that a student’s grade should be a reflection of how much of the material they understand and that learning is a process. Students are able to improve their grade if they can demonstrate their understanding of a concept, even if it is a week or two after the test or quiz. My goal is to help all students become career and college ready by the time they finish high school. Student’s should see me immediately if they are struggling or concerned about their grade. I will be able after school most days to provide assistance or by appointment.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call or email me at 920-648-2355 ext. 357, or I look forward to working with you to ensure your student is confident, proficient, and successful in math. I would appreciate it if you could please fill out the information sheet on the back and have your student return it.
Sincerely,
John Herman
Student and Parent/Guardian
Your signatures below indicate that youhave read the syllabus and understand what is expected. If you have any questions or concerns, please write them below or feel free to contact me by phone or email.
Student name (printed): ______
Student signature: ______
Parent/guardian name (printed): ______
Parent/guardian signature: ______
Parent/guardian information:Phone #: ______
E-mail: ______
Comments/Questions: ______