Geometry

Sister Maria Sophia Gerlach, CSFN

COURSE EXPECTATIONS

Required Materials

• Textbook – to be brought to class every day (iBook)
• Pencils, eraser
• Thin-tipped markers or marker-pens (I have used and seen students use sharpie pens, etc.)
• Colored pencils or crayons
• Notebook (spiral or bound) with graph paper pages
• Loose-leaf paper and graph paper for homework assignments (no ripped out notebook pages)
• Straightedge
• Calculator (using iPad app; as per technology agreement, iPad use is not allowed on quizzes or tests, so a calculator should be brought to class for that purpose, and may be used on a daily basis. TI-84 is allowed on the ACT, and will be taught in class)

Routines

"Ready to work" means:

1. Each student is in his/her respective seat by the time the bell rings. Any student not in his/her seat when the bell rings will be considered tardy for class.
2. All materials necessary for the day's work are ready on the desk: notebook, pencils, pens, iPad, calculator, etc.
3. Geometry text is active in iBooks, and iPad screen is black and locked
4. Homework is out on the desk, ready to be reviewed.
5. If there is an answer key on the board or a question to consider, students are checking the answer key or working on the question when the bell rings. Class will not stop for a student who chooses not to pay attention.

Homework

• Homework will be assigned most nights. Many activities will take place in class. When time is provided to complete assignments in class, students are expected to use all of the time provided in class to work on those activities.
• Submission procedures for assignments will vary based on the assignment. Pay close attention to directions.
• Label each assignment clearly at the top of the page with your name and class section, the date assigned, chapter and section numbers (ex: Section 1-4) and problem numbers.
• State the original problem (We will discuss suitable abbreviations to use during the course.); draw the appropriate diagram, and show the necessary work. Very rarely is work not required to arrive at an answer. If the question is asked as a word problem, state the answer in sentence form.
• All work must be done in pencil. Work in pen will not be accepted. (Coloring on diagrams is not included in this prohibition.)
• Be neat about your work; I need to be able to read your writing and not be confused by errors. Erase cleanly when you correct your work.
• If you keep up with the assignments on a daily basis, you will be prepared for every homework quiz, regular quiz, and test.
• Read ahead to the next section each night so you are familiar with the vocabulary, even if you don’t understand everything.
• Homework must be completed before class begins. Late homework will not be accepted.

Grades and Evaluations

• QUARTER GRADES are calculated as follows:
  • 35% Homework
  • 65% Assessments (quizzes, tests and projects)

• SEMESTER GRADES are calculated as follows:
  • 40% First Quarter
  • 40% Second Quarter
  • 20% Semester Exam
• Homework quizzes and short quizzes are designed to take no more than approximately 5 minutes in a class period. They help keep us on our toes and practicing the new material as we learn it. The best way to be prepared for these is to do your homework every night, to read your notes again before and during doing the homework, and to read over the next section in the book, even if you do not understand everything right away. These quizzes will not be announced, but should be expected daily.
• Regular quizzes may cover more material than 1 section, but are designed to be no longer than 15 minutes. These quizzes will most likely be announced.
• Tests usually take place at the end of the chapter or a unit. All tests will be announced at least 2 days ahead of the day they will take place.
• Don’t forget: I am not out to cause you to fail or to cause you to dislike mathematics. The level of effort you put into the course and the time you choose to spend on the material determines how you do on the evaluations, and therefore your grades in the course.

Student Behavior

• If you are late, you will not be admitted to class without a pass from the Dean’s Office. The Dean's Office will determine whether you are tardy to class or not. Do not forget that three tardies to the same class result in a detention.
• Be prepared for class with all your materials. A student who enters class unprepared will be expected to leave class to obtain the required materials, but must obtain an unexcused tardy from the Dean's Office before returning to the classroom. Do not forget that three tardies to the same class result in a detention.
• Do not write on the desk. When you come in for class, check the desk. If you notice writing on the desk, please inform me immediately. If you do not tell me about it, then I find writing on your desk, I may well assume that you were the one writing on the desk.
• Do not touch the windows or the blinds.
• Do not use the phone, except in an emergency.
• Please display proper respect toward your fellow students.
• Know the correct language of mathematics: terms, formulas, how to use the terms correctly, and spellings. We speak “math” in the classroom.
• Be an active participant in class by asking questions and/or volunteering answers.
• Keep yourself organized – this is a major part of success in school and in life.

Attendance

• It is your responsibility to check the course webpage for homework assignments and class activities. Do not come back to school and ask "What did we do?" All work will be noted on the course website.
• If you miss only 1 day of school, then you are expected to make up a quiz or a test on the day you return to school.
  • All quizzes and tests will be ready for you in the Math Lab at the end of the day that they are given, with your name on it.
  • It is your responsibility to report to the Math Lab upon your return to school to make up the quiz or the test.
  • Two days after your return to school, a missed quiz will "expire," meaning that you are no longer eligible to make up the quiz, and the grade of zero will be recorded.
  • Tests expire after 3 days upon your return to school.
• If you missed several days, you must make arrangements with me to take any missed quizzes or tests on your own time. Work that is not completed in a timely manner (according to individual circumstances) will be recorded as a zero.
• Let me know ahead of time when you know you will be missing class for any pre-arranged activities like field trips or sports. You are responsible for all work missed for pre-arranged activities.

What if you have questions?

• Ask! The worst question is the one never asked. Visit the Math Lab during your study, form a study group with your classmates, or ask me for help.
• My e-mail address is msgerlach@saintviator.com
• I usually reply to e-mails asking for help on homework once during the evening hours, but not at a regular time.
• The Math Lab is open every day, during each class period. A math teacher is assigned to the Math Lab each period. I am in the Math Lab 6th period. Go there. Ask questions. Check your solutions. Get help if you need it, or just study with your classmates.
• I am usually available after school to meet with anyone who has questions about the course material. Please e-mail me the day before you would like to meet so that I can be sure that I do not have meetings. Once my regular meeting days are scheduled, I will let you know when I am not available.

Parent Contact