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Morris High School - Algebra 1

School Year 2023-2024 Course Syllabus

Welcome

 

 Welcome to Algebra 1!  For most of you this will be your first math course in High School, so you might find some of the expectations, guidelines, and material more challenging or different than what you’ve been exposed to in Elementary and Middle School math classes.  As your teacher, I’m here to guide you through these changes, encourage successful behaviors and habits that will transfer to your other, as well as future, classes.  My job is to teach you, and yours is to learn.  With that said, not everyone learns the same.  If you find yourself not understanding a lesson or topic, I’m here to help you!  That means if you need something explained differently or in a one-on-one session, I will do that.  With that said, I can’t read minds, so it’s your responsibility to ASK FOR HELP!  Let’s have a fun and successful school year! 

 

Parents/Guardians:  Please feel free to contact me with questions or concerns by email at dsellers@morrisschools.net or by leaving a message for me through the Morris High School Office.

 

Supply List

 

  • Composition Notebook (college ruled preferred) for note taking
  • #2 pencils (sufficient supply), may be standard or mechanical
  • Graph paper (can be loose leaf or notebook style) minimum 50 sheets
  • NOTE:
    • Students will NOT need calculators, one will be assigned/provided to each student for in class use.  Online calculators or phone calculators can be used outside of class.

 

Rules and Guidelines

 

I have a few rules and guidelines for the classroom.  These are solely intended to improve the learning environment and will be STRICTLY ENFORCED.

 

  1. No cell phones are allowed to be used during class.  Cell phones must be turned off or set to silent mode, and must be put away in a pocket, purse, or backpack.
    1. This rule applies to all, and applies as soon as you enter the classroom, REGARDLESS of whether or not the bell has been rung.  PARENTS/GUARDIANS:  Please do not call your student during class times.  IN CASE OF EMERGENCY please call the Morris High School main number and the High School office will get the message to the student!
  2. No bullying, name-calling, or harassment of any sort will be allowed.  Every person in the class deserves respect. 
  3. No “side conversations” during lectures or board work.  If you think you’ll be tempted to do this, you might not want to sit next to a friend with whom you’ll be likely to do so.
  4. No food or drink allowed in class, with the exception of water in clear bottles.
  5. There will be assigned seating, however on the first couple of days I will allow the students to move around and find their preferred seating.  After the first couple of days of class, we will “lock it in” so attendance will be expedited and so I will be able to learn names and faces more quickly.
    1. Some of my classes are larger than others, but I will always ask students to fill in from the front of the class to the back. 
  6. Students who miss class are responsible for any work or lecture notes missed.  As mentioned above, I’m not a mind-reader.  I will post assignments and lecture notes on Google Classroom, but if you don’t find them sufficient to understand the material, you must ASK FOR HELP!
    1. In accordance with school policy, classes missed for extracurricular activities (Athletics, Band, FFA, etc.) are still the students’ responsibility, but students will be allowed extra time for turning in work.  All students must COMMUNICATE with me regarding the reason for the absence and acknowledgement of extended due date for work to be turned in.
    2. Students missing due to In-School Detention or Out of School Suspension are still responsible for lessons and work with the same due dates as those in class.  Again, communication about difficulty understanding lesson notes or assignment work is the student’s responsibility.  Due dates MAY be adjusted if communication is timely.
  7. ALL STUDENTS MUST TAKE NOTES! 
  8. All other school policies listed in the Student Handbook will be enforced.

 

General Overview of Class Schedule

 

In general, with a few exceptions throughout the school year, our schedule will be as follows:

  • Two days of Lecture (two lessons)
  • One day of in-class assignment work

 

We will have a test over each chapter in the book.

We will have a comprehensive semester exam at the end of each semester.

 

A few notes about in-class assignments:

  • Students are allowed to work in groups, pairs, or alone, whichever they prefer.
  • Students are allowed (and encouraged) to ask me for help during in-class assignments
  • Assignments are designed to be completed during class as long as the student is working. 
  • Any assignment not completed during class will be homework.

There will be no additional homework assigned beyond the in-class assignments.

 

In class assignments will be online.

Chapter Tests will be on paper

Semester Tests will be on either paper or on Google Classroom

 

Score weighting and Extra Credit

 

            Lesson Assignments:  40% of total grade

 

            Chapter Test:                50% of total grade

 

            Classroom Behavior:   10% of total grade  (weekly grade)

 

Please note that classroom behavior is extremely important because good behavior fosters improved learning. 

 

            Extra Credit:             

  • No extra credit, as such, will be offered in this course.  There may be occasions when a student can request to repeat a test or assignment to attempt a better grade which will improve their overall grade.  Overall classroom behavior and consistent turning in of work on time will be considered when making the decision regarding repeat attempts.

 

Late Assignments/Tests

 

All assignments and tests that are turned in after the due date/time will have the original score reduced by 10% for each day late, to a maximum score reduction of 50% after 5 days late.  Any work turned in beyond 5 days late, but prior to the end of each applicable semester, will be reduced by 50% of the original score.  Work not completed prior to end of the applicable semester will receive a score of 0%.  Exceptions to this must be by agreement with me PRIOR TO the end of the semester.

 

Example:  Student ‘A’ turns in an assignment, for which he/she scored an 80%, 3 days late.  The following calculation will be made:

                        First day:  -10% = 72%  (80 - 10%)

                        Second day:  -10% = 64.8% (72 - 10%)

                        Third day:  -10% = 58.3% = (64.8 - 10%)

 

                        Student ‘A’ will receive a score of 58.3% for the assignment

 

Please note:  With very few exceptions, the primary cause of poor grades in Algebra 1 is failure to turn in assignments on time.  Responsibility = Success!

 

Algebra 1 Topics

  • Chapter 1 - Solving Equations and Inequalities
    • Lesson 1-1:  Operations on Real Numbers
    • Lesson 1-2:  Solving Linear Equations
    • Lesson 1-3:  Solving Equations With a Variable on Both Sides
    • Lesson 1-4:  Literal Equations and Formulas
    • Lesson 1-5:  Solving Inequalities in One Variable
    • Lesson 1-6:  Compound Inequalities
    • Lesson 1-7:  Absolute Value Equations and Inequalities

 

  • Chapter 2 - Linear Equations
    • Lesson 2-1: Slope-Intercept Form
    • Lesson 2-2: Point-Slope Form
    • Lesson 2-3: Standard Form
    • Lesson 2-4: Parallel and Perpendicular Lines

 

  • Chapter 3 - Linear Functions
    • Lesson 3-1: Relations and Functions
    • Lesson 3-2: Linear Functions
    • Lesson 3-3: Transforming Linear Functions
    • Lesson 3-4: Arithmetic Sequences
    • Lesson 3-5: Scatter Plots and Lines of Fit
    • Lesson 3-6: Analyzing Lines of Fit

 

  • Chapter 4 - Systems of Linear Equations and Inequalities
    • Lesson 4-1: Solving Systems of Equations by Graphing
    • Lesson 4-2: Solving Systems of Equations by Substitution
    • Lesson 4-3: Solving Systems of Equations by Elimination
    • Lesson 4-4: Linear Inequalities in Two Variables
    • Lesson 4-5: Systems of Linear Inequalities

 

  • Chapter 5 - Piecewise Functions
    • Lesson 5-1: The Absolute Value Function
    • Lesson 5-2: Piecewise-Defined Functions
    • Lesson 5-3: Step Functions
    • Lesson 5-4: Transformations of Piecewise-Defined Functions

 

  • Chapter 6 - Exponents and Exponential Functions
    • Lesson 6-1: Rational Exponents and Properties of Exponents
    • Lesson 6-2: Exponential Functions
    • Lesson 6-3: Exponential Growth and Decay
    • Lesson 6-4: Geometric Sequences
    • Transformations of Exponential Functions

Planned end of 1st Semester

 

  • Chapter 7 - Polynomials and Factoring
    • Lesson 7-1: Adding and Subtracting Polynomials
    • Lesson 7-2: Multiplying Polynomials
    • Lesson 7-3: Multiplying Special Cases
    • Lesson 7-4: Factoring Polynomials
    • Lesson 7-5: Factoring x2 + bx + c
    • Lesson 7-6: Factoring ax2 + bx + c
    • Lesson 7-7: Factoring Special Cases

 

  • Chapter 8 - Quadratic Functions
    • Lesson 8-1: Key Features of Graphs of a Quadratic Function
    • Lesson 8-2: Quadratic Functions in Vertex Form
    • Lesson 8-3: Quadratic Functions in Standard Form
    • Lesson 8-4: Modeling with Quadratic Functions
    • Lesson 8-5: Comparing Linear, Exponential, and Quadratic Models

 

  • Chapter 9 - Solving Quadratic Equations Using Graphs and Tables
    • Lesson 9-1: Solving Quadratic Equations Using Graphs and Tables
    • Lesson 9-2: Solving Quadratic Equations by Factoring
    • Lesson 9-3: Rewriting Radical Expressions
    • Lesson 9-4: Solving Quadratic Equations Using Square Roots
    • Lesson 9-5: Completing the Square
    • Lesson 9-6: The Quadratic Formula and the Discriminant
    • Lesson 9-7: Solving Nonlinear Systems of Equations

 

  • Chapter 10 - Working with Functions
    • Lesson 10-1: The Square Root Function
    • Lesson 10-2: The Cube Root Function
    • Lesson 10-3: Analyzing Functions Graphically
    • Lesson 10-4: Translations of Functions
    • Lesson 10-5: Compressions and Stretches of Functions
    • Lesson 10-6: Operations with Functions
    • Lesson 10-7: Inverse Functions

 

  • Chapter 11 - Statistics
    • Lesson 11-1: Analyzing Data Displays
    • Lesson 11-2: Comparing Data Sets
    • Lesson 11-3: Interpreting the Shapes of Data Displays
    • Lesson 11-4: Standard Deviation
    • Lesson 11-5: Two-Way Frequency Tables

 

Planned end of 2nd Semester

 

 

Teacher Contact Information

 

Daryl S. Sellers

Algebra 1 Teacher

dsellers@morrisschools.net

(918) 733-9072