Course Syllabus:



SAT Prep Syllabus

2015-2016

Teacher: Ms. Jimena Pacheco Room: 212B Doral Academy Charter High School

E-mail: jpacheco@ Phone: 305 597-9950

Course Description:

The goal of this class is to prepare students for the math sections of the SAT. In addition to strengthening topics from algebra, and geometry, students will become familiar with the format of the test and learn strategies to improve scores. This course will also include a discussion on the effective use of a calculator. Much time will be devoted to practice problems, and tests, similar to the SAT.

Expectations

You should be taking this course as a way of improving your score on the SAT Test, not for an “easy A” or because someone told you to. The SAT is not about how well you can use a calculator, or how well you can compute arithmetic, but more about how well you can visualize and think. If you practice earnestly and are familiar with the various parts of the test, you will do better — so please take it seriously.

Suggested extracurricular activity: Mu Alpha Theta is our math honor society. Mr. Santa Cruz, Ms. Manning, Mr. Koski, Mrs. Amoedo, and potentially other math teachers will be training students this year in an attempt to get our students ready for math competitions. The members do extra math practice, community service, some tutoring and usually improve their math skills substantially. You may read more about the National Mu Alpha Theta organization at . I encourage all students to try out the experience of training for math competitions and see if it is something they may wish to pursue.

Grading Criteria

|LETTER |NUMERICAL |VERBAL INTERPRETATION |GRADE |

|GRADE |VALUE | |POINT VALUE |

|A |100% - 90% |Outstanding progress |4 |

|B |89% - 80% |Above average progress |3 |

|C |79% - 70% |Average progress |2 |

|D |69% - 60% |Lowest acceptable progress |1 |

|F |59% - 0% |Failure |0 |

|I |0 |Incomplete |0 |

Bi-Monthly Grade Sheet

Periodically (potentially every two weeks when school schedule permits) I will assign a grade sheet homework. Students are to print out a copy of their grades in my class and turn them in SIGNED by their parents. Failure to turn in the grade sheet, or have it signed will result in a grade of “Z” for that assignment. The purpose of this procedure is to ensure that students and parents are aware and diligently on top of student progress in my class. These grade sheets will be stored in student folders.

Class Work

o All materials must be brought to class daily. Sharing of materials is highly discouraged (and shall be penalized during assessments).

o Lost worksheets or study packets will not be replaced. I will attempt to have any distributed material available through the school’s website, , but no guarantees can be made.

o Class work will be given daily. Failure to bring in class materials may result in a grade of zero.

Homework

o Homework is assigned weekly and is due the night before the given date by 8pm, unless otherwise specified.

o Homework may or may not be posted on the school’s website, but it will be assigned during class.

o Homework grading is based on completion.  All work must be shown, and all instructions must be followed through to receive full credit. There are no exceptions. In general, showing only answers will not be accepted as a valid homework completion.

o Homework completion is of the utmost importance to succeed in this course. Late assignments will not be graded, unless it is excused make-up work. Homework and classwork are not the most weighted items in this course and should not be relied on to pass this course; however, it is crucial to do the assignments to be better prepared for the assessments that ARE heavily weighted.

o All work must be legible, and must be clearly marked with the student’s name, date, period, and assignment title. Papers lacking a name will not receive credit.

Tests and Quizzes

o Tests and Quizzes must be completed following all instructions to receive full credit. All work must be shown, including complete sentences when required.

o Any student absent on a test day must have an excused absence or will automatically receive a zero for that test’s grade.

o Make-up tests will be administered upon the student’s return to class, either during class or before or after school, depending on the situation. It is the student’s responsibility to request any test or make-up work upon re-joining the class.

o Tests must be completed in pencil. Any test completed in ink will have 10 points deducted from the final grade.

o The use of a cell phone, an MP3 player, or any other personal electronic device with a calculator application during a test will result in the automatic invalidation of the test, and an automatic grade of zero.

o Materials will not be provided during any test. All students are responsible to bring their own materials. Sharing of materials during a test will be penalized with point deduction, or automatic invalidation of test, at my discretion, and depending on severity and frequency of infraction.

Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT):

Some students may already be registered to take the SAT in the upcoming months, and others will test the following year. Regardless of the status of the student, all students will be taking multiple practice tests in this class. The goal is to show gains each time.

Extra Credit

Extra credit will not be assigned on an individual basis; therefore, IF assigned, it must be fully completed to be eligible for grading. Incomplete assignments will not be graded.

Academic Dishonesty:

Students are expected to be honest and ethical in all their academic work.  Academic dishonesty is defined as an intentional act of deception in one of the following areas:

o Cheating – use or attempted use of unauthorized materials, information or study aids

o Fabrication – falsification or invention of any information

o Assisting -  helping another commit an act of academic dishonesty

o Tampering – altering or interfering with evaluation instruments and documents

o Plagiarism – representing the words or ideas of another person as one’s own.

o Complete or partial academic dishonesty will immediately result in a grade of zero.

Absences

o Due to our block schedule, an absence to a class is equivalent to TWO absences.

o An absent student is responsible to obtain the information/topic covered during their absence.

o An absent student will be held responsible for obtaining all make-up work. Being absent from class may hinder a student’s academic progress. If possible, don’t miss class at all.

o Students missing class for extracurricular activities are not exempt from assigned work deadlines. An absent student participating on an extracurricular activity is responsible for any assigned material, and must request make-up work/test upon returning to class.

o As stated in the Parent Handbook: “Teachers are required to provide students with make-up assignments once the absence has been excused; however, it is the responsibility of the student to request the assignments from the teacher(s).”

o It is the student’s responsibility to inform the teacher when the excuse for an absence has been turned in.

o If a student accrues too many absences and/or tardies in a class, the student may receive a grade of “No Credit” for the course, regardless of the letter grade earned.

Student Contact Emails and/ or Telephone

Since emergencies may occur, please be ready to obtain any notes, home learning assignments, and important information from your peers. Complete the following for compliance purposes:

Student Name ______________________ Student Email/ Telephone _____________________________

Student Name ______________________ Student Email/ Telephone _____________________________

*Note: The Parental Student Agreement Form will not be accepted for a grade if the above student contact information is not present. This is for your benefit. Let’s make this a wonderful year

Tardies

In an effort to maintain to a minimum the disruptions to class time because of tardy students the administration has set the following rules:

o Students tardy to their first, second, or third periods, or caught on a Tardy Hall Sweep during the day, will not be allowed into the classroom, will receive an unexcused absence for that period, and will not be allowed to make up the day’s work.

o Students tardy to a class without a MDCPS official hall pass may receive a detention, at the teacher’s discretion.

o Students will be assigned to detention for every tardy after the second unexcused tardy. A student may be referred to Administration after the third tardy.

o In the event that a student is tardy to a class without a MDCPS official hall pass on a test day, the student will not be given extra time to complete the test.

o Lock out: In the event of a student being locked out on the day of an exam (quiz or test), the student will receive a “Z” for the exam and cannot make it up. Please do NOT be late to class.

Classroom Rules, Procedures and Expectations:

1. Come to class prepared with all necessary materials, and assigned homework to hand in upon entering the classroom.

2. Be seated and ready to work when the second bell rings.

3. Comply with instructions and/or orders the first time you are told.

4. Be respectful and courteous towards all your teachers, all your peers, and all school personnel. This includes respect towards the school’s and peers’ property.

5. Participate in class discussions and activities in a constructive and positive manner.

6. There will be no eating, drinking from cans, or gum chewing in class. Water bottles with a cap are permitted, except on the computer areas.

7. Profanity, in any language, will not be tolerated.

8. Personal electronics will be confiscated on sight and sent to administration. No exceptions.

Behavioral Consequences (not necessarily in this order):

1. Verbal Warning

2. Confiscation of item(s)

3. Phone call/letter home

4. Detention/Saturday School

5. Parent, teacher, and student conference

6. Referral to Principal

Required Materials:

1. 1” Three ring binder, divided into Class Notes, Assignments. Sharing is at your own risk as I may collect binders at random to do notebook checks.

2. College ruled filler paper

3. #2 pencils or mechanical pencils and lead

4. 2 GB USB for storage of important materials

5. Scientific calculator (Graphing calculators are recommended but not required)

(IMPORTANT: Cell phones or any other personal electronic devices are NOT acceptable calculators. These items will be confiscated on sight. The use of any of these items during a test will result in the automatic invalidation of the test.)

Note to parents:

It is my goal that all my students are successful in their math course. I will assist all students in any way I can. However, I alone cannot ensure your child’s success. It is of utmost importance that your child attends school, completes homework daily, and turns in all assigned work on a timely manner. I urge you to emphasize to them that, ultimately, the responsibility for their learning befalls upon them. The combination of all these aspects will determine your child’s success. Your cooperation in this matter is greatly appreciated.

If you need to contact me I can be reached at my e-mail, (this is always the best way to reach me). You may also leave a message for at the school’s main number 305 595-9950.

Please complete and submit the next page to Ms. Pacheco promptly.

Registering for Khan Academy:

1. Sign up at with an email address

2. Once logged on, visit coaches

3. In the “add a coach” field, enter the class code

a. Period 1 Z8YEXB

b. Period 2 SXTJE3

c. Period 3 6UWM6N

d. Period 5 MPKFYS

e. Period 6 Z2ENT6

f. Period 7 FNAH5T

STUDENT NAME: _____________________ STUDENT ID NUMBER: ______________ PERIOD: ____

Parental and Student Agreement

I have read the syllabus for Ms. Pacheco’s SAT Prep Course and understand the extent, requirements, and expectations for this course. I understand that this syllabus will be available at Doral Academy Prep’s website throughout the school year for reference purposes.

|Student |Parent |

|name (print)________________________ |name (print) _________________________ |

| | |

| |Parent |

|Student signature___________________________ |signature ___________________________ |

| | |

| | |

| |Date: ____________________________________ |

Note: failure to return this signature portion does not excuse the student from complying with any of the course requirements and expectations included on the syllabus. Ms. Pacheco reserves the right to modify this syllabus at any time and will inform students of any and all changes.

Parent Contact Information

| | |

|Mother’s name:____________________________ |Father’s name:____________________________ |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| | |

|Cell phone #: (_____) ________-_________ |Cell phone #: (_____) ________-__________ |

| | |

| | |

|E-mail : __________________________________ |E-mail : __________________________________ |

-----------------------

o Grading Categories:

| Tests |40% |

| Quizzes |30% |

| Projects |20% |

| Other |10% |

| | |

Place this syllabus permanently in your class binder. This syllabus will be available in its entirety through the school’s website:

Permanent Parent/Student Information Form

Please list any medical condition(s) I need to be aware of: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

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