What do I expect from you? I expect you to learn! That's the bottom line for me. The bottom line for you may be how you get graded, so let's get that discussion out of the way. Here it is:
PORTFOLIO 40%
HOMEWORK 30%
CLASS PARTICIPATION 20%
MIDTERM/FINAL 10%
I use the grading system as a way to communicate to you what I consider important. You will be doing a lot of writing, a lot of thinking, and very little memorizing. The portfolio should demonstrate your capabilities and interests. The contents will vary from person to person, but each trimester everyone should include four solid pieces of work. The pieces will be revisions and extensions of papers already handed in during the term. Next week, you will receive additional information detailing my criteria for evaluating your portfolio.
As you know, progress report grades are issued in the middle of the trimester. Your progress report grade will be based directly on the progress you have made thus far. I will compute a homework average, give you a class participation grade, and assess the progress you have made on your portfolio. That's why it is very important to meet all of the deadlines for your rough drafts.
Your class participation grade will reflect the extent to which you make a positive contribution to the classroom as a learning environment. I expect you to come to class on time and prepared. Bring a scientific calculator, your notebook (three-ring binder is best), a completed homework assignment, and your intellectual curiosity. Get engaged in the discussion by speaking up when you have an idea and also by listening carefully to others.Of course, class attendance is very important. If you are absent, you must contact someone to find out what you missed, get notes, and also arrange with me to make up lab activities. Failure to do so will affect your class participation grade. Take advantage of this website, where you can find assignment calendars and all of our worksheets.
Speaking of affecting your grade, let me be blunt here. Don't sit in class and do your Spanish homework. Don't ignore the class and socialize with your friends. That will really hurt your grade.
Late homework is another way to hurt your grade. If you know in advance that you will be absent from class on some particular day (e.g. for a field trip or college visit), you must get the homework due that day to me before you leave. Leave it on my desk in the math office or ask someone in the front office to put it in my mailbox.
Please don't be nervous about the class participation component of your grade. You may be shy about speaking in front of the whole class. That's OK. Many of our discussions will take place in pairs or small groups. As a group member, it's just as important for you to say "I don't understand your idea. Could you explain it again?" as it is to come up with the idea in the first place. Group members should be concerned about keeping everyone in the group involved in the collaborative work.
You are also responsible for maintaining a level of engagement during lab activities. If you believe you are "done" the lab, find a way to look at things more deeply, or to extend the ideas to a new version of the problem, or to generalize to a higher degree of abstraction. ALL of your class time will be spent on task. If you can't think of anything to do, I'll be happy to make suggestions. You are never done!
You may at times feel a little lost with what we're doing in class. Don't worry; people are coming to this course with a wide variety of backgrounds in mathematics and I don't expect everybody to know everything. Just be sure you take responsibility for helping yourself get "found." I'm available for extra help after school most any day, unless there's a meeting. (Meetings are usually on Wednesday.) Just check with me to be sure I'll be in. Do come--I enjoy visitors.
Nina Koch
open A period
Study Center (318) B period
often in Room 143 when free
voice mail: 362-1555
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