Important+Information+for+This+Year

**General Information**
Teacher: Jeremy Willis Phone: 272-7300 X7319 Email: jwillis@mariemontschools.org (if you email me in the first couple of weeks I will make sure that you receive weekly class updates from me.) Availability: before and after school and during seventh period Grading Scale: 100-92 = A 91-83 = B 82-74 = B 73-65 = D below 65 = F Materials: pencil, paper,a binder or a folder, scientific calculator with sine, cosine & tangent functions. I recommend the TI-30xII.

A little about myself
Welcome back everyone. I am so excited about starting the school year. This is my nineteenth year of teaching. I spent my first sixteen years of teaching at Little Miami Junior High School and am beginning my third year at Mariemont. I have lived in Alexandria, Kentucky with my wife and four children for six years. I completed my undergraduate work at Miami University and received my Master’s degree from Northern Kentucky University. As a teacher, I am most excited about the many types of technology that are finding their way into the classroom. I am especially excited about the one to one initiative that our school is undertaking.

Grading
Formative Assessments 50% Summative Assessments 50% -Formative assessments are assesments that allow students to create their understanding. They include homework, classwork, some quizzes, and other activities that will be done inside or outside of class. -Summative assessments are assessments that are done at the end of a learning unit. These happen when it is time for the material to be mastered and include tests and some quizzes. This is determined by the student and teacher when the time is right. - **Important!!!** I allow students to correct any test or quiz for half credit back if they do a wrong answer analysis. This analysis includes the right answer as well as well as the specific reason that the problem was incorrect in the first place.

Expectations
I expect students to be on their best behavior and engaged at all times. This happens in a perfect world. Student of this age are finding their way and will slip up from time to time. I am aware of this. But there are three big guidlines for your behavior 1) Students need to be ready to learn and prepared with materials when class starts. 2) Students need to be respectful of students and teachers when they are contributing something to the class. 3) Students will conduct themselves in a way that does not compromise the safety of other students or themselves. I rarely need to discipline a student, but if I do, this is the process that will be followed.

1) A verbal warning 2) A one on one conference with the student 3) A contact with home 4) Referral to the office A few pet peeves: -Avoid using words that could offend others; especially those that express intolerance for differences. -Avoid bringing attention to yourself in a negative way; especially if it involves obnoxiousness. -Avoid saying what is on your mind right when it comes to mind- be reflective on your thoughts and words and you will look smarter as a result. Plus it will make for a better classroom environment because everyone's voice will be heard. - Take care of business at the beginning of class or during a natural break- this includes restroom business, sharpening, turning in papers, getting your lunch, etc. Again it will create a more calm classroom envronment.

About your class
Algebra is the hardest class you will take in your high school career. If it is not, consider yourself lucky. At times you will hate me because of this. I don't take it personally. Algebra is a completely different way of thinking, but if you connect it back to what you already know, it's not so bad.

Algebra involves three main things 1) Solving problems you have solved before except in an algebraic way 2) Solving equations 3) Simplifying expressions.

Your algebra class grade will appear on your high school transcript. Take it seriously! I hold you accountable for your learning because this is a HIGH SCHOOL class.

The topics we will be covering and when

ABOVE ALL I WANT YOU TO SUCCEED!!! EXPRESSED ALGEBRAICALLY- if Y=your success and M=my success then Y=M