Algebra 1A
Mrs. McAfee & Mr. Garrett
Fall 2008
www.hartdistrict.org/saugus
www.classzone.com
Textbook:
Algebra 1 (McDougal Littell). Our Textbook covers all content mandated by California State Standards
with an emphasis on writing, solving, and graphing linear and quadratic equations. Mathematical
reasoning is interwoven throughout.
Course Description
This course will be covering Chapters 1,3,4,5,6,7 (skip Chapter 2). Students must obtain a C- or better at
the semester grade to go onto Algebra 1B.
Assignments/Assessments:
1. Homework/Classwork: Homework will be assigned daily (including weekends and holidays) and
is due the following school day. Homework is graded on a quality not quantity basis. Daily,
McAfee, Garrett, or a student service will stamp the HW for completeness and spot check certain
problems for accuracy. There will be 10 assignments per HW sheet and after 10 assignments they
will turn in their HW sheets into me for credit. Students must SHOW THEIR WORK in a neat
and orderly fashion in order to receive full credit. Take Homework seriously and attempt every
problem! Late homework will be accepted for half credit the next day only. Anything later than
that will not be accepted. It is always the student’s responsibility to turn in absent work and to
find out what he/she has missed on the day(s) he/she was absent. Please ask a friend in the class,
look at the calendar in class, or refer to McAfee’s website, which should be updated regularly:
http://staff.hartdistrict.org/amcafee
2. Cornell Notes: Students will also be required to take notes in the Cornell Note style. Students
are to take the notes during class and then fill in their own questions and summary for HW. We
will check them daily when we check their HW. These notes are also “parent friendly” and can be
used as a study tool.
3. Warm-ups: Daily there will be a warm-up on the board reviewing previous concepts or preparing
you for the new section. They will be collected periodically and graded for completion. At the
end of the semester your warm-up average will replace your lowest quiz score.
4. Test and Quizzes: Tests will be announced in advance, but quizzes may or may not be. A missed
test or quiz must be made up the day you return from your absence. If you miss multiple days in a
row due to illness or a family emergency, you have one week to make them up! Make-ups are
done before school, after school, or during lunch by appointment. It is YOUR responsibility to
arrange your make-ups. We will not chase you down to do so.
Supplies:
You will need to bring to class daily:
1) a 3 ring binder filled with lined or graph paper *** The key to success in a
2) pencils with erasers Math class is ORGANIZATION
3) either colored pencils or a few highlighters and doing your HW.
4) a simple calculators
Fall 08’
Grades:
Grades will be calculated based on total points.
*Homework/Classwork is worth 2 points each Grading Scale:
*Cornell Notes (questions 1 pts, summary 1 pt.) 90%-100% =A
*Warm-ups are one point each 80%- 89% =B
*Quizzes are worth 20-50 points each 70%- 79% =C
*Tests are worth 100 points each 60%- 69% =D
*Midterm/Final is worth 200 points 0% - 59% =F
Classroom Rules and Procedures:
1. Be in your seat when the tardy bell rings and start on the warm-up.
2. Have paper for notes, pencils and last nights HW on your desk when the tardy bell rings.
3. No chewing gum, eating or drinking in class (except water).
4. Cell phones must be turned off or on vibrate, if I hear it or see it I will fill out an Electronic
Violations form (see below). Cell phones may NOT be used as calculators in class.
5. No MP3 players, IPODs or any other device that plays music in class. If I see it I will fill out an
Electronic Violations form (see below). No Headphones!
6. Students are expected to be respectful of the teacher and fellow peers. Rudeness, interruptions,
profanity, and defiance will not be tolerated.
7. Cheating will not be tolerated and there will be serious consequences.
****A student will always be positively rewarded for appropriate behavior.
Consequences:
Students who CHOOSE not to respect classroom or school rules will accept one or more of the
following consequences:
1. Verbal warning
2. Opportunity room step or Referral
3. Parent phone call and/or conference
4. Classroom suspension
Extra Help:
We see it as a major part of our job to be available for students to answer questions. We are available
before and after school, and during most lunches by appointment. Teaching and helping students is our
top priority, please take advantage of these times so you don’t get behind.
Contact Info:
If you have any questions about this class or your son/daughter’s progress, please feel free to email Mrs.
McAfee at amcafee@hartdistrict.org, or Mr. Garrett at mgarret@hartdistrict.org. Email is the fastest and
most effective way to reach us during the day. However, if you wish you may call the school at 297-3900
ext. 4137 (McAfee) or ext. 1805 (Garrett) to leave me a message. We will answer messages within a few
days.
Thank you,
Here is my website address:
http://staff.hartdistrict.org/amcafee
(updated daily with
HW/Tests/Quizzes/Grades) Mrs. McAfee & Mr. Garrett
Fall 08’
Algebra 1A
Course Syllabus
Fall, 2008
Mrs. McAfee and Mr. Garrett
After you have read and understand the course syllabus for McAfee/Garrett’s class, please sign
below and return.
Student’s Name (Printed)__________________ ____________________________________________
Student’s Signature____________________________________________________________________
Parent’s/Guardian’s Name _____________________________________________________________
Parent’s/Guardian’s Signature__________________________________________________________
Parent’s/Guardian’s Email Address ______________________________________________________
Phone Number ( ) ___________ ______ Phone Number ( ) ___________________
Home Work/Cell
**An Electronic Violations form is a replacement for confiscating electronic devises. This reduces
our school’s liability and does away with parent having to pick-up confiscated devises. The consequences
are the same:
1st offense: Warning and an entry into the student’s discipline file Parent Initial
2nd offense: Entry in student’s discipline file and a Saturday school.
(subsequent offenses will be treated the same as the 2nd offense)
Please be aware of these rules and remind your kids to pay attention in
class.
(and not to their cell phones!)
Fall 08’