MAGNA VISTA HIGH SCHOOL

MAGNA VISTA HIGH SCHOOL
701 Magna Vista School Rd, Ridgeway, VA 24148  Phone: (276) 956 - 3147
STUDENT CLASS SYLLABUS
Prerequisite(s): Algebra II
Teacher: Ms. McDonald
Room Number: 20 (WT 117)
THE MEASURE OF A TRIANGLE: TRIGONOMETRY
Hello and Welcome to The Measure of a Triangle
Whether you realize it or not, you already know a lot of mathematics.
Focus on how GREAT math is and how much you use it in your daily life. It
is this focus which will guide our studies this year. In
this course we study properties of geometric figures,
trigonometric relationships, and reasoning to justify
conclusions.
Math Rocks!
The goal is for you to have a better
appreciation for the utility of mathematics, to
Ms. McDonald
Cool Web Sites
Homework Help
www.math.com
www.factmonster.com
www.coolmath.com
www.mathopenref.com
Fun & Games
www.etch-a-sketch.com
www.michaelbach.de/ot/
Internet Public Library
www.ipl.org
Other Resource Sites
www.mathwords.com/
www.meriamwebster.com
www.yourdictionary.com
"But in the new (math) approach, the important thing is to understand what you're doing, rather
than to get the right answer."
-- Tom Lehrer
Homework
Homework is assigned and
reviewed on a regular basis.
You are accountable for keeping
up with your homework
assignments and are expected to
receive a 100% homework
Accountability and Respect
Being a responsible learner means knowing and following all
expectations. You are a young adult and thus will be treated as such. Be
respectful at all times, being somebody you would be proud to know,
and you will be rewarded with a positive and enjoyable learning
environment.
Materials and Supplies
Preparedness maximizes our time for lear ning. You ar e
expected to bring all required materials and supplies to
class each day. You need the following supplies:
 Your Geometry Notebook (3-ring binder) containing
all of your assignments
 Notebook paper
 Pencils with erasers
 Graphing calculator***
 4 AAA batteries
Classwork and Participation
Class participation is
based on you taking
part
in
daily
activities:
being
attentive, taking notes,
participating in class
discussions,
completing
assignments, as well as, having
the required materials and
supplies, and following all (class
and
school)
rules
and
expectations.
Tests and Quizzes
***Graphing Calculator
Each student will be assigned a
calculator to use during class (See
calculator agreement on page 3.) If you
don’t have a graphing calculator at
home, you may download a TI-83
emulator
calculator.
(See instructions on my
website.)
Tests and quizzes are graded based on the number
of correct answers. Tests are given at the end of
each unit. Your performance is directly affected
by how much effort you put into your class and homework. You
may retake a test, AFTER you attend a 1 hour re-teaching session
and make test corrections. The highest grade is put in the
gradebook. Quizzes ar e given about once a week and come
directly from the homework and classwork assignments. So the
more homework you do and the more you ask about it in class,
the more prepared you will be for these quizzes. There are no
quiz retakes or corrections.
Tutoring
Tutoring is available
BEFORE
school
every day and AFTER
school on Thursdays
from 3:30 - 4:30. This
is a great time to get
extra help or make up
missed work. You are
expected to be on time
and sign the tutor log
when
you
attend
tutoring. Please have a
parent/guardian pick
you up at 4:30.
Classroom Entry Procedures






Enter the classroom quietly and on time.
Be ready to learn and actively participate.
Sharpen pencil as needed.
Get assigned calculator
Complete the Warm-up activity.
Wait for the Teacher’s signal.
Class Rules
Class Tardy Policy
You are expected to be ON
TIME and in place every day.
This means being in the class
when the tardy bell rings.
Punctuality maximizes our
time for learning. If you
come to class late, please
sign the tardy log and give
me your pass to prevent
being counted absent for the
day.
Remember missing
over half the class (more
than 45 minutes) counts as
an absence.
The school
tardy policy (contained in the
student handbook) is adhered
to in this
class.
Missed Work & Class Absences
You are responsible for getting any
assigned work that was missed due to
an (excused or unexcused) absence
from the “missed work” folder. ALL
work must be made up within 3 days
of your return to school. If not, you
will receive a 0%. If there is ever any
confusion about what you missed or
what you are responsible for
completing, see Ms. McDonald
outside
of
instructional
time.
Attendance is imperative for your
success in this course. If you miss
one class or even a portion of a class
period, you will be behind.
You are expected to know and obey the class and
school rules. Class rules are posted in the
classroom and are as follows:
 Follow Directions – respond to adult
directions promptly and the 1st time given.
 Stay on Task – perform behavioral and
academic expectations as defined by teachers
and other pertinent adults.
 Speak Appropriately – address adults and
peers with respectful language (refrain from
the use of profanity – either verbal or through
gestures, threats, abusive, racist or bigoted
comments or actions), voice tone, voice level,
physical posture and gestures as well as
appropriate physical proximity (i.e. horse
playing).
Grading Policy
Your grade consists
Consequences and Rewards
of both product and
performance
 Verbal praise
(process).
This
 Enjoyable learning environment
means classwork,
 Verbal warning
homework, tests,
 Seat change
projects
and
quizzes,
etc. are as
 Parent/Guardian contact
important
as
par
ticipation,
 After School Detention
collaboration,
oral
communication,
 Office referral
and work ethic, etc. You MUST
complete
BOTH
Major violations will be immediately adequately
process
and
product
in
order
to be
referred to the office.
successful in this class.
Grades Calculation
Each grading period, grades are
calculated as follows:
Knowledge and Thinking
50%
Written Communication
15%
Oral Communication
10%
Collaboration
15%
Agency
10%
Grading Scale
A
B
C
D
F
Assignment Heading
All assignments should be labeled with the
following:
Jane Doe
 Your name
August 10, 2015
 Date
2nd Period
Pg 7 #2-20 even
 Class Period
 Assignment Name
“No Name” papers are placed on the ‘Is this
your Assignment?’ board and unclaimed
papers are discarded within 1 week. It is
important that assignments are headed
correctly. This assists you in locating a given
assignment for studying later and me in
grading the assignment.
Late Assignments
You are expected to do assigned
work and turn it in when due. Late
assignments lose agency points.
This applies to ANY assignment
(test, quiz, homework, classwork or project.)
94 - 100
87 - 93
77 - 86
70 - 76
0 - 69
How Can I Pass This Class?
All work is to
be done in
pencil only.




Attend class daily
Study every day
Do classwork and homework
Know how I grade assignments and
how they count towards your final
grade.
 Come to tutoring
 Get enough sleep
 Know your learning style
Get a Study Buddy!
I strongly encourage you to form study groups amongst yourselves.
Collaboration will make your skills stronger. Your peers are a great
resource. This does not mean copy each others work. Get a
Study Buddy! This is a classmate with whom schoolwork and homework is
completed. Someone with whom you can study and call if you have any questions
about class. My classroom is available to you for use of study groups.
Ms. McDonald’s Calculator Agreement****
1. I will ONLY use my calculator. If I try to use any
other person’s calculator, I may lose my privilege of
using a school calculator.
2. I will not lend my calculator to anyone else in the
class. I realize that if I do, and that student takes the
calculator out of class, I am the one responsible for replacing
it.
3. If my calculator is already damaged or if the batteries are
missing, I will report it immediately.
I agree to the above stipulations for the use of the graphing
calculator that has been assigned to me for this school year.
General Classroom Procedures and Policies

While the teacher is talking, no one else is. If you aren’t
sharing it with the class, do not share it at all. This also
applies to any time a peer is presenting or has the floor for a
question or comment. Communicate respectfully with your
peers, Ms. McDonald and any classroom
visitors.
 Do not interrupt class to ask about
something that you missed. Any confusion
can be addressed outside of class or during
an individual work time with the teacher.
Order maximizes our time for lear ning.
 At any time during class as needed,
you may quickly and quietly get a tissue
and go directly outside the classroom door to blow your
nose.
 You may get up to sharpen your pencil during class, but not
while Ms. McDonald is lecturing or giving directions.
 Classroom discussion is encouraged. If you do have a
relevant comment or question to contribute, please raise
your hand and wait your turn.
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our
deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It
is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,
talented, and fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to
be?
Marianne Williamson
Restroom/H20 Policy
Please take care of your personal needs prior
to class. Once the class begins, you are
expected to remain in the classroom until
the end. Due to lost instr uction, lear ning
and the disturbance of leaving the classroom
for bathroom and water breaks, you may
leave the classroom ONLY if the teacher
deems it an emergency or you have a
medical note on file with the school nurse. Should you be
allowed to leave the classroom, you may leave during the
following times: after the first 15 minutes of class, before the
last 15 minutes of class or during individual or group
work time. You ar e expected to sign out when you leave
the classroom AND sign in when you return to the classroom.
End of Class
Class will not be
for Ms. McDonald to
everyone is quietly in
your space clean the
Remember that you have
your next destination.
dismissed by the bell. Wait
dismiss
class
when
their seats. Please leave
way that you found it.
plenty of time to get to
Ms. McDonald’s Website
School Policy and Procedure
ALL Henry County, Magna Vista High School and Warrior
Tech policy and procedure is adhered to in this class. This
includes, but is not limited to the following:
 Cellphone and electronic equipment use
 Student dress code
 Attendance and tardy
My website address is:
http://web.henry.k12.va.us/Domain/1467
Please use it to see what you have missed
when you are absent, download and print
missing worksheets, keep track of the class
and school calendar (upcoming tests, quizzes
or holidays), download a graphing calculator, connect to cool
math links (just to look at the funny math humor or for
homework help).
Your Final Class Grade
Group Work
Many assignments and activities will be completed by more
than one student. Remember to keep your voices low because
there are multiple groups working at the same time.
ALWAYS listen and follow instr uctions the FIRST time
they are given. If Ms. McDonald calls for the attention of the
class, immediately get silent and wait for
instructions. When we work in groups, each
group member will have an assigned role, so
everyone will have something to do.
He who asks a question is a fool for a minute;
he who does not remains a fool forever.
Keep in mind that your 3 grading period
grades
are
each
weighted
2/7
(approximately 85.7% TOTAL) and your
final exam is weighted 1/7 (approximately
14.3%) of your final grade.
What does this mean?
GP #1
GP #2
GP #3
Exam
Final
Grade
95
90
92
85
91
70
76
62
79
71
89
79
76
0
70
**Please Note: You may exempt the final exam in this class.
Time Management
TIME is your most important resource! Like most students,
you might feel there’s not enough time for the things you
need to do and want to do. Although your time in school is
planned for you – classes, lunch and study
times – what about your time away from
school? How can you spend it wisely? Time
management techniques can help!
Effort


Participation is key to being successful.
TRY. Lear ning is about gr owth, not just r ight and
wrong. Learning is not confined to this 90 minute class
period. NO CHEATING.
 Contribute to any and all group assignments. This
includes being an active listener as well as carrying out
and equal share of the tasks. Cooperation makes things
move faster.
Studying Smarter for Math Assessments
The time to start preparing for a math assessment is when
your teacher first presents a concept. The following might
help make the next math assessment you take less scary.
In Class
 Pay attention
 Listen and ask questions if you’re confused
 Keep up with daily assignments
The Measure of a Triangle: Trigonometry/Math
Functions Pacing Guide
Below is an abbreviated list of the topics we will cover this
semester:
 Algebra review
 Basic Trigonometric Functions - Right Triangle
Trigonometry, Degrees & Radians, Trig on the Unit Circle,
Graphing Sine & Cosine, Graph Other Trig Functions,
Inverse Trig Functions, Law of Sines & Law of Cosines,
Solutions using Pythagorean Theorem,
 Trigonometric Identities and Solving Trigonometric
Equations - Trigonometric Identities, Verifying
Trigonometric Identities, Solving Trigonometric Equations,
Solve using Pythagorean Theorem, Sum & Difference
Identities, Multiple Angle Identity
 Functions - Parent Functions, Analyze Graphs of Functions
& Relations, Properties – Domain/Range, Continuity, End
Behavior, Limits, Extrema, Transformations and
Translations, Function Operations & Composition, Inverse
Relations & Functions, Functional Notational
 Polynomials Functions and Simplifying Rational
Expressions - Polynomial Functions, Zeros of Polynomial
Functions, Rational Functions
 Exponential and Logarithmic Equations - Exponential
Functions, Logarithmic Functions, Properties of Logarithms,
Exponential & Logarithmic Equations
 Quadratic Equations - Completing the Square
 Conics - Parabolas, Ellipses & Circles,
Hyperbolas
Study Sources – Use your study tools!
 Notes you take in class
 Your math textbook
 Completed and corrected homework and class work.
 Quizzes and tests you have taken
Study Tips
 Don’t wait until the last minute to study; Study at least
15 minutes each night.
 If you’re stuck on a problem, get help from the teacher.
One morning a grasshopper fell down a hole 2 meters deep. He would
climb ½ of a meter every day but at night he slid down ¼ of a meter. At
this rate, how many days until the grasshopper gets out the hole?
Contact Information
Phone: (276) 956 - 3147
Email: amcdonald@henry.k12.va.us
Website: web.henry.k12.va.us/Domain/1467
How much
does $1
million weigh
if you use $1
bills?