The universal language underlying humanity's quest to understand the natural world, mathematics—specifically algebra—forms the basis for the quantitative reasoning employed in fields from aeronautical engineering to zoology. Algebra is one of the most powerful and flexible problem solving tools yet developed, and its mastery is crucial for success in an increasingly sophisticated and fast-paced world.

In addition to providing students with a review and extension of the essential manipulative and computational skills developed in a student's middle school years, a first course in algebra brings these sometimes disparate seeming skills together, aligning them with a more coherent and holistic presentation of the analytical tools and techniques crucial for success in all subsequent mathematics classes.

Objectives
Through the vehicle of a first course in algebra, you will develop the fundamental skills and habits of mind essential for the study of higher mathematics. You will deepen and extend your understanding of numbers and their application through the study of advanced linear as well as basic exponential and quadratic functions and equations. This course is the first in a sequence that has been enhanced by the addition of topics taken from data analysis, statistics, and discrete mathematics. As a result, students will be able to do all of the following upon successful completion of this course.

• Understand numbers, ways of representing numbers, relationships among numbers, and number systems.
• Understand meanings of operations and how they relate to one another.
• Compute fluently and make reasonable estimates.
• Understand patterns, relations, and functions.
• Represent and analyze mathematical situations and structures using algebraic symbols.
• Use mathematical models to represent and understand quantitative relationships.
• Analyze change in various contexts.
• Specify locations and describe spatial relationships using coordinate geometry and other representational systems.
• Apply transformations and use symmetry to analyze mathematical situations.

Materials
It is expected that you come to class prepared with the following materials each day.

• Several pencils and an eraser
• A quad ruled (graph paper) composition book for notes and homework
• A folder or binder with a specific section for this class for you to store your loose leaf handouts and papers

Standards-Based Grading
In spite of all the hype and hoopla surrounding educational standards and benchmarks, they are nothing more than specific statements of what everyone should know and be able to do at the end of a course of study. Never before, however, has there been such a strong push to institute them at the state and even national level. While there have been many different sets of standards proposed for secondary school mathematics, the two that have been chosen for Algebra 1 at Kalani High School are the Hawaii Content and Performance Standards (HCPS3) and the American Diploma Pr(oject ADP) standards, a set of standards developed by a group of thirteen states of which Hawaii is one. After the HCPS3 and ADP standards were condensed and consolidated, they were arranged in a weekly sequence upon which a true standards-based Algebra 1 course was built, with lessons, assignments, activities, and assessments geared towards your achievement of the standards and aligned across all sections and teachers.

Percentage	Grade
90–100	A
80–89	B
70–79	C
55–69	D
0–54	F

While standards and benchmarks may not be entirely new, standards-based grading is. Many things about Algebra 1 will be familiar and conform to what you have come to expect from a mathematics class while others will be quite different. In particular, you should be aware of the following.

• At the end of each week after studying a new benchmark in class and practicing with it independently at home, your cumulative attainment of the two most recent benchmarks will be measured with a short, focused, individual, in-class written assessment—a gateway exam. At the end of each quarter, your grade will be computed as the weighted average of your homework and classwork assignments (20%) and as the average of all of the scores on all of the gateway exams plus an additional capstone “scrimmage” exam at the end of each quarter covering all of the standards for that quarter (80%). Your grades from all four quarters will then be averaged to obtain a year grade. Because of the sequential and cumulative nature of mathematics, students who are not successful in Algebra 1 inevitably experience great difficulty in subsequent mathematics classes. Thus, semester and final year grades of C or better are required for advancement to the next mathematics course in sequence.
• Being committed to your success, the Kalani High School Mathematics Department will provide you with all of the resources and support at its disposal to help you reach this level of achievement, and will assist you every step of the way. In particular, you can expect the following forms of support .
  • Additional opportunities to meet each standard. Should you not be able to demonstrate proficiency on a benchmark on your first attempt, you will have two weeks during which you will have the opportunity to retake gateway exams on that benchmark. Only one retake assessment will be allowed during this two-week period, and your score on your retake will be averaged with your original score on that particular gateway. Beyond this two-week period, no retakes will be administered.
  • A note about homework. Independent practice outside of class—homework—remains an indispensable part of learning mathematics, and it will continue to be assigned and checked daily, with this information provided to parents, counselors, coaches, or administrators should the need arise. It is important to remember that homework and classwork account for 20% of your quarter grade, and that they provide one measurement of your attainment of the Department of Education's General Learner Outcomes (GLOs).

Absences
Occasional absences, whether planned or unplanned, are inevitable, and you will find that as long as you are proactive—you discuss things with your teacher before your absence if possible, or before class on the day of your return if not—reasonable accommodations and arrangements can usually be made.

• If your absence is anticipated (field trip, athletic competition, doctor's appointment, etc.), you must make prior arrangements for all work that is due on the day of the absence to be turned in on that day—give it to a friend, ask that it be put in your teacher's box in the main office, or submit it in person before you leave. Any tests or quizzes given on that day are expected to be made up by the end of the school following day. Any tests or quizzes given on the following school day are expected to be taken with the rest of the class as usual.
• If the absence is unanticipated (illness, accident, family emergency, etc.), you are expected to see your teacher before class on the day that you return to make specific arrangements for completing missed work. As a general rule of thumb, you will have as many days to make up missed work as you were absent.

Expectations & Consequences for Behavior
Please remember that this is your class. The behavior and participation of each person will shape the type of learning that will occur. Since one person's behavior affects everyone else's experience, I ask that all students assist with classroom management. In order to maintain a smoothly running and efficient classroom in which everyone has a chance to succeed, it is expected that you do the following while in class.

• Turn off, and securely stow all electronic equipment and accessories (with the exception of calculators when specifically allowed).
• Refrain from eating, drinking, or gum chewing.
• Be quietly seated and ready to begin working once the bell rings, and remain seated within the classroom for the duration of the period unless given permission by the teacher.
• Treat your teacher, your classmates, their possessions, and your surroundings with the same respect, consideration, courtesy, and decency with which you yourself wish to be treated, i.e., don't touch or use anyone else's things without their permission, and don't swear or use offensive or suggestive language.
• Listen carefully to all instructions before beginning work, and follow all instructions once work has begun.
• Abide by all other rules and regulations of Kalani High School and the Department of Education.

Those who choose not to meet these expectations can expect to have or to receive…

1. A reminder
2. A warning
3. Parents or guardians contacted
4. A disciplinary referral
5. When applicable…
   • An outstanding obligation for lost, damaged, or destroyed school property
   • Contraband articles confiscated
   • Loss of the privilege of participating in, and receiving credit for an in-class activity

Extra Help
You are strongly encouraged to seek frequent extra help as needed on an informal or formal basis by arrangement with your teacher. Please be aware, however, that extra help is not intended to replace in-class effort and participation —the level of assistance you will receive outside of class will be dependent upon your attitude (positive), attentiveness (awake and alert), engagement (actively listening and taking notes), commitment (trying hard every day), and behavior (good) while in class.

A copy of the above syllabus in PDF format can be downloaded here.

 

Dr. Michael P. Ida
Kalani High School
4680 Kalanianaole Hwy.
Honolulu, HI 96821
(808) 377-7744

Hawaii Public Schools

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