ALGEBRA 1 – MATH LAB
MS. SHAW’S CLASSROOM POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
cshaw@psdschools.org – (970) 488 - 6425
Materials Needed: You are responsible for bringing these to class every day
A composition notebook used for math notes ONLY
Your laptop (9th and 10th graders)
A binder or folder to keep handouts and homework in
A PENCIL and a different colored pen/marker for grading
A scientific calculator OR a graphing calculator (TI-83 or TI-84)
The textbook
Your Fossil RIDGE planner
Grading Policy – Algebra 1:
20% - Homework and class participation
25% - Graded work and quizzes
40% - Tests
15% - Final Exam
Grading Policy – Math Lab:
Completion of ALEKS objectives will make up 100% of your math lab grade:
Each weekly objective is worth 20 points
There will be a 100 point course mastery assessment at the end of each semester
Class Description:
This class will meet every day for the entire school year. We will be working on Algebra 1 material Tuesday-Friday of
every week and will have math lab on Mondays. The course is designed to introduce you to algebra and its application in
life while enhancing your problem solving abilities. You will participate in daily homework, class lectures, quizzes, tests,
and group activities in this quest for algebraic knowledge. Be prepared to work hard, and commit time every night to
this class.
This class uses a computer program called ALEKS to supplement our work in the textbook. ALEKS stands for
“Assessment and LEarning in Knowledge Spaces.” It uses artificial intelligence to help you practice and master the math
skills that are needed to be successful in Algebra 1. ALEKS is designed to let you work at your own pace to reach the
due dates for each chapter of our textbook. We will be working out of the textbook as well as using ALEKS to help you
be successful in Algebra 1 and beyond. You will be working on ALEKS in class as well as homework at home. If you do
not have access to a computer or to the internet outside of school please let me know right away!!
If you or your parent/guardian has any questions about how this ALEKS class will look like you can call me or email me,
or you can visit the ALEKS website at www.aleks.com to check out what the program will look like. I would highly
suggest browsing through the website so that you know what to expect from the class. This will be different from any
other math class that you’ve taken before.
Participation:
Participation is a HUGE part of math class and you are expected to contribute at all times to the academic classroom
atmosphere. This means taking notes, being on task at all times, coming to class prepared EVERYDAY, and being on
time to class.
Tardies:
Tardies will not be tolerated at Fossil Ridge and in this class. If you are not in your seat, ready to work (that means all
materials out, not socializing) when the bell rings then you are tardy. If you are tardy to class, you will receive a
detention slip. You will serve a 25 minute detention within one week after your tardy. If you fail to do so, you will be
assigned an hour of community service.
Attendance Bonus:
If at the end of each semester you have no unexcused absences or tardies, no more than 3 excused tardies, and no more
than 5 excused absences (school excused absences don’t count) in BOTH Algebra 1 and Math Lab combined, I will drop
your lowest quiz score from the semester.
Homework/Assignments:
ALL ASSIGNMENTS MUST BE DONE IN PENCIL!!!
Expect homework to be assigned and checked on a daily basis in this class. Homework assignments will be worth 10
points. You will receive 5 points if the homework assignment shows evidence of quality work and of a reasonable
attempt to try every problem (NO WORK = NO CREDIT!). You will receive 5 more points if you correct each
problem done incorrectly. Assignments done in pen will be handed back and must be redone in pencil in order to receive
credit.
 Homework Quizzes: Each day there will be a homework quiz made up of 1-2 questions at the beginning of each
class period. These problems will come DIRECTLY from your homework assignment. If you are absent, these
quizzes cannot be made up. If you have an excused absence, you may drop the 0 for homework quiz. If you have
an unexcused absence, you will receive a 0 for that day’s quiz.
 Quality of Work: I expect each student to submit quality work that they are proud of in order to receive full
credit.
o Show ALL of your work
o Skip lines between each problem
o Write out the original problem
o DO NOT work from left to right
o Number every problem
o Corrections must be done for each incorrect problem and done in ink (not pencil!). Original work will be
written on the left side of the paper and corrections done on the right.
ALEKS work: You will be expected to complete an assigned number of topics by 7:30 a.m. on the due date. The
number of objectives will vary depending on what we’re working on in class. Both class periods on Mondays will be
devoted to working on ALEKS in class; all other work will need to be completed at home. Absolutely no extensions can
be given for ALEKS work so please make sure you’re giving yourself time to be working on the objectives each week.
Online Textbook:
There will be an online textbook available for you to use at home. You can find the textbook at
www.pearsonsuccessnet.com or using the link on our Blackboard page.
Username: Fossil
Password: Algebra1 (case sensitive)
Every lesson in the book has an online video tutorial. These videos can be found at www.phschool.com or using the link
on our Blackboard page. I suggest watching these online videos for extra help on your homework, especially for the
homework on days you may have been absent from class.
For more information on using the online resources see page xxiii in your textbook.
Notebook Checks:
You will be required to take all notes in your composition notebook. I will have periodic notebook checks to make sure
that you are using your notebooks to show your work and to take notes in class. There will also be notebook quizzes
given throughout the semester.
Missing Class Procedure:
 Any student who has an excused absence will be allowed make up missed work for full credit up until the day of
the unit test. If you have an unexcused absence you can make up the assignment for up to 60% of credit until the
day of the unit test. I am not responsible for any lost homework assignments that were not turned into the correct
place, so please make sure that the assignments are handed directly to me, not just put on my desk.
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You will be responsible for getting the missed notes so that you have them on the day of a notebook quiz. Notes
must hand-written and copied exactly from the notebook of a classmate or from the notes on blackboard. You
are responsible for checking blackboard and turning in make-up work in a reasonable amount of time.
All assignments given out on the day you missed can be found on blackboard.
If you have an excused absence on the day of the test you will be given a make-up test outside of class time for
full credit. If you have an unexcused absence, you will be given a make-up test outside of class time for only
60% of what you earn.
Late Work:
If you are NOT absent and don’t have the assignment on the day it’s due, in order to make-up the assignment you must
make an appointment at lunch to correct the assignment and turn it in.
Cell Pone/iPods:
NO CELL PHONES AT ANYTIME. If you are caught with your cell phone I will keep it until 3:00 p.m. that day.
iPods will only be allowed at certain times. If your iPod is out at a time when I did not say they could be out I will keep it
until 3:00 pm that day.
Bathroom/Hall Privileges:
Only one person at a time will be allowed to leave the room. You must ask permission to leave at appropriate times
(during work-time only). If you are gone longer than 10 minutes you will be counted absent. Each person will receive 9
bathroom/hall passes per quarter. You must turn in a pass to leave the room (this includes using the bathroom, going
to your locker, etc). Use your passes wisely!
I look forward to working with each and every one of you this semester. I expect my classroom to be a positive
learning environment for all of us to treat each other with respect. When working with others, you must value
each member of the group, share ideas, listen actively, and accept each others differences and strengths.
Everybody learns math at a different pace and in a different way. Be patient with yourself, ask a lot of questions,
and be proud of your accomplishments. If we all work together, we can all be successful!
PLEASE BRING THIS LAST PAGE BACK TO SCHOOL SIGNED BY BOTH YOU
AND YOUR PARENTS. THIS WILL COUNT AS PART OF YOUR FIRST HOMEWORK
ASSIGNMENT!!
PARENTS: FEEL FREE TO MAKE A COPY OF THE RULES AND PROCEDURES FOR FUTURE
REFERENCE THROUGHOUT THE SEMESTER!
STATEMENT OF AGREEMENT:
I have read the expectations for Ms. Shaw’s class and I understand and agree to my responsibilities. I have
also read the Fossil Ridge Code of Conduct and the PSD Student Rights & Code of Conduct booklet which is
available online at www.psdschools.org. I understand all of the policies and procedures for this class and
understand there will be consequences if they are not followed appropriately.
I also understand what ALEKS is and have gone to www.aleks.com to review the program. (Please email Ms.
Shaw at cshaw@psdschools.org if you have any questions about the program!)
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Student Name (Print)
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Parent/Guardian Signature
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Student Signature
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Class Period