Malibu High School
Statistics – Ms. Smith
Policies 2015 - 2016
Overview
The primary objective of this course is help students understand how data is used to
make decisions concerning risk, social and consumer behavior, and quality control. At
the end of this course, students should know how to: Organize data looking for patterns
and relationships; produce data to create authentic experiments using representative
random samples; and generate inferences by using probability and other statistical
models. A Texas Instruments TI 83+/ or 84 graphing calculator is required
for this course.
Grades
90% of your quarter grade for this course will be determined by points earned on class
assignments, homework, projects, quizzes, and assessments. You will also receive a
participation grade each quarter. Your participation grade will be determined by points
gained or lost in class, primarily by behavior, work habits, and attentiveness. Your
grade will be weighted approximately according to the following percentages but
based on a total point system.
Assignments/homework
Quizzes
Assessments
Participation
Final Exam
30%
15%
30%
10%
15%
Grading Scale
90-100
80-89
70-79
60-69
0-59
A
B
C
D
F
Assignments
You will only be successful in math if you practice the skills taught in class. You can
expect to practice every day. Practice may include classwork, homework, group work
and projects. You may have some class time to work on assignments, however,
whatever work you have not finished by the end of the class period becomes
homework. Homework must be completed outside of class and is due the next time the
class meets or it is considered to be a late assignment. Late assignments will only be
accepted for the current chapter of study.
Your assignment
Paper headed correctly, all problems
completed, minor errors
Points earned
10 points maximum
Incomplete assignment/heading
Incorrect/numerous errors*
5 points maximum
Late assignment
5 points maximum
* A student may redo any assignment for a maximum of 7 points. It must be
redone before the chapter test that covers the material from the assignment.
Make up work due to an excused absence must be made up within a reasonable
amount of time (usually one day for each day absent) to be considered for full credit.
If you are absent, it is up to YOU to find out what you have missed and to make up the
notes and assignment on your own time. Assignments will be posted on line on Ms.
Smith’s HW page. Notes given in class in your absence can be obtained from a
classmate.
Text – Elementary Statistics – Picturing the World
Ms. Smith will also use many photo copied packets for this course. These are
considered like a text book and students are responsible for the material in these
packets as if it was a text and expected to keep them organized in their notebooks.
Quizzes
Quizzes will usually be given weekly. I will always inform you in advance of an
upcoming quiz, or you can check illuminate and the posted weekly assignments to see
any upcoming quizzes. The point value for quizzes varies between 10 and 20 points.
You may retake one quiz per quarter (however all hw must have been complete to do
this). I will take your better score. If you miss a quiz due to an excused absence, you
will not be allowed the retake opportunity. Your make up quiz counts as the retake.
Assessments
Assessments will be given at the end of each chapter and will be worth 50-100 points
depending on the chapter. Any test may be retaken on the students own time. To
retake a test however, all assignments must be turned in from the particular chapter
and test corrections from the original test must be completed. The highest grade will
be taken.
Note – taking
Students are required to take notes in class. A composition book type notebook is
required. Class notes will include important vocabulary and examples of the types of
questions you can expect on assignments, quizzes, and tests. Do not use your class
notebook for assignments. Many of the quizzes or tests may be open notes, the
only notes you may use are ones in your composition book – ONLY. GET
ONE! Note book checks and/or notes quizzes may also be given.
Help
Homework help will be available before school (I should arrive between 7:00 and 7:15
each day) and some days after school. Also take advantage of the department’s math
homework help after school. Check ahead to make sure I will be available after school
just in case.
Supplies
*Textbook – You are responsible for having your text book with you in class each
day. I suggest you use the online text at home and keep your text in your locker
to make sure you have each day.
*Paper & pencil (no pen) for assignments – you will also need graph paper I will
give you notice when it is almost time.
*Notebook (composition style for note-taking) and an organized folder to keep
all your Algebra I assignments, notes, tests and quizzes together.
*TI 83+/or 84 Graphing Calculator is required.
*** Any parents who would like to send in Kleenex feel free to do so. This is
one supply I go thru the most in class. We will also need lots of m&m’s. If you
would like to donate and send some bags of plain m&m’s in I would greatly
appreciate it.
Expectations
You are responsible for your success in this class. School policies will be strictly
enforced (including NO CELL PHONES DURING CLASS – unless I have specified for
educational purposes). Please make the most of this school year by allowing yourself
some quality study time every day. Your attitude, work habits, and scholarship should
reflect the best of your ability. Ms. Smith will enforce the more than 15 absence rule as
well. If a student misses more than 15 days, no more than a C grade in the class will
be given. Please note three tardies equals one absence.
Online Resources
MyStatLab.com will be used as the online text and resources for student study. Ms.
Smith will give login information in the first week of the course.
Parents--the easiest way to reach me is via e-mail c.smith@smmusd.org.
Please check your child’s progress in my class on a regular basis via the
Illuminate system. Grades will be updated at least once a week.
Obtaining a parent signature on this paper is a required assignment. Thank
you for your help and cooperation in making this a great school year!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------I HAVE READ AND UNDERSTAND THIS POLICY SHEET. I AGREE TO COMPLY
WITH THE COURSE EXPECTATIONS.
Student Name ________________________________________________
please print
Parent Signature________________________________________________
Parent’s e-mail address___________________________________________