New Smyrna Beach High School
Course Syllabus
Course Title: Algebra 1
Instructor’s Information:
Name— Trista Catineau
Resources and materials needed for the class:
Contact Information tmcatine@volusia.k12.fl.us
In addition to school supplies you should have with you for every class (blue or black pen, pencil, paper, etc.), you must
also have the following materials every day in class. You may wish to keep your Algebra Interactive Notebook in class,
but if you choose to do so it is at your own discretion. Ms. Fetterman is not responsible for lost or stolen notebooks.


SPIRAL NOTEBOOK(s) (5 Subject Notebook) –PLEASE NO COMPOSITION BOOKS- ALL NOTEBOOKS
NEED TO HAVE THE WIRE SPIRAL.
 2 highlighters of different colors
 PENCILS (notes may be taken in pen, but practice needs to be in PENCIL)
Folder for Algebra: This is also where homework assignments are kept since notebooks are allowed to
stay in class.
Course Description:
Congratulations! You are starting your high school credits in math with Algebra 1. Students will complete 4 years of
math to fulfill credits for graduation. I cannot stress enough the importance of maintaining at least a ‘C’ average each
quarter and reviewing daily assignments nightly to master the skills essential to passing the End of Course exam for high
school credit.
At any time you may view the Algebra 1 Curriculum map found at www.myvolusiaschoools.org . Here, you will find
the targeted skills to be mastered and pacing of each unit. It is imperative for you to be focused each day in class,
attend class daily, and complete all assignments on time to be successful in this course. Students that are responsible
learners do well and stay on grade level when completing their math requirements in high school. (You may also find
the list of standards in the Algebra 1 textbook found in the “Using Your Book for Success” section.)
Course Objectives: The fundamental purpose of this course is to formalize and extend the mathematics that
students learned in the middle grades. The critical areas, called units, deepen and extend understanding of
linear and exponential relationships by contrasting them with each other and by applying linear models to
data that exhibit a linear trend, and students engage in methods for analyzing, solving, and using quadratic
functions. The Mathematical Practice Standards apply throughout each course and, together with the content
standards, prescribe that students experience mathematics as a coherent, useful, and logical subject that
makes use of their ability to make sense of problem situations.
Instructional Methods:
We will be using cooperative learning, common core methods, lecture, note taking, teacher modeling and discovery
methods of learning. We will be using mathxlforschool.com this year, which is an online program that allows for
students to solve problems independently, but also allows for walk through examples and provides practice using the
computer to input answers to simulate the environment used in end of course testing. The MathXL program allows
students to receive a blended learning credit for this class, if all other requirements are obtained to receive the Algebra
credit. At the end of this course, students will take the Florida Standards Assessment (FSA) End-of-Course exam. The
score on this exam will count for 30% of the student’s final grade in this course. Passing the Algebra 1 End-Of-Course
exam is also a graduation requirement. On these assessments, students WILL NOT be able to use a hand held
calculator. An online calculator will appear on the computer screen for questions where calculator use is
permitted. Also, a reference sheet WILL NOT be provided. Detailed information, standards, test item specifications,
and a training test can be found at the website http://www.fsassessments.org.
Working together with parents, school personnel and community members, New Smyrna Beach High School students
will graduate with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to be positive contributors to society.
New Smyrna Beach High School
Course Syllabus
Homework/ Classwork Policy:
Students who are submitting late work (due to absence) have one day, or one day for each day absent (whichever is greater), to submit
work unless the teacher determines there are extenuating circumstances which necessitate an extension. It will be a best practice for
students to make up tests within a school week of the original assigned date unless the teacher determines there are extenuating
circumstances which necessitate an extension.
Intervention and Remediation:
The focus of instruction should be on getting students to achieve their full learning potential.
 When students demonstrate a lack of proficiency on standards they must receive intervention(s), which may lead to assessment
retakes or alternative assignments.
 When students demonstrate a lack of mastery on standards they may receive intervention(s) that require them to attend office
hours on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of each week. Office hours take place during the first thirty minutes of the
lunch period on the four assigned days listed above.
 Each 9 week grading period, students shall have the opportunity to retake at least one summative assessment. All retakes require
that the student attend office hours for intervention assistance on Monday, Tuesday, and/or Thursday in order to retake a test
during office hours on Fridays. Additional retakes shall be determined based upon individual student data.
Grading Practices:
Students and parents need timely and accurate feedback in order to effectively monitor learning progress.
 Best practice: Grade book should be updated weekly (except in the case of extensive assignments or unusual circumstances).
 When a student’s score on a retake is less than the original score, the higher score should be used. Scores should not be
averaged.
Letter grades are a reflection of the student’s level of academic achievement on the courses’ performance standards as defined in the
high school curriculum guides/maps. The following grade scale shall be used to determine a letter grade and the following quality point
system shall be used to determine grade point average and honor roll:
Grade
A
B
C
D
F
I
Grade Range
90-100
80-89
70-79
60-69
0-59
Quality Points
4.0
3.0
2.0
1.0
0.0
0.0
Description
Outstanding Progress (Mastery)
Above Average Progress
Average Progress (Proficiency)
Lowest Acceptable Progress
Failure
In progress toward grade level proficiency
in skills and concepts
Class Participation:
All students are expected to take an active part in the learning environment of the classroom. This means coming to
class on time and being prepared to learn.
Academic Dishonesty:
The Volusia County School Board’s Code of Student Conduct has defined Academic Dishonesty as a level II offense.
Academic Dishonesty is defined as “Dishonesty, such as cheating, plagiarism, or knowingly furnishing false information to
the school district. Such behavior may result in reduction in grades, classroom discipline as determined by the instructor,
suspension or expulsion from school and/or school activities including student organization”.
Working together with parents, school personnel and community members, New Smyrna Beach High School students
will graduate with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to be positive contributors to society.