Algebra I Math Syllabus (Advanced 8th )
Anna McCausland, MA NBCT
mccauslanda@psd401.net
(253) 530-4145
Welcome to the 2015-2016 school year at Kopachuck Middle School! My name is Mrs. McCausland, and I will be
your Algebra I math teacher. This is my thirteenth year as a teacher at Kopachuck. For more information on my
academic history you may check my school website. To get to my website go to Google “Kopachuck Middle
School”, choose “Staff,” then “Classroom Websites,” and scroll down to “Mrs. McCausland.”
What will we learn in class this year?
We will use the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics to guide our work this year. This means that we
will study:
 Equations
 Inequalities
 Functions/Linear functions
 Systems of equations and inequalities
 Exponents and Polynomials
 Quadratic functions
We will also work on the Mathematical Practices throughout all of our units. These practices are:
1. Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.
2. Reason abstractly and quantitatively.
3. Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others.
4. Model with mathematics.
5. Use appropriate tools strategically.
6. Attend to precision.
7. Look for and make use of structure.
8. Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning.
We will be working at an accelerated pace. Good attendance and making up any missed work quickly will be
vital to success in this class. The expectation is that each student will maintain a B- average throughout
each trimester; should he/she fall below we will discuss intervention strategies with counselors, parents,
teacher and student.
What if I need help?
PLEASE talk to me if you need help in this class. I’m always happy to help you; it’s why I’m a teacher! If you
have more than a quick question then we can schedule a meeting before or after school.
Our textbook comes with a great website with all sorts of helpful resources including a complete online version of
the textbook, videos, interactive quizzes, and an online graphing calculator.
Website: my.hrw.com Username: 7math63
Password: Kopachuck
What if I forget to write down my homework (or need to know something about this class)?
You can visit my webpage for homework updates, links to other math websites, and copies of handouts from
class. To get to my website go to Google “Kopachuck Middle School”, choose “Staff,” then “Classroom Websites,”
and scroll down to “Mrs. McCausland.”
What do I need to bring to class?
You will need:
 Quadrille spiral notebook (2 pockets with graph paper) – available at school store and Office Depot OR a
3-ring binder with graph paper
 LOTS of #2 pencils with erasers – Ticonderoga is the best brand
 Colored pens for correcting
 Colored Pencils
 Calculator – a scientific calculator TI-30Xa will be enough for this class, however, a graphing calculator
will be provided for each student to use. (NO NEED to buy a graphing calculator at this time)
 Pencil sharpener (enclosed type to hold shavings)
 Pencil pouch
Please let me know if you are unable to obtain any of these supplies.
What are the class rules?
I expect all students to follow Kopachuck’s school rules as listed in the student handbook section of your agenda.
If you choose not to follow these rules then I will give you an infraction slip that is turned in to the office. These
infraction slips will impact your Honor Level and the school activities that you are allowed to attend.
How will I be graded?
You will be graded using a percentage-based method of grading and I will use a weighted grading system:
HW:
5%
Quizzes:
15%
Tests/Projects: 80%
Each unit will have a set of learning targets that we will use to guide our study. Each learning target will have its
own section on the unit test and you should expect 3-5 LT’s for each unit test. You will have quizzes about once
a week. In my grade book I will record your scores from the quizzes and each learning target score from the test
(for example, if there are 5 learning targets for a unit then I will record 5 “test scores” in my grade book). The quiz
scores are to help evaluate and prepare for the chapter test.
You will always have the opportunity retake any learning target section of a unit test. You may not have any
missing assignments from the chapter in order to take a retake. Any missing/late homework must be
turned by the day of the original test. Failure to turn in any missing/late homework will mean that you
cannot take a retake. No exceptions will be made. If you decide to retake a test then you must first make
corrections to your test and complete some sort of practice for the learning target you will retake (we’ll talk about
what this can be during class, please talk to me if you need help finding something to use for practice). Retakes
can be done before school on Wednesdays or, if you are unable to come in before school, please make
arrangements with me.
Homework
It is expected that you complete all homework assignments on time for this class. Homework will generally
be assigned every Monday-Friday, though there may be exceptions. Unless otherwise noted, homework is due
the day after it is assigned.
If you are absent the day that an assignment is given, then you have as many days as you were absent to make
up the work. For example, if you were absent Monday and Tuesday, then you would have Wednesday and
Thursday to complete the homework and it would be due on Friday. If you were absent the day the homework
was due (but here the day that it was assigned) then the homework is due the day you return. If you are absent
please check my website to find out what was assigned or call your study buddy (you’ll choose a study buddy
during the first few days of school).
Please talk to me if you need more time to complete an assignment. If you talk to me in person before an
assignment is due then I will generally give you an extension. I will not accept emails/phone messages left after
3:15 pm or notes from home as excuses for late homework. Here’s a hint: If you know that you have a lot of
activities after school, lots of homework from other classes, or your dear Aunt Myrtle is visiting from out of town,
talk to me in class that day and ask for an extension. If you are able to get your math homework done anyway,
great! If not, then you have your bases covered.
Please sign and return this page to Mrs. McCausland ASAP. Thank you.
I have read Mrs. McCausland’s syllabus and understand the grading procedures and expectations.
Parent signature__________________________________________
Date
___________
Student name (print)_________________________________________________
Period__________