Frequently
Asked Questions
Table of Contents
What
does my student need to be doing to succeed in Algebra?
What
can I do to help my student with his/her algebra homework?
How is
the math grade calculated?
Where
do the points come from?
What does my student need to be doing to succeed in
Algebra?
Take notes in class every day and use those notes to study and
do homework.
Do daily homework neatly and thoroughly.
Participate in classroom discussions and hands-on activities.
Listen and contribute to group problem solving sessions.
Expand the breadth and depth of his/her understanding of math
concepts through the math projects.
Do practice problems to study for quizzes and cumulative final
exams.
Show all work and follow all directions carefully.
What can I do to help my student with his/her algebra
homework?
(Help! I donÕt remember algebra!)
There are a
number of ways you can help, even if you donÕt know how to do the actual math.
Remind students to use the following strategies
when they are stuck: read the relevant section in the textbook, go over their
class notes or call a friend for help.
For word problems, use the Socratic method:
What is the problem asking for? What information does it give you? How can that information help you solve
for x?
Help your student attend to the details in the
directions for the problem or assignment.
Did he/she meet all the requirements?
How is the math grade calculated?
The academic
math grade is a straight percentage: Points received are divided by total
possible points per semester. Points per semester will vary depending on the
pace of the class.
Where do the points come from?
Each nightÕs
homework is worth 2 points. If at least 60% of the answers are correct and the
homework is handed in on time, students will receive both points. If a student
gets less than 60% of the homework problems right, he or she has the option of
re-doing those problems for full credit. If homework is more than one day late,
the highest possible number of points is 1.
Quizzes are
worth 25 points and are given about every two weeks or every 3-6 sections, depending
on the difficulty of the material. Students are notified about quizzes a week
in advance and there will be a review session before each quiz.
Projects are
worth 75 points and are usually assigned every two chapters. Projects are
long-term assignments and students are expected to challenge themselves with
creative thinking and put in effort to produce their best work. Projects are an
excellent way for students who are nervous about tests to improve their grades,
The final
exams are worth 75 points. There will be one at the end of each semester
covering the material from that semester.
Last revised: 10/19/05