Pre-Calculus Course Syllabus 2011 - 2012 “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 Mrs. Cathy Doxtater cdoxtater@houstonchristianhs.org (713) 580–6088 Room #205 PAC Class Time: A2, B2, B3 Conference Period: B1, by appointment Tutorials: 7:30 – 8:15 am (see conflicts) A Days: 3:15 – 4:00 pm B Days: 2:15 – 3:00 pm
CONFLICTS TO BEFORE-DURING-AFTER SCHOOL TUTORIALS: Lunch Duty (Weeks of Aug 15 – 19 and Jan 4 – 6) Faculty Devotions (Tuesdays, 7:45 – 8:20 a.m.) Dept. Chair Meetings (9/13, 10/17, 11/14, 1/9, 2/21, 3/27, 4/24 @ pm) Faculty Meetings (9/23, 10/7, 11/4, 1/13, 2/17, 4/20, 5/4 @ pm) Grade Level Meetings (9/22, 10/27, 12/8, 1/19, 3/8 @ am) Math Dept. Meetings (Chapel Days @ lunch) NHS Chapter Meetings (8/31, 9/21, 10/19, 11/8, 11/30, 1/30, 2/15, 3/8, 4/4, 5/2 @ lunch) NHS Officer Meetings (Aug 29; Sept 6, 19; Oct 3, 17, 31; Nov 7, 28; Jan 4, 25; Feb 1, 13, 21; Mar 19; Apr 2, 16, 30; May 7, 14, 21 @ lunch)
Resources and Materials: (YOU ARE TO BRING THE FOLLOWING EVERY DAY) § § § § § § §
Textbook: Hungerford, Jovell, Mayberry, Pre-Calculus: A Graphing Approach. TI-Nspire CAS Graphing Calculator with Touchpad and 1 set of AAA batteries. st Lecture notes printed out and in your binders BEFORE arriving to class (found weekly on my web page after 1 week). If not posted by Sunday at 5pm, you will not need to print that week’s notes. Organized binder (for PRE-CALCULUS only) with COLLEGE-RULED paper and dividers (course calendars, handouts, homework assignments – dated and titled, quizzes) PENCIL (ALL work is to be done in pencil) PEN (for corrections on homework – NOT black!) Set of whiteboard markers (not the chunky chisel points) to be used on the small white boards.
Course Description/Objectives: §
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Overview: Pre-Calculus is a course which revisits previously studied math concepts at a more accelerated level, connects functions thematically, and introduces new families of functions. This course is explored from algebraic, graphical, numerical and verbal perspectives in preparation for the analytic needs in the subsequent courses of Calculus and Statistics. Content: Equations and Systems of Equations, Polynomial, Rational, Exponential, Logarithmic and Trigonometric Functions and Their Graphs, Conic Sections, Statistics and Probability, and Limits and Continuity Instructional Methods: lecture, discovery, student presentation, individual and group work Goals: critical reading, analytical thinking, creative synthesis and problem-solving, attention to detail Objective: strengthening of your mathematical understanding and mechanical execution, and preparation for your math course next year as well as college course and major options Major Work: Tests, Homework Assignments, Weekly Homework Quizzes, Mastery Quizzes, Participation (present work at the board during class, study group activity in my room outside of class, group work, phone rules, etc.)
Course Calendar/Schedule: §
Assignments: As stated on the Course Calendars. § Required Problems are those which must be done by the next class day and will be discussed in class if there are questions on specific problems. § Optional Problems are to be done at the discretion of the student and will not be discussed in class. Some of these problems will appear on Weekly HW Quizzes and on Tests, therefore it is a good idea to work these problem sets in order to maintain conceptual and technical understanding and skills. You are welcome to come in and check answers or ask for help on these problems.
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Due dates: Always by the next class meeting. We are building new skills at each class meeting, therefore, if you have not completed your homework, you are not ready to absorb new material. This should be quite logical to you, and this policy should not need to be defended by the instructor.
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Weekly Homework Quizzes will always be the first day of the week that you have class at the VERY BEGINNING of class (Strong Suggestion: DO NOT BE TARDY!!!!) They will cover the homework that was due Monday - Friday of the