COURSE SYLLABUS

ALGEBRA

GRADE 8

Course Description:  This course covers the goals and objectives from the North Carolina Standard Course of Study for Algebra I.  It includes operations with polynomials and matrices, the study of relations and linear functions, and an introduction to nonlinear functions.  Appropriate technology will be incorporated into instruction and assessment.

Textbook:  Algebra I by Prentice Hall, 2004

Required Materials:  Textbook, notebook, TI-83/84 graphing calculator, pencils

Course Requirements:  Students will come to class each day with required materials and completed assignments.  Six weeks grades will be determined by:
                       
Homework Grade:  Students will start with a grade of 100.  Six homework assignments @ 10 points each will be graded (approximately one per week).  Students will not be given advanced notice on which homework assignment will be graded – all homework assignments are expected to be completed.  Points lost for incorrect or incomplete responses will be deducted from the initial grade of 100.

            Quiz Grade:  4 quizzes/projects (all announced) @ 20 points each. 
Quiz average will be points earned divided by 80 possible points.

            Test Average: 2 Chapter Tests at 50 points each.       Test average will be
            percentage correct.     

            Six Weeks Average: (homework + quiz + test)/3      

Classroom management policies and procedures:  Students are expected to enter the classroom promptly after the class change, sit in their assigned seats, and be ready to follow the instructions of the teacher.  Students requiring more than one verbal warning will be moved to an alternate seat to help focus attention.  Additional warnings will result in time after school, time served during break, referral to the headmaster, and/or Friday School.

Homework and overall expectations:  Students are expected to attempt all assignments.  Appropriate guided practice will be provided during the class period to support independent practice at home.  In addition, students may seek additional assistance before school, during break, or after school.

 

Major course objectives:
           
            Goal 1:  Perform operations with numbers and expressions to solve problems.

            Goal 2:  Describe geometric figures in the coordinate plane algebraically.

            Goal 3:              Collect, organize and interpret data with matrices and linear models to
  solve problems.

            Goal 4:  Use relations and functions to solve problems.

The North Carolina Standard Course of Study for Algebra I may be accessed at http://www.ncpublicschools.org/curriculum/mathematics/scos/2003/9-12/45algebra1

STANDARD COURSE OF STUDY

MATHEMATICS :: 2003 :: TO BE IMPLEMENTED 9-12 :: ALGEBRA I
ALGEBRA I
High School Grades

Algebra 1 continues the study of algebraic concepts. It includes operations with polynomials and matrices, creation and application of linear functions and relations, algebraic representations of geometric relationships, and an introduction to nonlinear functions. Students will be expected to describe and translate among graphic, algebraic, numeric, tabular, and verbal representations of relations and use those representations to solve problems. Appropriate technology, from manipulatives to calculators and application software, should be used regularly for instruction and assessment. Prerequisites Operate with the real numbers to solve problems. Find, identify, and interpret the slope and intercepts of a linear relation. Visually determine a line of best fit for a given scatterplot; explain the meaning of the line; and make predictions using the line. Collect, organize, analyze, and display data to solve problems. Apply the Pythagorean Theorem to solve problems.

 

Number and Operations
Competency Goal 1	The learner will perform operations with numbers and expressions to solve problems.
	Objectives 1.01 Write equivalent forms of algebraic expressions to solve problems. Apply the laws of exponents. Operate with polynomials. Factor polynomials. 1.02 Use formulas and algebraic expressions, including iterative and recursive forms, to model and solve problems. 1.03 Model and solve problems using direct variation.
Geometry and Measurement
Competency Goal 2	The learner will describe geometric figures in the coordinate planealgebraically.
	Objectives 2.01 Find the lengths and midpoints of segments to solve problems. 2.02 Use the parallelism or perpendicularity of lines and segments to solve problems.
Data Analysis and Probability
Competency Goal 3	The learner will collect, organize, and interpret data with matrices and linear models to solve problems.
	Objectives 3.01 Use matrices to display and interpret data. 3.02 Operate (addition, subtraction, scalar multiplication) with matrices to solve problems. 3.03 Create linear models for sets of data to solve problems. Interpret constants and coefficients in the context of the data. Check the model for goodness-of-fit and use the model, where appropriate, to draw conclusions or make predictions.
Algebra
Competency Goal 4	The learner will use relations and functions to solve problems.
	Objectives 4.01 Use linear functions or inequalities to model and solve problems; justify results. Solve using tables, graphs, and algebraic properties. Interpret constants and coefficients in the context of the problem. 4.02 Graph, factor, and evaluate quadratic functions to solve problems. 4.03 Use systems of linear equations or inequalities in two variables to model and solve problems. Solve using tables, graphs, and algebraic properties; justify results. 4.04 Graph and evaluate exponential functions to solve problems.

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