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Check out some
important Links The HS of Commerce School Code for the SAT is 2 2 2 - 0 5 3. S.A.T. Prep uses various materials and methods of instruction to prepare students for the Scholastic Aptitude Test in Mathematics and English. Students will meet with their Mathematics or English instructor for two-week sessions and will then alternate to the other instructor for another two-week session, thus alternating between Mathematics and English for two-week "blocks" throughout the course.
In the mathematics portion of the course, the appropriate use of calculators will be emphasized, as will various "mental math strategies." Students will take practice tests under conditions that mirror the SAT Test. Different strategies will be explored to optimize student achievement on the actual test. Further, students will practice various skills necessary for the SAT Test through various class work and homework assignments. As time permits, students will use the Internet to search for information on various college options. Finally, students will explore various hands-on models to deepen their understanding of the mathematical concepts covered in the curriculum.
GRADING POLICY:
Classwork: All assignments are to be completed on time. Practice is crucial for the student to gain mastery in the concepts you will encounter.
Homework: Homework assignments in the form of worksheets based on material covered in the class will be regularly assigned. Again, all assignments are to be completed on time.
Test & Quizzes: Quizzes will be issued routinely (usually announced, but not limited to). Tests will always be announced several days in advance. Midyear and Final exams will be given extra weight (TBA).
Participation in class discussions/activities is expected, especially in sharing results of HW efforts. I hope you will consider your classmates (and myself) as part of one team, working together to unlock the information before us. Being unprepared to share with the class will adversely affect your grade.
End-of-Term (Math Portion) grades will be derived from the following distribution:
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The final grade for the marking term and course will be determined in conjunction with the English instructor. Due to the fact that students enter the course with various levels of preparation, much emphasis will be placed on the amount of advancement students make during the course and not solely on raw test scores. If the instructors deem extenuating circumstances warrant a final grade to be determined by some other means, such circumstances will be thoroughly discussed with the student in a private con-ference before the issuance of the final grade.
RESOURCES:
Textbook: AMSCO's Preparing for the SAT I - Mathematics. This is an "in class" resource. Individual copies will not be assigned to students.
Calculators are exceptionally useful on the math portion of the SAT but they are not specifically required. Students should practice various mental math strategies in addition to calculator skills. Further, since in the actual SAT test the student must provide his/her own calculator, students are required to provide their own calculators in this class. Thus, each student will gain practice in using the calculator he/she will be using in the actual SAT test. The type of calculator each student uses is a matter of choice. Graphing calculators are very useful but are not required. A scientific calculator is that can work with fractions and with exponents and roots higher than 2 will prove very useful. The price range for such machines is a modest $10 - $15, and for the amount of work it will save you, I guarantee it will be a wise investment. Simple "check book" / four function calculators that do little more than add, subtract, multiply, and divide are useful, but are limited.
Mr. Whitney's Mathematics Home Page:
http://users.rcn.com/mwhitney.massed/>>> Go directly to the College Info Page >>> Click on to go to my Links Page.
Important Links on the WWW >>> Check out the S.A.T. Question of the Day from The College Board. <<<
>>> FAFSA on the Web ... from the US Dept. of Education <<<
ATTENDANCE:
Attendance in all courses is vitally important. If you are going to be absent for any extended time, you or your parent should contact the instructors through your counselor to arrange make up work. The attendance policy of the HS of Commerce will be rigorously enforced in this course.
Due to the alternating blocks … two-weeks in English, two-weeks in Mathematics … students must make the extra effort to find out what work was missed at the end of a "two-week block." This is the student's responsibility! If the student fails to seek out work missed during absences, such work will be graded as zeros.
CONTACTING YOUR INSTRUCTOR & EXTRA-ASSISTANCE:
Wednesday is my designated extra-help afternoon, when I will plan to stay at least one-hour to assist students. However, I generally am available every afternoon (except Tuesdays when I am required to attend faculty meetings). Please do not hesitate to take advantage of this extra time. If any students have computers and Internet access at home, feel free to email me with any questions/concerns you have at the following email accounts:
School:
whitneym@sps.springfield.ma.us Home:
mwhitney.massed@rcn.com METHOD FOR PARENTS TO COMMUNICATE WITH TEACHER:
Parent(s) who would like to speak with me should contact the Counseling Office at 787-7220 and your child's counselor will make arrangements for us to meet at a mutually convenient time. Also, if you prefer I will call you at a designated time. (Generally, any such meetings/calls should take place before or after school hours of 7:20-2:15 when I will be involved in teaching or other school business.) My email account <mwhitney@sps.springfield.ma.us> is also a useful means to contact me. If you are concerned about your child's progress between report cards, you should also contact the counselor and request a progress report, which I will write and mail to you.
For more information that is of importance to parents ... go to my Parents' Info Page
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