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Algebra 1 at THS
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Introduction
Welcome to Algebra 1 at Tipton High School. This website was created to provide you, the student, with 24-7 access to all of the resources that will support your study of Algebra 1.
One of the goals of this course is for students to achieve a level of understanding and competency that will allow them to be fully prepared to take Higher Level Math Courses in the coming years. Achieving this goal requires dedication and a willingness to work hard both in and out of class.
Algebra 1 is a rigorous and demanding course. Students will find it to be more difficult than middle school math courses they have previously taken. The work in Algebra 1 is advanced mathematical work. Being successful in this course requires dedication and hard work. The expectations for students are also set much higher in this course. Students will need to dedicate more time and effort to math than in previous years. Students will be expected to complete all assignments. Students are also expected to work and learn independently. Along with these greater academic challenges come greater rewards. This course is excellent preparation for future mathematics courses, and students will get a lot out of it, provided they put the proper effort into it.
"Grade-Shock"
Some students may experience "grade shock" while in this class. This means that some students who have typically received high grades in previous math classes may find themselves getting lower grades in this class, especially at the beginning of the course. As with any class, this usually means that the student needs to be patient, seek extra help, and put extra effort into studying and doing homework assignments.
How to Succeed in Algebra 1
#1 Suggestion: Keep up with the assignments & complete them to the best of your ability. Over the years, I have found this to be the best indicator of a student's success.
#2: Remember that the goal of an assignment is to understand the material - not just to get the problems done!!!!
#3 Treat Assignments as Practice Tests: A significant portion of your score on assessments will be determined from your solutions to free-response questions. For these problems, the correct answer can count for as little as 25% of the total score. The rest of the points are awarded on the quality of your solution to the problem. This means that if you have correct answers for all problems - with no (or disorganized, or incomplete, or unreadable) supporting work - you will score extremely low. If you have a few incorrect answers, but well-organized, mathematically correct & complete solutions that use proper mathematical vocabulary and symbolism - you will generally do well. You should use your assignments as an opportunity to practice presenting well-organized mathematical solutions to problems.
#4 As a Special Note: Lots of the errors that students make on assessments are not Algebra mistakes, they are basic computation mistakes and/or "silly" mistakes. This can significantly lower the overall grade, so for that reason, it is important for students to carefully check their work on assessments and learn to overcome these types of mistakes.
#5 Take Good Notes and Keep Them Organized: Good notes are essential for success in any math class. They are essential for review for tests as well as for reference on homework assignments.
#6 Become as Self-Sufficient as Possible: There are several students and just one teacher. Time is too valuable for you to just wait for help. Use your class notes, my website, my YouTube Channel and Google for sample problems that might shed some light on your difficulty. Learn tenacity - don't just "fold" at the first sign of difficulty!
#7 Utilize my YouTube Channel: Many times, students need to hear an explanation more than once to fully grasp a new concept. This can be accomplished by using the videos that are available on my YouTube Channel. New videos are being added on a regular basis, so the selection of videos are continually growing.
#8 Become Proficient at Using a Graphing Calculator!!! Again, there are several graphing calculator tutorials available on my YouTube Channel.
#9 Apply 5 Simple Rules:
Contacting Me
Students, if you have any questions, please feel free to seek help early. I am available M, T, W, TH, and F from 7:45am to 8:00am and during 1st Advisory.
This invitation also extends to parents and/or guardians, who are encouraged to contract me whenever they have questions or concerns.
Finally, I would like to assure you that I will do my best to create a positive learning environment throughout the school year. Together we can all have a successful year.
Thank you!
Mrs. Cole
Welcome to Algebra 1 at Tipton High School. This website was created to provide you, the student, with 24-7 access to all of the resources that will support your study of Algebra 1.
One of the goals of this course is for students to achieve a level of understanding and competency that will allow them to be fully prepared to take Higher Level Math Courses in the coming years. Achieving this goal requires dedication and a willingness to work hard both in and out of class.
Algebra 1 is a rigorous and demanding course. Students will find it to be more difficult than middle school math courses they have previously taken. The work in Algebra 1 is advanced mathematical work. Being successful in this course requires dedication and hard work. The expectations for students are also set much higher in this course. Students will need to dedicate more time and effort to math than in previous years. Students will be expected to complete all assignments. Students are also expected to work and learn independently. Along with these greater academic challenges come greater rewards. This course is excellent preparation for future mathematics courses, and students will get a lot out of it, provided they put the proper effort into it.
"Grade-Shock"
Some students may experience "grade shock" while in this class. This means that some students who have typically received high grades in previous math classes may find themselves getting lower grades in this class, especially at the beginning of the course. As with any class, this usually means that the student needs to be patient, seek extra help, and put extra effort into studying and doing homework assignments.
How to Succeed in Algebra 1
#1 Suggestion: Keep up with the assignments & complete them to the best of your ability. Over the years, I have found this to be the best indicator of a student's success.
#2: Remember that the goal of an assignment is to understand the material - not just to get the problems done!!!!
#3 Treat Assignments as Practice Tests: A significant portion of your score on assessments will be determined from your solutions to free-response questions. For these problems, the correct answer can count for as little as 25% of the total score. The rest of the points are awarded on the quality of your solution to the problem. This means that if you have correct answers for all problems - with no (or disorganized, or incomplete, or unreadable) supporting work - you will score extremely low. If you have a few incorrect answers, but well-organized, mathematically correct & complete solutions that use proper mathematical vocabulary and symbolism - you will generally do well. You should use your assignments as an opportunity to practice presenting well-organized mathematical solutions to problems.
#4 As a Special Note: Lots of the errors that students make on assessments are not Algebra mistakes, they are basic computation mistakes and/or "silly" mistakes. This can significantly lower the overall grade, so for that reason, it is important for students to carefully check their work on assessments and learn to overcome these types of mistakes.
#5 Take Good Notes and Keep Them Organized: Good notes are essential for success in any math class. They are essential for review for tests as well as for reference on homework assignments.
#6 Become as Self-Sufficient as Possible: There are several students and just one teacher. Time is too valuable for you to just wait for help. Use your class notes, my website, my YouTube Channel and Google for sample problems that might shed some light on your difficulty. Learn tenacity - don't just "fold" at the first sign of difficulty!
#7 Utilize my YouTube Channel: Many times, students need to hear an explanation more than once to fully grasp a new concept. This can be accomplished by using the videos that are available on my YouTube Channel. New videos are being added on a regular basis, so the selection of videos are continually growing.
#8 Become Proficient at Using a Graphing Calculator!!! Again, there are several graphing calculator tutorials available on my YouTube Channel.
#9 Apply 5 Simple Rules:
- Understand, don't memorize!
- Ask why, not how.
- See every problem as a challenge.
- Learn techniques, not results.
- Make sure you understand each topic before going on to the next.
Contacting Me
Students, if you have any questions, please feel free to seek help early. I am available M, T, W, TH, and F from 7:45am to 8:00am and during 1st Advisory.
This invitation also extends to parents and/or guardians, who are encouraged to contract me whenever they have questions or concerns.
Finally, I would like to assure you that I will do my best to create a positive learning environment throughout the school year. Together we can all have a successful year.
Thank you!
Mrs. Cole
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