I am totally invested in your complete understanding - you should be too.

Required Materials:

What is valued in the classroom (i.e. what goes into your grade!):

1. Class participation and In- and Out-of-Class Effort (oral assessment) - being a regular part of class discussion, coming well prepared for discussion in class, showing enthusiasm for the learning experience, volunteering solutions with excitement, displaying a sincere interest in the mathematics of the problems, showing effort on all in-class activities including computer lab work.  How do you view your homework?  As a chore to get over as quickly as possible?  As an aid in your understanding?  As something collaborative you can work on with your friends?  As a way to work with your teacher to help your understanding?  Not sure how to improve your class participation grade?  Check out Ms. Schettino's Rubric for Class Participation.
2. Excellent Preparation - obvious perseverance on all homework problems, hand-in homework problems done well and on time, solid evidence of effort in all aspects of class, taking responsibility for misunderstandings and incorrect solutions, seeking extra help when needed from classmates, peers, and especially the teacher (including all resources at your disposal.)
3. Written assessment - Improved work on all types of problem sets, be it partner, solo, group, or hand-in, with notes or without notes. Well-written solutions, solid methods, and interesting ideas, evidence of the ability to write mathematics with clarity, precision and accuracy. Want to see how Ms. Schettino will grade your journal entries?  Check out Ms. Schettino's Rubric for Journal Entries.

Your final grade will be comprised of the following assessment grades, all weighted equally:

• A class participation grade - see rubric
• Each problem set grade (probably 5 or 6)
• Quiz grades (all averaged at the end of the semester count as a test)
• Journal Grade

Please note:

1. You are expected to get to class in a timely fashion.  Three tardies counts as an unexcused absence. All tardies are reported to Student Services.
2. In all cases of excused absences, students are required to make up any missed work within 48 hours of their return. (Fine Print, p. 7)
3. You should familiarize yourself with the unexcused absence policy. (Fine Print, p.7)" Please note that any in-class work that is missed due to an unexcused absence may not be made up for credit. This includes tests, quizzes, or other graded work that is completed in class."
4. Daily Homework will be checked visually everyday. If there is no evidence of sufficient time spent on an assignment, it will be noted and affect your semester grade.
5. Missed hand-ins homework assignments cannot be made up, you must give to me by the end of the day.
6. It is encouraged that homework be done collaboratively, even hand-in assignments.
7. However, take-home problem sets (or TESTS) are to be done solely by yourself without help from anyone. You may contact me for clarification or if you need a push in the right direction. Any work that is done with others and handed in will be considered plagiarism.
8. Corrections will be due the third class period after the assesments are handed back to you  You will gain back 1/3 of the points you lost. You must do a journal entry on at least one problem that you corrected on your next journal assignment.  However, only two of these new grades will count in your semester average and will not be reflected in your midsemester average. However, you are encouraged to do as many as you like.
9. Please do not hesitate to IM or e-mail with a question on homework at any time before 11:00 p.m. you may make an appointment for extra help then. For other times, please see Ms. Schettino's schedule.