John F.

Kennedy High School

AAA MATHEMATICS
SYLLABUS 2014-15
Ms. Binder - sbinder@wccusd.net
phone: 431-2300 ext 25821
Room 121

The APPLIED ACADEMICS ACADEMY seeks to instill a solid foundation in

arithmetic in our students as well as skills that allow the student to apply their
knowledge of arithmetic in real world scenarios.

This year we will be examining arithmetic through the lens of language. The
thread that underlies this approach to teaching all of arithmetic is that people talk
about numbers but what they see are quantities. For example, we have seen 3
fingers, 3 apples, 3 tally marks, 3 people, etc.; but we have never seen “threeness''
itself.
In a phrase such as “3 apples”, 3 is an adjective that modifies the noun“apples”.
We refer to such a phrase as a quantity. More formally:

Definition:
A quantity is a phrase that consists of an adjective (in the form of a number) that modifies a
noun (usually referred to as a unit).
People in science talk about quantities, not numbers. That is, they will talk about 3 ounces, 3
grams, 3 pounds, etc., but never just about 3.

Example:
In the quantity “3 apples”, the adjective is 3 and the noun (unit) it modifies is “apples”.

The Underlying Contention:

People tend to see numbers as quantities. And if we allow students to visualize numbers as
being quantities, all of arithmetic becomes much easier to internalize and understand.
SO we will be using the Noun Adjective curriculum this year in concert with REAl WORLD
MATH vol.s 1 and 2 by PCI

We will begin with the cardinality of numbers and review basic arithmetic assumptions. We
hope to end the year with solving basic algebraic equalities using addition, subtraction,
multiplication and division.
Requirements: Materials and Supplies

Materials/Supplies: Students are required to bring the following items to class everyday.

pencils/ pens ( pencils preferred ) Math Folder ( may be kept in classroom)

notepaper Homework
pencil erasers

Rules & Classroom Management Policies

Students are expected to come to class everyday prepared and ready to learn with a
positive attitude. Students are required to act in a behavior conducive to learning,
according to WCCUSD code of conduct, and those rules established by John F.
Kennedy High School. If students are not able to follow the rules, they will be disciplined
according to the steps and procedures detailed in the Student Handbook.

Classroom Grading & Evaluation Policy

Students will receive a grade based on the following categories:

Tests 30%
Class work 30%
Projects 10%
Quizzes 20%
Homework 10%
Total 100%

A 100–90
B 89–80
C 79–70
D 69 - 60
F 59 and below

Class work: Participation in class activities and class assignments are important to informally
assess student learning and understanding. All students are expected to participate in class.
Students will receive a participation grade on a daily basis. Participating in note-taking is a part
of the class experience. Students are expected to take notes in their composition notebooks or
3-ring binder. The notes can be used on the standards-based quizzes. Students are responsible
for any work missed during the instructional hour.

Projects: Students will be given projects periodically throughout the semester. Some of
the projects include Common Core California Performance Standards tasks. Students
will receive information on these projects as the date arises. Students will be given
ample time to complete projects, in some cases extra class time. Students will be
graded on a rubric, which will communication the expectations of the project and assess
specific criteria of the assignment.

Homework: Students will receive homework Monday-Thursday to enforce key math

concepts. Students are expected to complete and turn in all homework in a timely
manner. Homework is usually due the next day, unless otherwise specified by the
teacher. In most cases, homework will be graded on effort and completion.

Quizzes: A quiz will be given at the conclusion of every week in preparation for the Unit
test. Students are allowed to replace previous quiz grades satisfactory or unsatisfactory
with the current week’s quiz so long as there is a parent signature on the previous quiz.

Test Correction Policy:

If the student received a D or lower on the unit test they have an opportunity to correct
and receive up to 1⁄2 credit per question answered correctly. The maximum credit that
they can earn is a C. Students must complete the corrections within one week after the
original grade received during teacher designated times at school.

Parent Signature: __________________________________________________

Student Signature: _________________________________________________