Ms.

Elizabeth Bourgart
ebourgart@chicagotechacademy.org
Room 211
Office Hours: Wednesdays after school of by appointment

Precalculus/Calculus Course Syllabus

2015-2016

Precalculus is designed to focus on the subjects, skills, and insights needed to understand
Calculus and to promote critical thinking and problem solving. Precalculus includes the study
of arithmetic, algebra, coordinate geometry, trigonometry, and, most of all, functions, building
on previous mathematical knowledge and experience. Our focus during the first semester will
be on these essential precalculus skills. During the second semester, we will dive into the
basics of Calculus. Calculus is the study of change. There are two branches of calculus:
differential calculus, which focuses on rates of change and slopes of curves, and integral
calculus, which focuses on accumulation of quantities and areas under or between curves.
The goal is to prepare yourself for the rigor of a college-level calculus course.
We will not be using a class textbook, but you will receive materials on a daily basis that you
should organize in a math-only 3-ring binder. These materials will act as a textbook daily
notes and activities are the resources you will utilize the most. You will also be encouraged to
work in pairs or groups on a regular basis, building problem-solving skills and important group
work skills together.
Classroom Goals
Prepare for college-level math!
Grow as mathematicians, logical thinkers, and problem solvers
Develop independence and responsibility for your learning
Understand your role in a team and actively participate in tasks
Approach challenges with confidence and critical thinking!
Resources
Daily notes and activities
Access more precalculus resources at:
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/guides/Education/High-School-Precalculus.pg_0.html#0
Supplies
Math-specific binder
Notebook/loose leaf paper
Pencils/pens
Calculator (TI-30X IIS or TI-83 or TI-84)
Homework
Homework will be assigned almost daily and will be posted on our class Google
calendar on a weekly basis
Late homework will be accepted for half credit if completed in the next office hours
(Wednesday)

Unit Summaries
For each unit we cover, you will be required to write a unit summary
This includes a short summary paragraph of the unit, then bullet points explaining the
important concepts from each lesson
You will receive more guidelines on this soon, and this will go under the Homework
category of your grade
Re-take Policy
On any assessment, if you received below 65%, you will be required to re-take it. This
involves:
o coming to office hours to review what you didnt understand
o re-taking the assessment in office hours when you feel prepared to re-take it
You can only re-take each assessment ONCE
Grades
Grades will be assigned according to the following scale:
o A 90-100%
o B 80-89%
o C 70-79%
o D 60-69%
o F below 60%
Grades will be weighted according to the following percentages:
o Assessments 50%
o Homework 20%
o In-class work 20%
o Final Exam 10%
Technology
You will be repeatedly engaged in using the TI-83/TI-84 graphing calculator
Instruction will frequently integrate the use of a document camera, a projector, and a
laptop computer. You will sometimes use laptops to practice or research concepts
online.
If you are absent
Talk to your classmates or teacher to find out what you missed OUTSIDE of class time!
It is YOUR responsibility to find out what you missed and acquire the necessary
materials
Look for the handouts you missed in the files labeled in the back of the classroom.
These files are labeled with the day of the week and will be updated weekly.
You have the same number of days as you were absent to make up the work you
missed

Student signature: ___________________________________

Date: ________________

Parent/Guardian signature: ____________________________________ Date: ___________