Jay Pelchar
Mathematics Teacher
This is my 15th year in education. I began my professional career as a mechanical engineer, before deciding to embark on a career as a teacher. Since becoming a teacher, I have taught all levels of mathematics up through AP Calculus. While the majority of my teaching career has been spent teaching mathematics I have also taught physics, computer programming, and physical education. From 2002 through 2006 I served as the Director of Athletics for Lewis Mills High School.
I currently teach students in grades 9-12 in the following classes: Honors Geometry, Consumer Mathematics, and Algebra. The primary goal in all of my classes is to improve student’s critical thinking skills and logical reasoning ability. I emphasize to my students that mathematics is exercise for the brain that will provide benefits that can be applied to any career they might choose. Below are some specific course descriptions for my classes:
Geometry, Level 1
Materials
Textbook – Geometry, Prentice Hall Mathematics
Calculator – Graphing calculators. You should only buy the Texas Instruments TI-83 Plus or TI-84 Plus models. Although we will not be using calculators on a daily basis in Geometry, they are an integral part of the math curriculum, and will be used extensively in future courses.
Notebook – Described below.
Course Objectives
- Students will improve their reasoning ability and critical thinking skills.
- Students will acquire the geometry skills necessary for success in future mathematics courses.
- Students will strive to become independent learners, including the ability to read and comprehend a mathematics textbook.
Consumer Math
Materials
Textbook – Business Math, 15th edition, Schultheis and Kaczmarski
Calculator – Students must have a basic calculator
Notebook – Described below.
Course Objectives
- Students will improve their reasoning ability and critical thinking skills.
- Students will acquire the math skills necessary to function as an educated American consumer.
- Students will strive to become independent learners, including the ability to read and comprehend a mathematics textbook and the ability to work with spreadsheets.
Algebra
Materials
Textbook – Algebra, Glencoe Publishers
Calculator – Lewis Mills requires all students to own their own graphing calculators. You should only buy the Texas Instruments TI-83 Plus or TI-84 Plus models.
Notebook – Described below.
Course Objectives
- Students will improve their reasoning ability, critical thinking skills, an problem solving ability.
- Students will acquire the math skills necessary to create a foundation for higher level mathematics.
- Students will strive to become independent learners, including the ability to read and comprehend a mathematics textbook.
The following policies/procedures apply to all classes
Notebooks
A separate, 3-ring math notebook is required, preferably a 1” binder (anything bigger is unnecessary). All handouts and returned materials will be hole punched to fit in a binder. Notes are given daily on notesheets provided in class. The notebook must be split into sections for “class notes”, “quizzes & tests”, and “homework” using divider indexes.
Failure to bring the notebook daily, keep it organized, and use it in class will result in deductions to the student’s “preparation/participation” portion of their grade. Mr. Pelchar will have new binders with tab dividers for sale for $2. Students are responsible for getting notes from a classmate if absent from class.
Homework
Success in Mathematics can only be achieved through practice; therefore, homework will be assigned on a regular basis. One of the most important aspects of this course is the way students are expected to take responsibility for their assignments. The first few minutes of every class is dedicated to reviewing homework and addressing any problems that students might have encountered in the previous lesson. The procedure will be as follows: students will check their assignments against the answers that will be displayed on the overhead, during which time I will assess students on the completeness and quality of their work (NOT on the correctness of their final answers). Students are then responsible for asking questions on problems that they did incorrectly.
A student that does not participate in the self-correction portion of the homework process will get very little out of the homework experience, other than possibly a few points for completing their homework. The points earned in this manner will be small in comparison to the points lost on quizzes and tests when these same questions are answered incorrectly. Students must understand that it is just as important to correct the assignment and ask questions as it is to do the assignment in the first place.
Missed homework assignments can not be made up (unless the student was absent from class) and late homework assignments will not be accepted. Calculations must be shown for all problems; answers only will receive no credit.
Make Up Work
All notes, classwork, and homework missed during absences must be made up within a reasonable amount of time following the student’s return to school. Work that remains uncompleted will be given a grade of zero at the end of the marking period. Work missed as a result of a class cut cannot be made up and will be given a grade of zero.
Quizzes and tests: If a student is absent the day of a quiz or test (after having been present up to that point), they will make it up during the first class period they return. If they are able to make it up during a free period prior to that time, they may do so by making arrangements with me. The number of days a student is absent prior to a quiz or test will be the maximum number of days allowed before the student makes it up in class.
Class Behavior
· Tardies: Come to class on time. If you are in the hallway when the bell rings, you will be marked tardy. If you come in late, bring a signed pass (telling me “Mr Bogen stopped me in the hall & made me late” is not acceptable… either bring a signed pass or take it up with the teacher that made you late). Every three tardies counts as an absence from class and earns you an office detention. If you are more than 15 minutes late to class it will count as an absence (in accordance with the student handbook).
· Math class is not the time to use the bathroom or get drinks from the water fountain. Learn to use your study halls, lunch period, and passing times efficiently so that when you are in math class, you are prepared and ready to learn. Frequent requests to leave the room, or requests made at inappropriate times will be denied.
· No passes to the nurse, guidance, or the office will be issued. Exceptions will only be made in very rare and dire circumstances. Try not to ask; if you do, make sure it is rare and dire. If you have a medical condition that I should be aware of, please speak with me and/or our school nurse.
· Come to class prepared with your notebook, calculator, and pen or pencil.
· Be attentive and courteous. If you wish to speak, please raise your hand to be recognized. Poor and inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated and will result in disciplinary action.
· No food, drink, or gum chewing allowed in class. Any food or drink (other than water in clear plastic bottles) will be confiscated and not returned.
· Cell phones, ipods, etc are against school policy and are not allowed at any time.
· Work for other subject areas is not allowed in Math class.
· Students are expected to be attentive in class; your head cannot be resting on your desk.
Cheating Policy
Any students found copying another student’s work (homework, computer projects, etc.) will receive a zero on the assignment, as will the student who allowed their classmate to copy their work. Depending on the particular incident, students may be referred to the office and parents notified.
Grading
Each assignment will be worth a certain number of points (values will be announced as the assignments are given). Unit Tests occur once or twice per marking period, at the end of each unit. Quizzes occur more frequently, about five or six per marking period. Homework is generally due the next day while Projects are worked on in class for a couple of days, then completed and turned in a couple of days later. At the end of the marking period, the student’s grade will be determined by dividing the total points earned by the total number of points available. The approximate percentage of the overall grade is shown below.
Tests…………….………..………...35 %
Quizzes….. ………………………...25 %
Homework…….…..………………..20 %
Projects…………....……………....10 %
Help Sessions
I will be available whenever possible to provide assistance to students. Please see me to make an appointment! If I don’t know you’re coming, I might be away from my desk.
My goal is always to have all students complete the year having had a successful and rewarding experience in mathematics class. Remember, you always get out of something what you put into it, so do your best!
|
