Welcome to Geometry Class!

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Welcome to Geometry Class!

• Pick a slip of paper and find your partner. One
  of you has the question and the other has the
  answer. Once you have a pair, find a place to
  sit together. Introduce yourselves.

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Welcome to Geometry!

• Mrs. Speelman
• 2009-2010

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Who Am I?Two of the following statements are
false. Can you identify which two?

• Mrs. Speelman has been married for almost 6
  years.
• Mrs. Speelmans mom works at the high school.
• Mrs. Speelman was a cheerleader in HS.
• Mrs. Speelman has a dog.
• Mrs. Speelman will help you be successful in this
  class.

• Mrs. Speelman has three children 1 girl and 2
  boys.
• Mrs. Speelman graduated from Solon High School.
• This is Mrs. Speelmans 11th year at Solon (not
  consecutive years).
• Mrs. Speelman got her undergraduate degree from
  Kent State University.
• Mrs. Speelman worked at Diary Queen in Solon.

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Mrs. Michelle Speelman

• Education
• Miami University BS in Marketing
• Kent State University - Masters of Arts in
  Teaching
• Experience (11 years)
• Solon High School 1998 Present

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Objectives

• To apply geometry to real world problems
• To make connections between geometry and algebra
  
• and extend this to other topics
• To employ technology to solve problems
• To learn in a cooperative setting
• To communicate mathematics

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Student Goals Geometry

• Pose mathematical questions, such as What if . .
  .?, meaningfully and appropriately.
• Make conjectures and test their validity.
• Recognize and represent patterns mathematically
  or in prose.
• Appreciate geometry as a connected, systematic
  branch of mathematics.
• Apply geometry to solve problems in both
  mathematical and real-world contexts.
• Critique a logical argument.
• Communicate mathematical understanding
  effectively and formulate complete, logical
  arguments to support conclusions.
• Use algebra to formulate and solve equations
  arising from geometric situations both on and off
  a coordinate grid.
• Exhibit creativity and perseverance in
  mathematical problem solving, with the ability to
  determine when an approach is not working and a
  new direction is needed.

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Required Materials

• Geometry Text with acceptable cover or in a
  binder.
• A sharpened pencil, pen, and colored pencils.
• A supply of notebook graph paper in a 3-ring
  binder.
• A set of 5 colored divider tabs to insert into
  your binder for organizational purposes.
• A TI-30xIIs calculator
• The Geometer, a geometry template available in
  the school bookstore.

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Structure of the class
Study Teams During this course you will
collaborate with other students as a member of a
study team. Together, each team will complete
problems and activities that will help you
discover new mathematical ideas and methods.
This is a very student-centered class. I will
support you as you work, but will not take away
your opportunity to think and investigate for
yourself. In order to be successful in this
class you will need to be a willing and active
participant as you develop your mathematical
understanding.  
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Guidelines for Working in Study Teams

• Follow these guidelines for working in study
  teams
• No talking outside your team.
• Discuss questions with your team before calling
  the teacher over.
• Within your team, keep your conversation on
  mathematics.
• You must try to help anyone in your study team
  who asks.
• Helping your teammate does not mean giving
  answers. Help by giving hints and asking good
  questions.
• Explain and justify your ideas give statements
  and reasons.
• No one alone is as smart as all of us together.
  Do not leave anyone behind or let anyone work
  ahead. Your team is not done until everyone is
  done.
• Clear off tables before getting to work so that
  you can see everyones paper.
• Use study team voices.

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Five Ways of Thinking

• Investigate
• Examine
• Reason Justify
• Visualize
• Choose Strategies Tools

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Grading Scale

• A 90 100
• B 80 - 89.9
• C 70 - 79.9
• D 60 - 69.9
• F 59.9 or below (You earn this!)
• Note Your grade is determined by the percentage
  you have earned of the total possible points.
  Keep a record of all of your own scores on a
  record sheet in the front of your notebook. You
  are capable of figuring your OWN grade at any
  time. Current grades are also accessible on the
  parent viewer.

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Assistance Homework Help

• Assistance I am here to help you so if at any
  time you are having a problem pertaining to this
  class please see me immediately so that we can
  remedy the problem as quickly as possible. I am
  available most days both before and after school.
  The Math Lab is also available during the school
  day.
• Homework Homework Help It is important that
  you complete EVERY homework problem. This course
  is designed to spiral, meaning that topics are
  visited more than once, so you need to do all
  problems to get a complete understanding of the
  material. The solutions to ALL homework problems
  are available online at www.hotmath.com. CPM
  also has many valuable resources in the student
  section at www.cpm.org.

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Assessments

• Class activities and assignments
• Team Test on each unit
• Individual Test on each unit
• Formative Quizzes
• Presentations and Classroom Observation
• Technology activities

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Assignments Grading

• Assignments will be posted in the classroom and
  online. It is your responsibility to write them
  down in class or find them online.
• Both a Team Test and an Individual Test will be
  given after each unit of study and will always be
  announced in advance. Quizzes will be given
  periodically, and they may or may not be
  announced.
• Formative Assessments, Presentations, and Class
  Observations will also factor into your grade.
• Portfolio assignments and projects will be given
  periodically during the course. They will be
  discussed in more detail when assigned.
• I will not grade on a curve nor will grades be
  rounded. However, bonus questions will appear
  occasionally.

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Steps for Success

• Preparation
• Attendance
• Participation
• Independent practice
• Collaboration
• Communication

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Geometry You!
Aside from the smaller projects that you will be
doing throughout the year, near the end of this
course, you will have the opportunity to research
the relationship between geometry and a topic of
interest to you. You will design a project and
present to the class.
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Internet Information

• On my page, you will find daily lessons,
  homework, upcoming tests and quizzes as well as
  some of the class resources. To get to my page
  follow these steps
• 1.   Go to the Solon Schools web page
  www.solonschools.org
• 2.    Choose Schools
• 3.    Choose SHS 9-12
• 4.    Scroll down to my name (Michelle
  Speelman)
• 5.    Choose Calendar from the bottom
• 6.    Choose the appropriate class

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Tonights Assignment

• Check out the class website!
• Complete Student Information Sheet.

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Were All in This Together!

• Welcome to Geometry! I am looking forward to
  assisting you in learning and have high
  expectations of you for this year. If we work
  together, it will be a rewarding and successful
  year for all!