Putnam City Schools

2014-2015 Course Syllabus/Parent Notification Letter

Course Title: Geometry

Credit:

Instructor: Mr. Chad Ellis

Room Number: 131A

Telephone Extension: 2168

Planning time: 6th Period

School Email: cellis@putnamcityschools.org

Textbook Name: Prentice Hall Geometry

Web page: http://mrellisclasses.weebly.com

Publisher: Pearson

What your child will learn:

The newest state standards for Geometry are published on my website: http://mrellisclasses.weebly.com
Sequence of learning: (set by the district)
Dates
Unit
Standards
Semester 1
August 20 September 16
Unit 1 (19 days) Foundations
1.1 1,2 2.2c
September 17 October 7
Unit 2 (15 days) Parallel & Perpendicular Lines
2.2a,b,c
October 8 November 5
Unit 3 (20 days) Triangles & Congruence
2.5a,b
November 6 November 24
Unit 4 (12 days) Similarity
2.4a,b
November 30 December 15
Unit 5 (12 days) Coordinate Geometry
5.1, 5.2b
December 16
Semester Review
All Above
December 17&18
Semester Test 20% of grade
All Above
Semester 2
January 5 February 2
Unit 6 (20 days) Polygons & Quadrilaterals
2.3a,b,c 2.4d 5.2a
February 3 March 2
Unit 7 (20 days ) Right Triangles & Trigonometry
3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4
March 3 March 30
Unit 8 (15 days) 3D Figures & Models
4.1a,b 4.2 4.3
March 31 April 20
Unit 9 (15 days) Circles
2.6a,b
(Dates of Unit 9 may vary due to the yet unannounced dates of the state OCCT tests in April.)
May 16 May 20
Comprehensive Final Review
All Standards
May 23 May 24
Comprehensive Final Exam 20% of grade
All Standards

Teaching methods:
Teaching methods will include direct classroom instruction, small group instruction, hands on demonstration/exploration
of geometric concepts. Students will be required to take notes. Most work will be turned in via the website showbie.com.
Students will complete the majority of their daily work in class using the Showbie app on the classroom iPads.


Vocabulary:
Geometry is a vocabulary intensive subject. Students must possess the vocabulary of algebra, and be dedicated to
learning the language of geometry. In Geometry words have very specific meanings that may not align with the meaning
of the same word in everyday English. A comprehensive vocabulary list would be too extensive for this document but is
available on my website. http://mrellisclasses.weebly.com
Grades:
Percentage
90%-100%
80%-89%
70%-79%
60%-69%
0%-59%

Letter Grade
A
B
C
D
F

Grade Composition
Daily/Homework
Weekly Note Checks
Quizzes
Unit tests
Final Exams

10%
10%
10%
50%
20%

Tests required: Students will be tested often in this class.

Pre-tests: A comprehensive pretest will be administered at the beginning of the school year. Each unit will have a pretest. These pre-tests are not for a grade but to set a benchmark of the students understanding of a subject area before
the unit has been taught. These pre-tests will focus the instruction on areas of need.
Unit Tests: At the end of each unit will be a district unit test. These tests are highly important and will be weighted as
50% of the students grade. Missed unit tests can be made up after school in the testing center.
Final Exams: At the end of each semester there will be a final exam. These final exams are comprehensive. First
semester final will include everything taught first semester. The end of year final will cover the entire year. Exemptions
will be available as provide for in the school handbook. If a student is not exempt by school policy, then it is
imperative that they are present for the final exams. They are weighted (by district policy) at 20% of the
final grade.
Homework guidelines:
If a student does not complete their daily work in class it will then be homework. Daily work is typically completed in
class on the Showbie application. If it is not competed in class, then the student will need to complete it at home.
Showbie has mobile apps for Apple devices. It can also be accessed on the Showbie.com website. The students will
know their Showbie logins. If the student accesses their work through the website they will need to do their work on
paper and submit it into Showbie using the camera when they get back to class. If a student is absent it is their
responsibility to check Showbie for assignments that they missed and make them up at home.
Communicating progress: You may frequently check your students progress using our Power School parent portal
on your schools website. If you need a username/password, contact the District Enrollment Office at 5604 NW 41st
Street. Their phone number is 491-7631. You must go in person and show your photo ID.
Students and their parents should sign up for text and email reminders for this class. Instructions are available at my
website. Or you can just text @ellisgeom to 81010. It is really that easy!
Other: Questions about your students schooling should be referred to the teacher or to the site administrator. Seek
additional information by contacting the Curriculum Coordinator for the appropriate content area.