Precalculus OnRamps for DATA Students
High School Course Information for 2023-2024

Instructor:  Mrs. Jennifer P. Contreras                                            Classroom: RR 239, periods: 6 & 7
E-mail:  jcontr1@neisd.net                                                                Website:  www.neisd.net/jcontr1

Course Overview:  OnRamps courses are designed by the University of Texas at Austin for students to engage in authentic college experiences while still in high school.  As a dual enrollment class, students are taking both a U.T. class and a high school class simultaneously. Unlike traditional dual credit courses, OnRamps students earn separate grades, one from their high school and a different one from U.T.  Near the end of the school year, eligible students will decide if they want to accept or decline their college grade.  If they accept, they will have 3 hours of college math credit that can be used at many colleges and universities, not just U.T.  If they decline, there is no record of their college coursework.  Precalculus builds on the foundations of Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II to expand the students’ understanding of mathematics using symbolic reasoning and analytical methods. This course follows the Inquiry Based Learning (IBL) model, a student-centered methodology which stresses the importance of the active construction of learning.  Students will deepen their understanding of their previous math courses by moving past traditional skills practice and working collaboratively to reach a conceptual understanding of the topics in this course with support from the teacher. This is a rigorous course, designed to prepare students for calculus and other college level courses.  Topics will include functions (polynomial, rational, exponential, logarithmic, etc.), conic sections, matrices, trigonometry, vectors, polar graphs, parametric equations, and more. 

Textbook:  During class, we will be using the U.T. textbook, Discovery Precalculus:  A Creative and Connected Approach.  You will receive the textbook, in the form of printed booklets, one unit at a time, throughout the school year.  

School Supplies:  Students are expected to come to class each day with a pencil, an eraser, loose-leaf notebook paper (or a spiral notebook), a Precalculus binder or folder, the current Unit Booklet and any handouts/materials from the current unit of study. 

Calculators:  Since this is a college-level course, students will be required to complete the majority of their assignments and assessments without a calculator of any kind.  When calculators are permitted, students may use a school-provided graphing calculator, their own handheld calculator, or the Desmos app or website. 

Google Classroom & Canvas:  Announcements and links to assignments and other reference materials will be posted in our Google Classroom; the code to join is 6uwavm6.  The University of Texas at Austin uses a different learning management system, called Canvas, for their materials; the website for OnRamps students is https://onramps.instructure.com.

High School Grading Policy:  As stated earlier, you will receive separate/different grades for your high school work and your college work for this class.  This document provides information about your Roosevelt High School precalculus course.  There is a separate college syllabus, posted in Canvas and in our Google Classroom, that explains the guidelines, policies, and expectations for the U.T. college course.  In that document, you will see that your college grade will be determined by Unit Tests, Unit Exploration Assessments, Learning Strategies Modules, and the OnRamps Student Orientation.  Each of those grades will also be part of your high school precalculus average, but your high school average will also include quizzes, homework, classwork, and participation as shown below.
                                                                                                    
         40%       Tests = Part 1 of Unit Exams                                           
         30%       Quizzes = Canvas (online) Quizzes & Part 2 of Unit Exams
         15%       Demonstrations = Homework (paper) Quizzes, Unit Booklets,
                        Unit Exploration Assessments and Learning Strategies                              
         15%       Classwork/Homework = Assignment completion and Participation

Work graded by your high school teacher will be posted in Skyward for students and parents to view online within a week, if not sooner.  In fairness to the students who turn assignments in on-time, their work will be graded and posted first.  Late work, makeup work, retakes and extra credit will be graded within 3 weeks, before the next progress report or report card deadline.  Tests scores will be posted as soon as they are available from U.T.  High School grades and averages will be in Skyward for students & parents.  College grades and averages will be posted in Canvas for students only.  Students should check both grades at least once a week.  For your high school average, the lowest grade will be dropped from each of the Quizzes, Demonstrations, and CW/HW categories at the end of each nine-week grading period.

Teachers make mistakes; students should keep their work until they have verified that grades are correct in Skyward.  Please bring any mistakes to my attention so I can fix them ASAP.     

Semester Exams & Grades:  Units 1-3 will be assessed on the first semester (Midterm) exam in early December.  Units 4-6 will be assessed on the second semester (Final) exam in late April.  Your high school semester grade will be calculated using a weighted average:  your first (or third) nine-weeks grade is 40%, your second (or fourth) nine-weeks grade is 40%, and your semester exam grade is 20%.  By district policy, OnRamps students cannot exempt either of the semester exams.  Unit 7, Sequences & Series, will be part of your high school grade, but it will not be included in your college precalculus grade.

Participation:  Each OnRamps precalculus unit consists of a series of explorations. The only way to learn math is by doing math. Students will spend the majority of their class time working collaboratively in partners or groups. Students are expected to participate, ask questions, present solutions to problems, and provide feedback to other students/groups; this will be part of their high school grade.

Homework:  Homework assignments are given almost every day and will be due at the beginning of the next class period (unless stated otherwise).  Students are expected to show work to earn full credit.  Assignments submitted after the beginning of the period will be considered “late.”  Late work earns 80% credit (20% penalty) until the unit test.  Per district policy, no credit will be given after the unit test. 

Canvas Quizzes:  This type of quiz is written by U.T. math faculty and taken online in Canvas, usually outside of class time.  Each quiz will be open for a 4-7 day window; deadlines will be announced in class and posted in our Google Classroom.  For Canvas Quizzes, you may use your notes, explorations, and homework.  You may also collaborate with other current Precalculus OnRamps students.  Students may take each quiz twice within the window and will receive the higher of the two grades.  The two quizzes will be similar, but not necessarily identical; do not memorize answers or assume the problems will be the same.  After the deadline, grades will be posted in Skyward, and the canvas quiz will be re-opened for 80% late-credit for students who did not submit a quiz on time and for retake credit (max 70) for students who did not earn a passing score.  Canvas Quizzes will not be available for credit after the second late/retake deadline. 

Homework Quizzes:  Homework quizzes are written and graded by the high school teachers and the problems directly relate to recent classwork and homework. They take 5-15 minutes, are completed in class, on paper, and calculators are usually not allowed.  If a student misses a homework quiz, they have one week to make up the quiz for full credit.  After one week, the grade will be a zero and the student will need to do a retake.  If a student does not pass a homework quiz (or takes more than one week to make up a quiz), they can retake the quiz (once) for a maximum grade of 70.  Retakes must be completed before the unit test.

Tests:  Our Precalculus tests and semester exams are written and graded by U.T.  As a college course, these assessments have strict time limits and expectations.  Only students with “extended time” accommodations through an IEP or 504 plan, will get additional time on tests.  Students will not be allowed to use notes, nor will they be allowed to use a calculator (of any kind) during most tests.  If you miss a test, a makeup test must be scheduled with your high school teacher and taken within two school days, before or after the original test date.  Most unit tests will have two parts: auto-scored (45 minutes) and free-response (30 minutes); the two parts are taken on separate class days.  For your high school grade, you will receive separate grades for each part: Part 1 Exam scores will go in the TESTS category and part 2 Exam scores will go in the QUIZZES category.  (For the college course, the two exam parts will be combined into a single test grade).  If a student does not pass a test, they can retake the test (once). Retakes are usually taken before/after school.  They must be completed in one sitting with the same time limit as the original test. If you pass the retake, you will bring your high school test grade up to 70; otherwise, you will receive the higher of the original and retake grades.  Retakes will be similar, but not identical to the original test. 

Tutoring & Study Groups:  Math help is available!  Tutoring will be available several mornings (starting at 8:00 a.m.) and/or afternoons (until 5:00 p.m.) each week; students should check the whiteboard calendar in class each week for upcoming tutoring opportunities.  In addition to getting math help from me, students can use tutoring times to work independently, meet with study groups, do retakes, prepare for upcoming assessments, and use class chromebooks. Students are highly encouraged to form study groups to work on assignments, take canvas quizzes, and prepare for tests outside of class time.  Mrs. Dimick, the other TR OnRamps Precalculus teacher, is also available for tutoring in her classroom, RR219.

Integrity Policy:  Students are encouraged to work together, both during and outside of class, on the explorations, homework assignments, canvas quizzes, and unit exploration assessments.  We want you to talk about the math.  However, EACH student should be actively working on EACH of the problems; “divide & conquer,” having an APP/website/AI do the work, or copying answers are NOT acceptable strategies.  Additionally, all tests, exams and homework quizzes are to be completed individually.  Students who complete assignments or assessments without integrity, including copying or referencing prohibited materials, will receive a zero. 

Electronic Devices & Work for Other Classes:  Your cell phone (and other personal electronic devices) should be silenced and put away.  When technology is allowed/needed, we will use school chromebooks.  You should not use electronic devices for personal activities (social media, games, etc.) during class.  Phone calls and texts should not be read/sent during class, even if they are to/from your family; please speak to your teacher privately if you have a special situation.  If your phone (or other devices/items) are a distraction, they may be collected by the teacher.  You should not work on assignments for other classes UNTIL you have finished ALL of your math work. 

Class Rules: 
          1.  Be ready to learn (arrive on time, have supplies & assignments out, and put away cell phones and distractions).
          2.  Have respect for other people, for their ideas, opinions and beliefs, and for personal/school property.
          3.  Take responsibility for your schoolwork, your words, your choices/decisions/attitude, and your education.
          4.  Help create and maintain a positive classroom environment (wear school-appropriate attire, use school-appropriate
                  language, be tolerant, encouraging, helpful, and supportive of classmates, teachers, and guests). 

          5.  Strive to uphold the DATA Core Values of Perseverance, Integrity, Commitment, and Kindness.

Communication:  The best way to contact me is through my school district email,  jcontr1@neisd.net.  Outside of class, I will communicate with students collectively through our Google Classroom and individually through their NEISD student email address.  I will communicate with parents through the emails or phone numbers that are listed in Skyward (unless you provide me with different ones).  I try to respond by the end of the next school day.  If parents would prefer a phone conversation (or would like to schedule a conference), please email me or call the DATA office at 210-356-2237.