Back to School Algebra I Refresher

BACK TO SCHOOL ALGEBRA I REFRESHER FOR ANY STUDENT PLANNING TO TAKE EITHER PRE-AP GEOMETRY OR PRE-AP ALGEBRA II THIS FALL

8 sessions: July 20 - July 23 and July 27 - July 30 1:00 - 2:15 (marching band students are welcome to bring their lunch)

Saint Stephen's Episcopal Church Fellowship Hall (next to JFHS) on Perrowville Road

Class Size: minimum 10, maximum 20 Tuition: $140.00 due by June 22nd

Instructors: JFHS Pre-AP Geometry and Pre-AP Algebra II teachers: Ms. Witt, Mrs. Hevener, Mrs. Conner and Ms. Elliott. (There will be two teachers working with the group each day.) Coordinator: Mrs. Wilson, email [email protected]

Topics covered: Real and Rational Numbers: Concepts, properties and operations Algebraic Expressions, Equations and Inequalities Graphs and Functions Laws of Exponents: negative and rational exponents Rational Expressions, Equations and Proportions Radicals, Square Roots and the Pythagorean Theorem Factoring Part 1: distributive property, FOIL, solving quadratic equations by factoring Factoring Part 2: factoring by grouping, solving quadratic equations by the Quadratic Formula

To reserve a space: email [email protected] and include the student's name, the 2014-2015 grade level, and math course. Also include the parent's name and telephone number please. Payment due by June 22nd

Any questions: email [email protected] A bit of background information:

Pre-AP Geometry, 8th grade Geometry, and Pre-AP Algebra II are truly "accelerated" courses. Each covers the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) for Geometry or Algebra II plus half of the state SOLs for a semester course in Trigonometry. This means that the pace is very fast and there is very little time to review topics covered in Algebra I.

We have found in the past that often good students - who belong in this accelerated math program - find themselves struggling in these courses because their Algebra I skills have gotten a bit rusty. The topics in the Algebra I Refresher were listed by the teachers of the two Pre-AP courses (Geometry and Algebra II) in past county-wide team meetings as "what entering students must/should know."

Some specifics:  Any student who has already completed Algebra I may attend, but the lessons will be geared specifically to those who will be taking Pre-AP math this fall. This is NOT an SOL remediation course.  There will be a packet of materials for each session which will include instruction/examples and lots of problems with answers (some to be completed in class, some for homework, plus others for extra practice).  There will be no "refunds" for sessions missed, but students who miss a session may pick up the packet when they return.  Sessions will begin and end on time (1:00 to 2:15), and teachers will be at the church only 10 minutes before and after class.  Parents must drop off and pick up students on time. Neither the teachers nor the church staff will be responsible for students prior to 12:50 or after 2:25.  Students crossing Perrowville Rd. to or from Forest Elementary are reminded to use the crosswalk!  Students should bring to class each day a 3-ring binder, paper, pencils and a calculator.  Electronic devices - including cell phones - must be turned off during the sessions.  Calculators may be used very sparingly - not for routine arithmetic. (Any students who think they might be a little slow with their basic arithmetic facts or computation - especially multiplication facts - should work on them prior to the Refresher.)  "School rules" will apply, and we certainly do not anticipate any discipline problems. However, should there be a problem, parents will be called and any disruptive student may be asked to withdraw from the course without refund of tuition. Note: This is not a Bedford County Public School sanctioned event.  Payment of $140.00 is due by June 22nd and may be made by check. Please make the check out to Krista Wilson and mail it to 3339 Cottontown Rd. Forest, Va 24551.  Slots will be reserved in the order in which emails requesting them are received. In the event that we do not have enough students to offer the course, checks will be returned to the sender. If we should have a waiting list, slots not paid for by June 22nd will be offered to students on the waiting list.

Thanks extended to Jane Frisa for helping with setting policy and organizing the Algebra I Refresher course.