Geometry

Instructor: Mr. Paisley / 2008-2009

Length of Course: 1 Year

Course Description:

Geometry will help students learn to understand and apply the relationships between objects in two and three dimensions.  Both inductive and deductive approaches will be used to help students learn to reason logically and apply critical thinking skills.  Students will develop their technical drawing skills, build and manipulate solids, and learn the methods of logic and proof.  Students will apply mathematical tools to real world and imagined problems in a variety of contexts. 

CST	Code	Geometry Standards Checklist - Prioritized by Item Frequency
Items
5	G.04	General Congruence & Similarity
5	G.07	Parallels & Transversals / Properties of Quadrilaterals & Circles
5	G.12	Classify Triangles and Polygons via Sides and Angles
5	G.21	Circle Relationships: Chords, Secants, Tangents, Angles, Polygons
4	G.03	Construct & Judge the Validity of Logical Arguments
4	G.08	Perimeter, Circumference, Area, Volume, Lateral Area, Surface Area
4	G.10	Areas of Triangles & Quadrilaterals
4	G.16	Geometric Constructions
3	G.02	Geometric Proofs / Direct & Indirect
3	G.17	Coordinate Geometry:  Mid-Point, Distance, Lines & Circles
3	G.18	Basic Trigonometric Functions and Relationships
3	G.19	Trigonometric Functions Applications
3	G.22	Transformations of  2-d & 3-d  Objects
2	G.01	Geometric Primatives & Inductive/Deductive Reasoning
2	G.05	Triangle Congruence, Similarity, Corresponding Parts
2	G.09	V & SA of Prisms, Pyramids, Cylinders, Cones, Spheres
2	G.13	Polygon Angle Relationships
2	G.15	Pythagorean Theorem Applications
1	G.06	Triangle Inequality
1	G.11	Dialations Affecting Perimeter, Area, Volume, Surface Area
1	G.20	Special Right Triangles  (45, 45, 90)  &  (30, 60, 90)
1/3**	G.14	Prove the Pythagorean Theorem

Note:  1/3** refers to standards which are tested every 3rd year.

The complete text of the California Mathematics Standards for Geometry can be found at:  http://www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss/mthgeometry.asp

Curriculum Map

Semester 1 / Project 1		Semester 2 / Project 4
Theme:  Place in the World		Theme:  Earth's Environment
Applications:  Maps & Scale Drawings		Applications:  Dimensions & Measurement
Standards:  (Proficiency & Enrichment)		Standards:  (Proficiency & Enrichment)
P: 7, 21, 8, 10, 18  /  E: 15		P: 4, 17, 18, 19, 22  /  E: 15, 20
Student Success Skills Focus:		Student Success Skills Focus:
New Tech Tools, PowerPoint, Organization		PowerPoint, Excel, Info. Sources
Outcomes:  (PowerPoint)		Outcomes:
USA & CA Maps, Logo Puzzles, Floor Plans		Models of Earth, Transformation Models
Semester 1 / Project 2		Semester 2 / Project 5
Theme:  History & Culture		Theme:  Testmakers
Applications:  Art, Architecture, Engineering		Applications:  Logic & Proof
Standards:  (Proficiency & Enrichment)		Standards:  (Proficiency & Enrichment)
P: 4, 12, 16, 19, 22  /  E: 13, 6, 20		P: 4, 3, 2  /  E: 1, 5, 6, 14
Student Success Skills Focus:		Student Success Skills Focus:
Info. Sources, Group Dynamics, Dis-Equilibium		PowerPoint, Organization, Self-Accountability
Outcomes:  (PowerPoint)		Outcomes:  (PowerPoint)
Historical & Cultural Research, Constructions		Chains of Logic, Student-Built Test
Semester 1 / Project 3		Semester 2 / Project 6
Theme:  Characteristics		Theme:  Legacy & Future
Applications:  3-d Solids & Polyhedra Families		Applications:  Joining Geometry & Algebra
Standards:  (Proficiency & Enrichment)		Standards:  (Proficiency & Enrichment)
P: 8, 22  /  E: 9, 15, 11		P: 17, 18, 19  /  Algebra 2 Prep.
Student Success Skills Focus:		Student Success Skills Focus:
Excel, Self-Accountability, Organization		PowerPoint, New Tech Tools, Self-Accountability
Outcomes:		Outcomes:  (PowerPoint)
Build & Analyze Polyhedra, SA & V of Solids		Algebra 1 Review, Algebra 2 Preview

Course Grading System

Assignments and assessments will include a mixture of individual, partner, and team work.  Work may include projects, investigations, problem solving activities, math literacy exercises, drill & practice, skills review & remediation, quizzes & tests.

No “D-grades” Policy:

Passing grades begin at 70%, which constitutes a “C” grade.  The grading policy is due to the sequential nature of learning mathematics, where serious deficiencies in one set of math skills can severely impair a student’s chances for success in future math courses.  Math proficiency takes many years to develop, and it does not serve students well if they are permitted to pass with insufficient knowledge and poor skills.

Overall Grades are synthesized from the following New Technology High School Learning Outcomes:  

Work Ethic                                                                                                     20%

Mathematics Literacy & Skills                                                                        60%

Critical Thinking                                                                                             10%

Collaboration Skills                                                                                         10%

Work Ethic:  This grade reflects the student's demonstrated ability to complete and submit assignments when due and to put forth their best efforts on their work.

Mathematics Literacy & Skills:  This grade reflects the student’s demonstrated ability to apply mathematical procedures, formulas, facts, and vocabulary to solve mathematics problems.

Critical Thinking:  This grade reflects the student's demonstrated ability to use higher order thinking skills to evaluate information and find creative solutions to complex problems.

Collaboration Skills:  This grade reflects the student's demonstrated ability to work with others in collaborative efforts, to resolve conflict effectively and to give accurate feedback to their colleagues.

Assignments and assessments must be complete and correct in order to earn full credit.  Students may to make repeated corrections and/or revisions to their work to raise their grades, provided that there is adequate time to evaluate their work before school-wide grade reporting deadlines.  There are no late penalties, however work turned in very close to a school-wide grade reporting date will be graded on a “first-come-first-serve” basis.  Last-minute submissions may not get graded in time to be included in the current grade report.  Work that misses a grade report date will still earn credit towards the next grade report, except at the end of the semester when school-wide final grade submission deadlines must be met.

Learner Behavior Scale

These behaviors reflect the level of productive engagement on projects and class assignments.

The level names are inspired by the levels of competency used in traditional trade guilds.

Learner Level                                      Learner Behavior (from the teacher’s point of view)

Absent                                                 Physically or Mentally Absent (unengaged)

Watcher                                               Observes Others Learning

Novice                                                 Minimal Contributions to Team

Apprentice                                          Significant Contributions to Team

Journey-Worker                                  Takes Initiative, Independent Learner

Leader                                                 Guides and Helps Others Learn

Master                                                 Teaches Others

Learner Performance Scale

This scale reflects increasing levels of productive student engagement and higher levels of achievement.

Learner Level                                      Learner Performance (from the student’s point of view)

Absent                                                 I wasn’t there to do it or I won’t do it.

Watcher                                               I can’t do it and I don’t understand when I watch it.

Novice                                                 I can’t do it, but I understand it when I watch it.     

Apprentice                                          I can do it with help when I get lost or confused.

Journey                                                I can do it on my own without any help.

Leader                                                 I can help others get it done.

Master                                                 I can teach others to do it.

Percentage Scoring Scale for Learner Levels

Letter grade increments will be based upon the Golden-Proportion, which is a mathematical growth model derived from observations of nature and the geometric patterns.  Below is a 100% grading scale broken down into increments based upon the Golden-Proportion.

Learner Level                                    Percentage Grade

Absent                                                          0%

Watcher                                                       38%

Novice                                                         62%

Apprentice                                                   76%

Journey                                                        85%

Leader                                                         91%

Master                                                          94%

Usually, student scores will be scaled to these percentage breaks.

This grading method serves several purposes:

      -it attaches meaning to percentage grades.

      -it reflects growth increments as they occur in nature.

      -it prevents provides clear direction regarding how to improve student performance.

      -it prevents poor performance on a few assignments from destroying student confidence.

      -it challenges high performing students to reach beyond “right answers” and take leadership roles.

Teacher Contact Information

Mr. Ariel Paisley, M. Ed.
Napa New Technology High School
920 Yount St., Napa, CA  94559
School Phone:  707-259-8557
e-mail:  apaisley@newtechhigh.org