This geometry syllabus outlines the course expectations and policies. Students will learn geometry concepts through class discussions, activities, and homework assignments. The instructor's website provides course materials and resources. Daily assignments are graded for completion and correctness, while some assignments and projects are graded for accuracy. Quizzes occur every 3 chapters, and tests are given at the end of each chapter. Students are expected to communicate their reasoning on assessments and collaborate in group activities. The grading scale and opportunities to improve scores through corrections and retakes are detailed. General classroom policies regarding technology, attendance, and calculators are also provided. Successful math study skills like note-taking, time management, and understanding the sequential nature of math are emphasized.

1. Geometry Syllabus
This course emphasizes understanding the relationships among geometric figures and using those
relationships along with your algebra skills to solve problems.
Students will be expected to participate in class discussions and activities and complete
homework assignments on time.
Instructor
Miss Tentinger Email: jtentinger@lomaschools.org Website: http://jtentinger.webs.com
I will be available before and after school to answer questions. Please let me know if you are
planning on coming in at those times for extra help.
My website contains materials for class including the syllabus, homework assignments, and
some class notes. There are also other resources for extra help and some other fun facts to look
through.
Classroom Tools
All classroom tools, calculators, compasses, protractors, and rules, are expected to be used for
their intended use. Some of the objects are sharp and if used inappropriately could hurt
someone. Any inappropriate use will result in a detention.
There are a limited number of calculators in the classroom and students will not be allowed to
take the calculators out of the room. If you chose to purchase your own graphing calculator, I
recommend the TI-84 Plus, anything more advanced you will not be allowed to use on an ACT
or SAT test or on in college math courses. These can be purchased at Wal-Mart, Target, or most
similar stores, or online.
Assignments
Assignments will be assigned daily and due the next day. Most daily homework will be graded
based on completion and correctness. Daily assignments are worth 3 points, if an assignment is
turned in late then the most points a student can receive is 2 points. Late assignments for each
chapter will only be accepted up to the day of the test. At the beginning of each class, students
will have the opportunity to correct their own assignments. There will be assignments graded
based on correctness and these assignments will be worth more points. These types of
assignments will be collected at random.
Quizzes/Tests
Most quizzes will be announced. There will be quizzes about every three sections of the chapter.
This depends on the length of the chapter and the amount of material covered in each section.
There will be a test at the end of each chapter. Tests will be accumulative, but the majority of
the test will consist of the material covered in that chapter.

2. Projects
There will be a few larger projects students will be expected to complete. Depending on how
large the project is, it will be equivalent to a quiz or test grade. Students will be notified in
advance what the project will be worth. Each project will have a rubric for students to follow.
Communication/Collaboration
A large part of geometry is writing proofs. Being able to explain your reasoning in the correct
format is an important part of not only geometry but mathematics in general. For quizzes, tests,
projects, and homework assignments students will be expected and partially graded on their
ability to communicate their ideas/processes. Students will be expected to use mathematical
terminology correctly when expressing their ideas/processes.
We will be doing group activities in class and on projects. Collaborating with other members of
your group is another important aspect of mathematics. 75% of people who lose jobs do so
because they cannot get along with someone they work with. Learning to communicate and
work with others are important skills to develop and students should see an improvement in these
skills throughout the course.
Extra credit will NOT be given in this course.
Grading Scale:
A+ 99% – 100% Grading Criteria
A 95% – 98% Test and Quizzes – 90%
A- 93% – 94% Homework – 10%
B+ 91% – 92% Opportunities for Improvement
B 85% – 90% Quiz Corrections: Half credit for every correct answer
B- 83% – 84% Test Retakes: Students will be allowed one test retake for the better
score. The retake must be completed within one week from when the
C+ 81% – 82% test is handed back.
C 75% – 80% Study Tables are available for extra help on Mondays, Tuesdays, and
C- 73% – 74% Thursdays
D+ 71% – 72% Homework Guidelines
D 68% – 70% Homework assignments are expected to be complete and work shown
D- 66% – 67% for every problem. Most homework assignments will be worth 3
completion points. Students are expected to correct their own work at
F 65% and below the beginning of class and ask questions on the problems they missed.
Late homework will be worth 2 points and must be turned in no later
than the day of the chapter test. Larger assignments, such as packets,
will be worth more points and assignments may be collected and
graded for accuracy at random.
*Note: in order to take Algebra II you must pass Geometry with a grade of C- or higher.

3. General Classroom Expectations
Be respectful of everyone in the room
Bully Free Zone!
Cell Phones/Music Devices
Cell phones are NOT to be used for personal use during the lesson. They need to be silenced
and either out of sight or on your desk where I can see you are not using it. If the cell phone is
used during the lesson it will be taken away and given back at the end of class. During a quiz or
test they are to be out of sight and silenced.
Music devices are okay to use when working on homework or in class assignments after the
lesson. They are not to be used during the lesson.
Daily Homework
The answers to the daily homework will be posted on the board at the beginning of class.
Students are expected to start checking their homework as soon as they enter the classroom.
Once all the students have had a chance to check their work, we will go over any questions on
the assignment as a whole class. Then the homework will be collected. Remember the
homework is graded on completion and effort, making corrections to work (not just the answer)
is encouraged. This is not the time to be starting your homework and your work needs to be
shown to receive full credit.
At the end of the lesson you will be expected to work on your assignment. Feel free to move
around and work in groups (I encourage you to collaborate, not copy). You may move the desks
to work in groups but put them back in order before you leave.
Attendance
Attendance will be taken when the bell rings. If you are not in your seat when the bell rings you
are counted tardy. If you miss a day, will have two days to make up your homework assignment,
quiz, or test.
Classroom Calculators
There is a limited amount of classroom calculators. In order to use one, you will need to check
one out and leave a piece of collateral, such as a cell phone. When the calculator is returned you
will get your collateral back. If the calculator is damaged while in your care you will be
responsible for the damages.
Other
I ask that we work together to keep the classroom clean so please pick up any garbage you bring
in and to tidy your workspace at the end of each class. Gum chewing is okay, but I do not want
to see or hear it. If I find any gum stuck under the desks it will no longer be allowed in class.
Having water or sports beverages are okay to have in class as long as it is in a closable container.
Please do not bring food to class.

4. Successful Math Study Skills
(and most other classes as well)
This material has been summarized from the book Successful Math Study Skills by Paul D.
Nolting and William A. Savage.
Introduction:
Skills like listening, note taking, time management, and memory are all important to
understanding mathematics. Through the school year, we will practice and use these skills as we
study math.
Why Learn Math?
Math is part of our real everyday lives from mileage to money and from budgeting to zip codes.
Not a day goes by that we are unaffected by math.
 How many miles does your car drive on a gallon of gas and how much will it cost to
fill your gas tank?
 If your employer takes 20% of your gross paycheck for taxes, how much take-home
pay will be left?
 Don’t forget sales tax on purchases, tips paid to restaurant servers, measuring a room
for new carpeting or paint, and much more.
Graduation from high school often is a step to a good job. Employers are anxious to hire and
promote employees with good mathematical skills. Perhaps you wish to join the military –
strong math skills will benefit you in selecting the best training areas and advancement. If you
purse careers in engineering, architecture, and the sciences, for example, a strong mathematical
background will help you as you continue your formal education beyond high school.
Therefore, in addition to being a part of everyone’s daily life, success in mathematics opens
many job and educational opportunities.
Math – The Language of Numbers:
Math has its own set of rules, laws, grammar, and vocabulary.
Symbols include the equal sign (=), greater than (>), less than, inclusion (<), percentage (%),
Greek letters (Δ, θ, σ), and much more
New math words include, polynomial, exponent, proof, square root, postulates, theorems, etc.
Write down new math words and symbols in your notes with the definition and explanation.
Include pictures/diagrams where necessary . Practice using the new symbols and words until
you can pronounce, define and apply each new word, concept, or symbol.

5. Math is Sequential:
This means that learning new material is based upon knowing previously studied materal. It is
important to avoid absences from class and to learn each day’s lesson because new material is
present each day. Without a good understanding of the previous day’s work, new material
becomes more difficult to understand. You must decide to pay close attention (take notes, work
assignments) and make every effort to practice math every school day.
Math is a subject that you learn by doing. Therefore, to properly learn math, you must practice.
This means not only doing your assignments, but also understanding the reasons for each
problem step.
Study Buddies:
One way some students learn best is with help form a study buddy. This is someone you can
study with or call as you need help with a math problem. This is often best accomplished by
working to complete assignments before you meet. Then you can review answers and help each
other with problems that are particularly challenging.
But, beware of some drawbacks: Not much work gets accomplished if you start talking about
next week’s dance or football game. Simply copying work from each other does not result in
learning, but can result in consequences for cheating.
Time Management:
Our busy lives include sports, work, television, video games, socializing, homework, church,
travel, and many other activities. It is so very important to manage your time, allowing enough
daily time to do assignments and thoroughly learn school topics.
Develop a study schedule in order to set aside a certain amount of time per day and per week.
Math should be studied every school day, perhaps more.
Plan your work and work your plan.
Listening Skills:
Using your class time wisely will reduce the amount of your free time on studying and
assignments. Class time is an important study period that should not be wasted.
Good classroom study stills include:
 Being a good listener, and
 Developing good note-taking techniques
Just like an athlete or musician, warm up before the game or performance begins. In Math class
this means:
 Review past class notes and reading material
 Review your homework
 Write out questions for class time
This mental warm up refreshes your memory and prepares you to actively learn.

6. Note Taking:
The goal of note taking is to take the least amount of notes while recording the most important
points. Each day in class, begin by dating and numbering your pages of notes as well as
indicating the chapter number and topic name to be covered.
It is often most beneficial to copy all details of problems – step by step. This can be helpful
when you review your notes days or weeks later.
There will be times when you get lost while listening or don’t understand the point being made.
Put a question mark by steps you don’t understand or, if appropriate at the time, ask the teacher
for clarification.
It is very helpful to use your own shorthand and abbreviations. For example:
 Ex means “for example”
 Pg means “page number”
 * means “very important”
 LCD means “least common denominator”
Knowing when to take notes is important. A teacher often emphasizes facts or ideas verbally
(summarizing, pausing, repeating statements) or by writing them on the board.
Review your notes soon after each class period and refer to them for help with homework
assignments. This will help you improve your understanding of math in class.
Textbook Notes:
Note taking is not limited to your teacher’s comments. Being an active reader is important too.
Your textbook is a valuable resource for you.
Because you do not own your high school textbooks, you are not allowed to write in them. It is a
very good idea to write notes while reading with your textbook.
Just like with class notes, use abbreviations, symbols, etc. as well as underlining important points
and putting question marks next to the material you do not understand.
Asking Questions:
To obtain the most from class time, do not hesitate to ask questions pertaining to the class
material.
By asking questions, you improve your understanding of the material, decrease your homework
time, help others in the class with similar questions and help your teacher recognize material
needing further explanation.

7. Study Goals and Doing Homework:
Using your time wisely is important in all aspects of life, no less important than in the classroom.
The more you accomplish during the class period, the greater your understanding and the less
time spent on your homework.
To improve your homework success, review your class and textbook notes before starting your
homework. This makes better use of your time and increases your chances of successfully
completing your homework in a timely manner.
SNOT – What’s it all about? When doing your homework, remember these keys to success:
 Show your work
 Neatness counts
 Organization helps
 Timely work is expected
Here’s another key --- falling behind in your math homework is academic suicide.
Solving Word/Story Problems:
Many math problems come in the form of a short story with two parts:
 Gives the information
 Asks the questions
Read the problem carefully, more than once if necessary. Identify what question is being asked.
Then identify within the problem all the important facts.
It is often helpful to convert the story problem into something more visually helpful like a
picture, a diagram, a chart or table. Or perhaps you are able to convert the problem directly into
numbers, letters, and operations.
Where and How to Study:
Find a good place to study can dramatically improve the quality of your work and understanding.
In choosing a place to study at home, pick one place, one chair, one desk or table as your study
area. As you can imagine, it is not helpful to study in the vicinity of distractions like the TV or
loud music. Quiet is important to concentration and learning.
It is very important to always have the “tools of the trade” like paper, pencils, erasers, notebook,
textbook, calculator, etc. ready and available in class as well as when and where you study. All
of these tools may be carried effectively in your backpack.

8. Three Before the Teacher
A very important part of learning is to become an “independent learner.” Before asking the
teacher for help, have you investigated other learning sources?
 Textbooks
 Class notes
 Previous problems
 Glossary of Terms
 Posters
 Classmates
 Internet
 Many other resources
Waiting for Teacher Assistance?
If you are awaiting help from the teacher, there are many things you can continue to do to be
productive with your academics, including, but not necessarily limited.
 Use the textbooks to read and study math topics
 Study your class notes
 Read and study any of the other math related resources available to you
 Read Quietly
 Three Before the Teacher

9. Geometry Syllabus
Please detach this page and return it to Ms. Tentinger.
This course emphasizes understanding the relationships among geometric figures and using those
relationships along with your algebra skills to solve problems.
Students will be expected to participate in class discussions and activities and complete
homework assignments on time.
Instructor
Miss Tentinger Email: jtentinger@lomaschools.org Website: http://jtentinger.webs.com
Grading Scale:
A+ 99% – 100% Grading Criteria
A 95% – 98% Test and Quizzes – 90%
A- 93% – 94% Homework – 10%
B+ 91% – 92% Opportunities for Improvement
B 85% – 90% Quiz Corrections: Half credit for every correct answer
B- 83% – 84% Test Retakes: Students will be allowed one test retake for the better
score. The retake must be completed within one week from when the
C+ 81% – 82% test is handed back.
C 75% – 80% Study Tables are available for extra help on Mondays, Tuesdays, and
C- 73% – 74% Thursdays
D+ 71% – 72% Homework Guidelines
D 68% – 70% Homework assignments are expected to be complete and work shown
D- 66% – 67% for every problem. Most homework assignments will be worth 3
completion points. Students are expected to correct their own work at
F 65% and below the beginning of class and ask questions on the problems they missed.
Late homework will be worth 2 points and must be turned in no later
than the day of the chapter test. Larger assignments, such as packets,
will be worth more points and assignments may be collected and
graded for accuracy at random.
*Note: in order to take Algebra II you must pass Geometry with a grade of C- or higher.
I have read and understood the geometry syllabus.
Student Signature:________________________________________Date:____________
Parent/Legal
Guardian Signature:_______________________________________Date:____________