Dear Algebra 2 parents,

Your son/daughter is enrolled in CHAT Algebra 2 this fall. If you haven't already done so, please buy your textbook. You can purchase it new at Rainbow Resource, BJU Press, etc. Or you might be able to find a used one online. The current Algebra 2 book is the 2nd edition and is purple with pictures of a starfish and stopwatch on the front. (ISBN #1-57924-385-1).

Please visit www.mcg.net/nelson/chatmath.htm. There you can view or download the course syllabus, homework expectations, assignment notes, and tentative assignment schedule. My goal is to cover 13 of the 14 chapters. I will be leaving out the 13th chapter on Probability and Statistics in order to do the last chapter in the book, which is on Analytic Geometry (conic sections). In every high school class I have ever taught, we never covered the entire book. The rule of thumb for a high school credit is 75% of the text, which we will more than accomplish. I will not be covering the "extra" sections in each chapter entitled "Algebra Around the World" and "Algebra and Scripture." I may touch on them briefly in class, but they will not be part of the assignments or tests. Feel free to do them at home if you wish.

The assignment list will be adjusted if necessary as we progress. You will notice that there are usually 5 assignments given per week. You can decide which 5 days you will use as assignment days. If there is a test to be taken it is considered one of the 5 assignments for the week. There are assignment notes posted on the CHAT math website which are designed to "tutor" your student through the homework problems that they do at home. Students have found them extremely helpful, so print them weekly and give them to your student before they start their assignments. An important part of the assignment files are the notes on the work to show (in blue text). If students don't show the work required, their weekly assignment grade will be affected. There are also occasional math help videos posted on the website as well.

I have made a solutions packet for the assignments to be given. I will hand will hand out the fall semester portion on the first day of class. It will be up to you to monitor your student's use of the answer keys. Assignments are to be corrected at home and handed in weekly.

I will be sending a test packet home with your student in a sealed envelope the first week of class. Please put this envelope in a secure location. When you see on the schedule that there is a test as part of the homework, you are to administer (and sign) the test. They should then return the test (stapled shut) to me the following week, along with that week's daily assignments. I will correct the test and return it to your student the following week with a percentage correct at the top.

As with any math class I have ever taught, I cannot stress enough the importance of not letting your students fall behind. Math is very sequential in nature. It will build on previously learned skills as we go through the year. Some of the material will be an extension of what was learned in Algebra 1. There will be some material, however, which will be totally new. This is an upper-level high school course and it is not a walk in the park. (o: Your son/daughter can expect to invest some substantial time and expect to hit some rough spots along the way.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have, both now and as we progress through the school year. If your son or daughter is working on an assignment and has a specific question, have them email me the page and problem number along with their question, and I will get it answered as soon as possible. I have found that email works quite well for this. They are welcome to call, but that can be hit or miss. Otherwise, we will always take time at the beginning of class to answer questions from the previous week. I want them to be successful and will do my best to help them however I can.

I will be holding an Algebra Review session for Pre-Calculus and Algebra 2 students the week before classes start. There is no cost for this and it is optional. My intent is to give the students a head start as we head into the textbook. The first few weeks can be daunting for some.

Sincerely,

Kim Nelson, tutor
952-932-9536