Math Classes 

  • Courses:  Both regular and honors levels for 
           Algebra 1
           Geometry
           Algebra 2 
           Coming in 2021:
                  Pre-Algebra & Pre-Calculus
  • Class Size:  Maximum of 12 students per class
Nautilus
  • Teaching Methods: Classes use a creative approach, incorporate much interactive discussion through the electronic collaborative whiteboard, and include hands-on and graphing calculator activities. Students stay engaged through emphasis on relevant and interesting real-world math applications that connect to other subjects and ACT/SAT tests.
IMG_1311
  • Grade Components: Course grade is based on homework/participation, weekly quizzes, and unit tests.
  • Costs: All courses are $740 each with no separate fees for registration, building charges, extra help during regular “office hours," or honors courses. Payment is due at registration time. Families may pay by semester for no extra fee. See details below.

How Students Go to Class

  • Classes are taught in a “hybrid” environment of online students using Zoom combined simultaneously with in-person (post-coronavirus) students and teacher in a physical Zoom Room. Students identify online/in-person preferences on their registration forms.
  • "Zoom Room” advanced technology, including a large collaborative electronic touch whiteboard and classroom camera views, gives all students a more engaging classroom experience than just the typical Zoom meeting.
Home1
Math
  • Courses have an online only portion as well, but the class is taught from the physical zoom room, so the experience is still significantly improved.
  • Extra online help for students is available for no extra charge during weekly Zoom office hours. If further help is needed, see the tutoring page.
  • Both hybrid and online only classes are recorded and promptly available for student viewing as needed.
  • Location of In-Person Classes  (Different from Business Office Location): The in-person Zoom Room is located in the Clear Lake Area of Houston off Bay Area Boulevard near the University of Houston Clear Lake.  FYI - those with dog allergies should avoid in-person classes due to happy golden retrievers!
Weekly Schedule
  • Each class meets twice per week for 1 to 1.5 hours each time.
  • Regular & Honors Classes: 
     - Regular & honors classes meet together for both classes, but honors classes have an extra ½ hour “Honors Delta” for only honors students on one of the days. (FYI - in math, the word “delta” refers to a variation and/or fixed increment.) 
     - See "curriculum" below about differences in regular vs. honors content.
  • Hybrid vs. Online Only: 
     - Hybrid: The 1.5-hour class for both regular and honors students is hybrid learning (in-person and online). 
     - Online Only: The 1 hour regular/honors + ½ hour honors delta class is online learning only, but is taught by the teacher alone in the Zoom Room to ensure improved online learning for all.
  • Possible Additional Offerings: 
     - If you are interested in a particular class, but the schedule does not work for your family, please email me and let me know. 
     - If there are sufficient people interested in a second offering, we will look into whether an additional class could be added that meets students’ needs.
IMG_2445
Math Classes
  • * = Online until post coronavirus concerns, then switches to hybrid. 
    ** = Office hours, for OPTIONAL additional student help/questions if needed, are subject to change based on students' schedules.

Yearly Academic Calendar

Courses meet for 16 weeks each semester. The week before classes begin, “Launch Readiness Week” occurs. The semester ends with a flexibly scheduled review/final test week.  See calendar link below for more information and spring semester dates.

Major fall semester dates :

big tree
  • July 1: Interested students/parents can request individual Zoom meetings to answer questions and discuss class “fit” for student. An informal placement test is  provided for student to complete and return with the registration forms. 
  • July 12: Registration (all online) begins. Registered students are given information for installing and exploring the free electronic tools.
  • August 12: Registration ENDS – NO LATE registrations. It is too difficult on the student, other classmates, and the teacher to incorporate late registered students lacking books and/or verified electronic capabilities.
  • Aug 10 – Aug 14: LAUNCH READINESS WEEK!   Complimentary online “Using Digital Tools” sessions offered (TBD days/times)  to verify electronics are working well and to answer any questions. Students need to attend one 1.5-hour Zoom session and also complete “warm-up” assignments for the first class.
  • August 18: Fall classes begin!
  • December 18: Last day of fall classes!  The last week of each semester is a schedule flexible review and final test week. No formal classes are held, but extended office hours are available for student questions.
  • RESERVE Weeks: In true NASA fashion, and due to many lessons learned the last several years, the semester calendar automatically includes “reserve” schedule weeks:  1 week for the fall and 2 for the spring. So, while there are 16 weeks of classes, there are 17 available school weeks (excluding holiday weeks) in the fall calendar and 18 in the spring calendar.  These reserve weeks are included in anticipation of unexpected events such as power outages, storm evacuations, teacher illness, etc. 
  • UNUSED RESERVE Weeks: If reserve weeks are not needed, the semester ends 1 to 2 weeks earlier than planned. (Snow days at the end of the semester! ?)
Liftoff Learning Academic Calendar

Curriculum

  • Textbooks: Algebra 1 and Geometry by Harold Jacobs; Alegbra 2 by Paul Foerster – Solution guides also needed. See Math Classes link below for ISBNs, textbook edition information, and course descriptions.
  • Regular vs. Honors Classes: Honors students complete fewer of the simpler homework problems and more of the difficult problems, discuss intriguing advanced topics, and complete additional ACT/SAT practice problems.
  • Homework: Regular and honors students complete roughly 1 to 2 hours of homework a day outside of class for 4 days a week.
Jacobs Algebra 1
Jacobs Geometry
Foerster Algebra 2
  • Why Jacobs & Foerster books? 
     - These authors developed textbooks that are tried and true, well-liked, and highly respected classics. 
     - Both books include the author’s voice and love of math with engaging explanations and interesting application problems, resulting in a more enjoyable and relevant real-world math experience. 
     - Liftoff Learning provides supplemental material in support of current graphing calculator applications, the ACT and SAT (greater emphasis in honors), and additional review problems as needed.
  • Students must have: 
     - Textbook and solution guide: teacher guide not needed. 
     - TI-84 graphing calculator: black or color version.
     - Compass & protractor for geometry only: see course info link for inexpensive recommended set. 
     - OPTIONAL - graphics tablet:  see technology information provided after registration for more information.
Math Classes – Course Info

Five Steps to Register and Get Ready!

1

  • If you have questions, click the contact button below and fill out the simple form, or email info@myclone2.testing.liftofflearning.net directly.  
Contact

2

  • Read the 1-page Expectations & Policies file below.  If you'd like, join me in an informal Zoom meeting discussion about the class, the open-book placement test, registration, and any questions you have. 
Liftoff Learning – Expectations & Policies

3

  • Register & Pay: Register either by 1 - completing the online Google form, OR  2 - printing, filling out, and emailing the PDF version of the same form. Pay per instructions in the form by using Google Pay or by mailing a personal check.  Credit Cards not directly accepted at this time. See Google Pay instructions below if needed.
(Google) Registration Form
(PDF) Registration Form
Google Pay Instructions

4

  • Purchase books/supplies and download free software tools per directions provided after registration.

5

  • Participate in Launch Readiness Week! See calendar and further information provided after registration.
shutterstock honeycomb
0BE5B2E3-7BE3-420B-8C82-2A02BC6FAFB8

For Fun: Can you tell how the nature pictures on this page relate to math?