Algebra II
Dr. Ijezie's STEM Studio · Beta Academy · 2026–2027
Instructor Information
- Instructor
- Dr. Goodluck Ijezie-Desbois, PharmD
- Course
- Algebra II — Mathematical Architects
- School
- Beta Academy
- Room
- Room: TBA
- gijezie-desbois@betaacademy.org
- Messaging
- ParentSquare (primary channel for families)
- Office Hours
- By appointment — reach out via email or ParentSquare to schedule
Course Overview
Algebra II extends the function families scholars met in Algebra I into a complete college-readiness toolkit. We study absolute value, quadratic, cubic, polynomial, rational, radical, exponential, and logarithmic functions — analyzing each one symbolically, graphically, numerically, and verbally.
Throughout the year we model real situations with the appropriate function, transform parent graphs with intention (for example \(f(x)=a|x-h|+k\)), and solve and verify equations across every family. Texas does not administer a STAAR End-of-Course exam for Algebra II; mastery is measured locally through teacher-built unit tests and benchmarks aligned to the TEKS. The course builds direct readiness for precalculus and college mathematics.
The seven mathematical process standards (TEKS 2A.1A–2A.1G) are embedded in every module: applying mathematics to problems, using a problem-solving model, selecting tools and techniques, communicating reasoning, creating representations, analyzing relationships, and justifying conclusions.
The Studio — Our Learning Environment
This classroom runs like an architect's studio. A scholar moves through three zones in a typical lesson, and each zone has its own expectations.
📐 The Drafting Table Direct Instruction
Where new structures are introduced. Eyes up, notebooks open, pencils ready. We build the concept together before anyone builds alone.
🤝 Build Teams Collaboration
Small-group construction. Scholars reason aloud, compare approaches, and defend their work to teammates — a productive, on-task hum is expected.
🎯 The Proving Ground Practice & Assessment
Independent practice, exit tickets, quizzes, and unit tests. This is where scholars prove what they can build on their own. Silence and focus are the norm; integrity is non-negotiable.
Required Materials
- Graphing calculator (TI-84 or equivalent) or a school Chromebook running Desmos
- Interactive notebook dedicated to this class (composition or spiral)
- Pencils — all math work is drafted in pencil
- Graph paper for hand-built coordinate work
Scholars without a personal device will always have access to a school Chromebook and Desmos during class. No purchase is required to succeed.
Grading Policy
Grades are weighted into two categories:
Grading scale:
Course Itinerary by Grading Period
The five modules are sequenced across four grading periods on the Beta four-day instructional calendar (~144 days). The full day-by-day map lives on the pacing guide.
| Grading Period | Window | Modules Covered |
|---|---|---|
| GP1 | Aug 19 – Oct 8 | M1 Extending Linear Relationships; begin M2 Quadratic Functions |
| GP2 | Oct 12 – Dec 17 | Finish M2 Applications of Quadratics; M3 Analyzing Structure (composing, cubics) |
| GP3 | Jan 5 – Mar 4 | Finish M3 Factors & Zeros; begin M4 Rational & Radical Functions |
| GP4 | Mar 15 – May 20 | Finish M4 Radical Equations; M5 Exponentials & Logarithms |
The Scholar's Code
Three expectations govern everything we do in the studio:
Student Leadership Roles
Each Build Team rotates through leadership roles so every scholar practices ownership:
Technology & Learning Platforms
We use a small, focused set of tools:
- Bluebonnet Learning — our core TEA mathematics curriculum and lessons.
- IXL — adaptive skill practice aligned to the TEKS.
- Khan Academy — video reteach and extra worked examples.
- Google Classroom — where assignments, resources, and announcements are posted.
- Desmos — our graphing workspace for transformations and modeling.
Parent Communication
ParentSquare is the primary channel for all family communication — announcements, reminders, and grade updates flow through it.
Beta Academy is a no-cell-phone campus. Phones stay put away during the entire class period; scholars use school Chromebooks for any digital work.
To make sure families and scholars actually read this syllabus, a short syllabus pop-quiz will be given in the first weeks and counts toward the grade.
Academic Integrity
Mathematics is built on honest reasoning. Copying another scholar's work, sharing answers during assessments, or using an AI tool or solver to complete work that is meant to be your own all violate the Scholar's Code and Beta Academy's integrity policy.
On The Proving Ground (quizzes and tests), all work must be the scholar's own. Collaboration is welcomed in Build Teams — but the goal is shared understanding, never shared answers. Integrity violations are addressed per Beta Academy policy and communicated to families through ParentSquare.
Procedures & Norms
- Entering: Pick up materials, begin the warm-up at The Drafting Table without prompting.
- Transitions: Move between zones quickly and quietly when signaled.
- Asking for help: Try the problem first, ask a Build-Team teammate, then raise your hand.
- Devices: Chromebooks open only when directed; phones away all period.
- Dismissal: Return materials, leave the studio organized for the next class.
Parent Involvement
Families are partners in every scholar's success. The most helpful things you can do:
- Keep ParentSquare notifications on so you see grade and progress updates.
- Ask your scholar to teach you one thing they built each week — explaining is the best practice.
- Make sure pencils, graph paper, and a charged Chromebook are ready each day.
- Email or message anytime — office hours are available by appointment.
Coursework, Deadlines & Late Work
Every graded assignment this year lives in the Assessment Center. Chapter assessments, Do Nows, exit tickets, graphic organizers, and labs are all assigned, completed, and scored there. If it counts toward your grade, that is where it is.
Scores appear in your portal once I release them. A missing score usually means I have not released that assignment yet — not that your work vanished.
Assignments are due when they are due. Late work is not accepted.
The one exception is a documented, excused absence. If you were legitimately out and it is on record, you may request to complete the assignment. Requesting is not the same as being granted: bring me the documentation and I will give you an answer and a date. Forgot, Wi-Fi died, phone died, thought it was Friday — those are not exceptions.
⛰️ The Summit Grade — one earned safety net per grading period.
The no-late-work rule stands. But every grading period you can earn up to 100 engagement points through sustained, weekly work across the learning platform — the Practice Gym, Notes Studio, Resource Studio, the Mental Picture Strategy, the learning games, and genuinely reviewing your My Ascent progress page. That engagement grade goes in the gradebook, and I may drop your single lowest assignment grade and let the Summit Grade stand in its place. It is not a free 100: it is capped daily, it requires work spread across most weeks of the nine-week period, and cramming the last weekend will not move it. Struggle all you want — what I am grading is that you kept showing up and doing the work. It can never replace an assessment grade.
Accommodations (IEP & 504)
If you have an IEP or a 504 plan, you receive every accommodation in that plan. All of it. Automatically. Extended time, read-aloud, dictation, reduced question sets — whatever your plan names. This is your legal right. It is not a favor, it is not something you have to ask me for, and it does not depend on how busy I am. You never have to justify it or thank me for it. It is simply how this class runs.
How it works in the Assessment Center:
- Extended time is applied to the timer for you. On a timed assessment the countdown is already lengthened before you start. You do not click anything.
- Reduced question sets are applied automatically when your plan includes them.
- Read-aloud, speech-to-text, large text, high contrast, a dyslexia-friendly font, wider line spacing, and a reading focus guide are in the accessibility menu and are available to every scholar, plan or no plan. Use them freely.
- Bilingual glossary and Spanish translation are enabled through your plan rather than the accessibility menu.
Two practical notes so nothing surprises you. First, the portal lengthens timers; it does not by itself move a due date. If extended time on assignments is part of your plan, that is honored too — come see me so we set the date together rather than assuming the system did it. Second, if an accommodation does not appear when you start an assignment, tell me the same day. That is mine to fix, not yours to work around.
The firm part begins only after your accommodation has been fully honored. Once you have had your rightful extended time, that time is the deadline. Work turned in past it is treated like any other late work and is not excused — unless you arranged something with me in advance.
In advance means before the deadline passes. Not that night, not the next morning, not after you see the grade. If you can see a problem coming, come to me while there is still time to do something about it. None of this is aimed at you: your accommodations are not a loophole and I do not treat scholars with plans as though they are looking for one. This is the same line every scholar stands behind. Your plan simply moves where that line sits, in your favor.
Your Sign-In & Your PIN
You sign in with your class period, your Scholar alias, and your own
8-character PIN (letters and numbers, for example B7K2M9RD). You never
use your real name and never a shared password. The first time, you set the PIN yourself — using
either a one-time setup code from me or an open enrollment window for your period. I will tell you
which applies on day one.
- Write it in your planner and your AVID binder the moment you create it.
- Never share it. Anything submitted under your PIN counts as your work, and you are responsible for it.
- Do not reuse a password from Google, school, or social media.
- Five wrong tries locks the account for a few minutes. That lock is protecting you; the site is not broken.
Your PIN is your responsibility. I reset PINs during school hours, in person — not by text or email at 10 p.m. If you cannot get into your work the night before something is due because you forgot your PIN, the deadline does not move and the grade stands. Plan around it: do not leave an assignment until the last night.
Retakes & Regrades
Retakes are requested in the portal — not verbally, not in the hallway, not by email.
- Sign in to the Assessment Center.
- Open the Retake tab in the top toolbar. It is always there; you do not need a particular score to unlock it.
- Choose Standard or Special. Special asks for a category: illness, family emergency, concept gap, mastery push, or other.
- Choose the assignment type, then tick the assignment(s) — between 1 and 10 in one request.
- Name the root cause: what actually went wrong.
- Write your reflection and commitment — study hours, the one thing you will do differently, and what support you need. A few words will not be accepted.
- Tick the ownership box and Submit.
How you learn the outcome. The My Retake Requests panel in the Retake tab lists every request and its status: pending, approved, or denied. An approved request shows my terms — time limit, score cap, how many days you have — plus a note. A denied one shows my reason. You also get a bell notification. The panel does not refresh by itself; reload the tab.
- Standard retakes are limited to one per grading period. After that, the Standard option locks and you must file under Special.
- An approved retake may carry a score cap. You will see that number before you start.
- A retake replaces the work it was approved for. It is your real attempt, not a free extra try. Study first.
- Filing the same request twice does nothing.
A regrade is not a retake. A retake means “let me attempt this again.” A regrade means “I think one question was scored wrong” — open the graded result, find the question, and tap Request Regrade. A regrade never changes a score by itself; it changes only after I review it. You get one regrade request per question, ever, even if I deny it. Do not spend it on a question you have not re-checked.
Locked assessments watch for tab switching. Switching away warns you; doing it again asks for a teacher password; continuing voids the attempt. A voided attempt burns an attempt and freezes you out until I review it in person. Most assessments allow one attempt. Stay in the tab.