Level: Form IV (10th–12th grades)
Subject(s): Math
Description:
In Algebra II, students will broaden their knowledge of quadratic functions, exponential functions, and systems of equations. To continue kindling wonder and creative thinking, Mrs. Panam will supplement the traditional textbook approach by adding in substantial amounts of curated supplemental material for enrichment and extension, along with practice standardized test problems. These challenging problem-solving activities are integrated to help students hone their mathematical and critical thinking skills and apply concepts across a wide range of situations and scenarios.
Note: Like our Algebra I class, Algebra II requires students to complete a large homework packet. Families have three options:
- Complete and submit the material digitally using a tablet (that can write on PDFs and upload the marked-up PDFs to Google Classroom) along with a compatible stylus. (For example, an iPad and stylus would be great).
- Print each unit from Google Classroom at home, slowly and over the course of the school year, which requires a total of 800+ pages printed.
- Purchase the packet from Bluebonnet pre-printed, at a cost of $94. If families choose option three, they must notify us before June 28 so we can include it in our bulk printing order. The cost will be billed with families’ July tuition payment.
Recommended: Tablet—compatible with Google Classroom, preferably also compatible with a stylus
Materials:
Students will need the following supplies which families purchase independently:
-
- Pencils & Erasers
- 1 black/blue and 1 red non-erasable pen
- 1 ruler (a small one is fine)
- A few color pencils or colored erasable pens (3 colors other than black)
- A three-ring binder with lined/graph paper and dividers—or—a notebook (graphing or lined) with a 1.5″ binder (with lined/graph paper and dividers)
- Graphing Calculator*
For Algebra 2, families should aquire the following additional supplies:
-
- Homework packet (see options above) and one of the following options:
- iPad and stylus
- access to a home printer capable of printing 800+ pages
- homework packet purchased from BHSC for $94
- Homework packet (see options above) and one of the following options:
*As of May 2025, the SAT Calculator Policy has been revised and graphing calculators (with CAS) are no longer allowed for the PSAT or SAT. While CAS is beneficial in college, for our high school students please see the following options:
- Purchase a calculator with CAS (Mrs. Panam prefers TI-89 and up with CAS) that is suitable for use in college STEM programs—even though such calculators cannot be used on standardized tests like the PSAT and SAT. If choosing this option, also select one or both of the next two options if your student plans to take standardized tests like the PSAT/SAT.
- Use an online calculator (like DESMOS)—this means the student will need access to a laptop/desktop/tablet with access to internet. It is recommended that students master using this online calculator prior to taking a standardized test to avoid any issues during testing. (Students can also practice using the provided online test calculators via practice online PSAT/SAT tests.)
- Purchase an allowed calculator following the College Board’s instructions—here are some examples of allowed TI calculators, the underlined ones are BHSC’s recommendations:
- TI-83 Plus graphing calculator
- TI-84 Plus graphing calculator
- TI-84 Plus CE graphing calculator
- TI-84 Plus CE Python graphing calculator
- TI-Nspire™ CX graphing calculator
- TI-Nspire™ CX II graphing calculator
