How Have Absences Made My Grade
For some time now I have been trying to tell my students that there is a definite relationship between seat time in my class and the level of success each student is looking for.  But those were just words from "Another Teacher".  This assignment has forced me to take those words a step farther.  I took the information from three of my classes from last year and used spreadsheets to tally up absences and grades, and then showed the information graphically.  The names have been changed in order to protect those who would rather be kept anonymous.

The three classes were- 1st period Algebra II, 2nd period F.S.T.(Functions, Statistics, & Trigonometry), and3rd period Algebra II.  Click on each class and take a look at what I found.  To see that graphs that accompany each sheet, just go to the tool bar at the top select "View" and then click on chart.

Next, I took all the grades and absences from all of my classes from last year and used them to come up a working model of how your attendance can affect your grade.  I calculated a line of regression in hopes that others may predict what their grade would be, given their "Vacation Plans".  Click here to see the overall information for attendance last year.

Finally I took my regression equation to one of my classes and one of the other math classes in our building and found out if it is a reasonable model.  Click here to see how my predictions compare to the actual grades in one of my classes. Click here to see how the model looked for one of our other classes.

My model is pretty good.  It doesn't really represent the 0-3 absences range very well.  But it does show how your grade is negatively affected by your number of absences.

At some point I guess the excused absences, doctors appointments, and family vacations just seem to put a stop to the amount of information you can learn...

Who's the best?  It won't be decided while I am alive.  My front runner has to be Michael Jordan.
Yup, I'm talking about the game of basketball.  Many have played the game, many have played it well, but only a few can be called the best.  I chose two men whom they say are the best...
Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain.

Wilt scored 100 points in a game once.  Michael has won more championships.  Truthfully it is hard to compare the two players.  They played two different positions and in two different eras.
I took this opportunity to look up some stats on each player.  And compared a couple of the statistics that were kept during their respective careers. Take a look.

I know that nobody will ever be sure.  But my favorite of my generation will always be MJ.

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