KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!!!
EMAIL: [email protected]
CLASSROOM: K-212
SCHOOL PHONE: 956-548-7700
CONFERENCE PERIOD: 4th Period (a day’s notice is appreciated)
COURSE DESCRIPTION: BIOLOGY is a rigorous laboratory and field science course in which students use the scientific method to perform investigations, make informed decisions using critical thinking and scientific problem solving. The course involves studying a variety of topics that include the science process skills, measurement, cells and cell processes, ecology, genetics, and the diversity of life on Earth, covering the EOC Objectives. The student can expect a variety of teaching strategies from lecture, cooperative group work, and visuals, with an emphasis on hands-on activities, lab and field methods to review skills and make direct connections to science concepts.
EXPECTATIONS: High academic and disciplinary expectations will be maintained. Students are expected to participate safely and respectfully in all activities in class, complete projects and homework assigned, achieve success on daily work and tests and prepare for success on the EOC exam with a positive attitude. All district, campus and classroom rules, policies and routines will be followed. The main class rule is “respect yourself, respect others, and respect the environment.”
TEXTBOOK: Biology, Miller and Levine, Pearson Prentice Hall publishing. Students will be responsible for respectfully using an assigned textbook while in class. Books from the classroom set will NOT leave the classroom. It is strongly recommended that students check out a textbook to be kept at home. Students will be assigned a reading/study guide consumable book from which homework will be assigned, as well as other assignments needing the textbook. Students may also be able to access the textbook online once their usernames and passwords are in place.
HOMEWORK: Students should adopt a routine of doing homework nightly to review class notes, organize notebook, read textbook, correct tests or learn new vocabulary even if a written assignment has not been made. When written assignments, model making, lab reports are assigned, they will be to prepare the student for the next day’s lesson, or to complete independent practice on lessons delivered in class, or projects to supplement the content learned in class. Homework will be graded and failure to turn it in will affect the average.
MAKE UP WORK: Students who are absent shall have the opportunity to make up missed work. If the assignment was made when the student was in class, then the work is due the day the student returns. If the assignment, or handouts, etc. were missed during the absence, then the student should pick up the work from the “absence folder” and complete it for homework. If a test was missed and no new material was covered during the absence, then the student should be prepared to come in during 4th/6th period lunch on the day returning to take the make up test. Make up tests will not be done during class time. A notebook is provided in the front of the classroom for scheduling a time for make up work, including certain labs. If the student does not report on the agreed upon time, then the grade may remain a zero. All make up work must be submitted within the same number of days as the student was absent, in accordance with district policy (or by special arrangements with the teacher.) Make-up work will be placed in the “make-up work” folder for the appropriate class period.
LATE WORK: Students need to turn in all assignments on the due date. Grades are given for all work assigned. Ample time is given on major projects; due dates are clearly stated in the daily agenda and should be recorded in the student’s daily objectives sheet. For major projects, due dates are also specified on the “count down” poster in the classroom as a reminder. For test corrections and other papers requiring a parent signature, students are always given at least two nights in order to secure time with a parent to review the work. Should work not be turned in on time, late work will be accepted one day late with a parent note for a penalty of ten points UNLESS the work has already been graded in class, in which case the grade will remain a zero. For extenuating circumstances, a parent conference may be held to determine if the late work will be “excused.”
RETESTING: If a test score is less than a 70, a retest may be given at a time arranged by the teacher. However, before a retest is given, the student needs to complete the test corrections and have the test signed with a note from a parent. If the grade was extremely low, the teacher may require that the student come in for tutorial before retesting. The highest score on a retest is a 70. Retests are only given one time on a given test and are not given on six weeks tests, benchmarks or final exams. The student must request the retest and must attend the tutorials and test taking at the scheduled times.
MAJOR PROJECTS: Students will be assigned projects to be completed at home. This may include model building using household products (such as the cell model, DNA molecule, etc.), multi-media presentations or library research. Major projects count as major test grades, often more than one test grade. Adequate time is given before the due date to successfully and creatively complete a successful product.
GRADING POLICY: Minor assessments will count 33 % of the six weeks’ grade. This includes class work, homework, notebooks, quizzes, class participation, and minor lab reports. Several grades may be taken weekly, with a minimum of five per six weeks. Major assessments will count 67% of the six weeks’ grade. This includes major tests, benchmarks, lab reports, projects. There will be a minimum of three tests per six weeks. The semester exam will count for 25% of the semester average (average of 1ST six weeks + 2ND six weeks + 3rd six weeks + final exam). The student will receive science credit in the course when successfully passing with a grade of at least a 70. This is a continuing course second semester. The two semesters average for final grade. Cheating is defined as giving or receiving of information and will result in a zero on the work. Plagiarism is also considered cheating. Students are expected to do their own work, look up the answers to errors on tests (NOT get from classmate), and turn in individual assignments even if the actual work was done in a cooperative group.
CLASSROOM: K-212
SCHOOL PHONE: 956-548-7700
CONFERENCE PERIOD: 4th Period (a day’s notice is appreciated)
COURSE DESCRIPTION: BIOLOGY is a rigorous laboratory and field science course in which students use the scientific method to perform investigations, make informed decisions using critical thinking and scientific problem solving. The course involves studying a variety of topics that include the science process skills, measurement, cells and cell processes, ecology, genetics, and the diversity of life on Earth, covering the EOC Objectives. The student can expect a variety of teaching strategies from lecture, cooperative group work, and visuals, with an emphasis on hands-on activities, lab and field methods to review skills and make direct connections to science concepts.
EXPECTATIONS: High academic and disciplinary expectations will be maintained. Students are expected to participate safely and respectfully in all activities in class, complete projects and homework assigned, achieve success on daily work and tests and prepare for success on the EOC exam with a positive attitude. All district, campus and classroom rules, policies and routines will be followed. The main class rule is “respect yourself, respect others, and respect the environment.”
TEXTBOOK: Biology, Miller and Levine, Pearson Prentice Hall publishing. Students will be responsible for respectfully using an assigned textbook while in class. Books from the classroom set will NOT leave the classroom. It is strongly recommended that students check out a textbook to be kept at home. Students will be assigned a reading/study guide consumable book from which homework will be assigned, as well as other assignments needing the textbook. Students may also be able to access the textbook online once their usernames and passwords are in place.
HOMEWORK: Students should adopt a routine of doing homework nightly to review class notes, organize notebook, read textbook, correct tests or learn new vocabulary even if a written assignment has not been made. When written assignments, model making, lab reports are assigned, they will be to prepare the student for the next day’s lesson, or to complete independent practice on lessons delivered in class, or projects to supplement the content learned in class. Homework will be graded and failure to turn it in will affect the average.
MAKE UP WORK: Students who are absent shall have the opportunity to make up missed work. If the assignment was made when the student was in class, then the work is due the day the student returns. If the assignment, or handouts, etc. were missed during the absence, then the student should pick up the work from the “absence folder” and complete it for homework. If a test was missed and no new material was covered during the absence, then the student should be prepared to come in during 4th/6th period lunch on the day returning to take the make up test. Make up tests will not be done during class time. A notebook is provided in the front of the classroom for scheduling a time for make up work, including certain labs. If the student does not report on the agreed upon time, then the grade may remain a zero. All make up work must be submitted within the same number of days as the student was absent, in accordance with district policy (or by special arrangements with the teacher.) Make-up work will be placed in the “make-up work” folder for the appropriate class period.
LATE WORK: Students need to turn in all assignments on the due date. Grades are given for all work assigned. Ample time is given on major projects; due dates are clearly stated in the daily agenda and should be recorded in the student’s daily objectives sheet. For major projects, due dates are also specified on the “count down” poster in the classroom as a reminder. For test corrections and other papers requiring a parent signature, students are always given at least two nights in order to secure time with a parent to review the work. Should work not be turned in on time, late work will be accepted one day late with a parent note for a penalty of ten points UNLESS the work has already been graded in class, in which case the grade will remain a zero. For extenuating circumstances, a parent conference may be held to determine if the late work will be “excused.”
RETESTING: If a test score is less than a 70, a retest may be given at a time arranged by the teacher. However, before a retest is given, the student needs to complete the test corrections and have the test signed with a note from a parent. If the grade was extremely low, the teacher may require that the student come in for tutorial before retesting. The highest score on a retest is a 70. Retests are only given one time on a given test and are not given on six weeks tests, benchmarks or final exams. The student must request the retest and must attend the tutorials and test taking at the scheduled times.
MAJOR PROJECTS: Students will be assigned projects to be completed at home. This may include model building using household products (such as the cell model, DNA molecule, etc.), multi-media presentations or library research. Major projects count as major test grades, often more than one test grade. Adequate time is given before the due date to successfully and creatively complete a successful product.
GRADING POLICY: Minor assessments will count 33 % of the six weeks’ grade. This includes class work, homework, notebooks, quizzes, class participation, and minor lab reports. Several grades may be taken weekly, with a minimum of five per six weeks. Major assessments will count 67% of the six weeks’ grade. This includes major tests, benchmarks, lab reports, projects. There will be a minimum of three tests per six weeks. The semester exam will count for 25% of the semester average (average of 1ST six weeks + 2ND six weeks + 3rd six weeks + final exam). The student will receive science credit in the course when successfully passing with a grade of at least a 70. This is a continuing course second semester. The two semesters average for final grade. Cheating is defined as giving or receiving of information and will result in a zero on the work. Plagiarism is also considered cheating. Students are expected to do their own work, look up the answers to errors on tests (NOT get from classmate), and turn in individual assignments even if the actual work was done in a cooperative group.