2013-2014 General Biology Disclosure



2014-2015 Honors Biology Disclosure

Welcome to Honors Biology! I encourage you to read this with your parents/guardians so that you will have an understanding of your and my responsibilities. A copy of the disclosure should be kept in your class notebook.

Course Description: Honors Biology is devoted to the study of living things and their processes. Throughout the year this course provides the opportunity for students to develop scientific process skills, laboratory techniques, and an understanding of the fundamental principles of living organisms. Students will explore biological science as a process, cell structure and function, genetics and heredity, evolution and classification, diversity of living organisms and their ecological roles, and an introduction to animal structure and function. In addition, you will be exposed to various concepts, mathematical equations, and other topics covered in AP Biology. This exposure will help bridge the gap between Honors Biology and AP Biology.

Please come in and get help if you are having a difficult time. The topics in Honors Biology are comprehensive. If you have a stumbling block early on, it will likely become a larger problem later. I want to help you succeed and will make myself available before and after school as much as possible. Remember that Charger time is an extension of the school day and should be used anytime you need to make-up work or just have questions. In addition to myself, we have 4 other teachers that also teach biology.

Mrs. Prudden Mr. Hone

lisa.prudden@ garrett.hone@

Room S-113 Room S-116

Mr. Linde Mrs. Fister

quentin.linde@ kimberly.dyal@

Room S-114 S-106, S-205, S-203, S-116 on A days only

Materials Needed: The student should bring the following materials to class every day: Pen or pencil, Paper, Folder or Binder, and Curiosity. It would be helpful to have a set of colored pencils as well.

Rules and Consequences:

• Rules

o Follow directions the first time given

o Be in your seat, prepared to work, when the bell stops ringing.

o Be polite: No profanity, hitting, kicking, throwing objects, etc.

o Do your personal best

o Be safe: Follow lab procedures

• Reasons for following rules

o Good learning environment

o Happy teacher (

• Consequences for not following rules

o Talk with the teacher

o Phone call home

o Meet with administration

Technology Expectations:

➢ My website is AWESOME! You can find it at cornercanyonbiology.

o ALL STUDENTS should be checking the website every day.

o I am teaching with a flipped classroom, so you will need to access the website for videos and notes. In addition, you can find schedules, assignments, the online textbook, and many other resources.

➢ Canvas: We will be using Canvas for weekly quizzes. You do not need to access Canvas unless you are assigned a quiz.

➢ Skyward: Grades can be checked on Skyward at any time. I will do my best to keep them current.

➢ Email: Please email any questions or concerns to me at Kenneth.smikahl@.

➢ Personal Electronics: I do not want to see personal electronics unless you are specifically told you may use them. Devices taken away from students will be locked up until I receive a phone call from your parent/guardian.

➢ Remind 101: Sign-up to get reminders for tests and other deadlines. Sign-up instructions are on the homepage of my website.

Attendance Expectations: Attendance is critical to being successful in Honors Biology. Missing class and being late will make it difficult to keep up on the material and complete valuable classroom experiences. Please be on time to class. Guidelines from the Corner Canyon High School attendance policy will be followed in class.

Hall Passes: Only one person should be out of the room at a time. Please let the teacher know if there is a reason for leaving for more than five minutes. Be sure to take the Hall Pass with you, and return it when you get back.

Lab Fee: There is a $20.00 lab fee required for all students not on a fee waiver. Bring your receipt to your teacher by August 29.

All school rules and policies will be upheld in the classroom.

Grading Expectations: Grades are a reflection of your mastery of content and skills in a particular class. For Honors Biology, this mastery includes content in biology and skills related to critical thinking and communication. You will be provided with more than one opportunity to demonstrate your mastery level.

Citizenship, character, participation, and effort are all important contributors to success: They will be assessed, but will not affect your grades, as they do not reflect your mastery of content or skills. For the same reason, there will not be any extra-credit offered during the class to “boost” your grade, although there may be opportunities for demonstrating mastery of the content and skills in order to improve your grade.

➢ Grades in the science department are weighted with the following values:

▪ Summative assessments 65%: This includes all tests and can include labs and quizzes. Summative assessments determine whether the student has mastered the content and skills in each unit of study.

▪ Formative assessments and labs 25%: This includes most quizzes, exit slips, think-pair-shares, most labs, and some assignments. The purpose of formative assessments is to provide the student with feedback on whether he/she understands the concepts and to help your teacher plan effectively.

▪ Practice 10%: This includes many assignments, and starter questions.

➢ To draw an analogy: If a person competes in most any endeavor, they practice, get feedback, practice more, and get more feedback, and then compete. Quizzes, assignments and such (formative assessments) are opportunities for the student to practice and get feedback on how to improve. If the student never practices, no feedback can be given and no opportunity for improvement will occur. Tests (Summative assessments) are the actual competitions or games: These are the opportunities for students to demonstrate their mastery of the necessary skills and subject matter.

➢ The Grading Scale is a standard scale:

|93-100% = A |83-86% = B |73-76% = C |63-66% = D |

|90-92% = A- |80-82% = B- |70-72% = C- |60-62% = D- |

|87-89% = B+ |77-79% = C+ |67-69% = D+ |0-59% = F |

Academic Criteria:

➢ Summative Assessments: Tests will be given at the end of every unit (Usually consisting of 1-2 chapters).

o If you miss a test due to an excused or school related absence you will have 3 days upon returning to school to take the test during my office hours.

o If you are ever dissatisfied with the score you earn on a test you may re-take it within five school days upon getting the test back. You MUST attend a review session prior to the ORIGINAL TEST to be eligible for a re-take.

➢ Formative Assessments:

o Quizzes: Quizzes are open note and may not be re-taken. Quizzes must be made up within 5 days of an excused absence. Quizzes on Canvas are due on the due date whether you were in class or not.

o Graded Assignments: Assignments are due at the beginning of class. Assignments may be graded or merely checked for completion. Assignments are an opportunity for practice and feedback, so it is highly recommended that students take notes/make corrections as we go over them in class.

▪ If you miss an assignment due to an excused or school related absence you will have FIVE SCHOOL DAYS upon returning to school to make up the assignment.

➢ Labs/Activities: The best part about having a “flipped classroom” is the extra time to do labs/activities. You will have fun learning in my class! Labs will be graded on the post-lab write-up, based on lab results. Inappropriate/unsafe behavior during a lab will result in student(s) involved completing an alternate assignment, and a phone call home. Students who are asked to complete an alternate assignment for misbehavior in the lab will receive a zero until they have made up the lab after school.

o If you miss a lab due to an excused or school related absence you will have FIVE SCHOOL DAYS from the original date of the lab to make it up during my office hours.

➢ Practice assignments and starters: Students will complete a self-starter activity daily. Self-starters and practice assignments will be checked for completion. We will go over correct answers so students can check their work.

General policies regarding late work:

➢ Most assignments, lab write ups, homework, etc. are due at the beginning of the class period on the next day we meet and will be called for by me.

➢ No assignments, labs, etc. will be accepted after the end of a unit of study.

➢ Late assignments will receive the same score as the student earned on the end of unit test, as long as the assignment is 100% finished, correct, and turned in by the time of the current unit’s test.

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I have read the entire disclosure and understand that all policies within will be upheld in the classroom. I have also kept a copy of this disclosure for reference.

_______________________________________________________ _________________________

(Student Signature) (Date)

_______________________________________________________ _________________________

(Parent Signature) (Date)

Parent/Guardian Contact Information

Father:

Home Phone: Cell: Work:

Mother:

Home Phone: Cell: Work:

Guardian:

Home: Cell: Work:

Parent/Guardian Email:

-----------------------

Mr. Smikahl

(801) 826-6506

kenneth.smikahl@

Charger Time: M,W,F 7:00-7:50 a.m.

Room S-105

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