Mrs. Felker's Science Site



Biology Course Requirements and Student Responsibilities Fall 2016Instructor: Mrs. Emily Felker Room: 3636Contact: efelker@Biology Class Site: mrsfelkerscience.Office Hours: 6:50-7:20 Tuesday and ThursdayExpected Student OutcomesNC Biology Standards: Welcome to Biology! This course focuses on biology and career development. As we move through the semester, we will focus in on the following subjects: cells, metabolism, cell energetics, protein synthesis, genetics, biotechnology, evolution, taxonomy, species diversity, and ecology. Mastery Learning is approached through multiple forms of assessment, peer teaching, and project-based learning. At the end of this course, you will be prepared for success on the End-of-Course exam as well as prepared to move on to more challenging science courses in high school and beyond. I look forward to working with you! Class Policies and ProceduresHave respect for self, others, and property Improper conduct interferes with the learning of yourself and others. Raise your hand to be called upon and do not leave your seat without permission.Recognize that this is our classroom --- it is a safe and supportive place to learn from one another. Treat others as you expect to be treated: with respect, manners, and with consideration for differing opinions and backgrounds.Arrive on time and be present in classTardies: If you arrive after the bell without a legitimate note from a previous teacher or administrator, you will be considered tardy. Having your materials in class while your body is out of class still means you are tardy. Multiple tardies will result in phone calls home and disciplinary action as stated in the school wide policy.Bring your notebook, notes, and materials to class daily. Pay attention; this means no cell phones!Access the class website often to keep up with important dates and class materials.Check your grades periodically and see me with concerns.Work responsibly to succeedBe mindful of the difference between assisting your classmates and interfering with the learning of others. Stay honest; cheating is not and will never be tolerated. When working with others, ensure that the work you are turning is an original product that expresses your own thoughts and ideas. Pay attention during instruction; ask for clarification, not repetition, of directions or information. The school’s BYOD applies in this classroom. Unless otherwise given permission for class assignments, ALL electronics must be OUT OF SIGHT and TURNED OFF. If used or heard these items will be confiscated. Keep a positive attitudeAlways try; never give up! You can do this with hard work and a positive outlook.You are expected to participate in all discussions in a positive and constructive manner. You may be called on even if you do not raise your hand during such discussions.Safety firstAbide by all lab safety guidelines to guarantee the health and safety of everyone involved. Use lab equipment as if you had to pay to replace it, and remember that lab cleanup is a group activity!Follow directions during drills and emergency situations Food and beverages must remain outside of the room during class time. This is both a school rule and a safety issue.Internet Use: You will often be asked to use the Internet at home and at school for class assignments, including homework, research assignments, and projects. Proper cyberspace etiquette when communicating with others is expected at ALL times. Class Pets: We have five class pets: four female rats named Rosie, Roz, Ruby, and Reye (all named after scientists!), and one Madagascar hissing cockroach named Roger. If you touch the rats or their habitat, you must wash your hands afterwards. Soap, water, and paper towels are located at multiple lab stations around the room. Class AttendanceAttendance is taken daily and the school policy on attendance is followed. When you know you will be absent due to athletic events, field trips, or other personal obligations, all work must be picked up in advance and turned in on time. Hall Passes: There is a 5-minute time limit on hall pass use and only one student may be out of the classroom at a time. NEVER leave the room without a hall pass and permission from the teacher. Make Up WorkIf you have are absent from class, it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to find out what was missed and complete the work. Most notes and assignments will be posted on the class website. The timeline to make up missing work is stated in the school policy. Late work may be accepted, but the grade will drop by 8% for each day that it is late. After 5 days, the maximum score that can be earned will be a 60%. Late work will not be accepted after interim dates. Assignments: If you need to make up an assignment or assessment, this must be done in science tutorial during lunch on Monday (B lunch) or Wednesday (A lunch). Making up work at any other time is at the discretion of the teacher.Tests and Quizzes: If you are absent on the day a unit test is given but were in class prior to the test date, you are expected to take the makeup test on the day you return to class. Tests must be made up within the time guidelines. You can make up a missed test during science tutorial. Arrangements can also be made to make up tests before or after school. H.O.T. Lunch: Hawks On TaskIf you have missing work, a test to make up, or if you are in need of additional assistance from your peers or from me, I EXPECT to see you at HOT lunch. While in HOT lunch you may: eat, visit, study, make up work, tutor others, draw, read, or use the computer. You MAY NOT: copy work that others have done, disrupt the working environment for others, or leave a mess behind. MaterialsYou must bring the following materials to class EVERY DAY – no hall passes will be given to retrieve these items.1 notebook/binder (1.5” minimum) with loose leaf lined paper and dividersOrganization is key --- there may be random notebook checks for a grade. All work should be organized by unit and kept for the entire 9-week quarter. After the quarter, I will instruct you as to what can be removed and moved into long-term storage as review for the final exam (EOC), which is comprehensive. Pencil (#2 lead) AND a Blue/Black Pen: A #2 pencil is required for all unit exams and Benchmark assessments. All work should be done in a blue/black pen or dark pencil. Work done in other colors may not be accepted.It is recommended, but not required, that students have available:Agenda for recording important dates and upcoming assignmentsHighlighters, colored pencils, index cards for studying, reviewing, or completing class assignmentsMemory storage: Students are encouraged to have a way of saving and transferring files beyond normal email. Tips for SuccessCompleting your work will better your understanding of biology concepts. Expect to study nightly even if nothing is assigned!!Come in for extra help during H.O.T. lunch or schedule a time to meet with me if you need assistanceSleep and good nutrition are important to success; you will think more clearly when well rested & fedUse study aids like flashcards, diagrams and reading aloud to help with understandingAsk questions, ask questions, ask questions!!!Grading and Evaluation CriteriaEach 9-week Term (40% X 2 Terms): 80%EOC Final Exam: 20%No student is exempt from taking the NC EOC final exam. Student grades for each 9-week term will be determined more specifically by the following criteria:10% Homework:You will not have nightly homework; however, all assigned homework should be completed by the announced due date, no exceptions! Each assignment heading must include your name and date. Assignments without a name will lose points. 40% Tests & QuizzesTests and Lab Practicals (100 points) will be given at the end of each unit and will be based on material from the lecture notes, lab results, and/or class activities. Questions will be of many varieties and will ask you to recall, apply, and synthesize material: understanding and using the concepts is just as important as memorizing the facts!Topic Quizzes (short, 25-50 points) will be given approximately once a week. These quizzes will cover content currently being covered in class lectures, assignments, or labs and may be unannounced.Benchmark Assessments: Three comprehensive exams will be given approximately every 4 ? weeks as scheduled by the school. The final B.A. is the EOC, which accounts for 25% of the ENTIRE class grade and is not reflected in the 9-week average. 50% Classwork, Projects, and LabsClasswork assignments may include web quests, labs, group work, or other reinforcement activities. Depending on length and difficulty, classwork assignments may range anywhere from 25-100 points. Assignments without a name will lose points.Projects are typically worth 100 points. These may be assigned as either individual or group projects. Each unit typically has one accompanying project.A lab report will be required for some activities. These should be completed neatly in ink and turned in by the due date. Unless otherwise announced by me, ALL work should be done individually and independently. Your work should never be identical to that of another student. Working together on an assignment does not mean you should have identical answers – put it in your own words and NO COPYING. I do not allow cheating, copying, or plagiarizing - any student(s) found cheating will forfeit all points for that assignment and will be asked to redo the assignment in order to receive credit.Extra Credit and Enrichment:The purpose of extra credit and enrichment is to give you the opportunity to demonstrate that you have learned something extra within the content of the curriculum (something relevant to biology that I did not teach you). If you plan on doing an extra credit activity, you must gain my approval in advance. I do not provide extra credit points for bringing classroom supplies because I feel as if this gives an unfair advantage to those students who can afford to do so. However, I do provide several opportunities to earn extra credit points during daily activities. ................
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