Class Syllabus
Dear Students and Parents/Guardians,
Welcome to 7th Grade Science! My name is Mrs. Leisa Guest and this is my 5th year teaching middle school science. Before coming to Riverside, I taught 5th grade for 25 years. I am honored to have your child in my science class and excited to work with you and your child throughout the year. 7th grade will be full of many exciting experiences as we engage in science and engineering practices. The success of the school year is not entirely the responsibility of the student, but rather one that is shared. This vast amount of learning will be greatly enhanced through student, teacher, and parent collaboration. Open communication with the parents is essential. The more opportunities we have to talk, either on the phone, face-to-face, or via e-mail, the more I will be able to understand and help your child with his or her needs at Riverside Middle School. My teaching philosophy encompasses teaching the whole student. I thoroughly understand what a gift your child is and how important he or she is to you. I believe every child can and should learn as much as possible. In order to facilitate this cooperation, you can contact me at any time. I look forward to working with all of you!
Course Description: 7th Grade Science is designed to expose students to many facets of the natural world through science and engineering practices. Biology, ecology, chemistry, and earth science will all be taught as an integrated course and with the STEAM approach. Students will utilize the science and engineering practices to identify and solve problems, apply critical thinking skills to everyday situations, work cooperatively to achieve common goals, make connections between science concepts and current events, connect science and technology using computers and laboratory equipment, make scientific connections through the writing process, and see how different sciences are dependent on each other. Communication, collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking are important skills in science as they are in life, so projects may include designing and building models, oral and/or written reports, and group work.
The curriculum for this course is based the 2014 SC Science Curriculum Standards. Science standards can be viewed at the SC State Department of Education website or on my teacher website.
Course Content Standards: http://ed.sc.gov/instruction/standards-learning/science/standards/
This class will meet South Carolina Standards for Science with an emphasis on:
I. Science and Engineering Practices- Students will use the science and engineering practices, including the processes and skills of scientific inquiry, to develop understandings of science content.
II. Physical Science: Classification and Conservation of Matter- Students will demonstrate an understanding of the structure and properties of matter and that matter is conserved as it undergoes changes.
III. Life Science: Organization in Living Things- Students will demonstrate an understanding of how the levels of organization within organisms support the essential functions of life.
IV. Life Science: Inheritance and Variation of Traits- Students will demonstrate an understanding of how genetic information is transferred from parent to offspring and how environmental factors and the use of technologies influence the transfer of genetic information.
V. Ecology: Interactions of Living Systems and the Environment- Students will demonstrate an understanding of how organisms interact with and respond to the biotic and abiotic components of their environments.
Required Textbook: Glencoe South Carolina Science Grade 7 (Leave at home until May 2021) and Discovery Education Science Online Tech Book for South Carolina (login: google.discoveryeducation.com)
Course Requirements: Every student is responsible for and expected to follow all rules and guidelines set forth in the Riverside Middle School Student Handbook regarding the attendance, tardy, ID badge, technology usage, plagiarism/cheating, and discipline policies.
Classroom Expectations:
“Actively Engaged and Learning…100% of the Time!!!”
It is my personal goal that students are actively engaged and learning 100% of the time in my classroom. For all of my students to be successful, students are expected to:
Be honest and truthful at all times.
Have a positive attitude.
Respect his or her classmates, teacher, and visitors.
Give 100% effort when completing tasks. Do ALL assigned work!
Follow the school dress code, classroom expectations, and lab safety guidelines.
Be on time to class.
Come prepared with all daily supplies.
Leave cell phones and other unauthorized personal electronic devices, turned off, in his or her locker.
Leave large handbags, book bags, nylon sports bags, and any other type of large bag in his or her locker.
Use the restroom and go to his or her locker before they come to class.
Enter the room quietly and orderly and immediately begin the daily starters.
Stay in his or her assigned seat throughout class unless he or she has been given permission to get up.
Remain in their seat until Mrs. Guest dismisses them from class. The bell does not dismiss students from my class.
Clean up around his or her desk and push in his or her chair before leaving the classroom.
Respect the property of others and refrain from writing on or damaging Mrs. Guest’s textbooks, furniture, and/or other classroom supplies.
• Laboratory Guidelines (see attached Safety Contract)
• Tardy Policy: Students are expected to be on time to class every day. Students will be given four minutes between classes to go to their lockers, use the restroom, and take care of personal business before they enter my classroom. Students who are late must sign in. Persistent tardiness to class will follow these guidelines: 1st offense: warning, 2nd offense: warning and parent contact, 3rd offense: detention, 4th and subsequent offenses: office referral and parent contact.
• Disciplinary Consequences: Each disciplinary consequence is based on the situation and is at my discretion. Consequences will generally follow the order of the following: 1st offense: warning, 2nd offense: warning and parent contact, 3rd offense: detention, and 4th and subsequent offenses: office referral and parent contact. Any severe disruption or disciplinary infraction in class will result in an immediate office referral.
• Student Agendas and Hall Passes: Students are required to bring their agenda to class everyday and write down any homework assignments. If there is no homework for a given day, students are to write “none.” Student agendas will be checked periodically. Hall passes are written at my discretion. I usually do not let anyone leave my room unless there is an emergency. During class changes, students are free to go to the restroom, but generally not during class.
• Cell Phones and Personal Devices: When cell phones and/or other student personal devices are not being used for educational purposes directed by Mrs. Guest, students will be expected to keep them turned off in his/her locker.
• Dismissal from Class: When the bell rings at the end of each period, I will dismiss the class. Students are free to go when I feel they are quiet and have all necessary information for the day.
• Supply List: You will need the following items by August 31
1- Notebook (1 inch 3-ring binder) (Any color) (May combine with another subject with other teacher’s approval)
2- Loose-Leaf Notebook Paper (not spiral)
3- Colored Pencils and Markers
4- 2 Notebook Dividers (1st divider labeled “Notes and Handouts”; 2nd divider labeled “Stems”)
5- 1 Roll of Paper Towels
6- Pens, Pencils, and Highlighters
7- Appropriate Reading Material (novel) (for when you finish early)
Daily Supplies: Students are required to bring the following supplies to class daily.
Science Binder
School-issued Chromebook
Personal Pencil Pouch with all needed supplies (pencils, erasers, pens, highlighters, ruler, markers, colored pencils, etc…)
Agenda
ID Badge
Appropriate, Extra Reading Material
Students are not allowed to use or bring the following items to class: whiteout, permanent markers, lotions, sprays, cell phones, etc…
• Grade Computation: This grading policy is in compliance with the Greenville County Schools’ policy.
Major Assessments 50%
Tests and Final Exam
Formal Lab Reports
Projects
Formal Writing Assignments
Notebooks
Minor Assessments 50%
Quizzes
Mini-lab Reports
Class Work
Homework
Weekly Starters
• Grading Scale:
A=90-100 B=80-89 C=70-79 D=60-69 F=50-59
• Homework: Homework will be posted in the classroom daily. When written work is not assigned, students are expected to read over their science notes every night in preparation for tests/quizzes. Students should do homework completely and carefully. Homework may be checked for completion or collected and graded for accuracy.
• Late Work: Students are expected to complete and submit all assignments on the assigned due date to receive full credit. Students may turn in late work up until the day of the major assessment on the same material, (at least 5 school days after the original due date). If the work is turned in between the deadline and the assessment, students will receive a maximum grade of 75%. After the assessment, the grade will remain an NHI with a value of 50%. Please note: Late work cannot be accepted from a previous quarter, whether or not the assessment took place in the same quarter. If at the end of the quarter the assignment has not been turned in the NHI will remain for a grade of 50. All work turned in must be complete and show that effort was put into completing the assignment. Any assignment that has been discussed and answers have been provided will not be accepted late.
• Redo/Retake Policy: In pursuit of giving students the opportunity to demonstrate mastery in accordance with a growth mindset, Riverside Middle School has set forth the following redo/retake policy: Students or their guardians may request one opportunity to redo each major grade. Students/parents must submit their request for a redo/retake within one school week of the graded assessment being returned. Before an assessment is redone/retaken, students must complete a re-learning opportunity as determined by the teacher and agreed upon through a documented discussion between the teacher, student, and/or guardian. The retake score will replace the original score whether or not it is higher than the original score. Students may not request a redo/retake on work handed in late. Re-learning opportunities may include independent learning tasks, review activities, before or after school tutoring with a teacher, Flex time remediation, or other activities deemed appropriate by the teacher. Minor assessments may be redone/retaken at the discretion of the teacher, in order to support learning.
• Flex Time: Students will attend “Flex” time weekly. During this time, students will be provided with enrichment opportunities, extra help, and/or time to complete missing and make up work. All assignments completed during this time will support and be an extension of classroom instruction.
• Tests: Tests are announced 3-5 days in advance and dates will be posted in the classroom and on my website. Study guides/tools will be provided for each major test.
• Missed Work from Absences/ Make-up Policy: Students who are absent have 5 days after returning to school to complete missed work. It is the student’s responsibility to get the assignments missed and complete them within the allotted time to receive full credit. Students will need to make arrangements to stay after school in order to make up quizzes or tests. Students need to pre-arrange the date with me before planning to stay. Emergency situations and extended absences will be handled on an individual basis.
• Extra Help/eLearning Assistance: If your child is struggling in my class or would like extra help, I am available before and after school. Students/parents must arrange a time that suits the schedule of both parties ahead of time. For eLearning students, I will be available daily from 12:00 – 12:30.
• Conferences: At any time, if you would like to meet with me, please call Lynn Truitt at 355-7915 to set up an appointment. I am available on most days from 11:10 – 11:30.
• E-mail: Parents and students are welcome to email me at lguest@greenville.k12.sc.us. I will periodically send emails to parents and students with important class information and reminders.
• Teacher Website: Test and quiz dates, weekly planners, and other class information and study tools will be posted on my website at https://sites.google.com/greenvilleschools.us/lguest/home.
A copy of this information has been given to each student. Parents or guardians should complete and sign the bottom portion and return it to me by Sept. 4. Students should put the remainder of this syllabus in the front of their science binder.
Cut here and return completed bottom portion to Mrs. Guest by Sept. 4 OR email Mrs. Guest at lguest@greenville.k12.sc.us to acknowledge that you and your child have read and understand the syllabus.
We have read and discussed the information in this syllabus concerning Mrs. Guest’s classroom expectations and the lab safety contract.
Student Name (print) _______________________________________________________________________
Student Signature _________________________________________________________________________
Parent Signature __________________________________________________________________________