Syllabus - 2014/2015
LHS Earth Science - Mr. Reitsma
Class: Room B210
Office: B211
email: mreitsma@jeffco.k12.co.us
Website: https://sites.google.com/a/jeffcoschools.us/mreitsma/home
tel: 303-982-3984 (email is better)
A. General Guidelines:
1. Respect one another. Don't mess with each other's person or property.
2. Always show your work. On everything you do, I want to see what your brain was doing to get from one step
to the next. I will prescribe a problem-solving process that I expect you to use. Problem-solving is a large part
of what we do!
3. Take lots of notes. Take more notes than I write on the board. Add my spoken words, demos and your own
thoughts. Make the lecture make sense to you and then write it down in your notes the way your brain
understands it. Your notes will be one of your best study tools. However, if you do not understand what is
going on in the class, you will not understand your notes later. So it is vitally important that you also ask
questions in class and during Office Hours.
4. Do not congregate at the door prior to the bell! I will dismiss you from your assigned seats at the end of the
period.
5. Abide by all safety rules. The safety of yourself and of others is a major concern.
6. Be honest. Each one of us must abide by the honor code below. Do your own work and your own thinking. I
grade you on your written product so the written product must be uniquely your own! Work together, learn
from each other, but when the “pen hits the paper” it is all you. If it is not, plan on both of you receiving a zero
on that assignment.
B. Supplies Needed: Be prepared for class every day. Have your work completely done and ready to turn in when it is
due. Bring the necessary materials to class. The most important thing to bring with you each day is a positive
attitude – don’t leave home without……..
1. Writing utensils (pencils, colored pencils, highlighter, etc)
2. Three Ring Binder: (with paper)
We will keep an organized binder for throughout the year, as well as a composition notebook for labs, notes, and illustrations – you will periodically turn in this folder for a grade. Keep any of the following types of materials for study material prior to exams, including the winter and spring final:
a. Assignments – Returned work and Tests and Quizzes
b. Classroom Lecture Notes
c. Reference Charts
3. A calculator
C. What to do if you are absent: You are responsible for work missed when you are absent and must return to class
prepared. You must check the website before you return to class after an absence. Check my website and: take notes, read text assignments and, if possible, do any assigned homework and any missed class work which has attached notes or documents. You will be required to take open note quizzes following an absence. When you return to class, you should never say, “what did I miss last class.” You should have already answered this question yourself, by checking the website. Our conversation when you return should focus on setting an office hours appointment to discuss anything not obvious from the websites resources.
D. Policy on Absences: Unexcused Absences are not an excuse for missing or late work. For Excused Absences, you will
be allowed 1 extra class period per day absent. (Example: if you are absent Monday and that day’s assignment is due Wednesday, you will have until Friday to turn in the work). Any work that is late due to an excused absence should be clearly marked “ABSENT” on the top of you late assignment. If you miss an Exam, immediately see me to make an arrangement to complete the exam. No exams can be made up after 2 weeks.
E. Policy on Late Work: Work is due on the assigned due date. Late work will automatically lose 50% of the value of the
assignment. No late work will be accepted after 2 weeks from the due date. Students will receive 1 “FREE LATE PASS” per 6 weeks to use on a late assignment. You should write “FREE LATE PASS” clearly on the top of the late assignment to receive credit.
F. Earth Science Topics:
1. Measurement
2. External Processes of Earth
3. Geologic Time
4. Internal Processes of Earth
5. Natural Resources
6. Astronomy
7. Weather
G. Grades: Each 6 week grading period will account for 30% of Semester Final Grade:
Summative Assessments (Final Exams) 30%
Formative Assessments (Quizzes, Projects, Written Work) 30%
Labs, Class work, and Homework 40%
A comprehensive Final Exam will account for 10% of Semester Final Grade
H. Laboratory:
1. A signed safety contract is required for laboratory participation.
2. Students are grouped for lab activities.
3. Lab stations must be cleaned at the end of lab. Grade deductions are punishment for messy stations.
4. Do not fool around in the lab. You will face severe consequences.
5. Always wear your goggles and proper lab attire during labs.
6. All labs you miss must be made up after school within 2 weeks of your absence.
Make an appointment with me as soon as you return from absence.
I. Text: On my website is a link to an online version of our text book: Prentice Hall’s Earth Science, to use while in the
classroom. For students without adequate home access to the internet, a Physical text may be issued upon request.
J. Office Hours:
Each year office hours are posted in class and on the course website. Students should take advantage of
this time to aid their performance. Walk-ins are always welcome, appointments are recommended.
K. Electronics, Cell Phones, Ipads, Etc:
There are times when these items may be utilized for legitimate academic work,
and students will be informed when that is appropriate. At all other times, these items will need to be out of sight and turned off. Consequences of inappropriate use of these devices range from a verbal warning to the eventual confiscation and administrative consequences.
L. Tardiness: A grade is given every 6 weeks based on academic readiness. Being tardy is disruptive to others and causes
the student to miss out on important introductory instruction. Students who are late will be docked points on academic readiness grade and repeated offences will be considered a truancy issue which will be dealt with via in class and administrative consequences.
I ________________________________________ have read the Classroom Guidelines for Mr. Reitsma’s class carefully.
(Student’s name -- please print)
I understand it and I agree to abide by all that it contains. Furthermore, it is my commitment to maintain safety, integrity and a positive attitude throughout this course.
_________________________________________ _____________ _____________
(Student’s signature) (date) (block)
Dear Parent,
I am glad that we are working together to prepare your student for the future. Please sign below. Your signature tells me that you are familiar with my classroom guidelines and, more importantly, that you have discussed these expectations with your student.
You can keep up with your student’s progress in several ways. First, ask your student periodically to see their journal and compare its contents with the assignment pages from my web site for their course. I will post what it is that your student will be doing daily. Second, go online and access your student’s grades and attendance anytime.
Please call or e-mail me if you have any concerns or questions. I hope to see you at Back To School Night – or at Parent/Teacher Conferences.
Sincerely,
Mr. Reitsma
Earth Science
Room 210
Lakewood High School
Web: Website: https://sites.google.com/a/jeffcoschools.us/mreitsma/home
_________________________________________
(Parent signature)