Welcome to Honors Biology!

All students must have a copy of the Miller & Levine Text, Cry of the Kalahari, and a bound composition book with graph paper (squares not lines; no large-sized or wire-bound journals). Students should also have a notebook or binder/looseleaf for notes, and basic office supplies, since they cannot be shared this year. Information about goggles will be announced at the parent zoom. I will be providing each student with a small drawer for personal supplies that cannot be shared such as goggles, scissors, wipes.

Students should be prepared to spend time outdoors in all weather. This year we will be having class outdoors (and socially distanced) as frequently as the weather allows in these days of Covid.

Google Classroom Code for Honors Biology 20-21: ab3law5

Syllabus: Honors Biology 2020-2021

Overall rhythm of the course: Honors Biology is a fun course that introduces the major concepts in Biology including: Chemistry of Life, Ecology, Cell Biology, Molecular Genetics, Mendelian Genetics, Evolution, Parade of Life, Animal and Plant Form and Function, Animal Body Systems. In a typical week, students will learn a chapter of the text with independent homework/problem sets, as well as in-class activities, labs and discussions to support the main concepts of the topic. Students should expect Friday quizzes to prove mastery of the week's material. Homework and projects are typically due Friday mornings, at which time the next week's assignments are given.

Parents can support their daughter's learning by

• Helping make sure that your student has all of the required books and supplies

• Asking your daughter each Friday evening what her week's study plan will be and map it in her planner

• Encouraging your daughter to keep up, do her best work, and ask me for help with concepts she finds challenging

• Reviewing the End-of-Chapter Study Questions with your daughter so she has an expectation of the types of questions she might encounter on the Friday quizzes

• Encouraging your daughter to have good study habits including time management, sufficient sleep, study breaks that are away from electronics, plenty of exercise and healthy eating.

• Encouraging your daughter to keep a healthy perspective about quizzes--my philosophy is to do more smaller quizzes rather than a few larger exams, so each quiz is only worth a few points from the entire semester, and her grade will be based on a wide variety of assignments, labs, quizzes, projects and presentations.

• Praying for an end to the Covid pandemic

Questions? Email is the best way to contact me at lsmerage@saintcatherineacademy.org