Welcome to 8th Science! I am excited to teach you the joys of science!!! We have a whole lot of new toys, ideas, labs, and resources to help you learn and have fun in science. We will be doing labs and activities that are going to cause wonder and amazement. So, come prepared to learn and have fun.
All rules follow my 2 golden rules HAVE INTEGRITY & SHOW RESPECT. If you have integrity you do your best at all times and never settle for less. If you show respect you make sure that all people are treated fairly and as good as you would want to be treated. More often than not your ability to do well in my class will hinge on these 2 principles.
In my class there are safety rules you MUST FOLLOW. In order to make science safe and fun, all safety rules must be followed. Before anyone in the class can work on a group lab, each individual student must pass a safety rule quiz. If you are warned three times about safety violations, you can lose your privilege of doing labs and experiments. Worksheets and bookwork will be assigned on lab days for these students.
1) Anything that is dangerous, destructive, or disruptive to any student, faculty, or staff will not be tolerated. This includes fighting, running in the room, wrestling, throwing things, and anything I deem dangerous.
2) Writing on the desks, destructions to textbooks, class equipment, other student’s personal things, and littering in the classroom will not be tolerated. These will be treated as acts of vandalism.
3) No student has the right to deny any other student the right to learn. This includes keeping me from teaching. Electronics can have a big effect on this, I will enforce the school policy on these items. Including our classroom Chromebooks. These can be taken away for inappropriate behavior, and are returned at my discretion. I will enforce this rule so do not break it.
4) You must come to class prepared. Each student needs to bring a pencil or pen, and paper each day. Repeated attendance without these tools will result in a grade penalty.
ABSENCES - TARDIES
Absences and tardies will be treated according to school policy.
1) If you are absent, you are expected to make-up any assignments or tests within two weeks from the due date. You are responsible for any missed work.
2) Tardies may affect your overall letter-grade. I will enforce the school tardy policy as outlined in the student handbook. If you wish to make up a tardy, 20 minutes of reading or homework in the classroom before or after school will remove each tardy.
3) Work missed because of “sluffs” may not be made up. This is a school policy option. I cannot teach you unless you are in class. Don’t be foolish and waste this opportunity to learn. Don’t make me enforce this rule. When it happens, I will. If you are truant in my class, you will be ineligible for any extra credit.
GRADING
Your grade will be based on a percentage of total points. Your points will come from tests, quizzes, homework, term projects, labs, and class notes which will make up a majority of your grade. 100 points or 10% will be based on participation in class, and how well you follow the class rules (especially the 2 golden rules).
1) Homework assignments will be given in each chapter or unit. The due dates for the homework assignments will be written on the board and will be due on those dates by 3:00 pm. Any unexcused homework turned in after the due date will be accepted but penalized, 10% per day until 50%. (This will be enforced at my discretion & on a case by case scenario)
2) Quizzes will be given to check for understanding. If you score less than 80% you will have a score entered of 0 and be required to make up the quiz. Once made up the better of the 2 scores will be entered. Tests will be given at the end of each unit and cannot be made up.
3) Every student will be given set amount of points in the beginning of each term. This means that every student begins this course with an A. The grade at the end of the term is up to you. I believe at starting at the top. These points can be lost for non-participation and rule violations.
4) Grading scale:
A 94-100 B 84-86 C 74-76 D 60-63
A- 90-93 B- 80-83 C- 70-73 D- 57-60
B+ 87-89 C+ 77-79 D+ 64-69 F 0-59
*** In all cases the above break down will be used to determine grades.
At times in class, students may exchange papers, quizzes, and/or tests before being corrected by other students. Also, class work will be corrected and entered into the grade book by my student aid. If this is a problem, please contact me as soon as possible. By accepting this document, you are giving me permission to correct and enter grades as mentioned above. Also at no time are grades publicly displayed or mentioned with a student’s name. I will use student numbers when posting all grades.
Every student has access to an online state textbook (found here https://tinyurl.com/y8au6hny) and a science class Chromebook. Upon return of each use every student will be responsible for the care and condition of their book and/or computer assigned to them. Please treat these resources with respect. They provide a world of opportunity. Also, each student will be assessed a $5.00 lab fee per semester to cover labs and materials you will use in class. This is paid with your school fees.
1) 8th Science can be divided into three specialized branches of science.
A) Physical science: Physics and Chemistry.
B) Earth Science: Geology, Meteorology, Astronomy, and Oceanography.
C) Life Science: Biology
2) This year we will have the use of Chromebooks in the classroom. We will have a specific set of rules for these that you will need to agree to in order to have the opportunity to use them. With this great technology at our fingertips our use of these computers for many aspects of the classroom will increase. So one of the best things to do is not loose the privilege to use them and to regularly check your email and other online tools we assign.(Signing this document agrees to the said Chromebook rules)
3) Tests, quizzes, and homework assignments will be graded objectively. Your scores will be available within a week’s time. Each week I will enter in current grades in skyward to allow you the opportunity to keep on top of your progress.
4) At times it may seem that we are moving too fast. If this happens to you, collect yourself, take a deep breath, and see me for help. I would hate to see you fall too far behind. I will always be there for you. Try me.
KEYS ON BEING SUCCESSFUL
COME PREPARED TO LEARN LISTEN AND PAY ATTENTION
READ WHEN ASSIGNED ALWAYS ASK QUESTIONS
TAKE NOTES BE HERE AND DO THE WORK
Feel free to contact me when needed at:
801-785-8760Mr. Escobedo - jescobedo@alpinedistrict.orgMr. Panee - epanee@alpinedistrict.orgMrs. Woods - beccalynn.clark7@gmail.com