Honor's Biology Disclosure
Mr. Hodges Honors Biology Class
Disclosure Document
Room A132 Textbook: Modern Biology (can check one out of the library and take home)
General Course Information:
This class is designed to help you understand the complex interrelationships between all living and non-living things. You will gain an appreciation of their existence as living organisms and how they can be an asset to their environment and their world around them. Hopefully, you can be more informed so you can make conscientious decisions that will improve yourself and your world. Science calls for greatness. Let’s make this a fun, worthwhile class.
Class Content:
1st term 2nd term 3rd term 4th term
Plants Common Ancestry Speciation Body Systems
Biochemistry Heredity Cell Structure and Function Ecology
Shared Biochemistry Natural Selection Mendelian Genetics Classification
Evaluation and Grading:
Grades are based on completion of assignments, scores on tests/quizzes, labs, classroom participation and behavior. Two grades will be given-academic and citizenship.
Assignments, Activities, and Labs: Every class period count on an assignment or activity that needs to be completed. Generally, I give you class time to complete the assignment, so spend your class time wisely so that you won’t have any homework. I will collect and grade the assignment in the next class period.
Quizzes: Every unit we will have an announced vocabulary quiz that will be on the PT (practice test) sheet that we use at the beginning of the class. At the beginning of the unit I will provide a PT sheet for you to take home and study for the quizzes. If you use the class time I provide for the PT sheets, then the quizzes should be no problem and you should easily be able to score well. Other quizzes will be given to see how you are understanding class material. Quizzes are to help see how prepared you are for the final test. There for you can retake quizzes, but not final tests.
Homework: If you make good use of the class time I provide then you shouldn’t have a lot of homework. However, all assignments will be due the following class period. It’s very easy to fall behind in Biology because you have assignments every day. Late penalties will apply when assignments are turned in late.
Tests: I will always provide a study guide and a day of review before we take the unit test. If you listen in class, take legible notes, and do well in class activities and assignments you should be well prepared for the tests. I generally do not allow students to retake tests because I only have one version of the test, however if you can give me a very good reason why you might need to retake the test, I tend to be fairly flexible.
Absences: I will work with you if you missed a lab due to an excused absence. Just be quick about checking skyward and make-up the test, assignment, quiz, or lab as quickly as possible; that especially goes for tests because it’s difficult to be successful on a past test when we are well into the next unit. I will leave the lab materials up for a week after we’ve completed the lab, but then I need to put the materials away and prepare for other class labs. If you missed a lab, quickly make it up during. You cannot make up the lab once the materials are put away.
Prolonged absences: I can’t stress how hard it will be to make up your grades in 8 classes if you leave for a cruise or some family vacation, it is very tough to make up the work, so I don’t recommend it-with that said, I will work with you, but plan on a lot of make-up work when you return. I will not provide materials before you leave for your vacation, because my class is one that needs to be done in class.
Extra Credit: Extra credit assignments will be available thru each term. You choose to do them or not. There will also be extra credit available within a given assignment or test. These are extra so they will only build on your grade and not take away. They must be completed within the given time they are handed out.
Projects: There are two large projects. An insect collection in Fall (term 1)- A plant collection in Spring (term 4)
Participation Points:
Every biology student will start my class with 100 participation points. For the majority of you, this will help your final grade. For some of you, you will notice that your participation grade, and thus your final grade, will be affected due to certain misbehaviors in my class.
I will deduct participation points for the following behavior issues:
-moving out of your assigned seat -leaving class early or without permission
-talking during class presentations -copying off somebody else’s assignment
-unprepared for class-no pencils, notebook, or paper -any other behavior that inhibits student learning
-failure to start class on time-that means in your seat working on the bell activity, not talking to friends!
-wasting class time
Late Work:
All assignments are late if they are handed in after the grade has been posted into Skyward. Late assignments will be worth half-credit when turned in after it’s posted. However, once we have taken the unit test on a particular unit-I WILL NOT ACCEPT LATE WORK FOR PAST UNITS WE’VE HAD A TEST ON! You will quickly figure out that Biology is a harder science class than you are used to, the assignments, labs, and activities, as well as reading your notes and the textbook is the best way to understand the material. Assignments and labs are to help you be better prepared for the tests. So PLEASE, stay on top of things, be prepared, don’t waste the time I give you in class, and if you have homework, then get it done!
Grade Scale: Grades will be based on a total point system. Grades will be assigned according to the following scale:
A 94-100% B- 82-80% D+ 69-67%
A- 93-90% C+ 79-77% D 66-63%
B+ 89-87% C 76-73% D- 62-60%
B 86-83% C- 72-70% F 59% and below
Classroom Rules:
1. Be in assigned seat on time (when the bell rings!). Stay in that seat the entire class period, unless working on a lab or if I say it’s ok to work with the people you feel comfortable with. Remember it is a privilege to work with friends, don’t waste that time! I quickly learn who works well together and who doesn’t.
2. Be prepared daily with your notebook and a pen or pencil. It is also helpful to have a binder of some sort with extra notepaper.
3. Treat you teacher, fellow students, and school property with respect! Basically if it’s not yours don’t touch it, unless told to do so. Don’t talk while I’m talking or another student is answering a question.
4. Turn in assignments on time and don’t waste class time provided to complete the assignment. Once finished, keep the assignment to yourself, don’t let your friends or your group copy off all your answers, that is cheating and you and your friends will receive an N for your citizenship.
5. Keep classroom neat and organized. Clean up after yourself. I dismiss you, not the bell!
6. Follow safety rules and use common sense at all times.
7. No GUM!
Citizenship Grade:
Your citizenship grade is the one thing that I have that reflects your behavior in my class.
In order to receive an “O” or outstanding citizenship you must go the extra mile. You are prepared for class every day, you read the chapters at home so that you can actually answer questions when asked, you know what’s going on at all times, and you are helping me out by walking around and helping other students who don’t quite get it; rather than just wasting class time waiting for everybody else to get their assignment done.
The majority of my students will receive an “S” or satisfactory citizenship. Basically that means you do what you are supposed to do, you are prepared, not wasting class time, and probably receive all 100 participation points at the end of the term because you haven’t been a behavior problem.
You will receive a “N’ or needs improvement citizenship if I constantly need to remind you the basic procedures in my class. Basically, if you have very few participation points at the end of the term than most likely you will receive a “N” for citizenship. Be aware that sharing your completed paper with a friend is cheating, when caught; I will automatically reduce you and your friend’s citizenship grades to an N.
After reminding you to behave and you are still a constant problem, I will refer you to the administration. If I have to refer you to the administration it basically means I’m done putting up with your poor behavior and you will definitely receive a “U” or unsatisfactory citizenship.
Cheating and Cell Phones;
I have noticed a lot of cheating among my 9th grade students. What I’ve seen is the use of cell phones to take pictures of a completed assignment, then the student uses the picture to get the homework/assignment done. I’ve also noticed students taking pictures of the PT sheet and using them under their desk as they take the quiz. These are all forms of cheating, if I catch any student cheating in any way they will receive a reduction in their participation grade, and they and the person who let them cheat will receive a “0” on their assignment and those points will not be able to be made up. If students are using their cell phones in my class, I will take them until the end of the day, at that time, students can collect their cell phone by coming to me after school. If I have to take their cell phone twice in a term, I’ll call home and let you know what a problem it has become. If it still is a problem, I’ll take it up with the administration.
Contacting Me: The best way is by email. I check it daily. I am much slower in responding to messages left on the school answer machine.
Thanks,
Mr. Hodges