Science Classroom Policies

Laboratory Safety and Practices

This year we will be participating in several demonstrations, hands-on activities, and experiments that have various safety concerns related to them. While most of the materials we will be using and handling in class pose no significant harm, we will be using them in a formal laboratory setting and will exercise proper personal safety techniques. We will be covering Laboratory Safety at the beginning of the year and all students will be required to sign and follow a Laboratory Safety Contract; if a student does not have a signed copy of the contract or does not follow laboratory best practices, that student will not be allowed to participate in the lab activity during class. All formal lab activities will be announced the day prior in class.

Homework

Most of our learning will be done within the classroom, but there will be times when homework will be assigned in order to finish activities conducted during class or to help introduce new information for further conversation during the next class. Homework will not be graded but will be checked for completion as this assists in being prepared for leading conversations and asking questions about the information presented.

Regular class homework should not take you hours! If you're struggling with an assignment and you've been working on it for more than 45 minutes, stop working, write down any questions that you have, and we will address the questions together the next day in class. You may also email us with any questions and I will try to answer your questions promptly.

Grading

Assignments are updated in Infinite Campus as they are assigned and are scored points based on the complexity, subject-matter, and timing of the assignment. Unless otherwise specified within the assignment, work will be scored based on a 4-point scale according to the rubric provided with the assignment; half-points will be utilized based on work that may fall between two categories and will always be in favor of the student. This score will then be translated into a percentage score based on the following conversion:

4 (Distinguished) = 100%

3 (Competent) = 88%

2 (Progressing) = 76%

1 (Beginning) = 64%

0 (No Evidence) = 52%

While assignments will have individual criteria that will result in a score for the work provided, below are some descriptions of what the scores on the rubric represent:

• Distinguished (4) = The student demonstrates in-depth command of concepts, principles, and strategies described by the grade level/course standards; the student grasps, applies, and extends the key concepts, processes, and skills beyond the requirements for the grade level/course. 

• Competent (3) = The student shows a complete and correct understanding of the concepts or ability to perform the skills as articulated in the grade level/course standards; the student grasps and applies the key concepts, processes, and skills for the grade level/course with limited errors.

• Progressing (2) = The student is performing near grade level/course standards. Skills and concepts are emerging with practice and teacher assistance. Shows partial mastery of knowledge and an incomplete understanding of the concepts, or a basic ability to perform the skills as articulated in the grade level/course standards.

• Beginning (1) = The student demonstrates limited performance in relation to the grade level/course standards. Skills and concepts need repeated practice and frequent guidance from the teacher. Student-created products show inconsistent quality. The student shows a basic understanding of content and demonstrates minimal knowledge and skills for the grade level/course.

• No Evidence (0) = The student has provided no evidence of understanding of the basic skills and concepts as articulated in the grade level/course standards.

Please be sure to check your grades on Infinite Campus at least once a week so we can all stay up to date and on the same page. Homework is not graded but will be tracked for completion rather than accuracy, all homework assignments will be reviewed in class the following school day to check for understanding of the concepts being presented.