Earth Science Policies 2021-22

School Motto: Stretch for Excellence

Email - PARENT use Google Email - STUDENT use

Mr. Mosier Chris.Mosier@jeffco.k12.co.us cmosier@jeffcoschools.us

Voice Mail 303-982-4477

Mrs. Mosier Cheryl.Mosier@jeffco.k12.co.us camosier@jeffcoschools.us

Voice Mail303-982-4474

Philosophy: All professions and lifestyles use earth science concepts, therefore, each student is encouraged to relate these concepts to their everyday life. To enhance learning and increase success, various research-based teaching and learning strategies are utilized, including inquiry based learning, flipped model, cooperative group activities and projects, authentic assessments and traditional classwork.

So that YOU can learn, so that WE can all learn, so that I can teach,

I have a set of expectations to ensure we will have a learning focused classroom:

1. I will be responsible in order to promote learning.

2. I will act in a safe, healthy and respectable manner.

3. I will follow all directions, verbal and written.

4. I will respect others, their rights and their property.

5. I will continually observe the world around me.

STANDARDS BASED (MASTERY) EDUCATION & GRADING POLICIES

Standards Based Education and Grading

We base our teaching and learning strategies on current education research using state and national science standards. Students are highly encouraged to retake and truly master the earth science content. Students will be in a “flipped” classroom – where the traditional homework is done in class (questions, labs, worksheets, etc) and the traditional classwork (lectures) will be done at home. We are excited about this pedagogy and have refined it over many years. What it means for students is true learning of the content in the classroom.

Benefits of Standards Based Learning

**students become self-paced learners **students use 21^st Century Skills ** Postsecondary/Workforce Ready

**students receive more individualized instruction **students will be truly successful in class

**extended learning opportunities for students who progress more quickly ** growth mindset focus

Tests/Assessments/Projects

• Students should (and can) earn a 75% on assessments.

• Students receiving less than 75% MUST retake the assessment (please, please, please!!)

• Students who earn a 75% or higher on a test will have failing grades from that unit “excused”

• Authentic assessments (projects) will be assigned as well

Daily Work

• A typical day will consist of a GeoLog (Lab) and an EdPuzzle

• The GeoLog is the learning and application of the content

  • This is the HANDS ON and MINDS ON learning of science - The Labs of Earth Science

• The EdPuzzle is the lecture component and gives extra explanations and content

  • You are expected to watch AND listen. We often ask questions about what we SAID in the video, not what is on the screen

  • If you would like to redo an EdPuzzle, you must send an email to have it reset.

• If you do not complete the assigned work during your class, you are expected to finish as homework.

Incompletes / Zero / Missing Scores

• Zeros typically indicate that something was submitted - but it was BLANK.

• Scores that are marked as M (missing) have NOT been submitted

• “missing” scores calculate as zero points - be mindful of parent, coach and school expectations

• There is no penalty for late work

• Both Mosiers have a Form in Google Classroom near the top that MUST be filled out to indicate an assignment has been turned in late (or resubmitted) and needs to be graded. If this form is not used, we don’t know something needs to be graded.

Absences

• It is the student’s responsibility to:

  • notify the teacher of any changes and updates to attendance marks

  • check Google Classroom for work missed

  • get the work missed, on the day of return, NOT the next class

  • complete work at home during a quarantine

  • complete work within school and district policies

Technology

• Google Classroom AND Schoology will be used extensively for assignments and learning

  • Google Classroom will be used for assignments, calendar, due dates, links, etc.

  • Schoology will be used for assessments/tests

• Chromebooks

  • will be used DAILY, so they should be charged and updated

  • will be monitored during class using Securly - a system that allows the teacher to block or allow certain websites

  • Headphones will be needed for in person learning this year (to watch EdPuzzles)

Phones

• Phones have proven to be a HUGE distraction for learning, and inappropriate use has caused a multitude of problems

  • During a data collection activity, 93 students received the following notifications during their 1 ½ hour block of class:

    • Snapchat - 1,325 total

    • Instagram - 161 total

    • Texts - 688 total (with one student receiving 2,673 texts - yes, really)

    • Other - 166 total

• Phones will be put into numbered pockets at the BEGINNING of each class.

• If special and emergency needs arise, these will be managed on an individual basis.

• If music is a “must” for your student, they will need to use their computer or bluetooth headphones.

• If a phone needs to be charged, they can do this on a counter or wall outlet - NOT off a computer.

• Phones that are with a student during class will be confiscated

  • First offense - can retrieve the phone at the end of the block

  • Second offense - can retrieve at the end of the school day - email sent home

  • Third and subsequent offense(s) - will retrieve from the Dean of Students or administrator

Communication

• Email is the preferred method of communication from parents

• Google Classroom will be the system used for announcements and updates. Parents have very limited access to assignments and information.

• Please make sure that your information is correct in Jeffco Connect

Academic Integrity

• “The person who does the work is the ONLY one who learns.” Harry Wong

• Each student is expected to produce high quality work that reflects their best effort and is a reflection of each person’s strengths and skills.

• Copying and cheating does not help you learn the content and actually makes passing tests much more difficult.

• Assignments suspected of being copied will be flagged as “cheated”, which then calculates as a zero

Grades

• We calculate grades as TOTAL POINTS

• Assessments and Projects contribute the most points

• Categories will include:

  • Tests/Assessments (100 pts each)

  • Labs (5 pts each)

  • EdPuzzles (posted as 10 points each, but will calculate as 1/2 )

  • Extra Credit

Difficulties of being a High School Student

• When students fill out the late work Form for Mrs Mosier, they are asked questions about why the work is late and how they will work on the problem.

• Of over 600 late assignments in one semester, the vast majority of students said that “Procrastination” was the reason for the late submission followed closely by “heavy course/work load” and “I didn’t know/forgot about the assignment”

• Solutions students chose to solve the problem of late work were to physically record assignments, use extra study time at home and get help with time management

To better help students transition to high school, use these strategies:

• • Record work for all classes in the planner given to all freshmen

  • Check our Agenda Doc (linked in Classroom ONLY) - this gives homework and due dates

  • Add the Google Calendar to your Google Drive - this live calendar is on our website and is updated often

  • Encourage priority lists for each class - what needs to be done and by when?

  • Encourage appropriate use of class time and study hall/skills time - often work isn’t done because there isn’t enough focused work time in class

  • Study Hall/Off Blocks - this is a purposeful time for students to get help, finish work, use resources, etc

  • Use the gradebook as the LAST resource for missing work - when it shows up here, it’s already late and things now start to get stressful

TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN CLASS

Read directions Take advantage of opportunities Study often

Re-read directions Ask for help when needed. Take notes

Listen to directions Read the board every day Use resources provided

Follow directions Think before you ask Turn in work ON TIME

HELP

I will do everything I can to help you be successful in this class because your success is important to me. I will provide you with the best materials I can find to meet the standards, and I will grade assignments in a timely manner and keep accurate records. Science can be a difficult class so you need to ask for help when it is needed.

Please be aware that I don’t give “free” answers. If you ask a question, you need to expect guidance in locating the answer on your own. Often, I will ask you where you got stuck on the directions - that helps me know what the actual problem is.

Also, remember that there is a HUGE difference between “equal” and “fair”. We will make every effort to ensure that learning for ALL is fair, which may not mean equal. If you need to do things differently, as you know it works better for you, you need to let me know. Specific, direct and timely communication is key to success in class. If you need specific accommodations, it is your responsibility to help me figure out how to implement those within class.

The transition to high school can be difficult for students and parents. It is a stressful time and there are many more expectations and “rules” that are different from middle school. If there is ever a question, concern, clarification, wondering, etc - PLEASE have your student come talk to me. As they begin to advocate for themselves, they will be empowered to manage change and stress in a more productive manner. I cannot help solve problems when I don’t know they exist, so this communication is often key to academic success and starting the high school journey positively. --TALK TO ME! --

SUCCESS IN THIS CLASS WILL DEPEND ON YOUR EFFORT

EVERY STUDENT IS EXPECTED TO DO THEIR BEST

REQUEST HELP WHEN NEEDED

COMMUNICATION IS KEY TO YOUR SUCCESS

YOGOWYPI - You Only Get Out What You Put In