Policies & Procedures
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General Policies & Procedures
What do I do when I come into the classroom? Find your assigned seat, drop off your belongings, wash your hands at any of the 6 sinks around the room, dry your hands, and return to your seat to start working. You will also wash your hands before you leave for your next class.
Do I have to keep my mask on? Yes. This is a school policy. Additionally, I am pregnant and although the CDC doesn't put me in the high risk category, I will be extra upset if I get COVID-19 during this already physiologically strenuous time. Please be nice to your teacher and her unborn child. *if food is allowed in this classroom during designated lunch times then masks can be off for eating
Where do I sit? Whom will I work with? You will have an assigned seat. I will assign you partners and a lab group per quarter. These groups will be a mix of in-class and remote. We will work the first month on procedures for different types of group work that have to be adapted during this time. The seating plan will change as the year goes on, and when it does, your groups will, too. I reserve the right to change your seat at any time.
How do I know what my homework is? Assignments will be posted on Canvas and PowerSchool as well as on the board during the Do Now the first 5 minutes of class. Units will be laid out at least a week in advance so you'll be able to see the work coming up for the week along with the due dates (in Modules, under Assignments, and in the Syllabus)
What do I do when I have a question? Raise your hand and ask if I call on you. There may be certain times when I will ask you to hold your question until later; if I forget to come back to you, remind me politely! I may not be able to answer every question you have at that time but I will try my best to follow up any questions you have.
What do I do if I have to use the bathroom? You do not need to ask me to use the bathroom as long as you take the bathroom pass and sign out. Abuse of this privilege will result in loss of participation points and decreased access to the pass. If you are suffering from some physical ailment that is prolonging your bathroom trips please inform me directly or through email. If this is a pattern of behavior, I recommend seeing the nurse. *subject to change based on COVID-19 Procedures
What if I’m having trouble seeing, hearing, or paying attention because of where I’m sitting? Please tell me as soon as possible! (The best time to talk to me is after class is over, or you can email me.) We’ll figure out a better place for you to sit. If you need further assistance (larger font size, microphone, etc.) please let me know in a way that is comfortable for you and I will change what I do so everyone is able to learn.
What if I am late to class? Come in quietly (mute yourself on Zoom). If you have a note (for example, a signed note from a teacher or counselor), quietly hand the note to me as you come in or place it on the podium. When appropriate, ask a classmate or myself if you missed anything.
What if I was absent from school or class? You are responsible for making up your absence and handing in late work. Check Canvas for assignments. If you were out for an extended period of time and are now locked out of an assignment, send me an email.
Are food or drinks allowed? As per science classroom best practices and school rules, NO food (this includes candy and gum) OR drinks in the science classroom. *subject to change this year based on COVID-19 and lunch procedures
What if something comes up before a big test or assignment is due? If something comes up the night before an exam or quiz please email me ASAP and we can work out a plan to reschedule that assessment, do not come to me the day of with excuses on why you can’t take the assessment. (If you are there the day of an assessment, even if you were out the day before, you must take the exam or quiz). Makeup exams must be scheduled after school within a week of your return to class and must be taken in the classroom within the same amount of time designated in class.
Update these:
What happens if you don’t attend/don’t submit work/I don’t hear from you?
What happens if I have a technical issue?
Online Procedures
Attendance
Be on time for remote learning (this is crucial for taking attendance quickly and having plenty of time for class work)
Attendance will be taken; therefore, students will be required to log on at the scheduled time and remain on for the entire online class meeting, or as directed by the teacher. - Student Handbook.
There will be a Google Form posted as an announcement each day with a science question to answer that will only be available during the school hours of that day.
What happens if you don’t attend/don’t submit work/I don’t hear from you?
See Student Handbook Addendum (link coming soon)
General Zoom Routine
Before Class
Wear appropriate clothing
Gather your supplies
notebook and pen or pencil will be enough for most class
textbook occasionally may be used but you can access the online version
Find a quiet location
Preferably a separate room with good internet access
Use headphones and be sure to mute if quiet is more difficult to find
Avoid multitasking; Close any tabs you do not need for the session.
During Class
Be on time (this is crucial for taking attendance quickly and having plenty of time for class work)
Students will use real names, first and last, in remote learning sessions - Student Handbook
Mute yourself
Camera should be ON for
attendance
class discussions
group breakout rooms
Camera can be OFF for
screensharing when full class where face-to-face isn't necessary
should be off whenever video is shared as that helps with video quality
when we are hybrid and working collaboratively but not face-to-face (ex: on a shared document)
When you have a question
you can use the Chat option to the whole class OR directly to me
raise your hand on screen (keep it up until I acknowledge you)
Other ways to participate
the icons at the bottom allow you to use emojis (thumbs up and hand clapping) which I encourage the use of when appropriate
Examples: if I ask a yes/no question use the thumbs up if your answer is a "yes" ; if someone says something you agree with or you also had that answer you can use the clapping hands.
Cold calling
be sure your audio is on so you can hear me talking and if I have a question for you
you can ask me to repeat the question once
Excusing yourself
don't interrupt the class
use the private chat option to send me a quick message about why you will be away from your computer (please keep it brief!)
if during a breakout room, let a group member know so you don't just leave them hanging
Breakout Rooms in Zoom
Be sure to pay attention to the directions before sent to these rooms
Have your camera ON when talking directly with each other in these rooms
If you are working on a document (like a POGIL) you can have your focus on your document as long as your audio is on and you are not muted so you can communicate with your group
I am able to join in with groups as you are working so stay on task and keep the language appropriate for school since I can pop in at any time
Use the Ask for Help button to alert me if your group needs help
How to Annotate on Zoom
Click on View Options at the top of the screen and click on Annotate
This is what the annotate bar should look like
Be appropriate and on task with what you write on the screen just as you would be if you were writing on the board.
Canvas
How do I set my Canvas notification preferences as a student?
What to set to Notify me right away:
Due Date
Announcement
Invitation
What to set to send daily summary:
Course content
Discussion
Discussion Post
Added to Conversation
Conversation Message
Appointment Signups
Appointment Cancellations
What to set to send weekly summary
Grading
Appointment Availability
Calendar
Your weekly notifications will be sent Friday between 11pm and 1am. I will have the next week's appointment availability set up before this time.
E-Notebook Set-up and Routine
Each new Unit will have a Google Slide link that will automatically make a copy for you. All Unit links to the master copies can be found here.
Once you open that document, rename it Unit#TitleLastName, and move it to your AP Biology Google Folder.
Lab Notebook Set-up and Routine
At the beginning of the year I will supply a Google Doc link that will automatically make a copy for you. You will update this one document for any lab you create throughout the year.
Once you open that document, rename it LabNotebookLastName, and move it to your AP Biology Google Folder.
AP Classroom Access and Navigation
Sign in with your CollegeBoard account (save your login and password somewhere safe)
more to come!
Google Help : Student TECHtorials
Lab Safety
At Home
During remote learning (and potentially during hybrid), I will have you do a few demonstrations using minimal materials that will utilize common household items or materials will be supplied. In general, use common sense and be careful.
Sign the acknowledgement form here.
Watch the demonstration video before doing the demonstration yourself.
If using any liquid besides water or oil (such as vinegar) you should have some sort of eye covering. I will link to the safety data sheets when necessary.
In Class
General Lab Safety
Before a Lab
Know the location of the emergency equipment such as shower, eye and face wash fountain, and fire extinguisher.
Dress safely: clothing, jewelry, or hair are kept away from the lab equipment, chemicals, and specimens.
Place books, backpacks, and other unneeded items in the designated storage area.
Do not eat or drink during laboratory experiments. Never eat or drink from laboratory equipment.
Ask permission before entering the prep room.
During the Lab
Follow written and verbal instructions carefully, and perform only those laboratory activities for which the teacher has given instructions and permission.
Wear safety goggles during hazardous experiments involving caustic/corrosive chemicals, open flames, and other activities that may injure the eyes.
Keep work areas clean. Only have the materials you need.
Avoid contact with chemicals by never tasting or touching chemicals (unless prior approval is given), by sniffing cautiously from a distance, and by keeping hands away from faces and eyes.
Take only as much chemical as you need so that waste is minimized. Do not pour chemicals back into the main container.
Check labels and equipment instructions carefully. Be sure items are being used in the proper manner.
Use a burner with extreme caution by keeping your head and clothing away from the flame, by not heating an object or substance unless specifically instructed to do so, by not looking down into the tube or pointing the tube in the direction of any student while heating, and by turning the flame off when not in use or attendance.
After the Lab
Follow teacher’s instructions on what to do with unused chemicals.
Dispose of waste properly by following directions for toxic disposal and by placing solid waste in the wastebasket and liquid waste in the sink.
Pull any electric plug by the socket not the cord.
Clean your work area and return all equipment and materials to the appropriate storage places.
Wash your hands with soap and water.
In Case of an Accident
Report any accident to the teacher immediately. This includes a burn, scratch, cut, or spill or corrosive liquid of the skin or clothing.
In case of a burn from an acid or alkali (base), wash the affected area immediately with plenty of running water. If the eye is involved, irrigate it without interruption for at least 15 minutes using the eyewash station.
Remove all broken glass from the work area or floor as soon as possible. Never handle broken glass with bare hands, use a counter brush and dustpan. Broken glass goes in the broken glass container up front.
COVID-19 Additions*
We will not be doing a majority of the lab activities we normally would do in a year but I am working on adapting labs into demonstrations or virtual labs so you can still get some of the experience.
Wash hands with soap and water before touching equipment .
Attempt for 6 ft apart and no closer than 3 ft when masks are on.
Masks must cover nose and mouth at all times.
If you are assigned to a specific station, you must stay at that station. We will not be sharing materials within the same class and I will clean the materials in between classes.
Wipe down equipment and clean materials before the end of class or deposit them in the cleaning bins if further cleaning is required.
*Information is adapted from this document from DESE: Supplemental Information for Science Courses and Laboratory Work for Fall 2020