Expectations & Policies

Bound notebook (quadrille preferred). Must be bound (stitched in place). No spirals or dotted line easy tear out notebooks.

• Pencil
• Blue ink pen
• Black ink pen
• Red ink pen
• Eraser
• Highlighter(s)

OPTIONAL: Map pencils, glue sticks, 3 ring binder dedicated to biology - organize by MP and include current MP calendar or tape/glue calendar in your lab notebook

Group Work Expectations

• All members of a group are expected to participate equally and cooperate with each other.
• The group work area should be left as clean or cleaner than it was found.
• Keep discussions on topic. Do not wander to other groups; socializing during labs will result in point loss for the lab groups involved.
• The teacher reserves the right to rearrange and change group assignments if it is deemed necessary to facilitate an environment more conducive to learning.

Individual Work Expectations

• During individual work (warm-up, quizzes, tests, etc.) there is no talking.
• Talking during these periods will be considered academic dishonesty and/or a disruption of the learning process.
• Minimum consequence for academic dishonesty is split points or a "0" on the quiz, test, lab or project.

Expectations for Dismissal

• Students are expected to clean up their work areas and be seated before they can be dismissed from the classroom. Students standing at the door when the bell rings will have to return to their lab seat before dismissal.

• 50% - Tests, major labs, and projects
• 30% - Labs, summative quizzes
• 20% - Daily grades

• Projects are assigned at the beginning of the Marking Period.
• The point of any project is to learn so don't wait until the last minute; do a little at a time and plan to turn in your project on or before the due date.
• If you're going to be out, arrange for someone to turn in your project by the start of class. Better yet, turn in the project yourself on or before the due date.

• There may be an optional project during a marking period.
• It is always in addition to the mandatory project and may not replace a missing mandatory project.
• It is due at the start of class on the due date and is not accepted late.
• Extra credit is NEVER given at the end of the six weeks as a means to raise a less than acceptable average.
• Consistent effort is the best way to achieve acceptable grades.
• Study nightly for your core classes.

• During Flex Time
• "A" day afternoons from 4:20 -- 5:30pm
• Except Fridays and when parent conferences are scheduled at those times
• If you need any help, do not hesitate to come to tutorials.
• Tutorials are not a punishment but an opportunity to get the help you need to be successful in this class.
• Study Groups are welcome to meet during my tutorials.
• If my tutorial schedule does not work for you, feel free to go to another biology teacher.

• If a deadline is missed due to an absence, the student’s makeup work must be submitted the next day the student is in attendance.
• Students who are absent for instruction or activities will have the same number of blocks to make up missed instruction or activities as the number of blocks missed.
• If a student fails to meet a submission deadline, students may submit the missing work before the end of the unit for a maximum grade of 70.
• A student who does not make up assigned work before the test will receive a grade of zero for the assignment.

• Students can improve any failing score received for an assignment.
• Assignments can be corrected using the same format as test corrections and must be resubmitted in a timely manner.
• All quiz and test make-ups are by appointment with your teacher.
• Quiz make-ups MUST be completed by the start of 1^st period on the day that Quiz Review is scheduled.
• Test make-ups MUST be completed by the start of 1^st period on the day that Test Review is scheduled.
• Any student who receives a test score of less than 70 has the ability to retest if the student completes the unit study guide and original test corrections.
• The retest exam will consist of different questions, using the original test format and unit content.
• The higher of either the original or retest score will be recorded and the credit given will not exceed a score of 70.

• The goal of Pre-AP biology is mastery of the curriculum.
• Students are expected to complete multiple choice test corrections with justifications for any missed test questions.
• All corrections must be completed within one week of the test or by the last day of the marking period, whichever comes first.
• Since essay questions complete with rubric answers are posted up to a week before the essay portion of the test, it is up to pre-ap students to work on the answers before the test date.
• Reference the Late Work Policy and the Make-Up Work Policy above for the maximum grade possible

• Unless cell phones are being used for an academic purpose, they must be in the student's backpack. No exceptions.
• If there is an emergency, students may request to use the lab phone, 512-464-6448, or request special permission to use their cell phones.
• If you are on your phone for other then academic use during class, your phone will be confiscated.
• Unless otherwise informed, food and drinks are NOT allowed in the lab (water is ok; gum isn't).
• Restroom and water breaks – Go as needed one at a time with the hall pass. This is subject to change. If you wander or disappear you lose this privilege.
• Individual grades will NOT be discussed during class time except during marking period conferences. Feel free, however, to discuss them during tutorials.