Biology B

2016-17 Syllabus

Mrs. Sharon Sutherland, InstructorPeriod 5: Room: 151

Required Materials:

Textbook:Biology by Miller and Levine. Prentice-Hall Publisher**

Notebook: 2” 3-ring binder is required for this class.

Writing Utensil:Blue or black ink, pencil

**Book Replacement Cost: $72.97

If this book is lost or severely damaged, you will be charged $72.97 to replace the book. Any other damage to the book will result in some charge according to the assessment sheet.

Course Description:

Biology B is designed to introduce students to major life science concepts. Students will develop an understanding of life science through the use of scientific inquiry. They will experience life science concepts such as Genetics, Evolutionary Science, Plant and Animal Form and Function

Tentative Course Outline:

Genetics3.5 weeks

Evolution3.5 weeks

Plant Form and Function1.5 weeks

Animal Form and Function1.5 weeks

EOC Review2 week

Calculation of Grades:Grading Scale:

40%Course Work90-100A

  • Participation*80-89B
  • Labs70-79C
  • In class assignments69-65D
  • Notebook64-0F
  • Presentations
  • Homework

60%Assessments

  • Quizzes
  • Tests

*Every science teacher will be awarding daily participation points. Students will earn 5 points per day by being present, being alert and being involved. These points may be earned via bell ringers, exit slips, or other measures of formative assessment.

Science Department Make-up/Late Work Policy:

School policy will be followed. Students will have 3 days to make up work with an excused absence or 3 days after parent contact. Otherwise, students may submit late work until the grade cutoff for each progress report or prior to the final exam for 65% of the original grade. The ability to turn in late work resets every 4 weeks; meaning if the work is not made up prior to the progress report or the final exam cut-off, a permanent zero is entered into the grade book

Cell Phone Usage:

Visible cell phones are not allowed in this room. If I see your phone, I will ask politely to put the phone away. If you comply with my request, no further action will be taken. If you don’t comply or if I see the phone again, I will ask for your phone. If you choose to argue, you will be sent out of the room and written up for defiance. Please initial below that you understand this directive.

I understand the cell phone policy and comply with this directive. ______

Classroom Procedures, Policies and Behavioral Expectations:

All ACHS policies outlined in the student agenda book will be followed. However, a few are worth repeating.

  1. One free tardy is awarded to each student by the office. I must turn in a tardy form with every tardy. You will receive the appropriate disciplinary action from the administrator assigned to your class.
  2. Assignments are due on time. See the Science Department policy on late or make up work above.
  3. Laboratory exercises cannot be made up. It is not practical or cost effective to set up an extensive lab for one student. If you have an excused absence during a lab, you may do an alternative assignment. I will have a list of several alternative assignments from which you may choose.
  4. The required daily materials are exactly that, required for every class meeting. I will not allow you to leave the room to get forgotten materials. If you do not have a writing utensil or paper, I have both of these items available. You are also welcome to borrow these materials from your friends.
  5. You will start most days with an opening activity which will be posted on the board or screen. You are to begin immediately after the bell rings. In addition, our learning targets for the day will also be printed on the board so you know BEFORE asking what we will be doing that day.
  6. On most days, we will end class with a summary of what we have covered and a brief introduction of what we plan to do the next day. On lab days, we will end class by cleaning up the work areas and answering any lingering questions.
  7. I do allow students to leave class to go to the restroom, see the nurse, etc. You will be given six (6) passes. You must submit a pass, your agenda book, and cell phone each time you leave the room. You must leave your cell phone with me in order to use a pass. If you cannot abide by this policy, don’t ask to leave the room. Use the passes wisely because once you are out of passes, you are out of chances to leave the room.
  8. You often will be working in groups to prepare materials for class. Any individual work assigned as a part of the group process must reflect your individual understanding of the work assigned. In other words, do not copy your answers from each other or from the book. I need to know your interpretation of the information, not the book’s or your best friend’s interpretation

Classroom Rules:

1.Be attentive and alert!

2.Be respectful and courteous!

3.Be responsible for your own actions!

Failure to abide by the class rules could result in the following consequences:

  1. Verbal Warning
  2. Revised Seating Arrangement
  3. Student/Teacher Conference
  4. Parent/Guardian Contact
  5. Discipline Referral

Laboratory Guidelines and Rules:

  1. Use common sense
  2. Do not eat, drink, store food or apply cosmetics
  3. No horseplay, goofing off or other careless behavior
  4. Restrain long hair, loose clothing and/or dangling jewelry
  5. Wear closed toed shoes on lab days
  6. Safety goggles are required in all experiments in which solutions are used
  7. Never leave a heat source unattended
  8. Decontaminate work surfaces before and after each lab using a supplied disinfectant
  9. Keep all liquids away from the edge of the table
  10. Report all spills or accidents immediately to your teacher
  11. Use mechanical pipettes; never use mouth pipetting
  12. Never work alone in the lab
  13. Wash hands before and after lab exercises using soap and warm water
  14. Never mistreat live specimen
  15. USE COMMON SENSE!!!!

Failure to abide by the above Laboratory Guidelines and Rules will result in the following consequences: It is imperative that you exercise complete adherence to the laboratory guidelines. We will be using materials that if you fail to observe the strictest guidelines, could result in harm to you or to other persons in the lab area. The consequences for even a minor infraction will result in stiff penalties. I reserve the right to remove you from the lab area or even the classroom during a laboratory assignment if you exhibit a failure to take the exercise seriously. If I remove you from the assignment, you will be given a zero for the exercise. You may not repeat the lab assignment and you may not do an alternative assignment. There is no appeals process in this case.

Biology Course Agreement Contract

Student Section:

I, ______, agree that Mrs. Sutherland thoroughly covered this syllabus in class. In addition I have read this syllabus and reviewed it with my parents/guardians. I understand the requirements for Biology and I understand the consequences of not following the requirements of this class.

Student’s SignatureDate

Student email address

Parent Section:

I have read the above Biology syllabus and my child has explained the policies and procedures for the class. I understand the requirements for the above described course and understand the consequences if my child does not following the requirements.

Parent/Guardian SignatureDateDaytime Phone #

E-mail addresses

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