Chemistry – Baldwin

URL: http://fairview.kyschools.us/olc/teacher.aspx?s=1047

email:

Welcome to Chemistry:

Chemistry is the study of matter and the changes it undergoes. This is important because the way in which matter behaves is the basis for everything you see or do. You can get the most out of this class if you take the time to think about how the things we study affect you personally. Approach the class with seriousness and an open mind and you will succeed.

Instructional Objectives:

When you are done with this class, you will:

·  Be familiar with common chemical terms and ideas.

·  Understand how chemistry relates to your life outside of school.

·  Realize that chemistry is actually kind of fun.

Materials:

To do well in class, you must be prepared when you get here. The following are the required and optional items you’ll need for this class:

Required materials / Highly recommended materials
Writing utensils (pen/pencil) / Scientific Calculator (TI-30X IIS) or (TI-83) or similar
3 ring binder with 5 dividers / Box of Kleenex (10 bonus points limit 1)
Loose leaf paper / Roll of Paper towels (10 bonus points limit 1
Signed safety contract

Grading:

Your performance in this class will be assessed in a variety of ways. The breakdown goes as follows:

Homework 10 points

Laboratory Reports 30 points

Quizes 5-20 points

Chapter Tests 100 points

Semester Finals 200 points

Your Accumulated Points

X 100%

Total Possible Points

You are responsible for keeping track of your own grade and can easily do so with a calculator and your graded assignments. If you need assistance with these calculations, please let me know and I will help you.

Homework:

Homework is assigned most days, excepting extended school holidays such as Thanksgiving, winter break, etc. It will consist of problems that reinforce the concepts learned that day or a project that is intended to help you see the connections between chemistry and your life outside of school.

Daily assignments and the class calendar can be found on the school website or on the class bulletin board. If you are absent, you can find makeup work in the class folder.

Quizzes and Tests:

Quizzes will be given most weeks as a content check-up. These will range from 5-20 points and will usually be multiple choice. Tests will be at the end of a chapter or unit and will usually be 100 points. These will be multiple choice and short answer.

Test Retakes:

If a student is unhappy with their grade they will have the opportunity to complete test corrections. It is too late to complete test corrections when the following test has been taken. See test correction policy for instructions on how to do this.

Labs:

We will be doing a wide variety of labs in this class. Some are major, multi-day labs and require an extensive write-up. Other labs are shorter and require a simpler write-up. Before we start any lab in this class I will give you my expectations about how it should be written up and explain the hazards you are likely to encounter. Safety is of utmost importance in the laboratory, and for this reason you will be expected to wear goggles during every lab unless I specifically state otherwise. For safety reasons, you may only remove your goggles when everybody has completely finished the lab. Failure to wear goggles during an entire lab will result in removal from the lab and a grade of 0.

Late Work:

All work must be turned in at the beginning of class or when I have said it is due. Work turned in late will not be accepted except under the following conditions:

·  Illness

·  Field trip

·  Other legitimate reason (excused by the school)

You have two weeks from the original due date to complete work. If circumstances have caused an extended absence, please meet with me individually to work out a mutually-acceptable due date.

Make up Work and Help:

I am a morning person and as such normally arrive to school around 7am. I am available to help during that time. Also, I will be available after school on most days, however I do coach the academic team. Please check with me if you need help after school.

Course Expectations:

During the first week we will collaborate about Mission, Vision, Values, and Goals. This is where we will discover how you will succeed in this class. Many of our rules and procedures for the classroom environment will be covered during this time. With that said, the following are part of the mission of the class.

Entering the Classroom:

Students are expected to enter the classroom and go directly to their seats. Students should be seated before the bell rings.

Tardy to Class: A student is tardy if he/she is not in the classroom when the bell rings. See the student handbook for penalties for frequent tardiness.

Paper/Pencils: For most assignments, tests, quizzes, and homework, any writing utensil may be used (pencil, pen, marker, etc.). For lab reports, students must use a (dark) blue or black ink pen..

If a student arrives to class without a writing utensil, he/she should sign out a pencil from the door. Please replace at the end of class. Sheets of lined paper are also provided on the front table for students who do not bring their own.

Scientific Notebook Organization:

Section 1/Scientific Writing

Section 2/Class Notes

Section 3/Graphic Organizers

Section 4/Handouts

Section 5/Tests/Quizzes, open responses

How to Find Out What the Daily Assignments Are: A monthly calendar of assignments is on the class bulletin board. Class assignments are also listed on Mrs. Baldwin’s web site:

http://fairview.kyschools.us/olc/teacher.aspx?s=1047

It is the student's responsibility to keep track of what he/she has missed and what he/she needs to make up.

Turning In Assignments: Homework is to be turned in to the class box on the front table either before class begins or when I ask for it.

Returning Assignments to Students: Assignments are returned to students as they are graded. They are either handed to students directly or placed on their desks.

Finding Out Grade Status: Students and parents may check Infinite Campus for the most updated grade status. For a grade status update during class, students should ask to see grades near the end of class each Friday.

Student Responsibilities After an Absence: It is the student’s responsibility to keep track of which days he/she has missed. Do not ask me for a list of days absent. After a student has looked at the assignment calendar and/or website, a student should look in the class mail tray on the day he/she returns from an absence for any assignments missed.

Excused absences: Assignments may be made up for full credit ONLY IF THE OFFICE EXCUSES THE ABSENCE(S). In general, for every day missed and excused, the assignment’s due date is extended one day. Missed class notes should be obtained from fellow classmates; some notes may be copied and placed in the class mail tray.

Unexcused absences:

If an absence is unexcused by the office, the work may not be made up for credit. A student with an unexcused absence receives a zero for all work that occurred that day, was due that day, and was assigned that day.

Missed tests, quizzes, and group/lab work: If a student misses a lab, test, quiz, or group work, it must be made up before or after school. Class time will not be used to make up missed assignments. Students have one week from the date of the lab, test, quiz, or group work to make up the assignment.

Ending Class: When the bell rings and students are seated, the teacher dismisses the class. If all students are not seated, the class waits for all students to be seated, and then the class is dismissed.

On lab days, ten minutes will be given for clean-up, signatures, and washing hands. Passes will not be written for students who take longer than ten minutes to clean up.

Consequences for Classroom Rule Violations: Failure to follow one of the above policies or procedures will usually result in a warning. If the infraction is repeated or is very serious, one or more of the following can be expected:

· change of seat assignment · phone call home · time spent in the hall · referral to the office

**Violating a lab safety rule may result in permanent removal from the course**

Honor Code:

It is assumed that you will follow the honor code at all times. Cheating, plagiarism, and other academic dishonesty will be quickly referred to the school administration for investigation and subsequent disciplinary action.

For the Parents:

If you need to get in touch with me, by far the fastest way to get a response is by email- .

Final Words:

Don’t panic! If you do your homework, work hard in class, and study, you should have no problems with chemistry. It’s fun!