Biology

Heritage High School

Mrs. Kimberly M. Hayen

Email:

Web site: Staff Hayen, Kimberly

Description: To provide an interesting and educational experience, the format of this course will vary from day to day combining lectures, laboratory experiments, group activities/discussions,personalportfolios, and projects. This course satisfies the life science requirement for graduation. It will cover all Georgia Performance Standards for Biology(listed below). See the state web site for a more in depth look at the GPS for Biology at .

Georgia Performance Standards for Biology (5 main themes)

  • Students will analyze the relationships between structures and functions of living cells.
  • Students will analyze how biological traits are passed on to successive generations.
  • Students will derive the relationship between single-celled and multi-celled organisms and the increasing complexity of systems.
  • Students will assess the dependence of all organisms on one another and the flow of energy and matter within their ecosystems.
  • Students will evaluate the role of natural selection in the development of the theory of evolution.

Text: Stephen Nowicki’s Biology (lizard on front cover)—Online access available; class set in my room.

Grading System:Grades in this class are calculated based on a percentage value system. The following table is a guideline for the value of each assignment.

Final Grade Category / Assignment Category / Percentage Value
Q1 / Q1 Tests (50%) / 40%
Q1 Labs/Quizzes/Projects ( 30%)
Q1 Daily work (20%)
Q2 / Q2 Tests (50%) / 40%
Q2 Labs/Quizzes/Projects ( 30%)
Q2 Daily work (20%)
EOCT / End of Course Test / 20%

A = 90% - 100%

B = 80% - 89%

C = 74% - 79%

D = 70% - 73%

F = 0% - 69%

Tutoring Days for Science:Wednesdays and Fridays-first 30 minutes of lunch

Keep in mind: Grades aren’t given out by your teacher, they are EARNED by YOU. Please be sure to always come to me for any extra help that you may need in order to help you reach your goals and succeed in Biology!

Important Information

Plans for the day will be written on the board. Tests and important due dates can be found on the web site calendar. When/if you are absent, you are responsible for finding out what you missed by checking (1) the web site; (2) the desk copy of the composition book; (3) with a trustworthy student; and/or (4)with me for any papers needed.

Come to class on time & prepared with binder, Comp Book, and pen/pencil.

Recommended: have your own set of colored pencils and/or markers for various assignments.

Leaving Class: Should you need a restroom break during class, you may use one of your “potty passes.” It needs to be filled out completely by you (date, time, & destination) and then initialed by me. However, once your passes have all been used, you WILL turn in your full potty pass sheet and you WILL NOT be allowed to leave class. Should the privilege be abused, the teacher reserves the right to limit the opportunities to leave class. Do not ask for passes during inappropriate times (i.e., during lecture/notes, a lab introduction, while I am explaining something, first or last 15 minutes of class, etc.)

Biology Composition BookBinder

Each student is required to keep a Biology Composition bookand a binder (in a 3-ring notebook, 2 inches). You will need BOTH of these each day in class.

The Biology Comp Book will be graded approximately every other unit. Scores will count as multiple daily grades on an ongoing basis. Doing a nice job will significantly help your grade, help you learn the material, AND will provide you with a fantastic review book as you prepare for the EOCT and/or the Georgia High School Graduation Test. On the other hand, getting zeros on Comp Book grades will significantly hurt your grade.

Binders:Every sheet of paper you receive in this class that isnot for the comp book is to be dated, hole-punched and placed in chronological order. I will try to hole-punch things, but it is ultimately your responsibility. Suggestion: separate the sections in your binder by unit (a piece of colored or construction paper will do) to correspond with the units in your binder.

Absences

Make-up work will be accepted if submitted in a reasonable time frame. Until missed assignments are made up, they will be entered in Parent Portal as a zero. If you are absent on a test day, be prepared to take the test on the following tutoring day for science (Wednesday or Friday).It is your responsibility to take the initiative to make up your test; until the make-up test is graded it will still be a zero in Parent Portal.I will not come looking for you to remind you to make up work or tests.

Behavior Expectations & Consequences

Always put safety first (yours, as well as others’)! Horseplay in the lab, mishandling or destroying lab equipment will earn a grade of zero for the lab. You will need to pay to replace any broken or damaged lab supplies.

Come to class ready to learn—on time, prepared to participate, and equipped with paper, writing utensil(s), and Anatomy & Physiology binder. Take care of personal needs before and after class. Tardy policy is strictly enforced. Policy for cell phones—which are a distraction to the learning environment—will be strictly enforced.

Practice respect for everyone involved in our learning environment—teachers, guests, fellow students, and equipment. Heritage Generals behave with dignity which should be displayed at all times in my class.

Practice honesty in all areas; cheating will not be tolerated. A grade of zero, parent contact, and administrative referral will follow any incident of academic dishonesty.

Consequences for NOT following the rules will be assigned based on severity of offense. Consequences will get more severe with each repeated offense. Example progression: Warning, parent phone call, lunch payback-time, formal lunch detention, referral to the administration.

Teacher feedback: Students will be given various modes of feedback. Some is numeric as with progress reports, grade printouts, test grades, other assignment grades. Other, more qualitative feedback will include general comments to the group and individual notes on work. If at any time you or your parent feels like your progress in the course is unclear, please notify me immediately.

For example: / Substandard / Does Not Meet Standards / Meets Standards / Exceeds Standards
Symbols / 0, ? / -, ?, ~ / √ / √!, +, yes!
Description / Very little completed, almost no evidence of learning / Only partially completed or filled with significant errors / Complete with no or only minor errors, meets the expectations of the assignment / Complete with exceptional attention to detail, beyond expectations
Equivalent point value / 0 / 5 / 8 / 10

Safety: It is your responsibility to 1) follow teacher/leader instructions and 2) know where to go in case of emergency. (Fire, severe weather, lock down, etc.)

Special note:The teacher reserves the right to change this syllabus and/or course plans in order to better meet the diverse needs of diverse students/learners. It is the responsibility of the students and/or parents to inform the teacher of specific learning needs.