UNION GROVE HIGH SCHOOL
Course Syllabus
Instructor: Dr. Davis Room #: 226 Year: 2016 - 2017
Course Name and Code: Honors Biology 5665
Textbook Used: Biology
McDougal Littell
Supplementary Texts or Special Materials: Please See Materials List
Course Description:
Honors Biology is an accelerated activity and lab oriented class focusing on biological processes, cells, structure of DNA and RNA, principles of genetics and heredity, the characteristics and classification of living organisms, ecology, natural selection, and theories of origin. Biology includes the study of the microscopic structure of a single organism as well as the study of the global interactions of millions of organisms.
Course Outline and Content:
Course will follow the content of the Georgia Performance Standards.
See www.doe.k12.ga.us
Student Achievement Targets:
· Students will evaluate the importance of curiosity, honesty, openness, and skepticism in science.
· Students will use standard safety practices for all classroom laboratory and field investigations.
· Students will identify and investigate problems scientifically.
· Students will use tools and instruments for observing, measuring, and manipulating scientific equipment and materials.
· Students will demonstrate the computation and estimation skills necessary for analyzing data and developing reasonable scientific explanations.
· Students will communicate scientific investigations and information clearly.
· Students will analyze how scientific knowledge is developed.
· Students will understand important features of the process of scientific inquiry.
· Students will analyze the nature of the relationships between structures and functions in 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.
Materials: Please see materials list provided at open house. The list is also posted on my web page.
Science Research Project:
All Honors Biology students will be required to produce a science research project. Students should have already been thinking about ideas for a science project. We will discuss the project expectations in class but the research and experiment will largely be an individual effort. The final portions of the project are due on December 2, 2016. Students will have periodic due dates prior to the final due date, we will discuss this further in class. Please see the Science Research Grade Sheet for periodic due dates. The research project will comprise three project grades by the end of the semester. Parents please check your student’s agenda frequently for due dates and information regarding the science research project.
Classroom Rules and Discipline Procedures:
Class Conduct:
Students are expected to abide by the rules set forth by the Henry County Board of Education and in the UGHS handbook. Students will also be held accountable for adherence to classroom expectations and procedures posted in the room and outlined by the instructor. Lab safety procedures will be strictly enforced.
Technology Policy:
In an effort to maximize instructional time, personal technology, including but not limited to cell phones and smart watches, is not allowed to be in use in the classroom unless specifically indicated by the teacher. We will use personal technology only for instructional purposes when indicated by the instructor. Once inside of the classroom, all technology should be silenced and stored out of sight. When instructed to do so, students should store personal electronics according to desk number in the area provided in the classroom. Students should never handle electronics belonging to another student. Unless given explicit instruction from the teacher to use technology for educational purposes, any visible or audible devices will be confiscated. Confiscated devices will be turned in to the front office and may only be retrieved by a parent or guardian. If students are given permission to use technology during a lesson, any student found using it for anything other than the intended purpose will have the device confiscated. When using personal devices, students are expected to connect to the internet through the school Wi-Fi (BYOT), where they must first agree to the usage terms and conditions. Please bring earbuds with you daily for use with personal technology or laptop computers.
**No student may photograph, record, or videotape any classroom activity (or persons in the classroom setting) without prior expressed written consent from me and all persons involved**
Tardy Policy:
Every minute of class time is a precious moment of learning opportunity for the student. It is imperative that students are in class, in their seats working on review questions or other bell work assignments when the bell rings. For this reason, the UGHS four step discipline policy will be applied to tardiness and strictly enforced.
Make-up Work Policy:
It is imperative that students be in class in order to be successful. If a student should miss a class, the student is responsible for getting the missed materials and assignments from the “Make-Up” work file in the classroom. If the student is in need of extra explanation, I am available for appointments before or after school. Assignments and tests are posted in the classroom well in advance of the due date.
*** Please note, late assignments are not accepted for full credit. If an assignment is not turned in during your class period on the assigned due date, you will receive a zero. You will complete a “no work” statement and then complete work necessary to achieve mastery of the concept(s).
Contact Information:
Please contact me with questions or concerns at any time –
Tutoring:
You may schedule an appointment for additional assistance in the afternoons and during instructional focus.
Important Procedures:
n Students should be in their seats ready to begin when the bell rings. Failure to do so will result in documentation that the student was tardy to class.
n Students should begin working on the bell-work assignment immediately after entering the room.
n Class ends when your instructor dismisses you. Every student should stay busy until dismissed.
n Safety in the lab is a must; the lab safety contract will be strictly enforced.
n Students should always be prepared for class and have the proper materials, including the textbook.
n Any form of academic dishonesty is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Students who violate this policy will receive a zero.
n Students should always bring their agenda to class and record assignments and due dates before the end of the period. Parents may use the agenda to monitor the student’s assignments and upcoming due dates.
n E-mail communication with the instructor is timeliest in most cases.
Consequences for choosing to jeopardize your success:
n Verbal warning
n Contacting parents/guardians
n After school detention
n Referral to administrator
n Conference
** Discussions of a personal nature are not appropriate during class. Please reserve these conversations for before or after class. This would include conversations about grades, make-up work, and disciplinary action.
Grading System:
Henry County Schools will utilize a year-long 80%, 20% grade calculation system.
GRADING SCALE: GRADING CATEGORES:
A = 90-100 80% of the grade is comprised of:
B = 80-89 Tests/Projects: 50%
C = 74-79 Labs/Quizzes: 40%
D = 70-73 Mid-Term: 10%
F = below 70
20% of the grade comes from the
Georgia Milestones assessment.
**Please use Infinite Campus to monitor student progress**
Standards Mastery Plan:
Our ultimate goal is that students master the content described in the Georgia Performance Standards and to display that mastery on End of Course assessments. Thus, if a student fails to achieve mastery on a summative assessment the student should ask to meet with the instructor for assistance and remediation options. It is the student’s responsibility to pursue options for assistance when they have failed to meet mastery.
All 9th grade students who earn a 69 or lower on a major assessment (as defined by the teacher) will be required to participate in mandatory unit repair. Students will have 8 days to complete all review assignments and test corrections prior to the reassessment (absences do not result in additional days to complete the assignments). The reassessment score will be averaged with the original assessment score (even if the reassessment score is lower than the original score). Only the parent of the student in need of unit repair, can opt-out of the reassessment opportunity. This has to be done in writing on the form provided. The form must be returned the following day (see the 9th Grade Mandatory Unit Repair Form for additional information regarding Opting-out). The form can also be found on the Instructional Support Coordinator’s page under Administration on the UGHS homepage website.
Dear Parents and Students,
I am excited about working with each of you. I firmly believe that an operative part of meaningful learning is the parent-student-teacher team. I am eager to work with all of you in order to offer every opportunity for student success. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or if I can be of some assistance. Thank you for your participation in what is sure to be an exciting year.
Union Grove High School Sincerely,
Melissa Davis
Phone: 678-583-8502
Melissa Davis
UNION GROVE HIGH SCHOOL
Honors Biology Course Syllabus
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