Biology I Syllabus
Mrs. J. King
Phone: 843-326-7538 Room 118 1ST period planning
Website: http://lhs.dcsdschools.org/departments/Science/mrs__j__king/
Email:
Course Description:
Biology I will focus on the six content standards provided by the SC State Department of Education as follows: Scientific Inquiry, Cellular Biology, Biological Energy Flow, Molecular Genetics and Heredity, Evolution and Diversity, and Ecology. Students should be prepared for rigorous work and expectations. This course is designed for students to make connections and think critically. Although most content will be covered/reviewed/practiced in class, it will be absolutely necessary for students to study independently and make certain connections outside of class. This course is reading/writing intensive and clear, concise communication of content learned will be required.
Course Outline
*Sequencing / pacing of content is subject to change at teacher discretion – Students are expected to study independently to keep up!
Fall Semester / Spring Semester§ Unit 1: Biochemistry / § Unit 5: Cellular Reproduction
§ Unit 2: Cellular Structure & Function / § Unit 6: Genetic Applications & Technology
§ Unit 3: Energy (Photosynthesis & Respiration) / § Unit 7: Genetic Inheritance
§ Unit 4: Molecular Genetics: DNA / § Unit 8: Evolution
§ Unit 9: Ecology
Cumulative District Benchmarks will be given through out the year. / § Review for State End of Course Test
* Scientific method will be applied during course lab work per state / Biology EOCT Date TBA
standards. / There may be additional independent projects throughout the year.
CP Textbook: Discovery Education Science Techbook.
Honors Textbook: Biology Concepts and Connections – Campbell & Reece
Materials (required): 3-ringed binder, dividers with tabs, blue or black pens, pencils, colored pencils, loose leaf paper, index cards, jump drive, ear buds
Academic Requirements: *Passing Biology I is a requirement to receive a SC High School Diploma
q Notebooks: Students will maintain a working three-ringed notebook and a digital folder throughout the course.
q Assessments: Quizzes may be scheduled or unscheduled; all tests will be scheduled in advance. There will also be several district benchmark tests given in addition to regularly scheduled tests. *Warning, the majority of your grade comes from assessments…so, chose not to study = fail.
q Work: It is your responsibility as the student to get your assignments. Incomplete work is not accepted at all and late work will only be accepted 1 day late and for HALF credit. These assignments are NOT accepted after 1 day late, NO EXCEPTIONS! Lab work will be one letter grade off for each day it is late including weekends; after 5 days it is half credit only. 5 zeros = after school detention!! If you don’t want detention, do your work.
q The district is providing laptop computers to students so any assignment via computer is the students’ responsibility. I will not print paper copies of assignments completed on computers, nor will I accept paper copies of assignments completed on computers. Schoology is the learning management system that will be used through out the year for these assignments. Students must login and check posted updates and assignments daily. Failure to maintain passwords and login information will result in consequences. Students are to bring MacBook computers to class EVERY DAY! Students that do not have computers in class may receive a 0 for certain assignments, quizzes or tests. Make ups will not be given for the reason of not bringing computers to class.
q Make-up work: Make-ups must be completed within the time allotted as per the district rules and it is the student’s responsibility to check for missed work. Make-up tests/quizzes may not be the same as the original. I give back assessments immediately and cannot wait days and days to give them back because one person is procrastinating the make-up. So expect a different test/quiz from everyone else. And do not be surprised if I give it to you the next day in class to get it done.
Grading System: (Grades and attendance can be viewed at any time via Parent Portal.)
A (90-100)
B (80-89)
C (70-79)
D (60-69)
Grades will be as follows:
Student work = 40%
Homework, classwork, group work, lab work, etc…
Assessments = 60%
Tests, quizzes, projects, lesson checks, etc…
q Final Grades will be computed as follows:
o 1st Semester 40% (midterm = 10% of 1st semester) 2nd Semester 40% Final Exam 20% (cumulative EOC test)
*Grades are a measurement of the student’s effort toward and understanding of the content. If the effort and understanding are minimal, then the expected grades should be low. It is up to the student what grades they EARN. This includes copying of other student’s assignments. If you copy, then you aren’t learning or studying anything, so do not expect to do well on a test/quiz! Although there will be opportunities to work in groups, expect to think critically, on your own. Use group time as an opportunity to help YOURSELF figure out whatever you don’t understand. You will not be allowed to use partners or notes/books on assessments!
Classroom Management
Each student will be held accountable for his/her conduct. Excessive talking, playing and immaturity will not be tolerated. Refusal to do work will also not be tolerated.
Guidelines: I have the right to teach, you have the right to learn and NO ONE has the right to interfere!
1. Please be seated and prepared when the bell rings.
2. Be respectful.
3. Mind your own business!
4. Be accountable for your actions and behaviors.
5. Do not enter the laboratory area with out permission.
6. Please follow all other school and district rules.
Consequences:
1. First time - a warning.
2. Second time - a detention and/or parent contact.
3. Third time - an office referral.
*I reserve the right to skip any steps deemed appropriate based on the severity/frequency of the infraction.
Rewards:
* Good news notes and phone calls to parents
* Class fun activities such as review games, videos (relative to class lessons of course) and lab explorations
* Stickers, candy, snacks, school supplies, bonus points
* Star student board - for making A's & B’s on tests
* Displayed work
Reminders:
1. Cheating will not be tolerated and will result in severe consequences. You will inform your parents of the cheating yourself, so be prepared to fess up if you get caught. Don’t argue with me if I catch you; I either saw it or have physical evidence so there is no need to further disrupt.
2. Learning is your responsibility, don’t blame others if you didn’t study or do your work.
3. When you enter the room before the bell, be seated and begin working immediately. If you aren’t ready to sit, stay out of the classroom!
4. Ask for help if you need it! Don’t wait until the day before a test to ask for help, tell me immediately and we will work out a schedule for tutoring.
5. Absences, Tardiness, and Hall Passes: School policies will be followed with respect to these procedures. If you are not in your seat when the bell rings, you are tardy!
6. Restroom procedures: school hall pass procedures apply; once all hall passes are used, a referral from the office is required to return to class.
7. Be prepared for class. If you need something (ie: a pencil, paper, whiteout) take care of it before the bell.
8. Do not go into the lab and/or touch any lab equipment/materials unless told to do so.
9. When working in groups, keep voices at a minimum and all group members are required to participate. Any group members that choose not to participate in group activities, assignments, labs, etc…will not receive credit for the assignment. Lazy students that make group members do all the work will end up in groups together, you have been warned.
10. Do your OWN work. Copying is cheating and it won’t help you pass my class. Your assignments are opportunities to practice/study so just do it. Don’t copy if you are working in groups either!
11. Bring your computer to class every day. We will use them most days. Keep track of your log in and passwords, I will not reset passwords for you every day without consequences.
12. Lack of planning on your part will NOT constitute an emergency on mine.
13. If I can’t sleep, then neither can you!
14. Listen in class; I don’t want to repeat things like directions over and over because you aren’t listening.
15. There will be no communication of any kind during a test/quiz. Failure to comply will result in a zero! You have been warned!
16. It is forbidden to ask the following 2 questions:
a. Is this graded? A: Does it matter if it is graded? Wouldn’t you do your best regardless?
b. Is this right? A: If I tell you, then you don’t have to think any more. I want you to think until you are confident in your own answer.
17. Mind your own business. This includes commenting on something another student says in class; FYI, that is disrespectful!
18. Constant complaining/whining about assignments/procedures will not be tolerated. There will be many times in life that you will be asked to do things you don’t really want to do. An employer is not likely to keep an employee that complains about everything. The complaining and whining makes employers think you don’t like the job so they are inclined to replace you with someone that does like it. Complaining/whining disrupts class and will be considered disrespectful.
*Do not blame your teachers for YOUR shortcomings…if YOU choose not to study/do your own work, then YOU choose to have a bad grade!
**Good writing provides evidence of your understanding! Always write your best, not your minimal!
What kind of student will you be?
o An “A” student completes and turns in all assignments on time. Also takes all notes and keeps an organized notebook and studies for test and completes review assignments.
o A “B” student completes all assignments but may be late occasionally. Also takes all notes and keeps an organized notebook and studies for test and completes review assignments.
o A “C” student completes the majority of assignments and most often turns them in on time. Also takes all notes and keeps an organized notebook.
* Students should strive for better than “just passing” or making D’s. Doing poorly on the end of course examination could cause a student who is “just passing” to “just miss it”!