Course Expectations 2016-2017
Biology I - Honors
Instructor: C. Alessandra
LHS Room 1009
Phone: (702) 799-1777
Email:
Website Address: https://sites.google.com/a/nv.ccsd.net/mrsabiology/
Course Scope:
This one-year course is designed as a survey of the biological sciences. The emphasis is on developing inquiry skills and problem-solving techniques while developing an understanding of major biological concepts. The course also familiarizes students with the nature of science and technology. Instructional practices incorporate integration of diversity awareness including appreciation of all cultures and their important contributions to our society. The appropriate use of technology is an integral part of this course. This course fulfills one credit of the Nevada high school graduation requirement for science and qualifies as a laboratory science for college entrance.
Course Goals:
1. To apply scientific processes through inquiry. [NS: N.12.A]
2. To use tables, charts, illustrations, and graphs as evidence to justify arguments and claims in presentations. [NS: N.12.A]
3. To safely conduct original scientific investigations using appropriate tools and technology. [NS: N.12.A.4]
4. To evaluate the impacts of science and technology in terms of costs and benefits to society. [NS: N.12.B]
5. To describe the characteristics of life. [NS: L.12.B]
6. To describe molecules associated with living processes. [NS: L.12.B]
7. To explore the characteristics of viruses, bacteria, protists, fungi, plants, and animals. [NS: L.12.C, L.12.D]
8. To explain how genetic information is passed from one generation to another. [NS: L.12.A]
9. To describe how life forms, at all levels of organization, use specialized structures and similar processes to meet the needs of living things. [NS: L.12.B]
10. To investigate the inter-relationships among living and non-living components within ecosystems. [NS: L.12.C]
11. To discuss the diversity of life as explained through the biological principle of change over time. [NS: L.12.D]
12. To explore career opportunities related to the study of biology. [NS: N.12.B]
13. To evaluate moral and ethical issues related to biological concepts. [NS: N.12.B]
14. To demonstrate an understanding of character, ethics, safety skills, and manners appropriate for this course. [NS: N.12.B]
Textbooks
The following text(s) will be utilized in this course:
· BIOLOGY: The Dynamics of Life Publisher: Glencoe Science
Every student will have a specific textbook checked out to them or may choose, with parental permission, the on-line version. Each student is responsible for the replacement cost of the textbook if it is lost or damaged.
Student Supplies
Students are expected to have and maintain the following supplies all year:
« Pens and #2 pencils
« Colored pencils
« Spiral notebook 8.5” x 11” wide or college ruled
« Glue Stick
« Scientific Calculator
Tardy Policy
Tardiness is a serious disruption to the educational program. Every student is required to be in his/her seat when the tardy bell rings. With that in mind, the Legacy High School Tardy Policy will be strictly enforced. On the first and second tardy, the student will be warned; on the third tardy, the parent will be contacted; on the fourth tardy, a detention will be assigned; on the fifth and all subsequent tardies, the student will be sent to the deans’ office and placed on a Required Parent Conference.
Grading Policy
· Grading Scale: 90% - 100% A
80% - 89% B
70% - 79% C
60% - 69% D
Below 60% F
· Grades will be rounded to the nearest whole number. If a student receives a grade of 89.5%, that will be rounded up and considered a 90% (A); an 89.4% will be rounded down to an 89% (B).
· Extra credit will be offered throughout the year and will not be accepted if late.
· Description of Grading Procedures:
Each quarter grade will be determined by tests, homework assignments and work completed in class, including laboratory activities as follows:
Tests: 50%
Classwork/Homework: 25%
Notebooks: 25%
• Sporadic classroom participation grades will be recorded and will count towards the homework grade.
• Notebooks will be kept by students for notes, vocabulary, activities, and in-class questions. These notebooks will be graded after each unit but will need to be brought to class each day. These notebooks will be very useful study aids for exams and should be used as such.
• Homework will be assigned as needed but will be minimal. Most homework will result from student not completing work assigned in class time provided. Homework will be due at next class meeting within first 10 minutes of class.
· Semester Grades: 45% Quarter 1/3 Grade
45% Quarter 2/4 Grade
10% Semester Examination
· Standards of Preparation – All students should come to class prepared for the day with needed supplies (e.g. pens, pencils, paper, notebook, etc.) As attention to detail, accuracy, neatness, and complete work are vital for communicating in science, spelling and grammar will be taken into account on all written assignments. Assignments may be typed (standard should be size 10-12 Times New Roman font and double spaced) unless otherwise indicated. If assignment is handwritten, it must be legible or will not be graded. A maximum of 5% of assignment grade will be allocated to spelling, grammar, readability, sentence, structure, etc.
Research projects or papers and laboratory reports should reflect appropriate citations and student verbalization. In the event plagiarism or copying occurs, a zero will be given for the assignment and a makeup assignment will not be accepted. Parent notification and disciplinary action may result from such an infraction.
**Students who would like to improve upon their math or science skills should visit: www.rpdp.net
Make-up Work, Late Work, and Attendance
· Make-up procedures-
• After an absence, students will be expected to check the make-up work area for their class. Make-up work will be located in the course file located in the classroom.
• Students must obtain make-up work within three days of an absence, unless other arrangements with the teachers are made.
• Students are responsible for requesting make-up work and scheduling an appointment with the teacher before or after school to make-up tests and quizzes.
· Late Work-
· Late assignments will be subject to a 30% reduction in score if received within two weeks of the due date. No make-up work/late work may not be accepted after two weeks past the due date or during the last week of each quarter.
· Hours of Availability- Students are welcome and encouraged to ask for assistance any time. Should a student require extra time after school for assistance, he/she should make an appointment in advance with the teacher. Whenever possible, students will be notified when parent conferences, activities, or meetings alter the teacher’s schedule and availability to students.
Attendance
After the seventh unexcused absence, students will be denied credit and will receive an “F” for the course.
Classroom Behavior Expectations
· Classroom Behavioral Expectations
· Students should be on time to class (see Tardy Policy) and must remain seated to be dismissed at the end of each period. Please note that a tardy over 30 minutes will result in an absence
· Students should remain seated and prepared to work
· Students are expected to arrive to class every day prepared with their spiral notebook, a pen, and a pencil. Unless otherwise instructed, students may leave textbooks at home
· Only one person at a time should be speaking in the classroom
· Students should show courtesy and respect to all others in the classroom
· Students should show respect for the building, books, and classroom supplies
· Students should abide by all school rules and district policies
· Corridor and restroom passes will be provided in emergency situations only, or as required by school activities
· Food, drink, gum, candy etc. are not in the classroom and may be subject to confiscation.
· If you break something in lab, you will be responsible for paying for its replacement. Blatant damage to lab equipment will result in immediate referral to the Dean’s office. Lab groups will be responsible for cleaning and maintaining their lab stations. Students are expected to abide by all science department safety rules as delineated in the safety contract. Any horseplay in the laboratory will result in zero points for the lab exercise, loss of all participation points for the day, parental contact, and a Dean’s referral.
· All assignments should be legible and turned in on time
· Discipline Plan: the following consequences will result for failure to adhere to the expectations listed above:
o 1st infraction: Verbal Warning
o 2nd infraction: Teacher/Student Conference
o 3rd infraction: Parental Involvement (by phone or conference)
o 4th infraction: Dean’s Referral
· Citizenship- It is expected that all students will behave in a courteous and respectful manner. However, should a student receive a Dean Referral, his/her Citizenship Grade will automatically drop to an “Unsatisfactory” status.
Please complete this page, remove from packet and return to school by September 25, 2016. You may also fill out the Course Expectation Acknowledgement Form on my website.
Acknowledgement of Course Expectations
Biology I
We have read and discussed the course description and expectations.
______
Student’s name [last, first] Student’s Signature
______
Parent Name Parent Signature
______
Home phone Work/Cell phone
Email Address: ______
Electronic Textbook
If my child’s course has an electronic version of the textbook, that can be accessed at home through the internet, I am giving permission to not check out a text book for this course. I have internet access at home to use the electronic version.
Note: Not all classes offer an electronic version and a textbook will be checked out to the student.
Parent Signature: ______
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