Biology I Syllabus
2017 - 2018
Mrs. Thile Rm. 600
Email:
Website:
Phone/Voice Mail: (760)436-6136 ex.6113
Course Description and Goals: This course satisfies laboratory credit toward the University of California entrance requirements and it will address the next generation state standards for the Biological/Life sciences. The goals are to develop students’ critical thinking skills and quantitative aspect of problem solving in biological contexts as well as give students an appreciation of the interdependence of living things and humans effect on the environment.
Course Topics: This course will cover scientific method, collection and manipulation of data, biochemistry, microscopes, cells, mitosis, meiosis, DNA, RNA, protein synthesis, genetics, natural selection, evolution, principles of ecology and population biology and the human impact on the environment.
Student Responsibilities:
- Each student must bring to class a three-ring binder (dividers needed to make 5 sections), pens, pencils and a willingness to learn each day of class. Students will not need to bring their textbook as there is a class set to use in class.
- Please check the teacher’s website for daily class agendas and assignments that are due.
- Homework is assigned every class and no late homework will be accepted unless a late homework pass is used (the assignment must be attached and turned in the next class period) with a parent or guardian’s signature. Three late homework passes are given out to each student each semester and will count as extra credit when turned in, unused at the end of the semester. However partial credit may be earned for late labs, projects, and other class work activities.
- To demonstrate mastery of state standards students will be taking Mastery Quizzes which will be given after each standard has been taught. A score of 70% or better is required to show mastery. Students scoring below a 70% on a Mastery Quiz will be required to complete a Mastery Assignment. Scores will be entered as a zero until assignment is complete, once completed within the deadline provided by the instructor the quiz score will be entered as a 70%. Mastery Assignments links will be posted on instructor website. Students are encouraged to use the posted web resources and attend tutorial time. Please note, not all quizzes will be Mastery Quizzes with the option to raise grade to 70%. Mastery quizzes will be posted on daily agendas on instructor website and announced in class.
- Tests will be given at the end of each unit of study (approx. 2 chapters of material). If a student does not perform well (70% or below) on tests, they may have the opportunity to gain more points through test corrections (1/2 a point per missed questions up to a maximum of 70%). In order to be eligible to do test corrections the student must have completed the mastery assignment if they performed below 70% on the mastery quiz. Test corrections can be made up after school up to one week after the original test date. Test corrections require the original test, wrong questions written out with correct full answers and source.
- Final Exam - At the end of each semester there will be a final exam which is cumulative over the entire semester and will be required in order to receive a semester grade in the class. If a student is unable to take the final exam on the designated date and time, the student must notify the instructor at least two weeks in advance in writing or by email.
- Extra Credit assignments may be offered occasionally when students have completed all assignments required and at most can only total 3% of the overall class grade.
- Student success – pay attention, do all your homework, check the website daily, keep aware of changes in aeries, make use of opportunities offered like mastery assignments and test corrections to help understanding of course material (read improve grades) and seek tutoring from the peer tutoring sessions (in the media center after school) or talk to or email the teacher!
- ESP time -
- ESP is teacher directed
- Students will work on reviews, enrichments, classwork, homework, read, students will not be allowed to playing games or watch non-content videos
- Students should expect to utilize the entire ESP time with work from that class
- Students will not be sent to work in the Learning Commons
- Teachers may use ESP to conduct whole class reviews, work with student teams on project development, work with individuals on lab reports
- Teachers may allow students to complete laboratory background or prepare for a laboratory, classwork from an absence, make up short assessments
- The time is insufficient for laboratory makeups and test/exam makeups
Classroom Rules:
• Be on time and in your seat when the bell rings.
• Treat the teacher, other students and classroom equipment with respect.
- No eating or drinking in the classroom (candy, etc. included) – water in a bottle is permitted.
- Clean up your own work area before you leave, turn in any assignments that are due and put away the textbook on the book shelf.
- Be honest. Cheating of any kind, including copying another student’s work in class or outside of class, will be taken very seriously. Do your own work. If you are unsure whether an action is cheating or not, it probably is.
- Be safe. Anyone endangering themselves, others, or lab equipment by violating or disregarding lab safety rules will be removed from the class.
- Cell phones and other personal electronic devices may occasionally be used for instructional purposes (only when permitted by the teacher). It is not acceptable to have head phones in your ears during instruction, even just one. If students are using their cell phone during instruction then it will be confiscated for the rest of the period for the first time, and then after that turned in to the assistant principal and parents will be notified. (see school policy in the student agenda)
- The teacher and not the bell will dismiss the class.
Attendance: Attendance is very important! If you are absent for an excused absence, you will have one week from the due date to make up any missed assignments otherwise a zero will be retained for that assignment. In order to make up missed labs, tests etc. you need to make an after school appointment with the teacher. At the end of the academic quarter any missing assignments that have not been made up by the quarter deadline will be entered as a zero.
Tardy Policy: Please make sure you are in your seat when the bell rings, ready to start class. If you are not in your seat when the bell rings it will be recorded as a tardy and on the 3rd tardy a thirty minute detention will be assigned with a phone call home. On the 4th tardy a referral will be sent to the assistant principal and a 5th tardy will result in Friday night school. This policy is in addition to the school’s tardy policy.
Bathroom Passes: Each student will receive five bathroom passes to use for the semester. If they are not used the student will receive extra credit. If they are abused (the student is found wandering around campus) they may be taken away or the student may receive a referral. One person out at any time is the ‘Golden Rule’ for students being out of class.
Grading: Assignments are weighted as follows:
- Homework 10%
- Labs/projects 30%
- Classwork 20%
- Tests and Quizzes 40%
Letter grades will be assigned according to the following scale (rounding up only happens at the end of the semester e.g. 89.5 = A-):
- A = 90 - 100%
- B = 80 - 89%
- C = 70 – 79%
- D = 59 – 69%
- F = below 59%
Grades will be posted in aeries. (More information about this will be given during back-to-school night).
Disciplinary Consequences:
- A verbal warning.
- A verbal warning plus time after class.
- Exclusion from lab activities and a call home.
- Referral, parent/teacher conference and detention.
Biology I August 29th, 2017
Dear Parents/Guardians,
Welcome to the 2017/2018 school year at La Costa Canyon High School. On the following pages I have outlined the course description, student responsibilities, rules and grading policy. Please take the time to read this through with your student to make sure that they understand the course.
I am available for meetings or extra help by appointment after school. You may also contact me by telephone on 436-6136 ext. 6113 or by email at . Also refer to my web page for the current agenda for each day and homework information.
Thank you for reading the syllabus and I look forward to meeting you at back-to-school night on September 12th.
Yours sincerely,
Alyson Thile
Rm.600
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I have read and discussed these guidelines and expectations with my parents/guardians. We both understand and accept them as being part of this class.
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