Course Requirements
Materials for class each day:
3-ring binder notebook lab notebook (graph paper) -available at colored pencils Staples, Office Depot, CVS
calculator pen and pencil
Textbooks:
Each student will receive a textbook, which must be covered. Textbooks will be used as reference books. Students will be given appropriate reading assignments and homework questions from the text to supplement the lessons. Textbooks may be kept at home, unless otherwise directed.
***Students should plan to have reading assignments most nights of the week. ***
Class Participation:
Each student is expected and encouraged to come to class with the appropriate materials, prepared to learn and participate fully in each day’s lesson. Students are responsible for all class work and homework whenever they are not present in class.
Exams:
A mid-term exam will be administered each year.
Make-up work and tests:
In most cases students are responsible for making up missed quizzes and tests the day they return; failure to do so will result in a grade of zero for that particular test or quiz. Students will be responsible for all class work and activities done in class. All work missed will be made up as specified by the teacher. It is the student’s responsibility to turn in all missed work. Students should use class website to keep up to date on missed class assignments, etc.
Extra Help:
Students are encouraged to make an appointment to see their teacher after school for extra help or to make up missed class work from 2:35 – 3:10pm. This time period does not conflict with extracurricular activities and may also be used for disciplinary measures, when necessary.
Email:
Students are expected to check their email periodically for communication with their teacher. Assignments, reminders, etc. will often be sent through email. Students who are absent or have questions about an assignment, project, etc. may also use email to communicate with their teacher. Any student who is not able to access an email account will be responsible for getting assignments, etc. at the end of the school day.
Wikispace:
Students and parents should also periodically check my wikispace: www.straubel.pbworks.com. Here homework is posted, documents are uploaded, helpful websites for learning are linked and general announcements are recorded. This is a great place for parents to keep up with pending assignments and tests and quizzes.
Grading Policy
Unit Tests:
A minimum of two unit tests will be given each marking period. Unit tests will be designed to evaluate understanding of the principles studied throughout the unit. The unit tests will consist of questions similar to those found on AP exams.
Test format will consist of two parts:
Part I: Objective questions (multiple choice, fill-in, matching)
Part II: Free Response (mathematical problems, lab related, short
essay)
Quizzes:
Weekly quizzes will be given to monitor student progress. Quizzes may come from reading assignments, class notes, homework, and lab work. Quizzes are designed to evaluate knowledge, solving of specific problems, and skills recently studied and practiced.
Laboratory / Cooperative Work:
Experiments and lab activities will be conducted each marking period. A record of student work will be written in the lab notebook and graded. In addition, students will be evaluated on their performance in the lab. The lab notebook will be graded on a scale of 0-20 points. Student performance will be graded on a scale of 0-5 points. Each lab will therefore be a total of 25 points. Late lab notebooks will receive a deduction in points.
Homework / Free Response Assignments:
Homework will be frequently checked and graded each marking period. Homework will be checked in a variety of ways. Reading and studying assignments will also be monitored by brief homework quizzes. Homework will be graded on a scale of 0-5 points.
Free response assignments are take-home assignments which enhance a student’s writing and/or critical thinking abilities. These may include reaction papers, critical essays, multi-step problems, etc. These will be free response questions given on past AP exams. Late homework and fras will receive a deduction in points.
Grading:
The course grade is computed by a total points system. All course work is assigned a points value. A marking period grade is determined by the total points earned divided by the total points possible. Students are able to keep track of their grades during the marking period by keeping all assignments and evaluations, adding up their points, and dividing by the total possible points.
The fifth marking period grade is computed by averaging the midterm exam grade and the final project grade. There is no final exam for AP biology students, as they will take the AP exam in May. All five marking period grades will be averaged together to determine the final grade.
Classroom Expectations
- Be on time. This means in your seat and ready to work when the bell rings.
- Be respectful. This means when someone else in class is speaking, teacher or student, you are quiet and listening.
- Be polite. This means say please, thank-you, etc. Wait your turn when in line for anything.
- Be friendly. This means being nice to everyone in the class and getting to know them. Don’t be judgmental.
- Be inquisitive. This means ask questions. Ask the teacher, ask each other, do research on your own to find the answers.
- Be responsible. This means that you are accountable for your grade in this course. The more effort you put into the class, the higher the grade you will earn.