1
WELCOME TO BIOLOGY! My name is Ms. Eva Becker and we will be exploring the world of Biology together. I am looking forward to having an awesome and meaningful year with all of you! I have been teaching science for over 21 years. Concurrently, I teach honors physiology to 11th and 12th graders and AP Biology, my new adventure in science! In the past, I have also taught ICS, Physical Science, Health Education and Algebra. Below you will find all the information needed to make this year's class a success. Success is right in front of us if we all work together. If you need any assistance whatsoever, please do not hesitate to ask. You may contact me directly via email at or via your school loop portal by clicking on the email icon. It is important that you keep yourself updated as to what is happening in class by accessing your school loop account. Our meeting place is Room 609. My conference period is 3. Mondays, are designated as late dates when we can meet after school if you need extra help or more one-on-one time with the teacher. It is also the time to make up missed exam and assignments due to absences verified and excused by the teacher. You must make prior arrangements with the teacher to let her know you will be showing up so that you can be accommodated with the make-up assignment or test.
My Expectations of You: RESPECT YOURSELF, EACH OTHER AND THE TEACHER.
1. Be in your seat at the bell.
2. Come to class prepared ready to learn with the necessary materials and supplies.
1. Participate in class activities.
2. Be honest and show integrity.
3. Talk in turn.
4. Keep your space clean and free of clutter. This is my pet peeve.
5. Refrain from eating, drinking and/or chewing gum (water is permissible).
6. Control your speech. Our classroom is a POLLUTION FREE ENVIRONMENT!!!
7. No horsing around or playing. We are here to learn and collaborate.
8. Stay in your assigned seat or group location unless otherwise instructed.
9. Put your electronic devices away. Electronic devices seen will be confiscated and held by the teacher and/or turned into the dean for parent pick-up, as per school rule.
10. Hand in assignments on time!
11. Have a positive attitude!
12. Pass this class!
Consequences will be dealt with in accordance to school policy. “Three Strikes, You’re Out” Policy
· First offense verbal warning
· Second offense teacher consultation; phone call home
· Third offense in-house detention at nutrition, lunch and/or after school
· Additional offense(s) counselor, dean referral and/or administrative involvement
**Electronics seen out during class without expressed permission will be confiscated, locked up by the teacher and given back to students at the end of the period. If the problem persists, electronics will be given over to the dean for disciplinary action and parent pick-up, as per school policy.
Course Outline: Coursework will be broken down into ten units spanning across the year. Ecology and Environmentalism will be emphasized as it relates to each unit of study. The topics of study scheduled for the year are fully aligned to the new Common Core Standards and NGSS and include:
Cell Biology, Meiosis and Fertilization, Mendel’s Laws of Genetics, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology of Genetics, Ecology, Evolution (population genetics and speciation), Physiology (human body systems), Homeostasis and Infection and Immunity.
Materials: Charged laptop, large spiral notebook with 5dividers, one small composition notebook, one simple pocket folder, no. 2 pencils and pens, one pack of graph paper, a ruler, a calculator and pack of index cards. Colored Pencils are optional.
Grading: Your grades will be based on the following assignments and class activities:
· Participation: Accounts for 5% of your grade, so you must participate on a regular basis!
· Scientific Notebook- Create the following tabs: Class notes, Class assignments, Lab Data/Notes, Terminology/Vocab and MISC.
· Scientific Journal: All of your reflections including your warm-ups, wrap-ups, lab debriefings and discussions go here. Purchase a composition notebook. The teacher shall conduct random checks of your notebook at least once per grading period.
· Article Reviews: One per semester. Please see folder in my locker on class website for more info.
· Written Homework: Will be assigned at least once per week.
· Tests and Quizzes- Pop quizzes may be given with no prior notice based on prior lesson
· Research projects- One per semester. Examples: Bio Book Review, BioZone Science Fair, Scientific Debate, Body Systems Project, Scientific Inquiry Video Project. Projects vary from year to year. TBA.
Categories % of grades:
Class Assignments 25%
Quizzes/Tests 20%
Article Reviews 15%
Homework 10%
Labs/Lab Reports 10%
Research Projects 10%
Participation/Mentorship (5% E.C.) 5%
Journal Notes/Reflections 5%
· As noted above, a significant percentage of your grade will be based on your participation during class. A good way to participate is to get involved in discussions and complete class assignments.
· Journal collection dates TBA.
Grading Scale:
Percentage Letter Grade Work Habits and Cooperation Marks 90%- 100% A E Excellent
80%- 89% B S Satisfactory
70%- 79% C U Unsatisfactory; Needs improvement
60%- 69% D
0%- 59%
GOOD GRADES MEAN THAT YOU GO THE EXTRA “MILE”
“Motivated and Inspired to Learn with Enthusiasm”
Homework- is due on the assigned day. Late unexcused homework will result in a 50% reduction during the first week that it is late. Homework will not be accepted past 7 days after it was assigned and will result in a zero. Homework that was assigned prior to your absence is due on the ‘day back’ from an excused absence.
Make-up Assignments: Students are responsible for the material presented in any class missed. It is your responsibility to contact and communicate with the teacher when an absence occurs. If you know that you are going to be absent, you must see the teacher prior to your absence to set up a plan, If you do not know that you will be absent (i.e., emergency or illness), you may make-up all assignments and missed work within one week of the absence for full credit, provided that the absence is excused and verified with a note from a parent or guardian and cleared on MISIS. Homework and assignments that are simply late due to an unexcused absence will be accepted up to one week after the absence occurred with a 50% penalty. Make-up tests, labs or assignments may be completed on LATE MONDAYS as long as prior arrangements with the teacher were made. Per term, the lowest quiz/test score will be dropped from the student’s average. Special circumstances will be dealt with on a case by case basis with parent verification and involvement. If an assignment is incomplete or needs to be redone, student receives 25%. Making up incompletes and redoing assignments is at the discretion of the teacher.
Attendance: It is extremely important that you show up to class. Every day lost is a missed opportunity to learn! Excessive absences do not promote learning and should be avoided. Grades may be affected due to excessive absences and tardiness due to loss of instructional time and missed assignments, labs and activities. We have a late log sign in sheet to keep track. Excessive tardiness will be addressed with parents and/or the administration. In addition, excessively tardy students will be detained over lunch and/or after school, upon teacher’s discretion. Ditching will not be tolerated and will be dealt with as per school policy.
Tests: Material will come from the lecture notes, related materials and handouts given out during class, selective readings from the text and research as indicated by the instructor. The tests will be a combination of diagrams, short answer, and objective (multiple choice, matching, true/false, etc.)
Make-up Tests: In general, make-up exams are not given; however, students with extenuating circumstances that have made special arrangements with the teacher will have a replacement assignment (usually a written report or a series of essays). Failure to communicate with the teacher within 24 hours of a missed exam; will result in a zero on the exam and the inability to make up lost points. All make-ups shall take place on LATE MONDAYS.
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY will not be tolerated and will result in a zero on any and all student work proven to be implicated. Parents will be notified and the offense written up in student file. If academic dishonesty occurs on more than one occasion, administrative authorities will be involved and consequences activated as per school policy. A quiz/test that was designated as a zero due to academic dishonesty cannot be dropped as a low score.
Bonuses and Incentives:
· When a student receives 100% on 3 consecutive quizzes, they may opt to skip their next quiz. Student keeps track!
· At the end of the semester the lowest quiz/test grade will be dropped from student’s average.
· When all class work is done for the week and everyone is in tip-top shape, FUN FRIDAY occurs. FF is based upon student behavior and teacher discretion.
· The Bio class with the highest average at the end of a semester gets a surprise treat.
· Notices will be sent home for students that show academic achievement, most improved, excellent organizational skills, good behavior and perfect attendance.
Format for Lab Reports
Please use the following general format when writing up your lab reports:
PURPOSE: Statement about why you performed the laboratory experiment.
ABSTRACT: Summary of what was accomplished in lab (1-2 paragraphs)
PROCEDURE: The actual steps that you took to get the results or answers. Please do not pre-write your procedures from your manuals into your lab books before coming to lab. The procedure describes what you accomplished in your own words.
DATA/ In this section include any formulas or special numerical
FORMULAS: data that was needed to carry out your calculations. Simply list them.
OBSERVATIONS: What did you see? Describe the texture, color, smell, size, and shape of that which you are observing.
RESULTS: What were the outcomes of the laboratory, your experiment, or the exercise/s that you were asked to complete? If only calculations were required, simply write down the answers that you got in this section.
DISCUSSION/ Please discuss what value your findings have. What do
CONCLUSION: they mean? What have you learned? What was significant about this lab, your results, and observations?
* Note: The format tends to vary a bit from lab to lab. Attach lab sheets to lab reports.
Binding Student Contract 2016-2017
Please sign below underscoring that you have read the syllabus and understand what is expected of you. In addition, please have your parent/guardian sign below and return this contract to me by next class. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
Ms. Eva Becker
Ms. Eva Becker, BS, M.A.Ed
AP/Biology & Honors Physiology Teacher
Hamilton High School, Room 609
SLC: Academy of Music and Performing Arts
Student Name (Please Print): ______
Student Signature: ______Date: ______
Parent Name (please print): ______
Parent/Guardian Signature: ______Date: ______
*Video/Media Release Form*
By signing below, I allow my child to participate in and watch educational films that relate to the prescribed science course content material. I understand that some of these films may be rated-R for adult and/or serious content.
I also give permission for my child to appear in media such as pictures and/or video clips that may be posted on our class website and/or the Internet, reflecting the various planned science activities conducted in the classroom for the sole purpose of directly enhancing the positive learning experiences of the students.
Signature of Parent/Legal Guardian: ______Date: ______
**Please Note: If a student has a unique issue that may impair his/her full demonstration of abilities on any of the exams or other assignments, please see the teacher to discuss and work out accommodations. Students with extenuating circumstances who cannot keep up with the prescribed course of work (for any given reason) need to contact and communicate their situation to the teacher.
1