Chemistry Syllabus 2014-2015

Teacher: Mrs. Muzii Room 222

Email:

Book: Chemistry by: Wilbraham, et al; Prentice Hall

Extra Help: Monday-Thursday 3:30-4:00

Additional times by appointment

Supplies to bring to class each day:

  • Binder, Lab Notebook
  • Supplies (pens, pencils, highlighters,ruler, and TI Nspire)

Topics of study this year may include:

Chemistry Syllabus 2014-2015

  • Matter and Energy
  • Atoms and Moles
  • The Periodic Table
  • Chemical Bonds
  • The Mole
  • Chemical Composition
  • Chemical Equations
  • Chemical Reactions
  • Stoichiometry
  • Energy Transfer and Change
  • States of Matter
  • Gases
  • Solutions
  • Reaction Rates
  • Chemical Equilibrium
  • Acids and Bases

Chemistry Syllabus 2014-2015

Classroom Rules:

  • Be on time to class and come PREPARED.
  • Safety in the lab always comes first.
  • No food, drink, or gum is allowed in the lab/class room.
  • Respect your teacher and your peers.

Policies:

  1. Homework
  2. All homework should have the proper heading.
  3. Homework is due at the beginning of class and checked for completeness. It is the expectation that all questions are attempted.

C. Late and incomplete homework may result in a zero. However, students may makeup unsatisfactory homework for a 45% instead of 0% grade.

D. Incomplete or missed homework must be made upand it is your responsibility to submit this work.

  1. Assessments
  2. Tests in Chemistry are cumulative, each concept building upon the previous.
  3. There will be scheduled and “pop” quizzes to reinforce subject material.
  4. Tests and quizzes are part of the overall assessment grade, which also will consist of projects and student presentations.
  1. Labs
  2. Students are expected to follow directions in the lab and always use safe laboratory technique.
  3. Data must be recorded in the Lab Notebook in PEN.
  4. Lab report write-ups will depend on the type of lab.
  5. Lab reports are due at the beginning of class on the due date assigned. No excuses.
  6. A late lab report will result in a penalty of 10 points per each day late.
  7. If you are absent from school, the report is due the day of your return (even if you do not have chemistry class that day!).
  1. Make-up policy
  1. If you are going to miss class for a school event (athletics, music performance, etc.), you must “check in” and arrange to make up any quizzes or hand in assignments BEFORE you leave school.
  2. Missed labsand testswill take place on the day of your return. See me about taking an exam if your next day in class is a day we are not scheduled to meet.
  3. YOU are responsible to get any missed notes or homework assignments.
  1. Collaborative Work

Collaborative work in Chemistry class is encouraged for both problem solving and lab work. Brainstorming of ideas is an effective manner in which to review and reinforce concepts as well as plan out projects and activities. However, each student must submit his or her individual and original assignment.

  1. Grading

Your grade each quarter in science is based on the following breakdown:

Homework 10%

Labs30%

Assessments60%

Total100%

  1. Expectations

Students must arrive punctually to class, properly prepared for the class. Proper preparation includes completing homework and pre-class reading assignments and/or practice problems. Students are required to have their materials (textbook, notebook, calculator, and other resources they need throughout the year) in class every day. All work is to be completed neatly and orderly. Graphs must be drawn with a ruler.

Students must actively employ ALL course resources, as well as additional resources they find useful. A fully charged TI Nspire calculator MUST be brought to class on a DAILY basis.

Students are expected to participate in all classroom activities AND consistently demonstrate appropriate classroom behavior. Proper behavior and respect towards others is mandatory.

Students are encouraged to seek help from the teacher during/after school.

  1. Science Practice Statement

In keeping with the introduction of the new, Next Generation Science Standards, the following eight practices are the cornerstone of science education. These practices will be discussed during the first weeks of school and will be the basis for how student performance is evaluated throughout the year. Science education is not a passive student experience. These science practices require students to engage on a daily basis in learning process and to work to develop helpful habits of mind for curiosity and perseverance. The proper execution of the practices will require readiness, preparedness, and the best classroom behavior on the part of each student on a consistent basis.

S1. Ask questions and define problems

S2. Develop and use models

S3. Plan & carry out investigation

S4. Analyze & Interpret Data

S5. Use mathematics & computational thinking

S6. Construct explanations & design solutions

  1. Upper School Attendance Policy

It is imperative that all Miami Country Day Students be in attendance every day. The direct correlation between what occurs on a daily basis, the engagement between students and teacher, and a student’s ability to succeed cannot be underestimated. As an institution, Miami Country Day School does not support removing students for family vacations or other extended absences. The Upper School of Miami Country Day School has established the following attendance procedure to encourage all students to make daily attendance a part of the school culture. If a student has the following amount of unexcused absences per quarter, his/her quarter grade will be affected positively or negatively in the following manner:

# of absences / Points on Quarter Average
0-1 / +1
2-3 / 0
4-5 / -1
6+ / Hearing with Attendance Committee
  1. Upper School Tardy Policy

Students are expected to arrive on time to each class. A “Tardy” will be assigned when a student arrives to class without an excused pass form a teacher. Tardies will accumulate affect a student’s grade in the following manner:

# of Tardies / Policy
0-2 / 0 points
3-4 / Dean of Students is informed/Saturday School
5-6 / -1 points on class average, Dean of Students informed/Saturday School
7 / Follow Up with Dean of Students/ possible suspension
  1. Open Grade Book Guidance

Miami Country Day School uses an open grade book system. This allows parents and students the ability to view a student’s grade as it is updated throughout the quarter. Please be sure to periodically check your grades through net classroom. Also, look for and read any comments that I have written to you about you assignments, assessments, or general progress in the class. I make every attempt to grade your work as soon as possible.

After reading the syllabus, please complete the contract below, detach it and return it to Mrs. Muzii.

I have read the Chemistry Syllabus and understand the expectations for the 2014-2015 academic year.

STUDENT NAME ______

STUDENT SIGNATURE______DATE______

PARENT NAME ______

PARENT SIGNATURE ______DATE ______