by Anne-Marie |
2007-2008 Policies, Procedures, and Syllabus
At the beginning of the school year, each student received a copy of the class policies and syllabus, and lab safety contract.. Students were instructed to have a parent/guardian sign the paper and bring it back to me for a class grade. You may download a copy of these documents below:
 Class Policy & Syllabus - Lab Safety
Or you may read about the class policy, lab safety, or syllabus by clicking on one of the links.
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Class Policy Information
Welcome to your 9th grade science class at Columbia! I am excited to get to know each of you. I teach science because I believe it is one of the coolest, most important subjects you can take. Even if you are not planning on being a “scientist,” you will learn many important skills in this class. I also think will have a lot of fun as we learn about chemistry and physics together.
In order to succeed this year, we will all operate under certain guidelines.
• Respect each other, your teacher, and our classroom.
• Participate actively and safely.
• Follow all other school rules and policies.
One way to participate actively is to bring required materials to class each day. This is so important that it is your first grade in class, worth 10 pts. I will check for these supplies on Monday, September 8, 2008:
Required Supplies:
• Composition Book (100 pages is fine)
• Colored Pencils (set of 8)
• Ruler (metric, with cm)
• Calculator
• Section in your binder for handouts
Another way you can get a head start on your grade is to show this paper to your parent or guardian and have them sign the three papers: this class info, the lab safety contract, and my national board certification release form. These three signed papers are worth 15 pts.
What we will learn about this year:
Semester 1:
• Nature of Science
• Physical Properties
o Density
o Phase of Matter
o Solubility
o Kinetic Theory
• Periodic Table
• Chemical Properties
o Bonding
o Reactions
o Acid/Base Chemistry
o Radioactivity |
Semester 2:
• Motion and Mechanics
o Speed
o Acceleration
o Forces & Newton’s Laws
o Energy
• Simple Machines & Work
• Waves
o EM Spectrum
o Color
o Reflection
o Refraction
o Astronomy |
Where does my grade come from in this class?
| Participation (20%): |
This grade comes from your composition book, lab work, and parent signatures. Composition books are places where you copy t-charts, notes, and do short writing or drawing activities. When I collect your composition books (once each quarter), I am looking to see that you’ve copied down what you’re supposed to, and completed all activities. Lab work is designed to give you an understanding of science concepts we cover in class, and to give you an opportunity to discuss these concepts with your peers. I am looking for evidence that you tried your best on these activities (what would this look like?). You must get 2 assignments per month (your choice) signed by a parent to indicate you've discussed the assignment with them. Notice that you are not penalized for mistakes on any of these assignments. |
| Lab Reports & Reflections (30%): |
I will often ask you to write conclusions, procedures, lab reports, and other reflections for lab activities we’ve done in class. These are individual assignments meant to show me what you know. You will self-assess these assignments, but you will also receive feedback from your peers and me. You have an opportunity to incorporate the suggestions you receive before I score these for a grade. You may also rewrite this as many times as you like until you get the score you want. |
| Projects (10%): |
There will be 5-6 projects throughout the year that are meant to be alternatives to quizzes and tests. These projects will ask for you to show what you know about a topic in a different way. Living in the Northwest is one of these projects. Your portfolio for student-led conferences is one of these projects. Projects may not be redone. |
| Quizzes (15%): |
There will be 3-4 small quizzes leading up to a test. Quizzes are meant to be short and simple. They are also meant to give you an opportunity to learn small important parts leading up to the big picture of a test. They may not be retaken. However, if you score a C on a test (higher than a 75%), your lowest quiz score can be dropped. This shows that you made progress between the quiz and test. |
| Tests (15%): |
There will be from 6-7 tests during the year. These will cover big concepts in science. These are meant to test your knowledge on big concepts, and you will be asked to apply your understanding of a concept to new situations. These may be retaken, but only if you scored a C or higher (75%) on all of the quizzes leading up to the test. This shows that you knew the simple details leading up to the test, but may have panicked the day of the test or not have an in depth of understanding of concepts. The retake test will be different than the original, but will not be any harder. |
| Final (10%): |
You will take a final each semester. These may not be retaken. |
I hope you notice 2 important things here. The first is that you have many opportunities to improve your initial performance on something if you didn’t do well. The emphasis in class, and in your grades, is to improve upon where you started from. Second, you notice there is no category for homework. That is because there will be many elements of work done at home that will influence each of these categories. Learning from your notes and labs involves reviewing your work at home. This leads to improvement on quizzes and tests. Lab reports, reflections, and projects will require some work done at home. You will be much more likely to succeed if you spend time at home on what we cover in class.
Late work policy:
Late work is not accepted under any circumstances. Having said this, planning is rewarded. Projects and lab reports/reflections have due dates and involve work done at home. If you realize that you will have obligations that prevent you from doing the work, you should ask for extensions ahead of time (what is “ahead of time?”) If you ask for extensions the day of the assignment, it will not be awarded. All other assignments are finished in class and have reasonable deadlines. The only reason for you to have not finished these assignments is to have not used your time wisely in class. “Late” means past the time the assignment was asked for. If you are partially finished with an assignment, it is always better to turn it in partially completed than to not turn it in at all.
Other miscellaneous suggestions:
Your attitude is the most important thing you can bring with you to class every day. If you are in a bad mood, leave the issues at the door when you come in, or pretend you’re in a good mood. In all fairness, you expect the same of me….for me to not take out a bad mood on you, and for me to be happy to answer your questions. I strive hard to practice what I preach.
You will succeed in this class if you try. Succeeding in this class isn’t about your science knowledge. It’s about your ability to try and grow. Try, ask for help when you need it, and pull out of this class the skills necessary to analyze something critically. That’s what it is all about!
How Can I Succeed in Science?
1. Turn in all of your work. The sole reason students do not do well in this science class is failure to complete and turn in work (not failure to understand what we do). If you're not completing and turning in your work, not only are you not learning what you need to for the assessments, but you're also not getting your participation points in class.
2. Always shoot to improve. Look back over the grade structure. You have a number of opportunities to improve upon previous scores on assignments. You are only limited by what you're willing to put into this class.
3. Ask questions when you do not understand something. As a 9th grader, I expect you to take initiative and come ask for help when you need it. I am available to help you both before and after school. I get here at ~7AM and leave at the earliest at 3:30PM. Plenty of time to answer questions...
4. Look back over notes and handouts on a regular basis, not just before a quiz or test. Studying the night before a quiz or a test is not a smart practice. If you determine that you do not understand something, it is hard to find the time to get help if you've discovered this last minute. In addition, all research shows that you remember the material better if you study as you go along.
5. Participate actively. Always play an active role in labwork, and do your own questions for labwork. (You're not being graded on accuracy of answers anyway...you correct them in class). Correct answers for labwork and ask questions.
6. Reviewgoals from all assignments. Sometimes you'll go through an assignment where everything makes sense. Go back and revisit the goals. Did you get out of the assignment what you were *supposed* to get out of the assignment?
7. Use the website I've provided you. You can find out assignments there, download copies of handouts and labs if you are absent or lost your copy, and find links to help you understand concepts.
8. Send me an e-mail. I'm a techie geek. If you're having trouble with homework or concepts, e-mail me. I'm very responsive to student e-mails.
9. Have fun! Whether you want to be a scientist or not, you will always do better in science if you have a good attitude and enjoy yourself.
10. Ask for extensions on homework. Planning is rewarded. If you figure out you won't have something in on time, you need to come talk to me BEFORE THE ASSIGNMENT IS DUE. (Not the day of, and not right before class).
Required Class Supplies:
Students should bring these items to class with them every day. Failure to do so will result in students missing opportunities for key instruction.
1) Composition book (at school store for $1). These are much better for what we do than spirals.
2) Science section (labeled) in binder.
3) Set of colored pencils (8 colors are plenty).
4) Metric ruler
5) Scientific calculator (one that does exponents and scientific notation).
What Lab Safety Rules Apply in Mrs. Aker's class?
There are many specifics in the lab safety contract, but there are also some general guidelines in place in our classroom to keep you safe:
1. Students will stand at lab stations.
Yup, this one really bothers students. Here is why: imagine you have a beaker full of acid. You are sitting on a lab stool, stirring the acid, when the beaker tips over and spills. What happens to the acid as it spills off the counter? How easy is it for you to react and move away if the acid spills onto your lap? Imagine how much worse it would be if you are sitting ON the lab table?
2. Students will refrain from needless wandering around.
We sometimes deal with glassware (breakable things), chemicals, and hot things. It is easy to walk into the path of someone carrying these items. There is a sink at your lab station....most of the things you need are there. If you need to ask me a question, raise your hand and wait...PLEASE! If your lab group needs to get chemicals from the front of the room, designate ONE person to always get supplies for your group.
3. Students will wear goggles when dealing with fire, hot substances, and most chemicals.
...and not on top of your head either! We have a great goggle cabinet that disinfects our goggles. Germs are no excuse, and neither is fashion. You won't be very fashionable with an eye patch or permanent facial scarring. Trust me, this will become habit.
4. When in doubt: read your lab sheet, ask your lab group, and if your question still isn't answered, ask me!
I shouldn't be your first resource, but you shouldn't be afraid to ask me a question about how to do something if you really don't understand.
5. Consquences are more severe during lab.
These rules are here for your safety. If I see you repeatedly breaking the rules, I will remove you from the current lab activity, and maybe for more labs, depending on the particular case.
Lab Safety Equipment and Other Lab Supplies in Room A210
1. Safety Shower
This is used in the event that you spill a large amount of corrosive substance or irritating substance on a large portion of your body or clothing. In addition, if you were to have your clothing on fire, the safety shower would be what you use. Once you pull the handle on a safety shower, a large amount of water comes out. This is NOT a toy, and treating it as such will result in disciplinary action.
2. Eye Wash
If you were to get an irritating or caustic substance in your eye, you would use the eye wash. View this video of a student demonstrating proper use of the eye wash.
3. Gas and Air Nozzles
Yes, we have gas and air hookup. We will use the gas hookup with Bunsen burners several times throughout the year. Each nozzle has three places it can be shut off: the handle that you see on the lab bench, under each sink, and a main shut-off valve by the door. 99% of the time, the gas is turned off at the main valve. Therefore, turning the handle does nothing. I will light your bunsen burner for you the majority of the time. However, what you need to know is how to turn the gas on and off at your lab station. See this great site about lighting bunsen burners.
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