Biology - Course Expectations

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Biology provides opportunities for students to explore the concepts in life science.  Students will be actively engaged in laboratory investigations of topics such as: Cell Biology, Physiology, Biochemistry, Biological History, Plate Tectonics, Principles of Heredity, Evolution, Ecosystems, Biogeochemical Cycles, and California Ecology.  Through these investigations, students will be able to relate scientific principles to themselves and to the world around them.


  SCHOLARSHIP

I expect scholarship.Learning is no accident; it requires work and determination. I expect that from you. You should measure your own scholarship by comparing your present work with what you have done in the past and what you are capable of doing. Don't be overly concerned with the scholarship of other students. Just give it your best effort and you will be satisfied.


  ATTENDANCE

Daily attendance is very important in an activity-based course such as this one. It is difficult to have a satisfactory performance if you fail to attend class regularly. If you are absent, it is your responsibility to make up missed work when you return to school. Check with me or your lab group for assignments you have missed.You have one week to make up work for excused absences. No credit will be given for work missed due to unexcused absences or cuts. Any student with a cut during the trimester will not be allowed to go on any field trips that result in missing this class. Any combination of 10 cuts and unexcused absences for the semester will result in a failing grade (District Policy #5113).

HALL PASSES

Students will be given three hall passes at the beginning of the semester. These may be used for emergencies or restroom passes. If a student uses all three passes and must leave the classroom, it may result in a 30 minute detention. Students who do not use the hall passes during the semester may turn them in at the end of the class for extra credit. Each pass is worth 5 extra credit points.

PUNCTUALITY

I expect to begin work on time! The start of class may have activities or quizzes, which will score only for those who are on time. Tardies will be enforced according to school policy. The school tardy policy reads as follows: 1st tardy - teacher counsels student, 2nd tardy - 1/2 hour detention, 3rd tardy - parent contact and 50 minute detention, 4th tardy - referral to counselor for further consequences (parent conference, Saturday work program, etc., 5th tardy and successive tardies - referral to Dean of Students and possible removal from class with failing grade.


  DAILY PREPARATION

Students are expected to be prepared for class each day. This includes having their own materials: pens, pencils, and a 3-ring notebook with paper. Your notebook should contain this course expectations sheet, the assignment sheet, notes, previous work and lab work. Your notebook is your primary source for information!!! Take notes summarizing the lectures and discussions, lab activities and text reading. Quizzes and tests are based on this information. Your notebook is due at the end of each unit and will be graded for a total of 100 points each unit.


TEXTBOOKS

You will be assigned a textbook, "Biology - The Web of Life" - and will be expected to use and care for that text. Do not mark on the books. If you notice any damage, report it to the teacher. Damage to textbooks will result in a fine.


  GRADES

Your performance in this course will be determined as follows:

A. 40% - Tests and Assessment Questions – Unit Tests, Final Exam

B. 40% - Classwork/Homework/Labwork - Notebooks, Quizzes, Text Assignments etc.

C. 20% - Daily Participation - Active Participation, Group Work, Work Ethics


  STANDARDS

90 - 100%-A
80 - 89%-B
70 - 79%-C
60 - 69%-D
Below 60% -F


  TESTING

All tests are comprehensive including the final exam. This means that every test will include some material presented in earlier units. If you miss a test due to an excused absence, a makeup test will be announced and you must adjust your schedule to make up the test.


  HONESTY

Honesty in your work is the best and only policy. This instructor does not subscribe to the theory that "cheating only hurts the cheater". A student who chooses to cheat attempts to gain an unfair advantage over their classmates who are working for their grades. Consequently, a decision to cheat is considered a serious mistake in judgment and will be handled accordingly: a failing mark on the assignment or test and parent contact.


  LABWORK

Work done in the lab will be in cooperative groups. Each person in the group has specific responsibilities. To be successful in the lab, students must work together to complete the assignment. People will record his or her lab write up in their lab notebook. Work carefully in the lab. Failure to do so may endanger the safety of those around you. Disregard for the rules will result in your exclusion from the lab activities. All cuts, burns, chemical spills, etc. must be reported to the teacher immediately. Clean up in the lab is the responsibility of each person in the lab group.


  COURTESY

I expect each student to have the maturity to realize that they may not put their own personal, social, or emotional need ahead of the rights of the other students to learn. I expect each student to have the independence and SELF DISCIPLINE to make this happen. Students who disrupt learning will be disciplined according to school policy. Take note of the Rules for Conduct in the TIGER TOPICS.


  ACCOUNTABILITY

Students, teachers, and parents all have a role in the educational process. This course expectations sheet should help clarify our responsibilities. Let's work together to make this a good year!