Mrs. Weston’s Principles of Chemistry Class
Classroom Procedures – 2008/2009 School Year
Contact Information:
(724) 452-6040 ext. 140 Email: westonkm@svsd.net
Materials Needed for Class:
3 ring binder capable of holding at least 150 pages
Pencil or pen
Calculator
Class Website:
http://www2.svsd.net/~westonk/
Information about the class can be found at the website. Included is a homework calendar, test study guides, and other unit materials.
Behavior Expectations:
- I expect you to behave like mature adults. Respect yourself and others.
- Sleeping in class will not be tolerated. If you sleep in class, you will be turned into the office.
- Working on other work during class or writing notes will not be tolerated. If you are caught working on another teacher’s work, it will collected and you will receive a detention. The same policy will be used for writing notes.
- No electronic devices such as cell phones, MP3 players, handheld games, etc. are to be on, used, or visible during class. Ear buds must be removed from your person upon arrival to class. If I see any of these, I will collect it and hold on to it until the end of the period. Second and subsequent offenses will involve the item being turned into the office and a discipline referral form filled out.
- Do not touch any apparatus, equipment, or chemicals without my permission.
- Never bring food or drink into the chemistry classroom.
- Take care of all personal needs before class. You may only use the hall pass three times in a 9 week period. If you use the pass two or less times, two points will be added to your class participation grade.
Attendance Rules:
If you are late 3 times in a quarter, you will receive a detention.
If you are absent from class you are responsible for making up all work missed. Handouts and worksheets that are given out during your absence will be located in your period’s folder in the Missed Work Bin. It is your responsibility to pick them up. Unless special arrangements are made with me and agreed upon in writing, you have the same number of class days to make up work as the number of days you were absent. If you miss the day of a test or quiz, you will be expected to take it immediately upon your return. A variation of the test or quiz may be given.
If you will be missing class for a field trip or other school activity, you are responsible for having the work completed when you return. .
Make-Up Policy:
In all cases, it is YOUR responsibility to make arrangements to make up missed assignments. If assignments are not made up within one week of an absence, a zero will be given. It is your responsibility to get missed assignments from me.
Late Work Policy:
Work that is one day late will be penalized 50%. Work that is 2 or more days late is 0%.
Grading Policies:
Grading will be a percentage grade. Your grade will be determined by dividing your total points by the total possible points x 100. The district’s grading scale will be used. Your grade will be determined by the following graded items:
- Tests (40 – 100 points)
- Weekly Quizzes (10 – 30 points)
- Homework assignments (5 – 25 points)
- Experiments:(20 – 50 points)
- Class and lab participation (45 points)
- Special Projects / Assignments (vary)
- Bonus
- Comprehensive Final Exam
Description of graded items
Tests:
All tests will be announced in advance. All tests must be taken! Tests cover the sections and chapters that have just been discussed in class, lab, and in the text. Recall questions from prior sections may also be included.
Quizzes:
Quizzes will be given weekly and are open notebook, closed textbook. Keep all of your completed homework assignments and notes neatly organized in your notebook. The quiz will include several homework problems that were recently assigned. In other words, if you keep your assignments up to date and your notebook organized, you should be able to score very well.
Homework assignments:
Not all homework assignments are collected and graded. In most cases, homework will be checked for completeness not accuracy. When homework is checked for accuracy, a homework check will be administered. During a homework check, selected problems are submitted for grading. I highly suggest that you complete all homework so that you are prepared for the weekly quizzes and do not lose class participation points.
Experiments:
You will work with a lab partner on all experiments. If you are absent the day of the lab, it is your responsibility to re-schedule. Labs must be made up within one week of the original lab period; otherwise, a zero will be given. Because of the time required, labs must be made up after school. Experiments will be graded three ways: technique, results, and write-ups.
Class Participation:
You will establish a class and lab participation grade. The basis for the grade will be your preparation for each day’s class and participation in each day’s class activities. The total possible points for the nine weeks will be 45 points. Each day that you are not prepared or participating, a class participation point will be lost. In order to get participation points for days of excused absences, all missed work must be completed and submitted within the appropriate time frame.
Examples of class preparation include completing homework or lab reports, bringing all necessary items to class (notebook, pencil, calculator, lab sheets, etc.), taking care of all personal needs before class, getting to class on time and being ready to start class when the bell rings.
Examples of class participation include taking notes during class, attempting in class sample problems, asking and attempting to respond to questions, and staying on task in all classes and lab situations.
Special Projects:
There will be at least one project per quarter. These projects will require you to complete the majority of the work outside of class and must be your own original work. I do not tolerate plagiarism and forgery. According to SV student handbook, plagiarism is defined as “taking or imitating the ideas, thoughts or language of another to represent them as one’s original work.” Be sure to document borrowed information appropriately. For the first offense, a zero will be given for the work and a parent will be notified. A failing grade for the year may occur for subsequent offenses.
Bonus:
There will be bonus opportunities presented throughout the nine weeks. No bonus will be accepted the last five days of the nine weeks. In addition, bonus will not be awarded to students who have not completed 5 or more assignments. Bonus points will be added to your grade during the last week of the nine weeks.
Extra Help:
If you are having difficulty with the material taught, PLEASE come to me for help. I am available before school, after school, and during 5th period. Please let me know in advance that you are coming for help.
Remember: CHEM IS TRY! And have pHun!
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