Pre-AP Biology I syllabus 2005-2006

Ms. Jennifer Ross

NSHS Room NE 246

(972) 968-5200

rossje@cfbisd.edu

http://cfbstaff.cfbisd.edu/rossje/

Welcome students and parents.  Please read over my policies and we will go through them in class on the first day of school.  You are expected to know my policies and should contact me if you have any concerns.

Rules:

I will enforce school policies regarding tardies, dress code, ID badges, offensive language, and all other policies in your student manual.  I have one guideline for behavior in my classroom: that everyone will be treated with respect, regardless of race, religion, gender, political association, or sexual preference.  I will not tolerate rude behavior directed towards anyone in my classroom.

Grading Policy:

The district requires 60% of the grade be summative, and 40% be formative.  I have broken the grades down a bit more:

There are two nine-week grading periods and one exam per semester.  The nine-week grading period leaves little room for error, so keep up with your grades and do not let them slip. A bad nine weeks can ruin a semester average!

Absences and Make-up Work:

If you are absent it is your responsibility to get notes form another student in your class, and to get any missed assignments.  You have one extra day per absence to turn in your work.  If you are absent on the day an assignment is due, you should turn the assignment in the very next day you are in class.  If you know of your absence in advance (school related absences) you must take your test and turn in work before you leave.  If you miss a test, you must come in before or after school to make up the test.  You may not make up the test during my conference period, lunch period, or disrupt another class.  You have one week to make up any missed tests or labs.  More time is unfair to your peers and puts too much time between the learning and the test.  Projects must be given to me on or before the due date, regardless of your reason for absence – projects are assigned enough in advance for you to turn them in on time.

You must do your work on time as would be expected of you in any job or college class.  This is a life-skill you should learn now!  A later lesson would be much more costly to you.  I do accept late work until the day before the grading period ends, but late work cannot earn more than a 50. A 50 is better than a 0 and I want you to have the experience and practice from the assignment, but late work will cost you.

Class preparedness:

Every student will be given a textbook.  It is your responsibility to keep up with you book, and read the book!  When a new chapter is assigned it is in your best interest to read the chapter or will are not preparing yourself for a good grade. Books must be covered (as required by state law).  You may not leave your book in my classroom.  I will be moving around and anything left in my room will not always be under my supervision!  WRITE YOUR NAME IN YOUR BOOK.  Otherwise you may end up going through the book room looking at hundreds of book numbers to find the book you left somewhere.

In addition to your book, you must have a blue or black ink pen (other colors will result in you having to redo your work) or a pencil everyday.  You must also bring plenty of paper for notes and foci.  You need a notebook or folder in which to keep all of your biology work. Some times there are errors in grade records or papers go missing.  If you have your graded work you can ensure that you get the grade you earned instead of an unfortunate zero.  The old notes, homework, labs, and quizzes can help you prepare for tests and the old tests can help you prepare for your exams. Organization can lead to better study habits and thus better grades!  You should never throw an assignment away!

Tutorials:

My tutorial times will be Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 2:35 to 3:40 p.m.  If you need morning tutorials or other days, you must set up an appointment in advance, or see another teacher. I may have to miss these times for the occasional meeting. If you have any difficulty with a concept or assignment, or want study tips, please come to my tutorials for help.  You may also email me for help. If you need help and I am not around, you are welcome to see another biology teacher. 

Academic Integrity:

All work submitted by you must be your own, original work. You may not copy other students, use assignments from previous years, or copy work from the internet or books.  This includes labs!  Everyone student must turn in their own, individual work, even though the data may be the same.  Copying is plagiarism and will result in a grade of 0 on that assignment and a referral.  If you have questions about plagiarism please see me, other teachers, or the librarian for guidelines. Letting another student copy your work is also cheating.  Both students will receive a zero and a referral.  You are not helping someone if they copy you.

            You are encouraged to form study groups.  In your study groups you may discuss concepts and study for the course together.  Different students will have different strengths and you can learn a great deal from each other and by explaining concepts to other people.  You may not use this as an excuse to turn in the same work!  Study groups can be very beneficial, but be careful who you choose to put in your study groups.

            When taking a test, exam, or quiz, you must do your own work and be quiet.  Talking during a quiz or exam (even after you have completed yours) will be considered cheating and will result in the action described above.  Do not discuss a test or quiz with someone who has not taken it. 

Additional notes:

            I have a webpage that I will try to keep updated with due dates, assignments, and other information.  Parents may contact the school to register for Parent Connect.  Parent Connect is a way for parents to log on to the school grade-books and track student progress in a course.

            Students will not be allowed to leave the classroom in the first or last 10 minutes of class.  Students will be given 2 Ross bucks per semester.  These must be given to me to leave my room for the restroom or water fountain.  Students are allowed to bring bottled water to class – but no food, gum, or flavored beverages! Students that do not use their Ross bucks may use them for extra credit on a test grade or exam grade.  If a student has an exceptional case for needing to leave my room frequently, I should be notified, or I will limit the amount of times they can leave my room.

            Students will need to be very careful not to leave books, or personal belongings in my classroom, because I may not be there to watch them or let the student get them.  Sadly, not all the people in our school can be trusted around the possessions of others.  If you need storage get a locker, do not use my room.

            Another sheet of lab guidelines and procedures will be given to the students.  It is imperative that students read and follow all lab guide-lines for their safety!  A safety contract will be sent home with the students, and these contracts must be signed by a parent or guardian before the student will be allowed to participate in lab activities.

            I look forward to meeting parents and guardians at the Great Texas Pick-up Thursday September 28, 2006.  The time is 5 to 7 p.m.  Until then call or email if you have any questions.

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