Mr. Trulsson's 7th Grade Science at Blalack Middle School

Class Policies and Rules

Contact Information:  I greatly prefer contacts by email, for short questions. My email address is trulssonk@cfbisd.edu.   If you want to send me an email, click here.  The best time to reach me by phone is during my conference period.  See the schedule below.  The main phone number for Blalack M.S. is 972-968-3500.  My direct-dial school phone number is 972-968-3565.  However, calls during school hours are routed directly to the receptionist, who will only transfer the call to my phone during my conference period, if I am available then.   I generally do not take calls during tutorials, if I have any students in the room.  Please leave a message for me, and I will call back during my conference period or after school, as soon as possible.  The school postal address is 1706 Peters Colony, Carrollton, TX 75007.

Tutorials:  Tutorials will generally be available for about 40 minutes after school each day except Mondays and Wednesdays, but are subject to cancellation due to parent conferences and administrative meetings.  In addition, individual or small group tutorials may be scheduled by appointment only most mornings at 8:00am.  Note that students who do not pass exams are required to retake the exam during tutorials before or after school, and attend the next morning tutorial at 8:00am.   Students that currently have a failing grade are required to attend Wednesday morning tutorials unless his or her grade is again passing.

Schedule: The following is my class schedule for the 2007-08 school year.

Grading Policy:  The final grade for each nine-weeks period is based on two separate sets of grades: summative (major) grades, and formative (daily) grades.  Summative grades include major tests and projects, such as lab reports, lab final reports and presentations, a notebook grade, and website projects.  All summative grade tests, reports and projects must be completed, even if the student was absent on the date the test or project was due (see "Make-Up Work" below).  Failure to timely make-up missing tests and work will result in a major grade zero.  Please note that a major grade zero makes it very likely that the student will fail for the grading period. Most student failures are caused by missed work. There will usually be four to six summative grades per nine-weeks period.  Formative grades are taken for most class meetings, and are based on class participation (taking all required notes, performing all activities), and quiz or worksheet results.  The average summative score makes up 60% of the final grade for the nine-weeks, while the average formative score is 40% of the final grade.  At the end of each semester, a final exam is given, which is worth 20% of the final semester grade. The grade of each nine-weeks period is worth 40% of the semester grade.  I do not track homework as a separate grade category, because I rarely assign homework.  Any grade for a homework assignment is part of the formative grade.

Retesting:  When a student fails a major grade test, he or she may retake the test (often on a more difficult, 100% fill-in-blank form) during tutorials to bring the grade up to passing.  Multiple retakes are allowed.  When the original test grade is 60 or below, the maximum retake grade that will be recorded is 70.  When the original grade is between 61 and 69, the maximum retake grade will be 10 points higher than the original grade.  For daily grade quizzes, the student may retake the quiz (closed-note, closed book) only once.  Again, if the original quiz grade is 60 or below, the maximum grade that will be recorded is 70.  When the original grade is between 61 and 69, the maximum retake grade will be 10 points higher than the original grade.

Late Work:  Assigned major grade work will be accepted late up to two class days after it was due.  The grade for that late work will be reduced by 10 points for each class day the work is late.  Late major grade work will not be accepted after two class days from the due date, except under special circumstances.  A grade of zero will be entered for all missing work.  By district policy, no daily grade work will be accepted late.

Make-Up Work:   Students must make up all work that was missed while a student was absent, whatever the cause.  Generally, the student will have the number of days that they were absent to make up the work without penalty.  However, special circumstances will be considered in setting a deadline for make-up work.  Because all assignments, handouts, PowerPoint presentations and notes for the class are available on this website, students who are able should keep up with the class at home.

Science Notebooks:  Each student will be required to maintain a science notebook in a 3-ring binder, and bring that notebook to class each day.  The contents and format of that notebook are described in the Science Notebook Handout which each student received on the first full day of science class. The daily formative grades given to each student often are based on the quality of notes or assignments completed in their notebooks that day.  Science notebooks will be picked up for grading once each 9-week grading period.  About one week before the notebook due date, a grading rubric checklist of all required notebook contents for the period will be handed out and posted on this website.  Notes in the science notebook must be in the student's own handwriting; copies of other student's work, or typed summaries prepared by the teacher or other students are not acceptable.  This science notebook grade is a summative (major) grade.  Students who do not turn in a notebook will receive a major grade of zero.  Please note that a major grade zero makes it very likely that the student will fail for the grading period.  It is essential that each student maintain and complete his or her science notebook!

Science Fair Projects:  Science fair projects are not required at Blalack.  PreAP students are required to complete a "Rube Goldberg" project.

Discipline Policy:  My class rules are based on the Blalack Middle School Discipline Management Plan, which is described on pages 1-2 of the Student Reminder Binder.  In addition, a failure to follow the following class rules will be punished as level 1 offences: (1) have all required class materials (pen, paper, notebook); (2) perform all class work when assigned; (3) do not talk to other students without permission when the teacher is lecturing or another student has been recognized to talk, or during announcements or presentations; and (4) being out of their assigned seat without permission. Warnings will be given for the first two level one offenses during each 9-week period.  The third and fourth level 1 offenses will be punished with a single after-school detention, to be served from 4:00 to 4:30 pm.  The fifth and subsequent level 1 offenses will be punished with a double detention, to be served on two afternoons, from 4:00 to 4:30 pm.  An office referral for excessive discipline problems will be made at the time of the fifth offense.  Level 2 offenses such as insubordination, major classroom disruption, vandalizing school property (for example, putting graffiti on desks) , throwing objects in class, fighting, assault, harassment, or possession of a weapon, will result in immediate office referral, and if appropriate, formal criminal complaint.

Textbooks:  A class set of our science textbook, Prentiss Hall Science Explorer Grade 7, will be kept in my classroom for use in daily exercises and tutorials.  Links to on-line versions of these textbooks are located on the home page of this website.  In general, students should be able to complete all assignments that require the textbook in class.  Homework assignments should not require the use of textbooks, if the students have taken adequate notes in class.  In general, individual textbooks will not be issued to students.  However, an individual textbook may be issued if a student is at risk of failing and the parent requests the issuance in writing.  At the time the textbook is issued, the student fills out a form recording all existing damage in the textbook, and covers the textbook.  At the end of the year, issued textbooks will be picked up and inspected for new damage.  Any new damage, such as torn pages, writing, dog-ears, water damage, broken bindings and the like will be charged to the student, at the rate of $0.50 per page for minor damage and up to the replacement cost of the book for major damage.