PARTICULARS:

Quizzes and Tests.  (approximately 40% of the total points):

Ø       Quizzes are brief (about 5-10 problems), and more frequent, about 2 a week. 

Ø       Longer tests will be given at the end of each unit.  One 3x5 note card may be used on most tests (not quizzes)

Projects and Labs. (approximately 40% of the total points):

Ø       You can expect to have one project and many labs within each unit.  Some may take two days and some more than a week to complete.

Ø       Since this is a LAB SCIENCE course, excellent attendance is vital to success.  You will have labs almost every day.

•Homework  (approximately 20% of the total points):

Ø       Expect to have, on the average, 20 to 30 minutes of homework every night (refer to the Homework Expectations worksheet).

Ø       Work will ONLY be accepted one day late if you were absent or with a homework pass.

•Ms. Birmingham's Philosophy on Homework.

Ø       The purpose of homework is to revisit a topic and think about what you are learning.

Ø       Homework is also practice.  Practice is rarely perfect the first time.  Therefore I expect students to correct their errors and ask many questions. 

Ø       The place to show how much you practiced is on tests and quizzes, hence I usually double or triple the points. 

Ø       I believe new skills must be practiced to be mastered.  If you don't have specific HW, I expect you to review and study.

Ø       I believe learning does not end at 2:45pm, Friday afternoon.

•Spiral Grades

Ø       Labs, inquiries, and experiments must be pre-written BY the due date or the student will not be allowed to participate during class time.  Like all late homework, a HWP will be required to make it up for full credit, or 50% without a HWP.  This can be done after school within 5 school days.

Ø       Points will be awarded to students who have pre-written the lab on time.

Ø       Approximately 2 times a week, students will be given a short quiz covering the warm-ups, notes, labs, and assignments in their spirals.  They will be allowed to use their spirals.  In order to do well, students must keep their spirals up-to-date and organized.  If absent, they are expected to make up all work, warm ups, and notes ASAP.

•Absent.

Ø       You will find this class quite difficult if you are absent frequently.

Ø       If you were absent, you have double the number of days absent to turn in work.

Ø       If you missed a lab or video, you must make it up AFTER SCHOOL within ONE WEEK. Check with Ms. Birmingham for the days that she is available after school (never Wednesdays).  See me if you have an extended absence.

Ø       YOU are responsible for finding out what you missed, coming in before/after school for help, and turning it in to me on time.  I will not go looking for you!  Refer to the checklist on the wall for what you need to do.

•Making up tests and quizzes.

Ø       If you were absent on the day of the test, I will give it to you to do during class the next day/the day you return to school.

Ø       If you were absent for several days before the test and missed information covered on the test, you will have one week to make up the test after school.  After one week, it is too late.  YOU need schedule this!

Ø       YOU are expected to make arrangements to take over the test after school.  Again, I will not hunt you down.

•Extra Credit Points

Ø       Extra credit will only bump up your grade a little bit.

Ø       You may earn up to 50 extra credit points per quarter.  This is approximately 5% of the total points possible.

Ø       Throughout the year, extra credit point opportunities will be announced.  This may include things like optional weekend field trips, volunteer for replanting native vegetation along a local stream, performing an experiment at home, making a poster about a science topic that interests you…. Check my web page for ideas. 

Ø       Be sure to check with your teacher before you undertake any extra project on your own.  You will want to make sure your work is not in vein. 

•Homework Passes.

Ø       Passes may be used to turn in a regular homework assignment ONE day late, or for extra credit (3 pts).

Ø       Homework passes may be used to do a lab after school for full credit (not necessary if you were absent).

Ø       Homework passes may not be used to turn in a project late or for excusing you from a lab or assignment.

Ø       Homework passes may also be used to go to your locker or to the bathroom or some other errand that you should have taken care of before or after class time.

Ø       How to earn passes will be discussed in class; “perfect” students might earn up to 12 a year (my current record is 20!).

•Cutting Class.

Ø       You will not be given credit for the work due or the work assigned that day.

Ø       This includes any tests given that day, labs we did in class, or projects due that day!

•Cheating.

Ø       On any homework, project, lab or test, both you and the person allowing you to copy will receive no credit. 

Ø       You will not be allowed to make it up. 

Ø       Parents will be notified. 

Ø       Plagiarism is another form of cheating.  Plagiarism is copying from any source that you didn’t write or create.  This includes a friend, a book, or the internet.

•Copies, worksheets, Xeroxes in general.

Ø       All handouts will be available from me in class, and I will email you with some of them and I will have them on my web page whenever possible.

Ø       I attempt to give you plenty of lead time to get assignments done.  I recognize that you are busy people.