Class Policy
Welcome to your 9th grade science class at Columbia! I am excited to get to know each of you. I teach science because I believe it is one of the coolest, most important subjects you can take. Even if you are not planning on being a “scientist,” you will learn many important skills in this class. I also think will have a lot of fun as we learn about chemistry and physics together.
In order to succeed this year, we will all operate under certain guidelines:
• Respect each other, your teacher, and our classroom.
• Participate actively and safely.
• Follow all other school rules and policies.
One way to participate actively is to bring required materials to class each day. This is so important that it is your first grade in class, worth 10 pts. I will check for these supplies on Tuesday, September 8, 2009→
• Composition Book (100 pages minimum)
• Colored Pencils (set of 8)
• Ruler (metric, with cm)
• Calculator
• Section in your binder for handouts
Where does my grade come from in this class?
Participation (25%): This grade comes from your composition book, which will not only include class notes, but also many labs and other activities. You are not penalized for mistakes on these assignments. I am looking for evidence that you tried your best (what would this look like for you?), which means you actively participate, complete, and correct assignments.
Lab Reports/Reflections (25%): This grade comes from lab conclusions, procedures, lab reports, and other reflections for activities we’ve done in class (some of these may be done in your composition book). These are individual assignments meant to show me what you know. You may self-assess these assignments, and you may also receive feedback from your peers and me. You may redo/improve these as many times as you like until you get the score you want…
Projects (10%): There will be 5-6 projects throughout the year that are meant to be alternatives to quizzes and tests. These projects will ask for you to show what you know about a topic in a different way. Projects may not be redone.
Quizzes (15%): There will be a small quiz usually each week. Quizzes are meant to be short, simple, and not tricky. They are also meant to give you an opportunity to learn small important parts leading up to the big picture of a test. They may not be retaken. However, if you score a B or higher on the end of unit test (higher than a 80%), your lowest quiz score from that unit can be dropped. This shows that you made progress between the quiz and test.
Tests (15%): There will be from 6-8 tests during the year. These will cover big concepts in science, and you will be asked to apply your understanding of a concept to new situations. Test corrections, while optional, are highly encouraged and can earn you up to ½ of your missed points back.
Final (10%): You will take a final each semester. These may not be retaken.
I hope you something important here. You have many opportunities to improve your initial performance on something if you didn’t do well. The emphasis in class, and in your grades, is to improve upon where you started from. You are only limited by the effort you are willing to put forth to get the grade you want. You will succeed in science if you try. Succeeding in this class isn’t about your science knowledge. It’s about your ability to try and grow. Try, ask for help when you need it, and pull out of this class the skills necessary to analyze something critically. That’s what it is all about!
Getting Help:
Get familiar with my website and the resources available there. The daily agendas are there, copies of my class notes, copies of handouts, links to topics, links to your online textbook, etc. This is a great resource for you if you are absent, misplace something, or need some extra help.
Please feel free to come in and work with me if you need help. I arrive in the morning around 7AM, and I usually don’t leave before 3:30PM. Also, feel free to use my e-mail if you have questions, or if you would prefer to e-mail me assignments from home. It is perfectly acceptable to turn assignments in this way.
General Class Info, AKA “Science Bucks” (Including homework policy):
I use “science bucks” to create a more authentic system to separate grades and behavior. A couple of “real world” examples: if you are you are doing exceptional work in a job, you get a bonus (in this case, science bucks). If you need to go on unscheduled bathroom breaks, you cost the company money, and have to clock out (in this case, pay me science bucks). If you pay a bill late, you get charged a late fee (in this case, science bucks). Let me be clear about that last one: you may turn assignments in late for full credit, but you must pay a “late fee”. Furthermore, this is a limit to how late you can be. A much better plan would be to ask for an extension in advance if you know you will have trouble completing an assignment. Then, you get to save your bucks to redeem them for benefits (such as dropping a quiz score, getting out of a homework assignment, etc.)
So what happens if you don’t have any bucks left and you need to turn something in late, use the restroom, etc? Then you can come in and earn bucks by getting help from me on assignments, cleaning things in my room, running errands for me…. However, you start out with $5, and you should easily be able to earn what you need during class time. Only if you end up abusing the system will you need to come in before or after school to earn bucks.
Composition Books:
Your composition book is a huge part of this class. We set it up in a very specific way, glue all labs into it, do labs in it, do reflections in it…..basically about 85% of your classwork goes into your composition book. Thus, it is very important that you have it with you in class by Tuesday, September 8th. On this day, we will set up your book. Also, we will use colored pencils every day in class to color code things in your notes. It is also very important you have these.
You have the option of leaving your composition book in my classroom on a shelf or taking it with you. Once a month, you are expected to take it home and discuss something in it with a parent and get a signature. Also, if you do not have time to review your notes in class or if you did not finish an assignment during class, I expect that you take it home to finish. I do random notebook checks, so your composition book needs to be kept up to date at all times.
Groupwork:
This class will involve a great deal of lab/group work (usually about 4 days a week). This tends to worry students. Let me ease your mind and tell you this:
1. You will receive an individual grade for your work and your participation. While the lab may be done in a group, the written post-lab work is yours and yours alone.
2. Lab groups are changed every 1-3 labs. You have some choice in this matter.
3. You will each have specific roles to fulfill, and those roles will change each day.
Miscellaneous suggestion:
Your attitude is the most important thing you (and I) can bring with us to class every day. If you are in a bad mood, leave the issues at the door when you come in, or pretend you’re in a good mood. In all fairness, you expect the same of me….for me to not take out a bad mood on you, and for me to be happy to answer your questions. I strive hard to practice what I preach.
What we will learn about this year:
Semester 1: Intro to Physics
• Speed and Velocity
• Acceleration
• Forces
• Newton’s Laws
• Gravity
• Evolution of the Universe
• Energy
Semester 2: Intro to Chemistry
• Atom structure
• Electrostatics
• Periodic Table
• Chemical Bonding, Ions, Conductivity
• Dissolving, Melting, Reacting
• Radioactivity
• Wave parts & behaviors
• Electromagnetism
• Electromagnetic spectrum
How Can I Succeed in Science?
1. Turn in all of your work. The sole reason students do not do well in this science class is failure to complete and turn in work (not failure to understand what we do). If you're not completing and turning in your work, not only are you not learning what you need to for the assessments, but you're also not getting your participation points in class.
2. Always shoot to improve. Look back over the grade structure. You have a number of opportunities to improve upon previous scores on assignments. You are only limited by what you're willing to put into this class.
3. Ask questions when you do not understand something. As a 9th grader, I expect you to take initiative and come ask for help when you need it. I am available to help you both before and after school. I get here at ~7AM and leave at the earliest at 3:30PM. Plenty of time to answer questions...
4. Look back over notes and handouts on a regular basis, not just before a quiz or test. Studying the night before a quiz or a test is not a smart practice. If you determine that you do not understand something, it is hard to find the time to get help if you've discovered this last minute. In addition, all research shows that you remember the material better if you study as you go along.
5. Participate actively. Always play an active role in labwork, and do your own questions for labwork. (You're not being graded on accuracy of answers anyway...you correct them in class). Correct answers for labwork and ask questions.
6. Reviewgoals from all assignments. Sometimes you'll go through an assignment where everything makes sense. Go back and revisit the goals. Did you get out of the assignment what you were *supposed* to get out of the assignment?
7. Use the website I've provided you. You can find out assignments there, download copies of handouts and labs if you are absent or lost your copy, and find links to help you understand concepts.
8. Send me an e-mail. I'm a techie geek. If you're having trouble with homework or concepts, e-mail me. I'm very responsive to student e-mails.
9. Have fun! Whether you want to be a scientist or not, you will always do better in science if you have a good attitude and enjoy yourself.
10. Ask for extensions on homework. Planning is rewarded. If you figure out you won't have something in on time, you need to come talk to me BEFORE THE ASSIGNMENT IS DUE. (Not the day of, and not right before class).
Required Class Supplies:
Students should bring these items to class with them every day. Failure to do so will result in students missing opportunities for key instruction.
1) Composition book (at school store for $1). These are much better for what we do than spirals.
What Lab Safety Rules Apply in Mrs. Aker's class?
There are many specifics in the lab safety contract, but there are also some general guidelines in place in our classroom to keep you safe
1. Students will stand at lab stations.
Yup, this one really bothers students. Here is why: imagine you have a beaker full of acid. You are sitting on a lab stool, stirring the acid, when the beaker tips over and spills. What happens to the acid as it spills off the counter? How easy is it for you to react and move away if the acid spills onto your lap? Imagine how much worse it would be if you are sitting ON the lab table?
2. Students will refrain from needless wandering around.
We sometimes deal with glassware (breakable things), chemicals, and hot things. It is easy to walk into the path of someone carrying these items. There is a sink at your lab station....most of the things you need are there. If you need to ask me a question, raise your hand and wait...PLEASE! If your lab group needs to get chemicals from the front of the room, designate ONE person to always get supplies for your group.
3. Students will wear goggles when dealing with fire, hot substances, and most chemicals.
...and not on top of your head either! We have a great goggle cabinet that disinfects our goggles. Germs are no excuse, and neither is fashion. You won't be very fashionable with an eye patch or permanent facial scarring. Trust me, this will become habit.
4. When in doubt: read your lab sheet, ask your lab group, and if your question still isn't answered, ask me!
I shouldn't be your first resource, but you shouldn't be afraid to ask me a question about how to do something if you really don't understand.
5. Consquences are more severe during lab.
These rules are here for your safety. If I see you repeatedly breaking the rules, I will remove you from the current lab activity, and maybe for more labs, depending on the particular case.
Lab Safety Equipment and Other Lab Supplies in Room A210
1. Safety Shower
This is used in the event that you spill a large amount of corrosive substance or irritating substance on a large portion of your body or clothing. In addition, if you were to have your clothing on fire, the safety shower would be what you use. Once you pull the handle on a safety shower, a large amount of water comes out. This is NOT a toy, and treating it as such will result in disciplinary action.
2. Eye Wash
If you were to get an irritating or caustic substance in your eye, you would use the eye wash. View this video of a student demonstrating proper use of the eye wash.
3. Gas and Air Nozzles
Yes, we have gas and air hookup. We will use the gas hookup with Bunsen burners several times throughout the year. Each nozzle has three places it can be shut off: the handle that you see on the lab bench, under each sink, and a main shut-off valve by the door. 99% of the time, the gas is turned off at the main valve. Therefore, turning the handle does nothing. I will light your bunsen burner for you the majority of the time. However, what you need to know is how to turn the gas on and off at your lab station. See this great site about lighting bunsen burners.
