Room H-4 Instructor: Coach Wells Phone: 803-699-3500,
Ext. 5760 Homework Hotline: 4760 E-mail:rwells@svh.richland2.org
CONTEXTUAL SCIENCE
School Year: 2007-2008
The goal of this course is to engage and introduce students to physical science concepts within the context of real life. This course is an introductory course designed to familiarize students with major concepts of science, especially matter and energy as experienced in everyday life. This course provides numerous opportunities for students to develop science process skills, critical thinking, and an appreciation for the nature of science through inquiry-based learning experiences. Investigative, hands-on lab activities that address the high school inquiry standards are an integral part of this course. In addition there will be a strong emphasis on math skills throughout this course. Math is an essential skill in the development of an understanding of science and the development of lab skills.
Materials: Your textbook for this course will be Science
Interactions, Glencoe, McGraw-Hill.
You are to take the textbook home as a reference to be used in some
homework assignments. I will have a text
available for you in the classroom on those days we will need to refer to the
text. Tentatively, a classroom set of
textbooks will be available for reference when needed. You will need
to have a three ring binder dedicated to this course alone. In it will be four sections: 1. Journal
Questions/Bellwork. 2. Lecture notes. 3. Labs. 4. Returned work.
Grading: Your grade will be determined by the following means of assessment. I will use a total point system to award grades. I will take the scores that you have made on test, quizzes, projects, lab work, notebook, homework, and class participation. Your grade is figured by dividing the total points you earned on any assessment by the total points possible on any assessment. You and your parents can view your grades via grade portal this school year (this will sometimes take a few days to process).
Assignments: You will be given classroom work,
homework assignments, and quizzes on a regular basis. There will normally be time in class to
finish most assignments. If you do not
finish the assignment, it is due when you return to class at the beginning of class. I do not accept late work. It will be recorded as a zero. I
do give the opportunity to make up zeros for half credit—this is called amnesty
grades. Amnesty grades happen just before a grading period ends—so if you find
a lost assignment, keep it so you can get half credit. Quizzes can sometimes be retaken. It can be retaken before
school, or at lunch. If you should not do well on a quiz, you may see me and
schedule a time to retake the quiz for full credit.
Do not copy another student’s work. Do not let another
student copy your work. If you copy
another student’s work you will receive a zero. If you let someone copy your
work, you will get a zero for that assessment as well. You have honor code
responsibilities at
Notebook: Again, your notebook is for this class only. You should have your notebook grading rubric and syllabus up front, followed by 4 sections:
Classroom Rules:
1. Bring your notebook, pen or pencil, and textbook to class every day.
2. Bring your calculator every day—you may not use it daily, but will need it often.
3. Be in the seat before the tardy bell rings, ready to go. If you are in your seat, ready to go when the bell rings, you are not tardy. Anything else is tardy.
4. Don’t bring food, gum, candy, or any drinks (this includes water) in this room.
5. Be respectful, for you will be treated respectfully.
6. All rules in the student handbook will be enforced in this classroom.
7. Follow all rules established for lab safety.
8. Be prepared, ready to go each day.
9. Be attentive, and actively involved in class. You will be warned about sleeping (assuming a position of sleep—head down, etc.) only once, then sent out.
I will enforce all rules as dictated by the discipline code
of
Consequences for your actions:
1. You will receive a verbal warning. This may result in a conference with me after class.
2. Lunch detention, or writing assignment, with parental contact.
3. A parental conference, detailing your behavioral choices.
4. Referral to E2.
Late Work:
As a rule,
I do not accept late work. Work is
due only on the due date. Anything in contradiction to that results in a zero.
I do, however, give amnesty grades on certain dates that allow the student to
keep missing work and turn it in for half credit. In the past, this has helped
several students to achieve passing grades.
When class begins:
There is always a Journal
Question on the board or bellwork problem, and you will be expected to copy it
down and answer it to the best of your ability. These are kept in your science
notebooks, and graded. Once the Journal question has been discussed, we move
into homework grading and the daily objectives.
When class ends:
Please make sure you have
the homework assignment written down and know the due date. The bell does not
dismiss you, I do.
Classroom passes:
If you are tardy, go to
E2—I do not make exceptions to the tardy bell. If you have a pass from another
teacher, take it to E2 and get Mr. Wilson to write you a pass to class—if you
have a pass from administration, come directly to class. If you arrive late on
a bus, get a late bus pass from administration and be here within ten minutes
of issue. I give one pass per 9 weeks for the restroom—so use it wisely as you
never know when an emergency arises. Water, tissue, locker trips, should be
taken between classes.
Getting your attention:
I will use a raised hand
to get the class to come to attention.
Classroom Procedures: Please, follow these procedures so that class will run smoothly without interruptions or distractions!
1. Follow the classroom rules listed above.
2. Please be patient during laboratory exercises. I will do my best to answer your question as soon as possible.
3. Follow laboratory rules and procedures explicitly. Remember this is part of your grade.
4. Go to the restroom before you get to class.
5. Notify the teacher immediately if you become ill or injured during class.
6. Please sharpen your pencils before class.
7. Please be cooperative and willing to work with others. Always be willing to offer to do more than your share!
Absences: If you are
absent, it is your responsibility to come by and schedule a time to make up
tests, quizzes, or other missed assignments. I will not give you any make up
work without a readmit from attendance that verifies that your absence was
excused. Should you be locked out for this class, find me before the end of
school that day for the work missed—otherwise the missing assignment counts as
a zero.
Web Site:
To get there go to richland2.org
à
Schools à
High Schools. Under Featured
Links click on to School Website à
Departments à
Science à
Rob Wells.
Teacher Assistance:
I have an open door policy. If I am not teaching or working with another
student, I’m available to assist you. I
am available for help in the morning before school and normally at lunch. However, I do
ask that you tell me in advance that you need help. If you do this I will insure that I am in my
classroom when you come by. If you can’t
see me at any of these times, please see me and we may be able to schedule a
time that will accommodate you. If you
or your parents have any questions about the course material, assignments, or
grades please have them contact me by phone or email me at
rwells@svh.richland2.org.
Dear
Parent/Guardian: After you have gone
over the attached syllabus, please sign this and have your student return it to
me.
I have
read over and discussed this course description with my child _______________________________
and
understand if I have any questions about the syllabus, assignments, or
coursedescription I may contact
you.
Parent or Guardian’s signature________________________________
Date ________________
Coach Wells: If for any reason you should need to contact me please call me at ____________________
(phone number)
between the hours of ______________ and _______________.
My day time number is ______________________.
Other Notes: __________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________