Course Objectives:
This course is designed to be an integration of Earth, Life and Physical Sciences. We have adopted a new program that features 3 pathways to match the way your student learns. We have a WRITE-IN student edition which enables the student to become an active participant while they read. There will be a variety of hands-on activities to engage the student and to provide a deeper understanding of the scientific concepts.
There is also a portal of digital - PearsonRealize.com (accessible via PowerSchool)- to provide a wide array of resources built especially for the students to help them process the material. Grade 8 allows for interaction with: the textbook, inquiry, and technology.
Course Materials:
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Three ring binder (2 inch should be fine)
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Pen/Pencil/Highlighter - I have some to be BORROWED ;)
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Folder (for homework/labs to be completed)
Attendance:
Time spent in class is crucial to the development of overall knowledge and skills of science. Students should also be on time, meaning they are seated and quiet when the bell rings. It is the responsibility of a student to ask for make-up work for the time he or she missed. Students should come to class prepared and ready to work. This includes bringing all necessary supplies (listed above).
Behavior:
In order to succeed in this course, students will be required to be respectful of their fellow classmates, the teacher, and any substitute teacher that may be in charge. Students will be required to be honest and complete their own work. It is acceptable for a student to ask for help from another student; however it is not acceptable to copy the work of another. All safety procedures must be followed according to the safety contract that each student will sign at the beginning of this course. Laboratory experiments will be conducted as long as students maintain a safe environment, cleaning up after themselves and following all necessary precautions.
Grading Policy:
Grades are calculated using a weighted system. The category weighs adopted by The Drury Academy for this course are:
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Engagement in Learning (EL) – 30%
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Determined through school-wide student engagement in the learning process rubric, which measures a student’s respect for the learning environment, respect for learning as a member of the school community, responsibility for behavior, responsibility for learning, and resilience.
Assignments (A) – 30%
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Determined through the scoring of in-class assignments and activities that are used for formative assessment purposes. The expectation is that students would be given multiple formative assessments in each class every week.
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MASTERY ASSESSMENTS (MA) - 40%
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Determined through the scoring of summative assessments used to measure standards mastery. Qualifying assessments could include projects, papers, presentations, portfolios, mastery quizzes, tests and other summative measures. The expectation is that students would be given multiple mastery assessments in each class every quarter and completed during class time.
Powerschool Gradebook
In addition to the 3 categories of work and the grades for each assignment, there are four score codes that will be used this year in the online grade book. When a student misses an assignment for any reason, a grade of zero is entered into the gradebook. Score codes may be used that include:
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ABS – student has an excused absence from class. Work can be made up for a grade
MISS – Student missed an assignment. Work can be made up for a grade
SCC – Student was sent to the Student Support Center and chose not to return to class. Work CANNOT be made up.
CUT – Student was present in school, but cut class. Disciplinary action will be taken and work CANNOT be made up.
Class Assignments:
All assignments will be checked/collected at the beginning of the period on the day they are due. Each assignment will be provided with instructions as to whether it will merit a numerical grade, or check off grade. Any assignment that is turned in one day late will lose half credit. Any assignment turned in more than one day late will receive no credit.
If you have an excused absence from school: You have the same number of days you were absent to make up work. For example, if a student is absent 4 days, then they would have 4 days to make up any work that you missed (including quizzes and tests!)
Questions/Concerns:
I am available afterschool (except when I have school related meetings) from 2:25 - 2:35 pm and for a longer period on Thursdays. It is very important that you ask for help AS SOON AS YOU FEEL CONFUSED. It is very easy to get behind with your work, especially when you do not try to fix the problem until it is almost too late, because the material in Science builds from previous chapters.
