Chemistry Syllabus & Classroom Procedures

Chemistry & Pre-AP Chemistry

Syllabus & Classroom Procedures

Klein Forest High School 2014-2015

ALL STUDENTS AND THEIR PARENTS/GUARDIAN ARE REQUIRED TO READ THIS SYLLABUS. PARENTS ARE REQUIRED TO SIGN THE ATTACHED FORM WHICH THE STUDENT WILL RETURN. THIS IS A REQUIRED ASSIGNMENT

Course Description: Chemistry is an inquiry- based course that examines matter and the changes it undergoes. Experiment and activities are used to introduce concepts including the structure of atoms and chemical compounds, the relationships among the elements on the periodic table, chemical and physical transformations, and the measurement and calculations of chemical quantities. Students who complete this course will develop an understanding of interconnections among the sciences, technology, society, and the environment.

Grading Determination

Grades are determined by percentage:

A90-100% of points 60% of grade is based on three major grades each grading

B80- 89% period. These may be tests, major labs, or a report.,

C75- 79% Tests may cover information from more than one chapter.

D70- 74% 30% of grade is daily work, which includes short quizzes

Fbelow 70 reviews or other assignments

Homework is no more than 10% of the grade.

Homework will be regularly assigned and collected.

Homework may randomly be assigned a daily grade as well.

TEKS for Course :For a complete description, please reference the website:

Chemistry Textbook: Chemistry , Wilbraham, Staley, Matta, Waterman; Pearson

Student login page

Alternate online resources:

Late Work Procedure:

Test Days: Wednesday and Friday. If you miss only a day of review prior to the test, you are expected to take the test.

Reteach/ Retest Procedure

If students do not show mastery on the three week test (80 or below), they may take a similar test only if they

attend tutoring and complete the makeup test within six school days. On occasion the entire class may

review material and be evaluated a second time. Individual tutoring sessions may be scheduled for

additional help after school. If time allows , a cumulative UNIT test given at the end of the six

weeks, may replace the lowest test grade for all students in the class.

Grade Recovery

Students will have the opportunity to receive instruction to recover six weeks grades. When a student enrolls in the Grade Recovery Class, the students will receive quality instruction. The curriculum will recapture any skills they are lacking so that they are prepared to receive credit and also be prepared for the final exam. This intervention plan may include students attending after school Grade Recovery or Grade Recovery during the day. The highest grade a student can earn is 75. This grade will replace the lower grade. Students enrolled in Pre-AP courses may enroll in grade repair and receive Pre-AP credit for up to 1 six weeks per semester. Students enrolled in AP courses may enroll in grade repair and receive AP credit for up to 1 six weeks per semester. AP courses will have additional requirements to recover grades.

HANDING IN ASSIGNMENTS:

1)All assignments must contain a title, name, date, and period in the heading. Delayed papers due to lack of name will be marked late.

2)All homework assignments will be due the following day, unless otherwise specified.

MAKE-UP WORK

1)It is the responsibility of the student to obtain and make up assignments missed due to excused absences

2)Make-up homework is due a day after the student returns to class following an absence. Students are given extensions according to the number of days absent: 2 days for 2 day absence, etc.

3)All scheduled tests must be made up the day a student returns to class after an absence or a zero will be given.

4)Excessive absences on test days may result in a harder make-up test than the original.

5)Due to the nature of labs, it is extremely important that you be here on lab days. Labs involve chemicals and equipment that may be available on lab day only.

Lab Make-up: To make up a missed lab the student must come after school within a week of the original lab.

6)This is a college prep class. Students should be aware that all assignments require a name. Anything turned in without a name is placed into the no-name file at the front of the room. These assignments are considered late and are scored as such.

GENERAL RULES: I strictly follow department, school, and district rules and procedures. There is zero tolerance for disregard of the below listed classroom rules:

1) Be in your seat and ready to work when the bell rings

2) All school rules will be enforced in my classroom (no cheating, no eating, etc)

Cell phones, CD players, I-Pod and mp3 players, electronic game units, and any other electronic devices are not

allowed in the classroom. If I see or hear any of these devices in my classroom I will confiscate them and send them to

your house principal. There are no excuses and no exceptions to this rule.

3) Everyone is expected to have books, utensils, and all due assignments in class

4) You cannot disrupt others from learning or the teacher from teaching

5) Respect yourself, others, personal property, and the teacher at all times

6) It is the student’s responsibility to obtain notes or homework when absent

The chemistry classroom is exposed to many toxic and potentially dangerous chemicals. Absolutely NO FOOD OR DRINK IS ALLOWED IN THE CLASSROOM! (bottled water in a capped container is allowed at student desks)

REQUIRED SUPPLIES

• Dark blue and black pens, #2 pencils
• Composition, spiral or 3-ring notebook (used as an interactive notebook)
• Scientific calculator (this will be provided by the teacher)
• Always bring your school issued tablet PC

Chemistry Topics

August 25, 2014

To the Parents:

Awareness and involvement in you son or daughter’s schoolwork is the first step in their achieving success. I encourage you to read over and discuss the course syllabus and expectancies with him/her so that any questions may be answered NOW and taken care of.

The Chemistry Department at Klein Forest has a reputation for integrating technology within the classroom. We are very excited this year to incorporate a completely digital textbook. There will be NO printed hard copy textbooks available to the students. Therefore it is critical that your student have and bring his/her computer to class each and every day! Students who do not have their computer in the classroom will need to make other arrangements after school to make up and turn in assignments.

As a parent of a student in my class I encourage you to monitor his/her progress during the school year. Some helpful tools include:

• Teacher Website

This website contains in-depth information for the chemistry classes, including a link tochemistry resources. You can visit the website by visiting

and click on teacher/class webpages. Then choose Science and pick the appropriate teacher.

• Blackboard

Blackboard is an online learning software used to facilitate learning. All student assignments will be placed on blackboard, and students will not have any physical textbooks. It is critical that students bring a laptop every day to school in order to complete their work.

• Grade reports – We will post current grades in gradespeed weekly. Please check gradespeed regularly to monitor your student progress. If you have any questions about your student’s current grade at any time, feel free to call or e-mail us.

• E-mail – if you would like for email to be a method of communication, please include your e-mail address on the attached signature form.

Our goal, with your help, is for every student to be successful and to pass this course. If we; student, teacher, and parent, can make a commitment to work together than this will be an obtainable goal. Your questions and comments are always welcome. Please feel free to contact us at KleinForestHigh School.

This information letter is for your reference and records. Please sign the attached page to acknowledge that you have received this information and are aware of the policies and expectancies of your student’s chemistry class. This is the first class assignment and must be returned to me with your son/daughter by Thursday, September 1st for full credit.

Thank you,

Jarrod G Collins (team leader)Janna VippermanJudith Dano (dept chair)Linda Blanchette Chem, Pre-AP, AP Chem Chem, Pre-AP Chem, PreAP, AP Chem Chem, Pre-AP

Room 334Room 326Room 812Room 323

(832) 484-4755(832) 484-4713(832) 484-4768(832) 484-4680

E-mail:

Cynthia SmithBecky ScaggsCynthia LymanErin Limon

Pre-APChemChem, Pre-APChem, Pre-AP

Room 912Room 612Room 712Room 329

(832) 484-4770(832) 484-4434(832) 484-4764(832) 484-4471

E-mail:

Karen Verschoor

Chem

Room 337

(832) 484-4555

Please fill in the following information and provide phone number(s) where we can contact you or leave messages concerning your student. Please include e-mail if available as I use this to communicate with you.

Student’s Name:______

Mother’s Name:______Contact Phone Number:______

Alternate Phone Number:______

e-mail:______

Father’s Name:______Contact Phone Number:______

Alternate Phone Number:______

e-mail:______

Please state any questions, comments, concerns:

I have read and discussed the classroom procedures with my son/daughter, and understand the grading policy, classroom rules, assignment procedure, and other information provided on the syllabus.

Student Signature:______

Parent Signature:______

Date:______

I understand that it is critical that my student has and brings his/her computer to class each and every day. Students who do not have their computer in the classroom will need to make other arrangements after school to make up and turn in assignments.

Student Signature:______

Parent Signature:______

Date:______