Course Information for Biology

2013

Teacher: Mrs. Adrienne Lefler

Room: 322

Text:We will be using an online text.

Website:

Group code: vhjxmz

Extra Help:

  • Before school (at 7:00am)
  • After school (until 3:45 or longer by appointment)
  • During SMART Tutorial
  • Through electronic mail (I check my e-mail daily)
  • We have AP Biology students who peer tutor. Students must see me before or after class to get the names of several peer tutors. The student will then contact one or more of the peer tutors to arrange a time and place. If one tutor does not work out, the student will have the names of other students to contact. Both the student and tutor must keep track of the amount time and dates that the tutoring has occurred.

Course Goals and Content:

The content of this course is consistent with the North Carolina Standard Course of Study for Biology. Upon completion of this course, students should have a basic understanding of the following topics: cells, genetics, biological evolution, ecology and animal behavior.

SMART Lunch

Teachers will offer tutorials on either Wednesdays B tutorial or on Fridays A tutorial. Students are expected to participate and be engaged in at least two tutorials per nine weeks. Teachers will post their tutorial schedule in their classrooms. Attendance will be taken in every tutorial session. Students who actively participate will receive a SMART Tutorial incentive on the nine week grade report.

Mrs. Lefler will offer Biology Tutoring on Fridays during A tutorial. Mr. Childer’s (Room 610) will offer Biology Tutoring on Wednesdays during B tutorial. Mr. Shield will offer tutoring on Wednesdays B and Fridays A tutorials (Room 310). Students should feel free to go to any Biology teacher’s tutorial session.

Student Responsibilities:

You should take an active role in your learning by being prepared for class and tests and by putting forth your best effort. Such an active role includes being attentive during instruction, fully participating during learning activities, and taking responsibility for assigned work. In addition to being responsible for your own learning, you should not disrupt class or hinder the learning of others.

Supplies:

3-ring, loose-leaf binder (notebook)

Loose-leaf, lined notebook paper

Blue or Black Ink Pen and/or pencil

Index cards

Class Donations

Our class would gladly accept any donations of the following items throughout the year: hand sanitizer, Clorox wipes, Kleenexes, Colored pencils, markers, Expo markers, and play doh.

Grading Procedures:

  • Quarter grades are based on the following:

Tests/Projects50%

Quizzes25%

Lab Activities15%

Homework/Classwork10%

  • EOC counts as 20% of the final grade.
  • Grades will be updated in Powerschool most Fridays.

Class Norms:

The following rules are necessary in order for each class meeting to run smoothly and to ensure an optimal learning environment.

  1. Be respectful. Students are expected to be respectful of everyone in class. Students should listen when the teacher is talking and should not interrupt or carry on conversations with classmates. This same respect should be afforded to classmates who are speaking and to any guest in our classroom. No cell phones will be permitted in class. Vandalizing (ex. Writing or carving) the tables or otherwise destroying school property will not be accepted..
  2. Be prompt. Students are expected to come to class on time and to be seated before the tardy bell rings.
  3. Be prepared. Students are expected to be prepared for class by bringing their notebooks, textbooks, homework and writing tools with them to every class meeting. Students should have these materials ready to begin class before the tardy bell rings.
  4. Be attentive. Students are expected to pay attention during lecture and other instructional activities. No sleeping – heads up!
  5. The teacher dismisses class, not the bell.

Class Communication

Class communication will occur through Edmodo. Students are expected to join Edmodo before the end of the first week. Class information, prezis and other documents will be posted on Edmodo. Parents may join Edmodo and receive the same information through their student’s account.

How to Sign Up as a Parent:

  1. Obtain the unique 6-digitParent Codefrom your child’s account (this isnotthe same as your child’s Group Codes).
  2. The Parent Code is attached to your child’s account. You can get this the following ways:
  3. Your child’s Edmodo Homepage: the Parent Code is located on the bottom of the left side panel.
  4. Your child’s teacher can provide you with the Parent Code.
  5. After you have the parent code, go tocurrently, you cannot create your Account on the mobile or iPad Edmodo app).
  6. Click“I'm a Parent”and fill in the necessary information and Parent Code.

Note: Each child has a different Parent Code. You do not have to share a Parent Account with another parent, relative, or guardian. Multiple Parent Accounts can be set up for one student. Simply use the same Parent Code found on the student’s account to create a second Parent Account (must have a different email address).

Lab Guidelines:

  1. Students should be in the lab area and/or around the lab equipment only when instructed to do so by the teacher, and only if supervised.
  2. NO food or drink in the lab area or around the lab equipment.
  3. ALWAYS wear appropriate safety gear.
  4. Follow all specific lab procedures.
  5. Be careful with lab equipment.
  6. Clean lab area when finished. If lab area is not cleaned, points will be deducted from that group or person’s lab grade.
  7. REPORT ALL ACCIDENTS!!

Daily Procedures:

  1. Have your materials ready before class begins. Make sure you have your pencil sharpened before the tardy bell rings.
  2. We will complete a warm up activity at the beginning of class each day. You must copy the question and all of the answer choices onto the bell question sheet. If you are absent or miss a bell question, you must get the question from a classmate, or write the date and that you were absent.
  3. Each day we will complete a ticket-out-the-door or closing question activity.
  4. Each student must maintain a notebook. The notebook should contain a calendar filled in with daily agendas, completed bell questions, and class notes and hand outs.
  5. You are expected to pay attention during teacher instruction and class discussions. If you have a question or comment, please raise your hand and wait to be called on. Also, be respectful of others when they are talking by not interrupting or having other conversations.
  6. Food and drink are not permitted in class. Having food and/or drink in class will result in a discipline referral.
  7. All classwork and homework is expected to be turned in on the assigned due date. A grading penalty will be assigned for late assignments.

Tardy/Hall Freeze Policy:

We will be following the Lake Norman High School tardy policy and Start On Time procedures.

Hall Passes:

At the beginning of each quarter, you will be given 4 hall passes to leave class. A hall pass must be used any timeyou leave class (bathroom, locker, water fountain, guidance, etc). Once you use all your passes, you will no longer be allowed to leave class. Any unused hall passes can be redeemed at the end of the grading quarter for 5 bonus points on a test!

Make-up Work:

If you are absent from class, you need to get your missed assignments as soon as you return. Your class will be assigned a specific color (yellow, blue, or red). Your class will have a calendar placed wall, and a crate in your color beneath the calendar. Someone in each class will have the job of filling in the calendar and putting extra worksheets and copies of notes into folders for each day of the week. If a student is absent, they will need to address the calendar and then the crate with the corresponding date. As consistent with Lake Norman High School’s policy, make-up work should be turned in within 5 days of the student’s return to school. If there are any questions, I am available. Remember that you are responsible for getting your make-up work, completing it within 5 days, and turning it in.

Contact Information:

E-mail:

Parents/Guardians: Please sign, detach, and return this portion of the syllabus verifying that you have read and understand all of the rules and procedures. You may also email Mrs. Lefler at .

Parent signatureStudent name