To the Parents of Marian High School Honors Biology I students,
The approach to Honors Biology I has been designed to better meet the academic needs of the students now and in the future. The new approach includes methods that encompass Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), Common Core Science Standards (CCSS), and Indiana State Standards. As a result, the course will include methods that develop and enhance critical thinking skills (helping them learn how to learn), bring awareness to learning differences, enhance study- and note-taking skills, incorporate technology and hands-on learning, increase scientific reading, writing and speaking literacy, and integrate math. Moreover, the course design is also meant to encourage inquiry and provide opportunity for discovery which can be shared.
Successful participation and completion of the class will require rigor and independent work from the student. Therefore, it is absolutely essential that all assignments (especially reading assignments) must be completed and submitted on time, as falling behind or skipping assignments (which cannot be condoned) can quickly lead to declining grades in the course. Students who do not keep up with all assignments will quickly fall behind and be unable to participate in class activities. If a student falls too far behind, it may be necessary to remove them from the course. The regular level Biology I course covers material in a different order and pace, so it is not possible for a student to ‘drop down’ to regular Biology I from Honors Biology I. This will necessitate them taking the regular level Biology I class in their sophomore year.
To help develop students' abilities to employ critical thinking skills, inquiry methods will be used that involve the teacher as a resource. Student questions will rarely be directly answered; instead, questions will be met with further questioning from the teacher so that the students themselves discover their own answers and have ownership of the answer. Direct lecture will be used infrequently; students who are unused to this approach may initially become frustrated, which may lead to complaints that the course is too difficult or that the teacher doesn’t teach.
An independent science research project is still required of students as part of the regular course work. A scheduled framework of due dates will need to be followed to successfully complete this investigation. The various components of this project will compose 20% of the student’s grade. This research project experience further develops the inquiry and critical thinking skills of the student, and will open up possibilities for involvement in future research competitions that can lead to awards, scholarships and advanced placements in college years.
Grades for Honors Biology I will be calculated using a weighted system. Each quarter will grade will be broken down into the following categories: Tests/quizzes-35%, labs-30%, homework/assignments-15%, and independent science research project components-20%. Grades will be posted online, and if at any time questions arise, please feel free to contact the teacher directly (email is most efficient) via the Marian web site.
Absentee students should consult the instructor via email as soon as possible to stay as current as possible about appropriate modified due dates or make up dates in the event of missed lab work or tests/quizzes.