CHEMISTRY 2015-2016
Mr. Mahler
Room 126
425-335-1515 ext. 2326
WELCOME!
Chemistry is a college preparatory laboratory science course. We will do as many labs as possible. Chemistry is sometimes a difficult subject to completely understand and you may from time to time experience difficulty. Mr. Mahler will be available for help before and after school almost every day, if this does not work for your schedule, please talk to Mr. Mahler and he will do everything in his power to accommodate you.
COURSE:
Semester 1 we will cover Chapters 1-9 in “Chemistry Connections to Our Changing World”
IF YOU NEED EXTRA HELP OR WANT TO CONTACT MR. MAHLER
Students and parents/guardians should feel free to contact Mr. Mahler whenever they have questions or concerns. I regularly check and respond to email, and can be reached at .
You may also find Mr. Mahler before and after school most days in Room 126.
You may also look at Mr. Mahler’s Teacher page at http://lkstevens.wednet.edu/Page/2191 for information about upcoming classroom activities, assignments, PowerPoints, etc.
YOU ARE EXPECTED TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THIS CLASS.
I have very high expectations. If you work as hard as you can, you will do well in this class. If you find material difficult, I will work as hard as you do to help you succeed.
It is expected that you do the following:
1. Always be respectful of others.
Treat your classmates, their ideas and questions with respect. Don’t criticize!
2. Come prepared to learn.
a. Attendance is critical to your success. We will be covering something new (and exciting!) nearly every day and you will want to stay caught up. If you must be absent, remember to get notes and the homework assignment from a friend and/or the homework calendar. Occasionally, you may need to leave the room for various reasons. If you do not have a pass in hand, you cannot leave! I reserve the right to refuse your request to leave class. Talking with friends or using your cell phone, are not valid reasons to leave class with a pass.
b. Bring your lab notebook, calculator and pen or pencil.
c. You are required to purchase a composition notebook for labs and other class notes.
d. Be in your seat with materials ready when the period starts.
3. Be involved in learning.
Ask questions! Always be thinking about your own understanding. Make a decision to use your classroom time to get work done and be involved in the activities and discussion that will be taking place.
4. Keep a complete and organized notebook.
5. Understand the grading system
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
Electronic devices must be kept out of sight at all times unless otherwise indicated. So please don’t have them out. Electronic devices for listening to music will NEVER be allowed during tests, quizzes, and labs. There will be times when we may use the technology to find information and other class activities. If you are unable to keep your phone put away, I have the right to ask to keep it for the class period. Calculators are acceptable, though the calculators on your cell phones may not be used. You can’t use cell phones on tests so why use them as calculators?
ATTENDANCE AND TARDY POLICY
Good attendance is an absolute necessity to be successful in this class. Be here each day and on time for class. I will count you as tardy if you are not in class and ready.
ACADEMIC LAB
If students are struggling with the material/concepts of the class, they are encouraged to attend Academic Lab. Academic Lab is a great program where students can receive additional help in any class from certified teachers at lunch or after school Monday through Thursday in the Library. In some cases, Academic Lab may be assigned as a mandatory service for students really struggling in class.
CHEATING OR PLAGIARISM
If you willfully copy another paper or professional source with intent to present it as your own work for use on classroom assignments or projects without approval or recognition of original source constitutes cheating. The first offense will result in a ‘0’ on the assignment and a call home. The second offense will result in a discipline referral. Please do your own work. Do not hand in two copies of the same lab report if you worked with someone else. This is the same as cheating. You and your partner will receive no credit.
GRADING SCALE: 94 – 100% A 78 – 79 C+
90 – 93 A- 73 – 77 C
88 – 89 B+ 70 – 72 C-
83 – 87 B 67 – 69 D+
80 – 82 B- 60 – 66 D
Unit Exams and Quizzes: 50% of the overall grade
Unit Exams will be given at the end of each unit, and are used to assess student mastery of the material. Quizzes are used frequently and are used to assess the need to reteach or reassess. Feedback is given within a reasonable amount of time so that the need to reteach and reassess can be done in a timely manner. Some will be announced and some may be unannounced. Some may count and some may not. If you miss a test or quiz because of an excused absence, you must make it up within two days upon return. If you’re absence is not excused I may give you the test the day of your return. Please do not be one of those students that is absent every time there is a test or quiz.
Final Exam: 10% of the overall grade
Labs/Projects: 25% of overall grade. Labs are due when stated, any lab turned in late will automatically be reduced to 60% of its value. NO LAB WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER ONE WEEK HAS PASSED!! Making up labs will require coming in before or after school. You must do this is a timely manner so the lab materials can be cleaned up.
Daily work/Homework: 15% of the overall grade
There are many varied activities that we do in class. You may be provided time to complete these and they will be due promptly when called for. You can expect a few hours of homework each week. It is imperative that you learn to manage your time and NOT attempt to finish all work the night before it is due. You will find that some chemistry problems just plain require that you get help from Mr. Mahler, help that is not available the night before. This is one of the hardest and most valuable lessons that you can learn. Please do not copy other people’s work. Homework is practice for you. I am more concerned with your mastery on the unit exams. The homework will be due the next day. I DO NOT ACCEPT ANY LATE HOMEWORK!!
Homework “What If’s”:
· If you don’t hand it in when it is due, it is a “0”. No questions.
· If you are absent the day I give an assignment, you have 2 days to finish it.
· If you are absent on the day an assignment is turned in, it is due when you return.
Homework Grading Rubric
Each assignment will be graded on a 0 to 5 point scale that can be interpreted in the following way:
5 points = Excellent
4 points = Good
3 points = Fair
2 points = Poor
1 point = Unacceptable
0 points = Not turned in, or not original work
3 points – Graded problems
Three problems will be chosen from each assignment and each of these problems will be graded for correctness according to the following scale:
· 1 point (full credit): problem completed with correct answer (including significant figures and units), all work is shown (including equations calculations, and units)
Deductions:
-1 point: problem not attempted
-0.5 point: incorrect answer
-0.5 point: incorrect significant figures
-0.5 point: no work
-0.25 missing equations, calculation or units (-0.5 point max.)
2 points – Assignment completion
Two points will be given for overall assignment completion:
· 2 points (full credit): all parts of all problems completed
Deductions will be given for missing or skipped problems, partially completed problems, or unprofessional presentation (sloppy)
Ways to keep Mr. Mahler happy:
· Hand in work on time.
· Include your full name on homework.
· If more than 1 page please staple. Please don’t use paper clips, duct tape, or the ever-popular ripped dog-ear technique.
· If you are absent on the day an assignment is due, please write at the top “ABSENT”.
· Box your final answer in calculations.
· ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS include the units in your answer.
LABORATORY GUIDELINES
Due to possible danger to you and other students, these laboratory guidelines MUST be followed to ensure your health and safety!!
1. Approved goggles are to be worn at all times during experiments involving chemicals.
2. Appropriate closed-toe shoes are to worn on days that experiments are performed and people with long hair will need to pull it back in a pony-tail or similar style. Any student found violating this rule will not be able to complete the experiment or will lose points for the lab.
3. No headphones or electronics in the lab areas. Occasionally we may use phones for timers, but no headphones. I will take the electronic device, if it is out during labs.
4. Experiments are ONLY performed under my direct supervision.
5. No food or drink is allowed in the laboratory area.
6. Students must demonstrate appropriate behavior at all times.
7. Lab clean-up is mandatory.
If these guidelines are not followed, the following actions will be taken:
1. Students not wearing approved goggles will not be allowed to complete the experiment.
2. Students will not be allowed in the laboratory area without appropriate clothing. An approved laboratory coat/apron may be worn over clothing.
3. Any student doing an unsupervised experiment will be removed from the laboratory and disciplinary action will be taken!!!! ***NO EXCUSES***
4. Any food or drink in the laboratory area will be discarded.
5. Any student behaving inappropriately will be removed from the laboratory area and NOT RECEIVE CREDIT for that experiment.
6. Those students who have not cleaned up their work area will remain in the laboratory until their section is clean and all materials are returned to their proper location. Any student leaving the classroom without cleaning up his/her area will be marked down on his/her lab grade.
Please return this sheet signed by you and your parent/guardian indicating you read and understand the classroom policies and procedures.
Student Name (print):______Period:______
Student Signature:______Date:______
Parent Signature:______Date:______
Parent Email: ______