Honors Chemistry
Mrs. D. Stover
Room 107

Welcome to Honors Chemistry! This course will investigate matter and the changes it undergoes. This is important because the way in which matter behaves is the basis of everything you see or do. You will be learning a great deal of information at an intense pace and with high expectations. As a student in this course, it is expected that you work hard, complete ALL assignments, and never get behind. We will be completing as many labs as possible. As an honors course, anticipate more difficult assignments, more complex inquiry based laboratory work, deeper investigation into areas of study, and more rigorous assessments. You can get the most out of this class if you take the time to think about how the things we study affect you personally. Approach the class with seriousness and an open mind and you will succeed. Topics that we will be discussing this year include the following:

Matter Gases
Atomic Structure & the Periodic Table Solutions
Chemical Bonding Acids & Bases
Chemical Formulas *Thermochemistry
Mole Concept Nuclear Chemistry
Chemical Equations & Reactions *Organic Chemistry
Stoichiometry

Instructional Objectives:

When you are done with this class, you will:

·  Be familiar with common chemical terms and ideas.

·  Understand how chemistry relates to your life outside of school.

·  Realize that chemistry is actually kind of fun.

Materials:

To do well in class, you must be prepared when you get here. The following include required and optional items you’ll need:

Required materials / Optional materials
Writing Utensil (Pencil, Blue or Black Pen) / Graphing calculator
Loose Leaf Notebook Paper
1 – 2” Binder
Scientific calculator


NOTE: This is a math based science course; therefore you MUST have the required calculator with you every day for class!!!!

Grading:

Your performance in this class will be assessed in a variety of ways. The breakdown goes as follows:

Quarterly Assessment 15% of your grade

Homework, In Class Work/Participation 5% of your grade

Labs (Formal & Informal) 25% of your grade

Quizzes,Tests & Projects 55% of your grade

** Your grade is a weighted average which means each of the above categories are worth a different amount to your grade. Since this is an honors course this class is weighted to a 4.5-point scale.

Homework, Class Assignments & Participation:

Homework is assigned almost everyday night each week including an extensive amount of memorization. It will consist of problems that reinforce the concepts learned that day or a project that is intended to help you see the connections between chemistry and your life outside of school. Homework for the specific day will be shown on the chalk board or announced. All activities or assignments including discussions, Q & A and group work are all included. It is vital that even if homework is not assigned that you take time to look over notes, flashcards, etc.

Quizzes,Tests & Projects:

Tests and quizzes will be taking place throughout each quarter. Some quizzes will be short “pop quizzes” that assess you on the previous day’s content while others may be slightly longer. Questions could range from vocabulary to calculations or concepts. Matching, multiple choice, short answer, essay, problems can be the type of questions encountered on a quiz or test. Test should cover the topics from each chapter unless stated otherwise. Be prepared for more rigorous assessments at this level where more prep time will be needed.

Labs:

We will be doing a wide variety of labs in this class. Most are major, multi-day labs and require an extensive write-up. Further discussion will be done on what is expected in these reports and their setup. Some labs are shorter and require a simpler write-up. Before we start any lab in this class I will give you my expectations about how it should be written up and explain the hazards you are likely to encounter. Safety is of utmost importance in the laboratory, and for this reason you will be expected to wear goggles during every lab unless I specifically state otherwise. For safety reasons, you may only remove your goggles when everybody has completely finished the lab. Also, all coats, baggy clothes, open toed shoes such as flip flops or sandals, shorts, skirts and capris are prohibited during labs. Failure to wear goggles, or proper attire during an entire lab will result in removal from the lab and/or a grade of 0. You get one “free pass” for not wearing the proper attire but the lab MUST be made up after school and during lab make up times. More safety information will be covered at a later date.

**Due to the level of rigor in this course and the 50-minute class time constraint, there may be labs that require more than the allotted class time. Coming in before or staying after school may be necessary in order to complete these labs.

Late Work:

All work must be turned in at the beginning of class or when I have said it is due. Work turned in late will not be accepted except under the following conditions:

·  Illness

·  Other legitimate reason (excused by the school)

You have 1 day from the original due date to complete work. If circumstances have caused an extended absence, please meet with me individually to work out a mutually-acceptable due date.

Make up Work and Help:

I will be available for outside of class each week after school by appointment. If you would rather meet before the school day please tell me beforehand so I know to be at school extra early. Approximately at 6:45. By appointment just means, come and ask me if you can come in after school. If you have a quick or last minute question feel free to stop by even if you didn’t notify me beforehand. There is no guarantee I will be available but in most circumstances I will be. It is YOUR responsibility to determine what you missed and getting the notes and/or materials passed out.

Lab Make-Up: Labs MUST be made up within a week after they are assigned. Lab make ups are done on Tuesdays after school or before school by appointment. It is your responsibility to discuss with me dates and times in which you are planning to make up labs.

Disputes/problems:

At some point during the school year, many students find that they have a question about grading or some other issue that they need worked out. If you at any point believe that I have graded an assignment incorrectly or made some other mistake, I encourage you to bring it to my attention so it may be corrected as quickly as possible but at an appropriate time. This means before/after class or before/after the school day. You work hard for your grades, and if I have made a mistake I very much want to ensure that it is corrected!

I want you--the student--to understand that your grades are not something that I give you, but rather, a reflection of the work that you give to me.

Student Behavior:

Remember ALL school rules should be followed at ALL times.

Every piece of furniture, lab equipment, and belongings should be treated with care.

Student behavior in the science classroom should be appropriate

Please be prepared for science class when the bell rings.

Especially in the science classroom, there should be NO food or drink.

Carefully follow directions the first time they are given.

Treat the teacher and others the same way in which YOU would want to be treated.

Honor Code:

It is assumed that you will follow the honor code at all times. Cheating, plagiarism, and other academic dishonesty will be quickly referred to the school administration for investigation and subsequent disciplinary action. As an honors student in an honors class, there is no tolerance for these acts.

Tardies – It is very important that you arrive to class on time. Students are not to congregate around the door before or after class. All tardies count toward attendance. Tardy, means that you are not in your assigned seat or at least headed for that said seat in a reasonable period of time before class begins.

Procedure used: 1 Tardy = Warning

2 Tardies = Warning

3 Tardies = Writing Assignment, Call home

4 Tardies = Office Referral

For the Parents & Student:

If you need to get in touch with me, by far the fastest way to get a response is by email.

You may also call the school and reach me via voicemail and I will return your call in a timely manner.
SEE “Staying Connected” handout for more ways to stay informed!

Final Words:

Don’t panic! If you do your homework, work hard in class, study, and ask for help when you need it, you should have no problems with chemistry. It’s fun!