C94H Biology - Syllabus
Dr. E. Cockroft Room
370
305-385-6877
The purpose of C94H Biology is to provide each student
with the honors level of biology needed to continue his or her education into
high school and prepare them for college and the real world. Units are chosen which offer students the
opportunity to work like biologists, learning the scientific processes of
classifying, observing, communicating, representing data, inferring and predicting,
experimenting and controlling variables. The work is done in cooperative groups
at tables of 4-6 students. Groups change every 4-6 weeks. Students are expected
to work together on their experiments, listen to each others ideas, encourage,
and respect one another. Course also involves the
interrelationships between life, earth, and physical sciences. This year we
will focus on the use of scientific method and the metric system while we apply
physical, chemical, and life sciences skills. Laboratory investigations of
selected topics in the content will also include the use of the scientific
method, measurement, and laboratory apparatus. Safety is an integral part of
this course. The successful completion of this course is accomplished by doing
the following in an acceptable manner:
1. Maintain course folder in designated sections.
2. Bring required materials (shown below) – DAILY
3. Pass tests and quizzes. Tests will be administered when
a chapter or concept is completed. In addition, quarterly assessments will be
administered at the end of each grading period.
4. Complete all home learning, class learning, activities,
current events and lab reports. Make-ups will only be accepted in the case
of absences.
5. Complete a science fair project as well as any other projects assigned.
If you would like to contact me you can call the school. When you call, you will need to leave a message and I will return your call as quickly as possible. For a same day response, please email me at ecockroft@dadeschools.net.
Home learning is given Monday
through Thursday and only occasionally on Fridays. We will review the home
learning or the concept the next day during class time, sometimes it will be
graded and other times the student will keep the checked home learning in his
notebook. The home learning for the week is written on the board on Mondays.
Each student is given ample time, the first day of the week, to copy the weekly
home learning in to the agenda. If a student is absent they can copy it from
the board upon returning.
These materials must be brought to
class DAILY. Periodically, there will be a materials check that will count as a
home learning grade.
1. blue or black pen(s) 5. 3 ring binder with pockets 9. Dividers
2. pencil(s) 6. colored pencils
3. 70-pg spiral notebook 7. Ruler (metric system)
4. notebook paper 8. Graph Paper
Tests 3
grades
Current events 2 grades
Quizzes (announced and
unannounced) 1 or 2 grades (depending on
complexity)
Home learning/ class learning/
participation 1 or 2 grades
(depending on complexity)
Laboratory reports/group
activities 1 or 2
grades (depending on complexity)
Responsibility and respect are important attitudes to have in life. Each student will be accountable for his or her actions. There will be no passes given during class time unless it is a true emergency. Team rules will be discussed and posted in all classes and they must be followed.
Current events will be due on the last Tuesday of the month. This shall be a double graded assignment. Articles for current events can only be found in newspapers, magazines or on the Internet. Directions and format for completing the current events will be given separately
Labs will be used to enhance student learning. No foolishness or misbehaving will be tolerated due to safety reasons. If an individual needs to be excluded from a lab, a zero will be given for the lab assignment and a conduct cut will be given as well.
Conduct grades will be assigned using the scale below, which is based on the number of conduct cuts given. Every student starts each 9 week period with an ‘A’ in conduct. Conduct cuts are given for the infractions listed below.
• Talking
• Gum chewing
• Out of seat without permission
• Tardy to class
• CSI/Outdoor Suspension
• Misbehaving during a lab/activity
• Other defiant behavior (i.e. no school ID or improper dress code)
• Any other behavior as listed in the Code of Student Conduct
The scale below lists the grades that will be given based on the number of conduct cuts given. A student has the ability to raise their conduct grade by displaying exceptional behavior (it will be the teacher’s decision to raise the grade based on this behavior but it is always a good idea to inform the teacher of the intention to improve the grade). Occasionally, phone calls will be made to the guardian.
0-2 = A 3-4 = B 5-6 = C 7-8 = D 9-more = F
Effort grades will be assigned based on the student completing all graded assignments. The following scale will be used based on the number of missing assignments the student has.
0-2 = 1 3-4 = 2 5-more = 3
All students will be issued a small science textbook for home learning use. The students will be issued one book at a time. As new books are required the previous book will be collected and the remaining books will be issued. No student will be issued books before the previous book has been collected. If a student wishes to keep the books until the end of the year, they will need to bring a written request from their parents.
Lab Fees
Lab fees will be collected in
the first two weeks of school.
Date:
Period:
With your parents/guardians, read the information again. If you have any questions, please ask. Sign it below and bring it back by Friday for a home learning grade. Place the course objectives in your notebook; it should be the first page as you open your notebook. You can refer to this information as needed. You will turn in this paper as your homework grade.
Students’, signing this contract means that you understand the information given and intend to follow the rules to the best of your ability.
___________________________________
Parents/Guardian signature Student signature
Contact Number(s) or e-mail address:
___________________________________
Concerns or notes to the teacher please use back