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Organization...Its VERY Important!!! |
Students will be required to maintain an organized notebook (a separate binder is recommended for this class) for environmental science. Within the notebook should be the following sections:
• Important Information
• Drills
• Assignments (classwork and homework)
• Assessments (review guides, quizzes, and tests)
• Vocabulary
Students are required to keep their notebooks neat and organized. There may be notebook quizzes/checks throughout the year in order to check organization. At the end of each unit, students will be asked to remove drills and assignments from their notebooks, yet the important information, assessments, and vocabulary sections will be kept in the notebook for the entire year.
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Grading Policy |
The percentage scale for the magnet:
• Classwork 40%
• Class Performance 10%
• Tests/Quizzes 30%
• Homework 20%
Quarter 1 and 2: The performance grade is basically a separate classwork grade (so classwork is still 50% of the students overall grade). Each week, students will earn a 5 point performance grade based upon: being focused, being prepared, following directions, and group participation on class projects, and class participation - answering questions and class discussions. Other performance grades may include group work and binder organization. |
Late Work Policy (classwork and homework) |
Being responsible and organized are two characteristics that will help students succeed in this class, as well as in life. Late work is not encouraged, however I understand there may be circumstances that are abnormal and therefore I will accept some late work (classwork and homework) with a penalty to the grade as follows:
• One day late- One letter grade deduction
• Two days late- Half credit
• Three or more days late- No credit will be given
Note: There are some assignments that will not be accepted late, such as review guides.
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Absent Work Policy |
Students are responsible for work missed due to any absence from class. This includes a students absence from school or absence from part or all of class due to illness, early dismissal, late arrival, rehearsals, nurse visits, and other excused absences. Students who miss class with an unexcused absence will not be allowed to turn in work for a grade.
Make-up assignments must be submitted within the same amount of days as the absence. For example, if a student is absent for 2 class periods, then he/she will have 2 class periods to make up the work. Furthermore, if an assignment is given prior to the absence and due on the day of the absence, then the student is expected to have the work on the day that they return.
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EXTRA CREDIT |
Students will have the opportunity to earn extra credit each quarter. Here’s ONE way...
Participate in an activity outside of school that helps the environment or teaches about the environment. Some example activities are:
•Tree planting
•Stream cleanup
•Visit a nature center
The idea is to have students become involved with the environment outside of school. Throughout the year, there will be some events announced to the class so students can get together with peers and have fun while helping the environemnt. These events are organized by associations such as the Friends of the Patapsco Valley & Heritage Greenway (www.patapscoheritagegreenway)and Gunpowder Valley Conservancy (www.gunpowderfalls.org). Students may come across events on their own and participate as well.
In addition to this extra credit opportunity that will be available all year, there possibly may be some assignment where students can earn bonus points and some separate assignments that may be extra credit altogether.
Extra credit will be added in at the end of each quarter (so you won't see it added in on the progress reports / interims). For every 10 points earned, the overall grade will be raised by 1%. If a student does not need to use the extra credit for that quarter, or if the extra credit earned does not help a student jump to the next letter grade, then the points can be carried over to future quarters.
NOTE: A maximum of 30 points (3%) can be earned each quarter!
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Report Cards - Performance and Self-developement Characteristics |
To help with understanding my reasoning behind giving out the 1's, 2's and 3's...
~ Completes Class Assignments:
1= classwork category is an A
2= classwork category is a B or C
3= classwork category is a D or E
~ Completes Home Assignments:
1= homework category is an A
2= homework category is a B or C
3= homework category is a D or E
~ Demonstrates knowledge on assessments:
1= test/quiz category is an A
2= test/quiz category is a B or C
3= test/quiz category is a D or E
~ Demonstrates critical and creative thinking:
1= yes (all the time) / above average compared to other students
2= sometimes / average compared to other students
3= not at all / below average compared to other students
~ Verbal Communication:
1= constantly participates in class discussions & answers questions and remains on topic
2= occasionally participates in class discussions & answers questions and/or mostly stays on topic (some inappropriate talking may be seen)
3= rarely participates in class discussions & answers questions and/or talks a lot out of turn / off-topic (inappropriate talking)
~ Written Communication:
1= answers are very well formed and detailed
2= answer are sometimes well formed and detailed, but could use some improvement
3= answers are not well formed and/or not detailed - a lot of improvement is needed
~ Accepts responsibility:
1= ALL assignments are turned in on time and absent work is made up on time
2= most assignments are turned in on time and absent work is made up on time
3= assignments are NOT turned in on time and/or absent work is NOT made up on time (and students shows irresponsibility by extremely poor work quality)
~ Demonstrates Organizational Skills:
1= A on binder checks and/or appears to be very organized
2= B/C on binder checks and/or appears to be slightly disorganized
3= D/E on binder checks and/or appears to be very disorganized
~ Works cooperatively in groups:
1= gets along with all students in the group and/or actively participates in group activities
2= Works well with most students (possibly a minor issue has been experienced at some point this quarter) and/or moderately participates in group activities (could be more active within the group)
3= argues with other class members during group activities and/or does not actively participate in group activities (lets group members do all the work)
~ Demonstrates respectful behavior:
1= talks when appropriate, listens to directions, and works well with others ALL the time
2= talks when appropriate, listens to directions, and works well with others MOST of the time
3 = Does not typically talk when appropriate, does not listen to directions, and/or does not work well with others
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