Course Syllabus 7 th Grade Life Science Ms. Heard Jacqueline.heard@hsv-k12.org We can make every day better for each other. If we re all on the same team, let s start acting like it. We ve got work to do. We can cry about it, or we can dance about it. You were made to be awesome. -Kid President A. Course Description: Life science is an introduction to the biological concepts on life processes, relationship of structure and function, classification of organisms, interdependence of living things, and examination of the biotic environment, the cell as the basic unit of living things, reproduction, and genetics. Biochemistry and physical science concepts, which affect living things, are also included. Laboratory activities are included to develop inquiry, laboratory skills, and the use of equipment. B. Objectives and Goals: All goals and objectives will be aligned with the Common Core Standards and Strategies to assure all students will be College and Career Ready. All major objectives/lessons will target the Alabama content standards and performance benchmarks for seventh grade life science. Scientists understand the world around us by making observations and inferences. The goal in this class is to increase students awareness of their environment by providing them the necessary skills of scientific inquiry. The assessments used in class will evaluate how well students understand the process of thinking scientifically. Our expectations are that each student becomes a self-directed learner that is able to think critically and logically to produce high quality work, either in a group or alone, that is accurate and reliable. C. Classroom Rules 1. Respect your teacher, your peers, yourself and classroom property. 2. Be on time, on task, and prepared to learn every day. 3. All personal electronics must be put away during class. D. Consequences Verbal Warning/Redirection Repeated practice Seat Change Student-Teacher Contract Written Consequence 1:1 Conference Loss of Privileges Confiscation Think Sheet Home contact Parent/Student/Teacher Conference Lunch Detention Counselor Referral Behavior Plan Refer to Administration Severity Clause: Any student who uses profanity, fights, damages school property (including the property of the teacher and other students) will be sent to the office IMMEDIATELY.
E. Rewards Celebrations Phone call to parent or home contact Trip to Snack Shack Special Recognition Job Opportunities Homework Pass Classroom Incentives Privileges F. Supplies: The primary textbook we will use is the Pearson Interactive Science: Life Science. The textbook can be found on the student s Laptop. Laptops: o Laptops will be distributed to students during the first week of school. It is VERY important that students keep these laptops in their cases. It is EXTREMELY important that the student charges his/her laptop every night!! Students are expected to begin the school day with fully charged laptops. Interactive notebooks o We will use interactive notebooks throughout the year to organize and analyze our material. Please make sure student has purchased a composition notebook for class by Tuesday, August 9, 2016. Students are required to bring supplies (paper, pencils, pens, etc.) to class every day. G. Grading: Homework 10% In class work 30% Tests 60% H. Extra Credit: Students can write one page reports on relevant science topics and relate it to material learned in class. Reports will be presented to class. Topics can be found on the Did you know? Science in the News bulletin board in the classroom. Students can earn up to 3 extra credit points on their final grade. I. Academic Dishonesty Cheating will NOT be tolerated. If a student is found cheating in any way or form (copying, plagiarizing, looking up answers online, etc.), the student will immediately be given a zero for the assignment. J. Office Horus: I will be available Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday after school from 3-4:30pm for office hours. If a student needs extra help with material, please sign up. The sign-up sheet will always be by the door. Students should sign up before 12pm on the day they plan on attending. Procedures 1. Entering the Classroom: Students will wait outside the classroom door in a silent, single-file line until I welcome them into the classroom. 2. Do Now:
Once students enter the classroom door, they will go immediately to their seats. They will take out their notebooks and a pencil. They will have 5 minutes to complete the Do Now that is written on the board. The Do Now will always be silent and independent work. 3. Getting Students Attention: When I need students attention, I will silently raise my hand. The students will raise their hands as they see my signal and stop talking. All eyes need to be on me. 4. Speaking in Class Students should raise their hand in class in order to speak. Students should wait silently and wait to be acknowledged. 5. Heading your Paper Name, Date, and Class Period in top right corner Topic/Title in top left corner Main Ideas in left margin Notes in the main body of the paper Summary at the bottom of the paper *An example will be posted in the classroom 6. Passing in Papers Students will pass their papers to the person sitting on their left. Once the papers reach the last person in the row, that person will pass the stack of papers forward. The person sitting closest to my desk will put all of the papers in the appropriate period s box. 7. Tardy: If a student is not inside the classroom by the time the tardy bell rings, they are considered late. Students can enter with a late pass. Once student enters classroom, they should drop their late pass into the Tardy folder on the door, sign the Tardy Log, have a seat, and begin copying assignments from his/her neighbor. If students do not have a pass, the following consequences will take place: o 1. Tardy Log & Reminder o 2. Bloom & Conference o 3. Reflection Assignment o 4. Call Home o 5. Referral o ** ALL CONSEQUENCES BUILD UPON EACH OTHER 8. Bathroom Procedure: If a student needs to go to the bathroom, he/she should raise up their pointer finger. After being granted permission, he/she must sign out and record the time they left the classroom. When the student returns, he/she must sign back in. Only one person may leave the classroom at a time. Therefore, if a student sees that someone is signed out of the classroom, he/she may not request to leave. 9. Mobile Devices: Students should not use mobile devices unless given permission to do so. If student is using phone during class without permission, his/her phone will spend the rest of the period in phone prison. There will be no warning.
10. Exiting the Classroom: At the end of class, I will dismiss students. Students who have cleaned up their area, packed up their things, and are sitting silently will be dismissed. 11. Homework and Late work: Homework is given three or four times a week (depending on the material being covered) If homework is not completed on time, students will be required to fill out a Pink Slip explaining why they did not complete the assignment. Late homework can be turned in after its due date, but loses 10% for every day it is late. Late homework assignments are required to be turned in, but will not be graded after one week has passed from the time it was assigned. 12. Make-up Work: Make-up work can be found in the Make-up Work Bin. The Bin will have folders organized by dates. Students will find the date that they missed class. Inside the folder there will be instructions for the assignments and copies of the handouts. Student will copy down missed assignments and return the instructions back to the folder. Then, the student will take the handouts needed out of the folder. Make sure to return the folder back to the Bin! 13. Resource Table If a student comes to class unprepared, there is a resource table in the back of the room. The student must check out the supply needed by writing his/her name on the sheet on the table. Supply MUST be returned by the end of the period. If supply is not returned, student will not be allowed to use the resource table again. 14. Finished Early? Work on Extra Credit Read a book or article of your choice Research and review a scientist s work. Summarize the scientist s findings and write your response. Do a random act of kindness *If anyone is not respectful of their classmates by being loud, they must come back to their desks and put their head down
Parent/Student 7th Grade Science Class Contract Student Name (print): Period: Teacher Name: Ms. Heard My child and I have read the 7th Grade Science Syllabus and understand what is expected. We have read the classroom procedures and expectations, and understand what is expected of my child. Student Signature: Date: Parent/ Guardian Name (print): Parent/ Guardian Signature: Date: Home Phone: Work Phone: Cell Phone: Email: Preferred Contact Method (circle): Call Email Parent/ Guardian Name (print): Parent/ Guardian Signature: Date: Home Phone: Work Phone: Cell Phone: Email: Preferred Contact Method (circle): Call Email **Return this Contract to Ms. Heard by Monday, August 8, 2016**