Biology Syllabus

University High School                  Illinois State University

BIOLOGY

Instructor: Ms. Gleason

Email: mlgleas@ilstu.edu

Classroom: Rm. 302

Laboratory: Rm. 315

Office: Rm. 301

Phone: (309) 438-8448

Office Hours:  12pm-2pm 

You may also make an appointment to see your teacher if you are unable to make it to office hours.

Required Course Materials

·         Textbook: Miller and Levine Biology, ISBN: 978-0-13-366951-0 (A digital copy of the text will be provided at no charge. You may decide that you prefer a hardcopy. It can be found on Amazon and other discount websites.)

·         Scientific calculator (some will be available for classroom use)

·         Binder with loose leaf paper

·         Pencil or pen

·         U-High issued netbook with tablet and pen

Classroom Rules:

• Come to class prepared with all necessary materials each day on time. 
• When you enter the classroom, find your seat, get out any homework assignments and have them ready to turn in, and be ready for class to start on time.
• Stay in your assigned seat unless directed otherwise or until the class is dismissed.
• Leaving class will be on a very limited basis.  In general, do not ask to leave class during instruction or lab activities unless it is an emergency. 
• Tardiness will be handled following the guidelines of the student handbook.  You will be considered tardy if you are not in your seat when it is time for class to begin.
• Treat your classmates, and your teacher, with the same respect and courtesy that you want to be treated with.

·         No food or drink is allowed in the classroom, lab, or halls on the third floor.  Water is the only exception.

·         No warnings will be given for cell phones.  Cell phones visible during class will be confiscated and given to the main office.

·         I-pods can only be used with teacher permission, ask first.

• Horseplay and excessive loudness in class or in the laboratory will not be tolerated

Homework: Students will have class work on a daily basis. Some of these practice problems and activities will be able to be completed in class, others will require extra time outside of class. Students should be prepared to have something to do from Chemistry every day. Homework will be reviewed in class or answers will be posted on Blackboard. Students will be provided with opportunities to ask questions and receive feedback on their work to improve their understanding of course material.  As such, homework will not be collected and graded for points. However, it is strongly suggested that students complete the daily homework to the best of their ability. In order to hold students accountable for homework, homework quizzes will be given periodically. These quizzes will contain questions and problems similar to those in the daily homework and will count towards the student’s final grade in the course. Students who show initiative and effort in their homework should, in turn, score higher on the homework quizzes. It is expected that students will put forth effort to do what is needed to master course concepts, as such, some students may elect to complete all, part, or none of the assigned daily homework depending on their level of understanding.

Re-dos and Retakes:  Every student has the opportunity to demonstrate higher mastery of the course material on exams and laboratory reports than was demonstrated on the initial assessment.  Students who want to improve their performance, regardless of the initial score, may participate in the retake and redo process.  The grade on the retake or redo will replace the original score even if it is a lower value.  The ability to participate in this process may be revoked at the discretion of the teacher on a case by case basis. Anyone thought to be manipulating the instructor will not be allowed to the opportunity. It is expected that students will need no more than TWO retakes per semester. Retakes will not be allowed during the final week of grading.

Rationale: The learning of concepts for students may occur at different rates or as a result of different experiences or support.  Since all students will be measured against the content and standards for the subject area, when students demonstrate mastery of the standards is not significant.  For this reason, retakes are allowed for all students and required for those that have failed to meet the minimum competency and mastery requirements of the standards.  As the teacher is the authority in the classroom, the teacher maintains the right to disallow a retake at their discretion determined on a case by case basis. The opportunity to re-do an assignment or retake a test is a privilege, not a right.

How it works: Students will be required to catch themselves up with me and others on their own time.  It requires extra work and effort, but students will be expected to keep up with the current material in the course while participating in a re-do or retake.

          The student must submit to the teacher when asking for a re-do or retake:

1.    A calendar that details deadlines for relearning material and when the re-done lab report will be turned in or when the student will retake a test (Note: Final exams are not included in the retake process)

2.    A plan of action for learning the material. What study techniques or measures (meeting with a tutor, meeting with a teacher, additional completed assignments from the text, etc…) are going to be utilized to better learn the material.

3.    The original version of the assessment with the signature of a parent or guardian.

4.    Submission of a typed essay detailing the mistakes and errors in thinking and process on the first version

Note: The teacher may also request the student to utilize specific activities or measures to improve course understanding.

Late Work: Late work will be accepted without penalty with prior approval from the teacher. It is ultimately your responsibility to turn in assignments on the date they are due. If work is turned in late without prior approval from the teacher there will be consequences. However, these consequences will not result in a lowering of the grade on the assignment but will take the form of a call home, spending some time with me after school (most likely cleaning or washing lab equipment J ), or a Saturday school (for a repeat offender). Remember, homework will not be collected for a grade and most short labs will be done in class. Most of the assignments this will apply to is formal laboratory reports and projects. That means there are not many assignments that will require a deadline and students will be given plenty of notice for due dates. However, if students want to receive feedback on homework they should complete it on the assigned day by the teacher. As with the re-do and retake policy, the nature of the consequence will be up to the discretion of the teacher as will approval for late work with no penalty.

Make-up Work: Per the U-High student handbook: "Students will have one day for each day they are absent to complete make-up work." It is your responsibility to make up all assigned work.  For excused absences, work due on the day missed is due on the day you return. It is your responsibility to check Blackboard for missing assignments and make special arrangements, if necessary, to catch up.  Tests and quizzes are announced in advance.  Missing days after the announcement does not excuse you from taking the test as scheduled.   If missing class because of a planned field trip, sporting event or other school-related activity, assignments are due on the day you are gone and does NOT exempt you from assignments due the next day.

Netbook Expectations: Students are expected to bring their netbook fully charged to class everyday. Students who use the netbooks inappropriately (gaming, social network sites, ESPN, etc.) will be given one warning.  If the behavior continues, the student will lose internet and/or netbook privileges for the class. Continued misuse of the netbook or a violation of the U-High Acceptable Use Policy will result in a referral to the vice principal.

Blackboard: Almost all course information and assignments will be posted in Blackboard.  Students should check Blackboard daily for assignments, announcements, and course materials, especially after absences. 

Lab Practices: All students are expected to observe safety rules and regulations in the laboratory; eye protection will be required during various labs. Horseplay and excessive loudness will not be tolerated. Students should not touch or handle equipment or materials unless you have the instructor’s approval. Following labs and activities students are required to take care of all equipment, return it where it was found, and clean the used laboratory station.

Grading: Various assessments will be given points. The grade received in this course will be reflective of what the student has learned and mastered in the course. It will be composed of laboratory activities, laboratory reports, projects, homework quizzes, unit tests, and final exams.

      

Grading Scale
A = 90%; B = 80%; C = 70%; D = 60%; F = 59% & Below

Academic integrity is a must! All work needs to be your own. While we encourage students to work together for problem solving and learning new concepts, asking for or giving assignments is considered cheating and you will be in violation of the school code for conduct. All instances of academic misconduct will be handled in accordance to school policy.

Please read the following statement and sign and date below.

I have read, reviewed, and agree to the classroom and grading procedures for this course. I also understand that these policies can be subject to change throughout the year should circumstances allow for the improvement of the course.

Student Signature: _____________________________  Date: ______________

Parent or Guardian Signature: ____________________________________________ Date: ______________