About+Science+and+Social+Studies

I am so excited to be teaching Science and Social Studies this year. We are doing great things and having so much fun learning.

Formal Assessments: Homework: used to assess level of understanding of concepts taught during class time. Homework is considered a responsibility of the student. Homework is not graded for correctness, but is marked as being complete or incomplete.
 * || Daily Schedule ||
 * 7:50 - 8:45 || Homeroom/Science (Gilbert's Homeroom) ||
 * 8:45 - 9:30 || Activity (P.E. rotation/Performing Arts) ||
 * 9:30 - 10:25 || Science (Orberg's Homeroom) ||
 * 10:25 - 11:10 || Activity (P.E. rotation/Performing Arts) ||
 * 11:10 - 12:05 || Science (Smith's Homeroom) ||
 * 12:05 - 1:00 || Lunch and Recess (on a rotation) ||
 * 1:00 - 1:55 || Science (Barnes' Homeroom) ||
 * 1:55 - 2:45 || Social Studies (Gilbert's Homeroom) ||
 * 2:45 || Pack up and dismissal begins ||

Quizzes: used during the teaching of concepts to measure understanding; usually given once a week. Quizzes are fairly short using multiple choice, word banks, prompts, and short answers.

Tests: used to determine level of mastery of concepts; given at the end of a unit or when a specific skill hass been thoroughly taught. Tests offer a variety of answering methods that prepare students for PASS testing.

Projects: used to help students think "outside the box." Provides hands-on learning of concepts. A project-specific rubric and/or checklist is used to score projects. Students will be given rubrics at the beginning of projects.

Academic Journals: AJ's are kept for all notes, activities, and other information. In Science, students will use a composition notebook. In Social Studies, students will use paper folders on each unit.

Lab Folders: Students will keep a Science Lab folder for all experiments and activities that we do in class.

Informal Assessments: Oral Questioning, student conferencing, small groups, observations, peer-checking, academic journals/binders, daily work, tickets out the door, and other summarizing activities

Grading System: Tests and quizzes are scored using a 100 percent scale. Topic-specific and project-specific rubrics are used with point values that equal 100%.

All grades are averaged using the format below to calculate class grades. These grades will be sent home twice each nine weeks - midterms are sent home 4 1/2 weeks into the nine weeks period and report cards are sent home at the end of each nine weeks grading period.

Student progress reports, graded work, and behavior reports will be sent home weekly. Teacher comments, graded assignments, student work habits, and conduct will be recorded for you to review.

Science and Social Studies grading scale: Tests/Projects: 40% Quizzes: 25% Classwork/Notebook: 25% Participation/Homework: 10%

District Grading Scale: 100 - 93: A 92 - 85: B 84 - 77: C 76 - 70: D Below 70: Unsatisfactory

Student Behavior: Student Expectations: 1. Follow all school expectations as stated in the school handbook. 2. Come to all classes prepared and ready to learn. 3. Respect your environment, teachers, and peers. 4. Follow directions the first time they are given. 5. Raise your hand before talking and getting out of your seat. Behavior Information was sent home at the beginning of the year and can also be found in the student agenda. Students also have a weekly report in which they record any Beech Bucks for the day. An Incentive menu is found on the back of the report. Parent Communication:

A newsletter will be sent home once a month that contains upcoming events, units of study, classroom news, student work, pictures of classroom activities, upcoming assignments and projects, announcements, and good news!Each child will have an agenda. Students will write daily/weekly homework in the agenda as well as important due dates and test dates. Parents are asked to initial agendas each night so that I know parents are aware of these things. This is in addition to signing the behavior report for each day. The agenda is also a great communication tool - feel free to write notes for your child's teacher. Also, check for notes written from the teacher!If you have email, please make sure we have it on hand. This is a great communication tool. It's very easy for me to type an email quickly during the day - sometimes I have a hard time getting to the phone! Email is a great way for us to keep in touch. Email me! Phone calls will be returned during my planning periods (when students are in activity) or after school. Please feel free to leave messages with the front office or on my voicemail; however, please be aware that there may be a delay in returning your phone call depending on the time of day. Other Procedures:

Students will be given restrooom breaks periodically throughout the day. If needed, students may be permitted to leave class for the restroom. However, students may not leave during whole class instruction unless it's an emergency. Students must sign in and out if they leave the room for the restroom or at any other time.

Students may have water bottles with water. Please limit this to water in case of spills.

Students may have a snack during their second academic class (9:30). We ask that students bring nutritional snacks. Please refrain from bringing messy snacks and/or chocolate, snack cakes, etc.

Students are expected to bring materials to class. They will always need paper, sharpened pencils, and a book!Students are expected to behave politely in the classroom, hallway, cafeteria, and at recess. We must show respect to all peers and adults.