Biology Class Policies
2011-2012
Mrs. Brayfield
Appointment Times: 3:00-3:30 PM M-F. Also available for student help before school from approximately 7:15 AM on but availability varies dependent on lab set-up for the day. Please check!!
I have hall supervision both before and after school on Tuesday but I can be found in the hallway of the science wing during those times for help/questions. Supervision is approximately 7:40 AM until bell and after school until 3:15 PM.
e-mail address: brayfield@shg.org
Assignments,etc. listed at Renweb website.

MATERIALS required in addition to textbook: 3 ring binder (1.5 inch) to keep all handouts; pencils; pens (blue or black ink only); loose-leaf paper or notebook; safety goggles, pocket folder to leave in room for tests.
Bring them to class everyday with your textbook. You won’t be going back to your locker for them.

GRADING: Important-I do NOT do total points. The overall nine weeks grade for a student will be determined based on category weighting as shown below:
Test average=50% Homework average=20% Lab grade average=20%; Quiz average = 10%

Example: James has the following averages: Test=86% Homework=92% Lab=90%; Quiz average=91%
Grade determination: 86 x .5 = 43
92 x .2 = 18.4
90 x .20 = 18
91 x .1 = 9.1
9 weeks average = 88.5 which will round to 89%

The grading scale used for Biology classes will be that listed in the student handbook.

Extra credit: No extra credit will be given unless it is something that is made available to the entire class. An extra credit opportunity will be given once each month up to a maximum of 2 per nine weeks. This will require that the student reads a specified article in Scientific American magazine for Honors Biology and AP Biology, and Discover magazine for Biology and then takes a summary quiz over the article. This magazine article can be accessed by going online through various subscription services which will be explained in class. The assigned article will be made known at least 1 week in advance of the quiz time. This quiz will be given only once per article. Anyone wanting to take advantage of this will have to be there that one specified time. To give everyone a chance to take advantage, one month of each nine weeks it will be given before school and the next month it will be given after school. NO EXCEPTIONS for: Doctor’s appointments, illness, work, etc; these do not qualify as excusable in this case! If you will be gone for a school activity, see me prior to the quiz time to make arrangements otherwise, you will not be allowed to take it.

The semester grade will be determined based on percentages. The first and second nine weeks percentage grade will each count 3/8(.375) and the semester exam percentage grade will be 1/4(.25) of the overall semester grade.

Example: James has the following grades. First 9 weeks=93% Second 9 weeks=88% Semester exam=96%

93 x .375 = 34.88
88 x .375 = 33
96 x .25 = 24
91.88 which would round to a 92

STUDY SESSIONS: Before each chapter test, a study session will be held after school for 30 minutes before school the day of the test. If my schedule allows, an after school session will also be held until 3:30 PM the day before the test. These are OPTIONAL. If my other class is having a test the same day, there may have to be some revision of these times on that occasion to accommodate a study session for them as well. Passes will be given to students who have athletic practices or music class who want to attend.

HOMEWORK AND LAB INFORMATION:

All papers that are turned in MUST have your first and last names; date turned in, class period, and assigned student number. Papers without this information will have a 2 pt. deduction and will go into an unknown owner folder. Any paper that goes into this folder will only be recorded for a grade if you retrieve it and show it to me.
HOMEWORK: Homework is due when called for by the teacher. Any paper that is not passed in at that time is considered late. Late assignments automatically start at 50% of the original point value. A paper can only be turned in one day late. After that, it is recorded as a zero. Never just put a paper on my desk without making me aware of it; I won’t count it. Bring homework to class with you as you will not be allowed to go back to your locker for it.

LABORATORY WORK: Students will work in groups and will be expected to follow all safety rules as discussed. Failure to comply will result in removal of the student from the lab and a zero grade for that work. The student will not be allowed into the lab again until a conference is held with the parent(s), student, teacher, and administration.

Grades on lab work will be determined by the number of questions/work on the final report plus a participation grade based on lab skills and involvement. Some reports will consist of data collected and questions to be answered based on this while others will be full lab “write up.” Guidelines will be given for the writing of these as well as a rubric on how they will be graded. Formal lab reports must be submitted to www.turnitin.com as well as a hard copy turned in at the beginning of class. Complete sentences are required except when an answer is a fill in the blank. Late lab reports will be accepted but will automatically lose one letter grade per day. Reports will not be accepted after they are beyond 4 days late.


ABSENCES AND MAKE-UP WORK: You are EXPECTED to check the assignments on the internet as well as come to school early the day that you return to see about scheduling make-up work or obtaining handouts. This is critical because in the case of some labs, materials do not last for very long. Since I have only 49 minutes a day to work with an entire class, do NOT plan on talking about make up work during class time. Failure to see me before school will cause that lab/homework assignment to be subjected to the penalties described in the appropriate sections in this handout. If you will miss class for a school related activity, you must see me before leaving for the event. The assignment will still be due at the same time as the rest of the class. Anything due in the class that you will miss must be turned in before you leave for the school event or it will be considered late.
It is your responsibility to remember to turn in work to me the day that it would be due for you. If you forget, it is late.


MEDICAL ABSENCE: Students will be given a day for each day missed to do work. For extended absences, a schedule will be worked out between the student and teacher. If an assignment of any type was made prior to the absence, the student is still responsible for completion of that on the scheduled date. This includes taking tests-see the student handbook section on this.

If a student returns to school anytime during the day that he/she missed Biology, he/she needs to come that day for assignments. The student will be expected to be ready with what ever assignment the class had.

Always check the assignment section on the chalkboard. Just because I don’t call your individual attention to it is not an excuse. If it calls for a handout and you don’t have it, ask me!

NONMEDICAL/VACATION/PERSONAL DAY: Students will need to get assignments ahead of any scheduled absence and complete them by the assigned time given. If a quiz or test is given the day a student returns, he/she will be expected to take it with the class. If a quiz/test is given during the time of the absence, the student will take it the first day upon returning. No tests/quizzes will be given before the student leaves.

See the student handbook concerning the required notification time for a non-medical/vacation absence and realize it is my job to enforce school policy.

LAB MAKE-UP: Because some lab materials are live or perishable, making up labs in a timely manner is critical. In the case of personal absences/ vacation, lab make-up will not be allowed but the score for that activity will not be included when determining the lab grade. In this way, a student’s grade is not hurt. Each student will still be responsible for the concept that the lab was over so you must ask a classmate or me about it. Make sure you take care of this before you are scheduled to take the test. In the case of a medical absence on a lab day, every attempt will be made to schedule a make-up lab. The student must see me the day he/she returns to school to schedule a make-up time or the lab will be considered unexcused and will not be made up.


UNEXCUSED ABSENCE: A zero will be given for anything completed during that time.

Use of Moodle: Moodle is an open source software system that I will be using to complement reading assignments that will be given. You will be instructed on how to set up a Moodle account. In some cases, individuals have had trouble accessing this from a home computer due to individual security settings. If this is the case, you must come to school and do the work on a school computer before school or make sure you use a school computer in study hall to do the work before class.

HOW TO SUCCEED: Contrary to popular notion, I believe you have homework every night even if there is no written assignment due!!! Biology is like studying a foreign language, and you must comprehend that language. Look over your notes every night. The value of putting in 15-20 minutes just going over the day’s information cannot be overemphasized.

Be responsible. Copying a written assignment may help you “win the battle, but lose the war.” You might get those homework points but you won’t understand the concept when it comes test time, and test average counts more in your overall grade! Plus, academic dishonesty applies to homework and lab reports as well as copying on tests-look at your student handbook for the consequences!!!

Organization: Don’t use your book as a holding place for papers. Put papers in your 3 ring binder. Lost papers are the same as late papers. If you need another copy, you will have to pay to have a copy made in the library.

Participation: Get involved in class discussion! Don’t be hesitant to participate-this is easier to do when you have studied your notes and done the assigned readings.


GENERAL INFORMATION:

1. The dress code will be enforced. There are no warnings-read the policy in your student handbook. Don’t come into class with your shirt tail out!!!!

2. No hair combing, or applying make-up.

3. If the teacher is not in the classroom after 5 minutes from when the bell has rung, a student will go to Mrs. McHenry’s room by way of the connecting door so that she may watch both rooms and contact the office for assistance.

4. You will receive a tardy if you are not in your seat when the bell rings. See student handbook.

5. All school rules are expected to be adhered to in the classroom.

6. . You will be given 1 pass to be used for the restroom or locker-not both-each nine weeks. Use it wisely. Only in the case of an emergency (or with a doctor’s note) will a student be excused to the restroom during class.

7. Students will be asked to sign and follow a lab safety contract.

8. If you have the need to have a water bottle in class, you must have the office put an initialed sticker to indicate this need. Otherwise, you will have to pitch it.

9. Bring your passbook to class with you everyday. I will not write a pass for you if you don’t have it. You are NOT allowed to borrow someone else’s.

10. Anyone who vandalizes the desks will be expected to repair the damage. I have pictures and videotape of the current appearance of the desk faces and will be checking them for damage. If you notice damage done from a previous class, it is your responsibility to let me know about it to protect yourself from possible consequences.

11. First hour students: After an absence, you must come with an admit slip from the office. If you do not have one, you will be sent back; if this causes you to be late for the beginning of class, you will receive a tardy.