Tracy Taft
Welcome to Biology
Biology is a study of life - which includes everything at SHG - every student, parent and faculty member.
It will be a challenging and exciting year for all of us. I look forward to getting to know each of you.
Materials:
Required: Book, 3 Ring Binder, Pocket Folder, Spiral Notebook, Pencils/Pens, Safety Glasses
Suggested: 3-hole punch to keep in binder
Rules:
1. No food, drink, gum or candy is allowed.
2. Be in class on time, tardy detentions will be given - no exceptions.
3. Be prepared for class everyday. Bring all of your materials.
4. Always be in dress code. No Exceptions - Detentions will be given.
5. Be courteous and respectful to class members at all time. Disrespect will not be tolerated at any level.
6. Do not play with the sinks, drawers, or gas valves. They are not toys, or garbage cans, they are lab equipment.
7. All students will be required to sign and follow a lab safety contract. Breaking the rules of this contract will eliminate the students’ participation from the lab and give them a zero for the days lab work.
Assignments:
1. NO LATE ASSIGNMENTS! - NO EXCEPTIONS! - Homework is due upon request, no later (not even at the end of class, the same day).
2. Do your own work, ALWAYS - Academic Dishonesty Will Not Be Tolerated.
3. Binders/Notebooks - ALL assignments must be kept for the entire quarter, along with a grade page. Tests and quizzes must also be kept and tests must be corrected and Ok’d by me by the specific date given (within 1 week of receiving the test back). This Ok'd date is the last date possible and if you are absent for any reason, the last day of corrections, you should have been prepared earlier. You will not get an extension for corrections. The work will be late and not accepted. These corrected tests are for your benefit. The final exam questions come udentically off the old tests, you should have all of the answers corrected and Ok'd by me to assure accuracy. This will be your only reference material for your final exam.
***This notebook/binder, with the required grade page, safety sheet, corrected tests, and assignments will be turned in at the end of each quarter for 100 points (the equivalent of 1 test grade). Each missing assignment deducts 5 points from the total, each test not ok’d or missing safety sheet deducts 10 points and a missing test deducts 20 points. 10 points will be deducted if materials are not 3-whole punched.
The due date of the binder will be posted each quarter. You are responsible to turn it in on that date. No exceptions! If you are sick the day before the binder is due, you have 1 extra day or the number of days you were sick to get it ready to turn in, however it is your responsibility.
***At the end of each semester, all tests must be turned in before the student may begin the semester exam. For each missing test, at this point, 20 points (for each test) - 10 points for each questions sheet and 10 points for each answer sheet - will be deducted from the semester or final exam grade.
Absences
1. It is the students sole responsibility to get missed assignments. Assignments can be foundon Renweb and on the board. Any unexcused absences will result in a zero for that days class work. Labs will not be made up.
2. Excused absences:
Medical - Every day you are absent, you will have that many days to complete the makeup work for full credit. If you fail to make up work in the allotted time, it will be considered late and be given a zero.
*** If a student is absent for class and is at school or returns to school anytime during that day, they are responsible for that days work. The student will be expected to be ready with whatever assignment the class had. This includes all work - tests, quizzes, daily work or binder.
Non-Medical/Personal Days - Students will need to get assignments ahead of any scheduled absence and complete them by the assigned time. If a test or quiz is given the day the student returns, he/she will be expected to take it with the class. If a test/quiz is given during the time of absence, the student will take it the first day upon returning.
3. Lab Make Up:
Because some lab materials are live or perishable, making up labs in a timely manner is critical. In the case of a personal absence, vacation, or nonmedical absence, the lab make up will not be allowed. The point value of this lab however will not be used in determining your grade. It will be eliminated. However, the student will still be responsible for any material covered on that lab or in class during the lab. It will be their responsibility to get the information covered. In the case of a medical absence on a lab day, every attempt will be made to schedule a make up, however the student must make that assignment a priority. If a lapse of time occurs before the lab is made up a zero will be given.
Grading Policy
1. Grades are based on a point system. Approximately 1000 points per quarter. Grades may be calculated by dividing the number of points you earned by the total number of points available.
2. You will keep track of your own grades, in your binder on your grade page and have your current average at all times. Your grade should be compared to the grades found in Renweb. Grades are updated daily. If you notice an error, please let me know as soon as possible so that we can correct the mistake.
3. Letter grades will be assigned according to the schools grading scale. If a quarter grade ends in a .5 or higher, it will be rounded to the next highest percentage.
4. Semester grades will be averaged 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.
Appointment Times
1. I am available in my room from 3:00-3:30 after school or before school with an appointment.
2. You are welcome to come in for help during my free periods only, do not interrupt another class or leave one of your classes for additional help.
Final Words
1. I reserve the right to make exceptions to the above rules. However, Do Not Count On Being The Exception, Count on the Rule.
2. If you want to be successful in Biology - The key is to study nightly 10-15 minutes.
TOPICS COVERED (but not limited to)
First Semester
Lab Safety & Scientific Method
Chemical Equations & pH
Cellular Structures
Membranes and Cellular Transport
Photosynthesis
Cellular Respiration
Cell Division
Second Semester
Plant Structures and Processes
Genetics
Genetic Mutations
DNA & Protein Synthesis
DNA Technology
Evolution
Animals - Vert/Invert, Dissection
