This is a tenth grade biology classroom.

We will be covering many topics throughout the semester as we explore the study of life. Some main topics of the year are evolution, cell types, ecosystems and cellular processes. For a list of standards that we will cover feel free to explore the State Standards website: http://wveis.k12.wv.us/Teach21/public/cso/popUp.cfm. I have high expectations for this classroom. I expect students to come to class prepared, on time, and with an attitude to learn. See classroom rules for greater detail. My classroom will be a positive environment to explore science. I will not tolerate bullying. Science is a course where failure is not to be laughed or mocked, because we will learn from all of our failures. Without failure some of the greatest discoveries would have gone undiscovered. Binders: Students will be required to keep an organized notebook that I will collect through the semester for participation points. The 3- ring binder will include four sections; Bellringers/Exit tickets, Notes, Assignments, and Lab procedures. At the beginning of each class students are to get settled in their seats and begin the Bellringer. Bellringers are one-two questions that are designed to refresh or prepare for the upcoming lesson. An agenda for the day will be provided on the board, students will not be required to list this with the bellringers but it is encouraged. I will provide students with guided notes to be used for following along in lecture, this will be a wonderful study material. Students are encouraged to add to these notes. All assignments are to be placed in the assignment section of binder. Some assignments will not be graded until I collect notebooks. Finally is the Lab section of the notebook, within this section students will place all materials that are related to the experiments we perform. This can include but not limited to self-assessment, pre-lab and post lab questions and lab procedures. Assignments: Assignments are due at assigned times of the class period. Any work submitted after the due date is considered late. I will accept late work for a reduced grade of 10% per day late. I will not except work after the completion of the unit. Plan according, I will provide a detailed tentative homework outline. I have created a website: mskinkeadscienceclass.weebly.com where all materials for the class can be found. I will update this site as needed, and will be a great resource for our classroom. Check the website for concerns about homework assignments. Make up work is the students responsibility, I will have updated homework assignments on the web page and available within a binder in the front of the room. Students will have the number of days they missed to make up work. (Example if a student misses one week of class they will have one week to make up missed work).

Exams: There will be an exam at the end of every unit. Make up exams will only be given to excused absences that have been cleared with me prior to the exam. Exams may not be made up after the tests are return, unless in extreme circumstances. I will give five tests and eight quizzes. I will replace your lowest test score with the five quiz scores or give all five test score and drop the quiz grade. The tentative units for the semester are as follows: Unit One: Cells Unit Two: Chromosomes Unit Three: Genetics Unit Four: Natural Selection Unit Five: Ecosystems. Extra Credit: I will only provide extra credit to the entire class. At the time of assigning the task I will provide details to what is to be included in the assignment. One assignment is already posted on the website. You can only acquire 20 points of extra credit per nine weeks. Grading: This will be a point based class. Exams will be a 100 points each equaling 500 points total. There will be eight quizzes worth 12.5 points each, equaling 100 points. I will either drop your quiz grades or your lowest exam. So your Exam + quiz scores will equal 500 points. Lab reports (6 labs) will be worth 50 points totaling 300 points. Notebooks are worth a 100 points to be collect as I see fit but the current plan 400 points. Participation will be worth 400 points, this will be obtained through exit tickets, homework and in class activities. *this is subject to change depending on time constraints of the classroom.* A= 93-100% B=85-92% C=75-84% D=65-74% F=0-64% 1488 - 1600pnts 1360 1487pnts 1200 1359pnts 1040 1199pnts 0 1039pnts

Safety Contracts: Safety contracts are a mandatory portion of this class, though we may not be in the laboratory often safety is of utmost importance to me. All lab sciences should require some form of safety portion. I choose to focus on safety, incorporating it in many lessons throughout the semester. If a student breaks the safety contract, they will be dismissed from the lab room and not allowed to make up missed points for that lab. If it is a constant behavior issue I reserve the right to permanently remove the student from the lab, which will result in loss of points. I have the safety

of my students in mine with this, so please read the contract thoroughly. I am more than willing to discuss the contract if you have any questions. Contact: I can be contacted through email at akinkead@mix.wvu.edu at any time, and will try to respond within twenty four hours. You may also call the school at 304-367-2150. Please note that messages left at the front desk may take a while to reach me so this is not the optimum form of contact. I will also be posting updated information on the website and live grades.

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_____________________________ Guardian Signature

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