Renewed Effort at Updating

Okay parents... I promise to do better updating this semester. I have made this my homepage so that should help. I will make sure that test dates and major projects are always on the calendars below. I will try to make sure that the daily activities of each unit are up before we begin that unit. Note that I do not put every small assignment on the calendar. Due dates are always written on the board with the respective assignment. Students are responsible for writing down due dates for these smaller assignments

Bio & Pre AP (blue), AP Bio (red)

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Pre-AP Bio Syllabus

  1. Purpose: The purpose of this class is to give you a slightly more in depth survey of life science. Furthermore, the purpose of a pre-AP class is to prepare you for a college level biology course (either AP Biology in high school or Principles of Biology in college). We will examine subjects as small as basic molecules like water, as large as the entire biosphere (all the areas on Earth that contain life), and every level in between. This course is the only science course that is specifically required and the only science course with an end of course exam. Therefore, you must pass this course and you must either pass the EOC exam or go through remediation next year.

  1. Rules: All of the rules from your student handbook will apply to this classroom. My classroom principals will be posted in the room. These are intentionally broad and generally address how you are expected to act in this classroom. There are other rules which we will discuss on the first day of school. These rules address more specific behaviors such as texting/phone calls (yes, students have attempted to place phone calls during my class), wandering around the classroom, interrupting instruction, and throwing objects. These rules will be made clear. Generally, minor rules will be enforced with a “three strikes you’re out” policy. Major rules will be enforced according to the handbook.

  1. Grades: This course is not weighted through any type of computer program. Tests are worth 100 points. Projects range from 40-100 points. Quizzes, labs, and article reviews range from 20-40 points. Class work and homework ranges from 5-20 points. Cheating (or letting someone cheat off of you) will earn you 0 points and a trip to the Assistant Principal. You will get the grade you earn – nothing more, nothing less.

  1. Make-up opportunities: There will be dates throughout each quarter for you to re-take any test that you want. These will usually be Fridays. You will have to sign up for the test you would like to re-take by the afternoon before the re-take day. Re-takes will be given before or after school or during A lunch, not during class periods. Each quarter you will be allowed to drop two homework assignments. You will be allowed to choose which assignments to drop during the last week of that quarter.

  1. Late work: Late work will be accepted for a week after the due date for half credit. After one full week that assignment will remain a zero. Excused absences will be handled according to your handbook.

  1. Calendar: A basic calendar will be posted on my blog at pghsbio.blogspot.com. This blog can also be found in the faculty profiles on the high school website. This calendar will contain daily lessons, homework, test dates, quiz dates, and due dates for article reviews and projects.

  1. Contact information: Your parents can call me before or after school or during my prep period (10:31-11:19, every day except Wednesdays). They may also email me at darren.chandler@pgtigers.org. I will attempt to contact each of your parents throughout the year. I will also post important message on my blog: pghsbio.blogspot.com. Your parents are welcome to become a member and post messages as well. You (pre-AP students) will be required to become a member and post response to prompts throughout the year.

  1. Labs/Activities: We will have lab activities on at least a weekly basis (except for the occasional shortened week). During these lab activities any behavior deemed as “horseplay” will result in a referral to the Assistant Principal. There are simply too many opportunities for injury during lab activities. Consider this your warning.

  1. Materials: Each student will need the following:

Lab Notebook: MUST be a Composition Notebook (40 cents at Wal-Mart)

A three-ring binder-1” or larger

Notebook paper

Dividers (optional)

Blue or black ink pens

A colored ink pen for grading

A science related novel (2nd Semester, you may get this from the library)

  1. Schedule of Units:

First Nine Weeks

§ The Nature of Science – Test Date: August 26

§ Ecology – Test Date: September 16

§ Biochemistry - Test Date: September 30

§ begin Cells

Second Nine Weeks

§ finish Cells - Test Date: October 21

§ Genetics - Test Date:November 21

§ Genetic Disorder Project – Presented December 7 through 9

§ Semester Exam: December 19 through 21

Third Nine Weeks

§ Evolution and Classification - Test Date: January 20

§ Microbes and Fungi - Test Date: February 10

§ Plants - Test Date: March 2

§ Intro to Animals – Quiz Date – March 14

Fourth Nine Weeks

§ Invertebrates - Test Date: April 6

§ Biology End of Course: April 24 & 25

§ Vertebrates & Diseections

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