Biology CP & Biology HP 2012-2013 Course Syllabus Santa Monica High School

Instructor: Ms. Vampola Room S200 Phone #: 310-395-3204 ext. 71220 Email: [email protected] Website: sites.google.com/sites/vampolabiology Textbook: Prentice Hall Biology Office Hours: Lunch Monday Wednesday - Friday; 3:15-4:00 pm by appointment Welcome to SAMOHI! My name is Ms. Vampola, and we will be working together this year. In this syllabus, I will outline briefly what you can expect from me this year and what I expect from you. Specifically, I hope to help students develop their understanding of Biology, as well as their analytical and critical thinking skills in preparation for future science courses and advanced placement tests. Please read this carefully with your parents. If there is anything that you do not understand, or if you have questions about anything, please contact me (email is preferable) for clarification. Course Introduction: This year-long course is structured to address the California Content Standards for Biology and will provide building blocks for lifelong learning as well as many hands-on laboratory experiences, with a focus on student learning through scientific inquiry. Topics that will be studied include cell biology, physiology, genetics, evolution and ecology. Students will have opportunities to do individual and group assignments, laboratory experiments, critical thinking activities, research reports and various types of science projects that connect their newly acquired knowledge to real-life experiences. Students will also work to improve their scientific literacy skills. Emphasis will be placed on laboratory safety, understanding the nature of science and questioning process that is the heart of scientific inquiry. It will be a very exciting year! Expectations: My first priority is providing a safe, student-oriented learning environment. I expect students to conduct themselves responsibly, courteously and to be accountable for their own actions and academic success. Our class rules include the following expectations for all students: Be Prompt. Be in your seat, quiet and ready to work when the bell begins to ring. Be Prepared. Have all supplies, textbook and completed homework with you. Be Productive. Begin work immediately and stay on task. Do your best work. Be Polite. Show respect to your fellow classmates and to your teacher. Be Positive. Have a positive attitude. Take pride in your classroom, your classmates and yourself. Supplies: These supplies should be brought to class every day.

A. 1 inch binder (only for Biology) Keep this organized for binder checks part of your participation grade B. 5 section dividers: 1. Warm-ups 2. Test/Quizzes 3. Labs 4. Assignments 5. Class notes C. Notebook paper D. Dark Blue or Black ink pens (No other color ink may be used for science course work) E. Pencil, eraser and covered sharpener (mechanical pencils allowed) F. Colored pencils G. Highlighter H. Glue stick I. Scissors If you are unable to purchase the needed materials, please let me know so that accommodations can be made confidentially. Attendance: Regular attendance and punctuality are critical for the learning process. A student is to be marked tardy if he or she is not seated and at work when the bell rings. We will have frequent lab activities, group discussions and group decisionmaking. The learning dynamic of these group activities provides a depth of understanding that cannot be duplicated for absent students. If you are absent: 1. Get the agenda and class work from a reliable friend, or from me at lunch. You are responsible for any information presented on the day of your absence. Be sure to hand in any assignments due the day of your absence on the day that you return to school. 2. Obtaining and completing makeup work is your responsibility. 3. Make-up quizzes and tests will be given during lunch or by appointment for the number of days of your excused absence. Failure to make-up tests and quizzes promptly will result in a grade of zero. 4. Laboratory activities are difficult to make-up. If you miss a lab, make-up activities may be determined on an individual basis. PLEASE DO NOT MISS BIOLOGY CLASS! Homework: Homework will be assigned based upon the needs of the students in meeting the course objectives. Students will also be expected to finish any work started in class unless otherwise directed. Homework will be collected at the beginning of class the day it is due. Late work:If you have an excused absence, you have one day for each day of absence to complete the missed assignments for full credit. I will accept assignments a few days late, up until the assignment is handed back to the class, for partial credit. Credit will not be given once the assignment has been passed back to the class. Students need to make arrangements with me if an exception is needed. Long-term projects are due as assigned without exception. On days when no specific homework is assigned in Biology, I expect you to review your vocabulary terms and notes or read for at least 15 minutes every day. This process will help you to learn the material for class discussions and tests. Evaluation: Tests, laboratory work, class work, homework and quizzes are evaluated on a point system. Course grades are evaluated based on a percentage of the total points possible:

Tests & Quizzes: 35% (45% for HP) Labs: 25% (25% for HP) Classwork/ Homework: 25% (20% for HP) Participation: 15% (10% for HP) Based on binder checks, warm-up completion, participating in class. Letter Grade A B C D F Percentage 90-100 80-89 70-79 60-69 Below 60