Office Hours: Uddo - Thursdays during lunch (room 419) and by apt. when necessary Ferrara- Thursdays during lunch (room 312) and by apt. when necessary
Greetings Scientists and Parents!
It’s finally here, the 2021-2022 school year, your first year as a high school student! This year is sure to be filled with new experiences, new friendships, and lots of learning! I am looking forward to working with you as a group and as individuals.
Grading Policy The grading policy for 8th grade science will be as follows Homework/Classwork 15% Quizzes 25% Tests/Labs/Projects 35% Exam 25% ***During Quarter 1 and 3 an exam will not be given. The 25% allocated for the exam will be distributed proportionally amongst the other categories.
Homework is an important part of keeping up with the content in class; it is imperative that students have homework done by the class period in which it is due. Otherwise, students will fall behind in the material and will not be able participate in the activities for that day. Some homework assignments will be collected and graded for accuracy, other assignments will be checked for completion and reviewed in class.
Homework is posted on the whiteboard daily and students are expected to record this in their agenda upon entering the class within the first five minutes of class starting. For those students who were not able to record the homework during the allowed time (missed class, late to class), it is recorded daily in google classroom under the classwork tab.
Student improvement Our science class will observe a growth mindset in our classroom. If you knew all of the material in the class on the first day, why would you be here? Learning is a constant process. The main objective of the course is to learn the material and master the skills presented. Some topics may be learned with ease, while others could provide a bit of a challenge. It is important that students are using active studying techniques/methods throughout the presentation of the content. We do not offer re-take options in 8th grade science, however, because we do observe a growth mindset, each student is strongly encouraged to make corrections to all assignments and assessments in or out of office hours, on their own or with a teacher in order learn material, clear up misconceptions and master skills from the unit. Extra credit is not offered in 8th grade science.
STUDENT ABSENCES In the case that a student is absent from class or school, the activities for the day including the homework can be found on the classwork tab of google classroom. After the students have checked the calendar, if there are questions regarding the assignments for the day, it is the students responsibility to contact the teacher for clarification on assignments. Missing class because of a school activity (game, performance, shadowing, etc.) or doctors appointment does not exempt you from the assignment due the following day.
***If notes were given in class on the day absent, students are expected to copy the notes from the PowerPoint slides posted in google classroom or from a friend BEFORE coming to class. Students should read through the information so they are prepared to ask questions with the teacher to fill in gaps due to missed class.
If a student is not present on the day of a test/quiz, the test/quiz will be made up during class on Friday of that week. If alternate arrangements are required, the student must contact the teacher before Friday to make other arrangements.
If a student has been absent for multiple class periods before a test/quiz is given, a re-test date will be determined by the teacher and student.
In short If you are absent from class, regardless of reason…
it is your responsibility to check google classroom to see what assignments you missed and what is due
it is your responsibility to make up missed work and hand in what you owe in a timely fashion, talk to your teacher about when they expect an assignment from you if it was not something you could do at home (for example a lab)
It is your responsibility to print missed handouts (from google classroom when applicable) and copy notes for the following class
it is your responsibility to attend office hours, when you don’t understand something because of absence
Science Notebook (binder) It is imperative that students bring their science notebook (binder) with them to class daily. Science notebooks will include class notes, classwork/lab work, assessments. Organization of the notebook is key to student success in the class. The science binder will be divided into sections as follows:
1.) Class notes (printed ppt. presentations, guided notes, hand written notes, also includes "Do now" activities) 2.) Classwork/Handouts 3.) Lab work 4.) Tests and Quizzes
The binder should be organized and all items should be dated. Keeping an organized binder will help with completing and turning in assignments on time and preparation for major assessments.
Communication and Office Hours Please check Power Teacher and google classroom for assignments, announcements, and to keep track of your progress. Parent communication is crucial to the success of middle school students. Email is the best means of communicating with me. I will return your email or phone message as soon as I can, but please be aware that my response may take up to 48 hours.
Ms. Uddo's office hours are Thursday during lunch in room 419 and by appointment.
Mrs. Ferrara's office hours are Thursday during lunch in room 312 and by appointment.
Please advise of your attendance to office hours or request an apt. via email
Late Work Policy Late work is not accepted in 8th Grade Integrated Science. Homework assigned due for the following day is due the following day. The homework assignments that are given should take between 10 and 20 minutes to complete and will not be given EVERY night so it is expected that the assignments are done on time. Checked homework will be collected sometimes and other will be reviewed in class for accuracy. Homework not complete by the start of the class on the due date will not earn credit.
If we are working on a longer assignment, such as a lab, you will be given more than one day to complete the assignment and the due date will be communicated with you when the assignment is given. In addition, the assignment will be broken into pieces throughout each class period to provide pacing of the assignment and ensure the work is completed by the due date. ALL lab work is done in class, not at home. It is important to use class time wisely to complete assignments for their due dates. If you are having trouble completing an assignment it is up to you to communicate with your teacher before the assignment is due. Be prepared to speak with your teacher regarding your progress, and what challenges you faced on the assignment. Extensions will be granted on a case by case basis.
What is integrated science? Integrated science helps students make sense of the natural world and develop an understanding of how the different scientific disciplines (life, earth/space, physical) interact with one another. Students will encounter components of each scientific discipline as they progress through the course, with both the content and practice increasing in rigor, complexity, and sophistication. The goal is to prepare students for the rigorous, discipline-based science experience that awaits them in high school.
Topics covered in Integrated Science Include: Scientific Practices Atoms and Molecules Energy Transfer Rocks and Minerals Geoscience processes Natural Resources and Hazards Human Impacts on Earth Earth's History Evidence of Common Ancestry and Diversity Adaptations Growth and Development of Organisms Inheritance of Traits
Classroom Procedures As soon as you enter the room, you should take your seat. Take out writing supplies, and notebook (binder). Your book-bag needs to be under the table; it must be out of the way for safety precautions. Pencils should be sharpened before class starts.
Agenda/Recording Homework Homework is posted on the white board every day. Students are given 5 minutes at the beginning of class to write down homework. If for some reason the student does not record the homework, (they are late, they are in the bathroom, etc.,) the homework is posted daily on the classwork tab in google classroom.
Restroom Students have FIVE minutes to pass between classes, this is the time that the bathroom should be utilized. Students should come to class immediately after one class, drop of books/bag etc., and then use the restroom. They should be on time despite using the restroom. Students are only allowed to leave during class to use the restroom in an emergency. If a student leaves to use the bathroom during class, they should give you their cell phone
Cell Phones Should be kept in book bags always, unless permission granted by teacher to use it for academic purposes. Students are NOT allowed to use phones to listen to music During a test or quiz, students should remove phones from their backpacks, place them face down on the table outside of their testing dividers- CELL PHONES MUST BE POWERED OFF
Food/Snacks Due to COVID snacks are not permitted in class except at the start of your third block class. The snack should be consumed in the first 10 minutes of class and any messes, crumbs or small spills should be cleaned up. These snacks MAY NOT be shared. The snacks should be reasonable—that is a piece of fruit, nuts, a bag of chips/pretzels. Snacks should not be things that require dipping or “making", candy is not considered a snack. The only allowed drink is water.
Collaboration When conducting group activities around the classroom, always stay with your group, no wandering. When doing whole class activities around the room, be sure to conduct yourself responsibly. Those students who cannot work productively with a group of peers will be asked to come during office hours to work with the teacher to complete class work. In some situations, students who cannot follow safety rules will be referred to the dean.
COVID protocols/ending class When entering the classroom, sanitize hands and always wear a mask. Maintain 3 feet social distance when inside the classroom, 6 feet social distancing in the hallways and outside.
End of class: The last five minutes of class will be designated for clean up/sanitation. If there are baskets/bins on the table for a lab activity, they should look the same as they did when you entered the classroom. **Remember, these are community supplies and it may not be your fault the previous class didn’t do their job, but it is your responsibility during your class period to make sure it is organized.
Student should clean tables with spray and paper towels before leaving the class. After packing up, everyone should stand up, push chairs all the way under the table, stand directly in his or her spot and check floor for trash or forgotten items. If items need to be thrown in the trash, please do so on your way out. When moving in the hallways; follow the COVID directions on the floor and more quietly.
Once you have reviewed the policies and procedures, please complete the signature page (both parent and student) on the form that was given to you in class. This document is due no later than Monday 8/16/2021. ****This will count as your first graded homework/classwork assignment. Late assignments will not be accepted.