MRS. LAUX

Science Office phone number: 914.243.8082

Classroom Requirements:

1. Students are expected to understand that all rules set forth by the school, the science department, and the classroom are done so in the best interest of the student. Students who abide by these rules will generally be met with an interesting and educational classroom experience.

Students are expected to be in the biology classroom, on time, for every class and laboratory period. Lateness is not tolerated and will result in time after school ninth period, either the day of the lateness or the day after.

Any student who is absent must bring in their readmission slip on the day that he or she returns. Failure to bring in a readmit pass will result in a “cut” and a zero for all work completed on the day of the absence.

Students are always expected to come prepared for class and for lab. Items to bring to class are listed in the preparation requirements found below.

Cheating and/or plagiarism will not be tolerated. Any student who is caught cheating will automatically be given a failing grade for the assignment. This rule applies to the copying of lab reports and homework as well as cheating on a test or lab practical.

Academic Requirements:

A student’s quarter grade is broken down as follows:

60% Exams

15% Labs, Lab Quizzes, and Projects

10% Quizzes

10% Homework

5% Participation

1. Exams:

Exams will be given at the end of each unit. These exams may encompass one to four chapters, depending on the unit. Each exam may include multiple choice questions, short answers, diagrams, charts, graphs, and essays to simulate the end of year exam. The students will have 40 minutes to complete the exam, unless a student has 504 accommodations.

(1) The free-response and essay questions are a very important part of the Regents exam. Students should be able to make connections between topics, apply information that they have learned, and be able to analyze and interpret facts based on the information that they have acquired. These questions assess the ability for students to meet these higher level thinking skills.

(2) Missed exams must be made up within one week from the time the student returns to class. Make-up exams will be more difficult, as the student will have had extra time to prepare for it. If an exam is not made up within one week, a zero will be given and no other opportunity for make-up will be available. It is the student’s responsibility to remember and schedule missed work and exams.

(3) On an exam day, coming to class without a pencil and pen and borrowing one from the teacher, will result in the student’s exam score being lowered by one letter grade. Come prepared. Bring a pencil!!!

At the end of each quarter, a cumulative exam will be given. These quarterly exams will test all of the information that the students have learned from the first day of school. Each quarterly exam will count as 20% of that quarter’s grade.

Labs:

Labs are done each week either on Tuesday or Thursday. The students have a double period in which to complete the laboratory assignment. Failure to complete the assignment in the allotted time will result in the students having to come in after school to gather their data.

Lab reports are due (at the beginning of class) one week from the day that they are first assigned, unless otherwise stated. In other words, students will always have a lab report due either on Tuesday or Thursday from the week before. Any student who is absent on the day that the lab is due still only has until the following Tuesday or Thursday to make up and complete the lab due to the perishable nature of our specimens. Labs can be made up only until the day that they are due. A student who fails to make up the lab within this time constraint will receive a zero for the lab. Accommodations will be made for students who are absent for extended periods of time.

Late lab reports will be penalized as follows:

(1) one day late – lose one letter grade

(2) two days late – ½ credit will be given

(3) After three days, a zero is entered into the grade book. The student can complete the lab up until the last day of the quarter and receive half credit for the lab.

About one-quarter to one-third of the lab reports that the student completes over the course of the year will be formal lab reports. This means that the student must type up the report following a certain format through which they can present their data and conclusions. Reports that are handed in informally will be handed back to the student, not graded, and considered late. An outline of a formal laboratory report will be given and explained in class.

New YorkState requires that students complete 1200 minutes of laboratory work in order to sit for the Regents plus 4 state mandated labs. No student can enter the Regents without having a folder containing at least 17 passing lab reports inside plus all 4 state labs must be passing as well. (Passing grades are 65% or higher) Because of this, lab folders will be kept in the classroom for students to store their graded lab reports. Students may not bring their lab reports home.

An integral part of a biology class is dissection according to the NAST, NABT, and NYSST. Because of this, all students should be present for every dissection that is done in the classroom. If the student, not the parent, has a religious or moral reason that he or she cannot participate in the dissection, the student's parent(s) will make such objections in writing. If it is concluded that the student does not have to dissect the organism, the student should be aware that he or she will be responsible for all the information that is gained from the dissection despite having to do an alternative assignment.

Projects:

Each quarter, a project may be assigned such as model construction, research paper, Internet research, etc. They will count towards your grade in the lab category. Specifics for each project will be available as they are assigned.

Homework, including the notebook and quizzes, are each worth 10% of the quarter grade. Although it may not seem like a large percentage of the quarter grade, not completing homework, organizing the notebook, and/or not studying for quizzes can have a disastrous effect on a student’s average. Late homework is graded in the same manner as late laboratory reports. Students who turn in illegible and messy work will be required to resubmit the work, so that it is legible. This will lower a student’s score by one letter grade. Though word processing is not required, it is recommended. All work greater than one page must be stapled.
Participation is crucial in the learning process. Positive interactions with teacher and peers, excellent attitude regarding classroom and laboratory demeanor, regular attendance, prompt arrival to class, respect of school property and supplies are but a few of the aspects of this part of the quarter grade. Socializing and sleeping shall be done outside of the classroom. Other classes’ work will never be done in this class. Inappropriate language is never allowed.

Preparation Requirements:

Students are expected to have the following supplies: A LARGE three ring binder, which stays at home for accumulating all the year’s work for the June Regents, a small three ring binder, which is brought to class each day, loose leaf paper, pens, pencils, pencil sharpener, highlighter, dry erase Expo markers, a baby stapler, a box of tissues, an assignment book or daily organizer, and any homework for the day. Students will know generally what is due and what is expected of them, so they should remain organized.

Because the daily class takes place in a biology laboratory, students are not permitted to ever eat/drink (except for water) in the classroom. Any student who does not have a free period for breakfast or lunch, or who must eat at a certain time of day must make arrangements with guidance or another teacher for a better time to eat.

End of the year assessments:

Regents’ students take the following exams:

1. A comprehensive, totally cumulative final exam covering everything learned from the first day of school.

2. The Living Environment Regents: this exam is given at the end of June. All students must take and pass this exam in order to obtain Regents credit for the course. This is a test of four parts, consisting of multiple choice, short answer, essay questions, and questions pertaining to the 4 state mandated labs. Students have three hours in which to complete this exam, unless a student has 504 accommodations.

My advice to you:

Stay organized. Keeping your papers in order helps you to study for unit exams, quarterly exams, and ultimately will be your resource to review for the Regents.

Use outside resources. There is an extensive number of biology based websites on the internet that can provide you with diagrams and information that may help you to grasp certain concepts or to help you to broaden your knowledge of information that we are covering in class. In addition, there are a number of books in the classroom and in the school library that can do the same for you.

Work together. This does not mean “hand in identical work.” (Remember: that will result in double zeros.) Talk with each other, discuss topics, help one another, and ask for help from your classmates. Word-for-word work will be returned.

Come for extra help. I am available for extra help Mondays -Thursdays 9^th period in room 404. If you have any questions outside of school, you can call me in the science office at 243-8082, or e-mail me at dlaux@yorktown.org.

I am looking forward to this being an educational and prosperous year for all of us!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Laux

Please complete and return this sheet by:

Friday, September 5, 2008

Student Name & Signature___________________________________

Date_________________

I have read and accept all of the

“Requirements for Regents Biology 2008-2009”