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Mrs. W's Super Spectacular Science Site |
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FAQsThis page contains answers to common questions students and parents often ask.
What kind of science is taught in grades 6-8? Science is taught in a rotation. All grades have the same type of science: either Life, Physical, or Earth and Space. By the time you graduate, you will have had all three sciences. Do you teach science differently for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders? Yes. I teach using developmentally appropriate methods. My expectations of 6th grade students are different than they will be for 7th or 8th grade students. The same is true for 7th graders. The content is the same. What is different is how it is presented. Are the tests the same for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders? Some of the material covered on a test will be the same for everyone. As a general rule, the number of questions answered are different depending on grade level, with 6th graders answering fewer questions than 7th or 8th graders, and so on. For example, an essay for a 6th grade student will be different from an essay for an 8th grader and my expectations for how the essay is answered will be different for each grade level. From time to time, however, there will be an opportunity for 6th grade students, who are ready for an extra challenge, to take the 7th and 8th grade test. Students report that if they take notes the way I've taught them to, do all of their readings, pay attention during review, use the study guide as an outline of what material to focus on, don't wait until the night before the test to start studying, and ask for help for those things they don't understand, that they tend to do well on my tests. Students are responsible for their own learning. I open the door for them but it is their choice whether to enter. Does anyone get an A in science? Yes. Each quarter last year, between 25% and 30% of the 120 students I taught, received an "A" in science. It takes a lot of work and self-discipline, good time management and study skills, but it can be done! To earn an "A" in science, however, a student must be a frequent participant in class, (at least 3 times per week, on average). Part of demonstrating knowledge is imparting what you know to others, and part of your grade is determined by daily work, which includes completing assignments, and participating in class. There are no "bench sitters" in science class! Do you round up on assessments? I DO "round up" on tests, quizzes, projects, and/or other assignments given during the quarter. However, because I do that, I DO NOT "round up" when I determine the quarterly grade. The grade you receive for the quarter is the one that has been earned by you! Do you give study guides or reviews for tests? Study guides are given for the majority of tests and are located online. They should be used as a guideline to what information and types of questions will be on the test. In-class reviews are usually given for those chapters that contain a large amount of information. The reviews are usually in the form of an interactive Power Point Jeopardy game. The PPTs are also available on the website. For many tests, there is also the opportunity to take an online practice test. The results are available immediately, which are valuable to use for review once studying has been completed. When are you available to help students? I am available to help students most mornings, recesses, and after school. As a courtesy to me, students requesting help are asked to schedule morning and after school meeting times at least 24 hours in advance. Recess meetings can be scheduled the same day. How much and what kind of homework do you give in science? Most assignments involve reading and writing facts about what you've read. There will also be required vocabulary to learn. Sometimes review questions for a section are assigned. Time commitment should not exceed 30 minutes for most assignments. Do we do a lot of labs in science? Some sciences, such as Physical Science, lend themselves more to doing labs. However, there will still be some labs in both Life and Earth/Space Science, just not as many. There are also demonstrations. Do we have to write lab reports? Sometimes. Lab reports are not always written, because some labs lend themselves more to completing a written report while others do not. Are there any opportunities to do extra credit? Due to the specific nature of the science standards set forth by the Diocese, extra credit is not offered. Are we allowed to make corrections on tests or quizzes? It is my expectation that students will always make test and quiz corrections to find out what they missed and why. However, making corrections to earn extra points that boost a grade, are not offered. Studying appropriately and coming for help go a long way toward a student achieving a good performance on assessments. Do you offer any additional points? Yes. Students who turn in their study guides, at the time tests are given, receive 10 bonus homework points. When students submit their results from taking the online practice tests, they also have an opportunity to earn a designated number of homework points. And, on some tests, there will be bonus questions to answer, that can help boost a grade on a particular exam. Does everyone have to do Science Fair? 6th grade students do not participate in this event. It is designed for 7th and 8th grade students only. If you are in 7B's homeroom, you will do a science project, while students in 7A's homeroom will do a history project. Those 8th grade students who did a science project as 7th graders will do a history project as 8th graders, and vice versa. Are we allowed to have partners for the Science Fair? No. Each student must prepare his or her own science fair project. What is the best way to contact you? You may contact me through the school's voice mail or e-mail system or by writing a note. E-mail is my preferred method of communication. I check my voice mail only ONCE per day, and that is at the END of each day,before I leave the school. My e-mail is checked more frequently. If you contact me on REGULAR school days, my goal is to respond to you within 24 hours of your initial contact. If you contact me at a time when school is NOT in session, please know that I will make every effort to be back in touch with you on the NEXT school day. As a general rule, I DO NOT make phone calls in the evenings from my home, nor will I contact you via phone on weekends or at other times when school is not in session. The only exception to this rule relates to e-mail. I do e-mail from my home first thing in the morning on school days, and on Sunday during the weekend. Over breaks, I normally DO NOT contact families or students. Should you wish to schedule a conference, please contact me and I will let you know my before and/or after school availability. How do you determine the quarterly grade in science? Tests count as 40% of your grade, quizzes count as 15%, projects count as 25%, labs count as 10%, assignments and daily work, (which includes class preparation and participation), count as 10%. "Bonus Bucks", which are homework passes, are awarded at my discretion, to those students who have done something worthy of a reward. Are a lot of notes taken in science? Yes. There are a significant number of notes taken in class. The good news is that, if you aren't a good note taker, I post class notes online almost every evening. This should help you fill in gaps in your own notes, to use when studying for a test, or when you're absent. Yes. For the majority of tests, there will be online practice through the website. In them, students will see most of the test questions, only they will be in different forms. For example: A multiple choice test question may show up as a short answer on the practice test. The answers are never given. Students are responsible for finding the answers and for asking me for help if there is anything they don't understand. In fact, many students print out the practice tests and use them as study guides. Do you write a weekly newsletter? Yes. Every weekend, I send a newsletter that highlights what's coming in science for the following week. Parents can read it online or can subscribe to the newsletter, which will be send to them personally, via e-mail. I also have a service called "Special Announcements" that parents can also subscribe to. This is used for such things as a change in a test date, or for reminders. Do you have any advice for students? 1. God, family, academics, everything else. 2. Remember, for every action, there is a consequence. 3. You are responsible for you. 4. Be part of the solution, not part of the problem. 5. Finding an alternative is much better than making an excuse. 6. Always do your best! Don't settle for mediocre! 7. The bar for academic excellence in science is set high. Don't be afraid to reach for it! 8. Believe in yourself and in your ability! 9. Don't ever be afraid to ask for help. 10. Above all, never, never, ever, quit! |
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