2009-2010 PHYSICAL SCIENCE
MR. K. EINSPAHR
Room 207
SCHOOL PHONE: 682-4061
EMAIL: einspahrk@chelanschools.org
School website: www.chelanschools.org
SHORT COURSE DESCRIPTIONS:
Physical Science deals with basic concepts concerning the natural world around you, and
topics of matter (what is it, how does it react, how do we describe it, etc.),
forces, and energy. We will do a number
of labs and in-class activities, and will have several “at-home” projects.
GRADING:Percentage Conversion Breakdown of your grade
A 100
– 93% Per Semester
A- 92
– 90% 67% Tests
B+ 89
– 87% 33% Homework/Quizzes
B 86
– 83%
B- 82
– 80%
C+ 79
– 77%
C 76
– 73%
C- 72 - 70%
D+ 69
– 67%
D 66 - 60%
F below 60%
SUPPLIES: Bring your
textbook to class every day; I encourage you to keep a 3-ring binder with
loose-leaf paper with all (dated) lecture notes, assignments, and handouts for
the semester. DON’T MIX other subject notes or assignments with this subject, and
vice versa. Expect and come prepared (book,
paper, pen/pencil) to take notes or work on problems each class period. If
you do not come to class prepared with these materials, including assignments, you
will be given a TARDY if you
have to go to your locker during class time to get these items.
Food at the
HOMEWORK:
Homework
is a key part in the learning process - which is what you are here for. If you want to pass this class, you will have
to do homework. You can expect
homework every night from this class.
For
written assignments, label your paper in the UPPER RIGHT CORNER OF YOUR PAPER with your NAME, the SUBJECT, and the PG. # OF
THE ASSIGNMENT. Homework will be
worth 1/3 of your grade. Complete sentences will be expected on ALL written
assignments and tests. There is to be NO USE of red, pink or similar shades of
ink on homework or tests--save those shades for correcting papers!
Homework will be considered "late" if not handed in
when requested (usually at the beginning of class). Any homework turned in later that same day
will be marked 20% off; if you turn in the assignment the next day, it will be
counted as 30% off. No homework will
be accepted after the next day.
ATTENDANCE:
ATTENDANCE AT SCHOOL IS ALSO OBVIOUSLY
VERY IMPORTANT. From past experience, those who miss school
have a much more difficult time of being successful. If attendance becomes an issue (10 or more
absences), a meeting with you and your parents will be necessary where we will
determine what the best course of action is for you. Class credit may be
lowered or withheld (with possible removal from class). If you have 10 absences in a row, you
will not be able to receive full credit for the class.
Tardies will be dealt with in the following manner: your first in a semester is a “freebie”—no
penalty. After that, for each quarter of
classes, the first tardy is 15 min. detention, the second is 30 min. detention,
and beyond that you will be referred to the office for consequences. Classroom detention is served at the
teacher’s convenience, usually after school that day, or before or after school
the next school day. Missing a scheduled
detention may also result in additional time and/or a referral to the office.
Anyone
with perfect attendance at the end of the semester may request and
receive extra credit points for having done that (points to be determined).
EXCUSED ABSENCES & TARDIES: Tests and
homework will be allowed to be made up within the same amount of time as was
missed, with the exception that if something was due "the next
day," it will still be due "the next day" that you are in
class. This includes tests.
PLANNED ABSENCES/TARDIES: These occur when you know ahead of time that you will
be gone because of sports, clubs, doctor appointments, family trips, etc. Check with the office to get the proper
paperwork. Get any new homework prior to
being gone. It will be expected to be
turned in when it is due. Often this means handing
it in before you leave. Hand in
previously assigned homework before leaving.
Not following these directions will result in work being considered
"late" (see above). PLEASE ASK IF YOU ARE UNSURE WHAT “PLANNED ABSENCE”
MEANS....
QUIZZES:
There
will be both announced and unannounced ("pop") quizzes. ANY
assignments previously given, reading or written, will be material for a quiz—this
means that you could have a quiz over an assignment given the previous day. Quiz grades will be recorded as homework
grades.
SPELLING: Because
correct spelling is an important part of being "educated," I may
deduct for misspellings on homework and tests.
You may use a dictionary freely on all homework assignments.
TESTS:
I
will offer a retake on a test for up to one week after the test is first taken
by the class. It is up to you to
schedule a time outside of normal class time to take a retake on a test. Please realize that in most instances it will
be a different test covering the same
chapter material. I will record the BEST
grade that you earn.
SEMESTER GRADES:
Overall
test grade % will be 2/3 of your grade (worth twice as much as your homework grade
%). You may also have a final exam at
the end of the semester which would count as part of your test grade %.
ARTICLE
REVIEWS: See separate page of information.
EXTRA
CREDIT POLICY:
Extra credit is not normally assigned - the extra time
you spend on extra credit should instead be spent on studying the assigned materials! The retests can be considered a form of extra
credit—TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEM! Several opportunities may be given with
normal homework/tests for extra credit.
TEXTBOOK
CARE EXPECTATIONS:
The following guidelines regarding textbooks, which
are school property and not personal
property, will be enforced. All
textbooks need to have a bookcover, be kept off the floors, and not to be
written in, highlighted, or underlined.
Damages to any books checked out to students will be charged to the
student.
CHEATING/ACADEMIC
DISHONESTY:
First offense—zero on test or homework; referral to
office. Second offense—zero and
referral; possible “F” for class and possible permanent removal from class.
ALL ELECTRONIC
DEVICES: See student handbook – these rules will be followed in
my classroom. Please don’t complain when
they are.
SCIENCE CLASSROOM DISCIPLINE
I have one classroom rule:
STUDENTS WILL BE
RESPECTFUL,
RESPONSIBLE, AND RESOURCEFUL.
Here are some
applications of this rule:
1. In seats with all necessary materials, and
ready to begin class.
2. Quiet attention when I am talking or
when someone has been called to talk.
3. Turn in assignments on time.
4. Responsibility for cleaning up your area and
equipment after labs.
5. Broken materials replaced at breakee's
expense.
6. DOING YOUR OWN WORK. When helping others, teach them to understand
a problem or question rather than giving them the answer.
7. Being excused from class when I excuse
you (not when you see others in the hallway).
8. Not saying "I can't," but saying
"I will try my hardest."
9. Asking for permission to use or borrow
anything that does not belong to you - this includes anything your neighbor has
or anything that is on/in the teacher's desk (with the exception of Kleenex,
stapler, and tape).
HOMEWORK DO'S AND DON'Ts FOR
STUDENTS
1. Do ask the teacher for help before and after class if you
are confused about a homework assignment.
2. Do explain to teachers legitimate reasons that sometimes
make it impossible to complete a homework assignment.
3. Do not expect your parents to be able to help you with all
your assignments. (Parents forget many
things that they have learned, and some of the material which you are being
taught is foreign to many adults.)
4. Do not ask teachers to help with any assignment you really
can complete independently.
5. Do not confuse "excuses" for incomplete homework
with actual "reasons."
6.
Do not
think that doing homework "most of the time" will be satisfactory.
TO THE
PARENTS/GUARDIANS:
Please do not sign this until you have at least looked
through this document, and read the SUPPLIES, HOMEWORK &
ATTENDANCE, and the PLANNED ABSENCES/TARDIES sections. It would also be helpful if you read about
how the grade will be calculated.
By my
signature, I signify that I have read the above sections:
Student:________________________ Date:__________
Parent:_____________________________ Date:__________
Parent
Email(if you have one):___________________________________
ANY COMMENTS, QUESTIONS, OR OTHER INFO for
Mr. Einspahr:
To the
student:
Turn in this sheet to Mr. Einspahr. KEEP THE PREVIOUS INFORMATION SHEETS FOR THE REMAINDER
OF THIS CLASS (semester or year) in the front of your science
notebook/section.