Honors Chemistry Guidelines: 2019-20

wellsj2@gcsnc.com

605-3300 ext. 1675

Chemistry is a challenging, cumulative subject.  You will have a chance to apply learned math skills.  Success requires staying current and aiming for real understanding of each concept.

Safety

We practice safe science at all times.  Horseplay, unauthorized experimentation, vandalism, theft, or intentional violation of any safety policy outlined in your safety rules will result in permanent exclusion from the laboratory activities and area.  Safety goggles, aprons, and close toe shoes must be worn for ALL laboratory work.  Gloves are always available.  Gloves must be worn if your skin is broken/cut, irritated, or overly sensitive; and when specified for work with certain chemicals.  Inform me of serious allergies.

Note:  Storing an old pair of close-toe shoes in your locker is strongly recommended as a way of avoiding being caught without proper footwear and unable to participate in the laboratory.

 Materials

• 3 Ring notebook with one divider (1” ring size is too small.) Materials accumulate in the notebook throughout the semester.

Notebooks are to include all unit assignments.  One divider is needed to mark the beginning of each unit's work for scoring.  Notebook checks are a large percentage of the point total each grading period.  If absent, be sure to get class work and notes made up before the notebook check.  Your first and last name must be placed on the cover of the notebook.  Work is required to be saved in a notebook through the semester.

• Scientific calculator

Any scientific or graphing calculator will do.  You will need a ‘scientific notation’ function, marked 'EE' on the keypad.  Bring the calculator to class each day.  The library has calculators available for annual check-out.

• Closed-toe shoes

Students are required to wear closed-toe shoes to participate in any and all lab activities.  Students who wear open-toe shoes daily are encouraged to keep an old pair of closed-toe shoes at school, in a locker, in order to avoid exclusion from lab.

 Grading Policy

Tests scores comprise 55% of the total points available on any unit.  Remediation is recommended any time a student fails to demonstrate an objective mastery of 75% or higher in any unit of study.  The hope is that students will address gaps in their understanding immediately and seek help following each unit in which they fail to achieve objective mastery.   Remediation is not a grade recovery activity.  Grade recovery is offered as a cumulative retest near the end of each quarter and administered before and after school over a 3 day window.

Homework:  Points are earned for attempting a problem set-up and/or attempting assigned problems. 

Points earned for Homework:

100% of points earned = homework completed on time and supporting work shown for problems.

50% of points earned = homework completed on time and at least 80% of work shown.

Zero points earned = homework that is not ready when class begins or has less than 80% of the work. 

**Late homework is accepted only if a student has an excused absence the day of the homework check.

Notebook Checks:  Notebooks are collected on the day of each unit test and graded while students take their unit tests.  In order to receive credit for an assignment in a notebook check, all work and notes must be 100% complete and corrected.  We will go over all homework assignments in class.  Correct any mistakes and fill in any missing problem set-ups daily; that makes a notebook check a snap.  Notebook checks will be low pressure if daily homework corrections are maintained.

Lab Work:  Allowing make-up of laboratory work missed due to absence or improper attire is especially difficult.  Make every effort not to miss your laboratory exercises. A report or alternate assignment may be given if resetting the lab creates conflicts with other uses of the lab space, chemicals, time, or equipment.

Test Days

I will make every effort to schedule major tests on science departmental testing days:  Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday.  Under NWHS policy, a topic quiz, lasting no more than half of a class, may be given on any week day.

Cell Phones

Cell phones must be placed in a collection pocket and ear buds removed upon entering the class.  Cell phones, ear buds, and/or use of smart watch texting/ music functions are not allowed during class.

Cheating

No points are awarded for assignment submissions based on the use of unauthorized materials or the fraudulent use of another person’s work. 

Book Bags

Book bags are big and necessary; however, please try to keep the aisles passable around your desk. 

Retest / Grade Recovery Policy

One retest per quarter is administered and open to all students.  The retest is cumulative for that quarter’s material.   The highest score given on a retest will be 85%.  Students are always encouraged to come in for remediation on covered topics for which they were unable to demonstrate mastery on the unit test; however, only one grade change per quarter will be allowed.  The retest score replaces one previous test score, whether the retest score is higher or lower than the original score.  So, study and come prepared to do well.

The retest is given on specific dates after and before school, near the end of each quarter:  make-up dates for the Retest are not offered.

Make-Up Policy

Students are responsible for making up all missed work in the time prescribed in the student handbook, three days in most cases.  Please see me before or after school if you need extra help understanding missed material due to an unavoidable absence.  You bear a greater responsibility for filling in gaps in your understanding for elective and unexcused absences.

Tutoring

Additional help is available before and after school most Mondays and Thursdays. 

Tardy Policy (school wide) Students should be in their seat,s with all cell phones in the collection pocket at the bell to avoid a tardy.

  Tardies reset to zero at the end of the first semester.

  1st Tardy in a semester- Teacher warning.

  2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th Tardies in a semester- ASD  and parent contact.

  5th Tardy and beyond in a semester- Office referral. 

Goals

Most students count on this course to prepare them for future science classes; including college chemistry.  In order to meet that goal, you must understand the underlying concepts behind the problems you work or activities.  You will only retain concepts that you make your own.  A real understanding of the basic concepts that underlie chemistry is the goal.

 Be as kind as you can, to everyone that you can,

 everyday that you can.

And . . . .

 If it matters to you, be persistent.