Honors Biology Syllabus 2016-2017
Contact Information:
Ms. Pascucci (Miss P) – room B115
[email protected]
(Please note that I do not have a phone in my room, therefore email will
receive the quickest response, typically within a few hours.)
Course Description
Honors Biology is designed to teach the principles and applications of
Biology. Biology is the study of life and its interactions with the
environment. Therefore, to study biology is to study all that is central to
our lives. This course will involve a number of online aspects that will
allow students and parents to remain knowledgeable about content and
assignments. Aspen will be used to track student grades, and will also
have class and project assignments.
Student survey:
http://bit.ly/EPStudent2016
Parent Survey:
http://bit.ly/EPParent2016
Text Notification Sign-up:
#: 81010
Message:
@HonBioPer1
@HonBioPer2
*Standard Rate Apply, not
mandatory
Materials
The following materials will need to be obtained by Tuesday September 1st:
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bound composition book, NO SPIRAL(200 pages if possible, otherwise might need 2 for whole
course)
pens and pencils (whatever you prefer to write with, stock up for the year)
Box of tissue to add to the class supply is appreciated
Flipped Classroom and the Role of Texts:
We will be using the “Flipped Classroom” model of instruction. I will provide further details, descriptions
and evidence of success via email and during Open School Night, however the following contains the
most important information to start the year strong.
In the traditional classroom the teacher spends most of the time presenting new content in a lecture
format, students practice with the teacher, then, if time permits practice on their own. The students are
assigned practice problems for homework and are expected to show their understanding of the content
learned in class. The next day, homework is reviewed and new content presented, the cycle is
repeated.
In the flipped classroom, the lecture is taken out of the classroom and presented to the students
through media content. For homework, students will view an eight to ten minute video on biology
content to probe their thinking and spark interest, practice examples, summarize, and question what
they don’t understand. (See below for accommodations and support for students with limited
computer/internet access)
Then the next day, in place of the lecture, class time is spent applying the knowledge through lab
activities, case studies and other real life applications.
Aspen will provide all links and resources in the Assignments section. The weekly homework videos will
be played on the projector in my classroom during lunch and 1 laptop computer will be available to
complete the corresponding questions. Finally, all files can be saved to a flashdrive upon request and
preferably during lunch.
Expectations and Procedures
All notes, warm-ups, lab notes and data, constructed responses, and classwork will be kept in the
bound composition book. The composition book will be collected after every quiz so that the labs and
general content may be graded. The contents of the notebook will contain your growing knowledge of
biology and will be used for portions of quizzes. If you do not keep an organized notebook, you will be
behind and at a disadvantage for your quizzes. Consider this YOUR LIFE in Biology and DO NOT
LOSE IT! You must have your composition book by Monday August 29th.
Homework will be assigned as on a weekly basis through Aspen. Depending on the subject matter, 515 questions will be assigned. One grade will be assigned for each problem set and entered in Aspen. I
will supply more information in the coming weeks.
Class Participation will be assessed on a daily basis and is based on your completion of the daily
warm-up and on-time attendance to class. You will start 2 weeks with 20 points. Each tardy will deduct
a point. Each unexcused absence will deduct 3 points. If you are present in class, but fail to work
towards completion of the daily warm-up, points will also be deducted.
There will typically be a quiz every other week pertaining to the material covered throughout the
previous 2 weeks. You will be able to use your notebook for these quizzes, so it is up to you to make
sure you have your notebook completely up to date on quiz days. If you don’t bring it to class, you have
to take the quiz without it.
There will be an exam every Advisory and a comprehensive Final Exam in June. It is critical that
students review notes and work performed throughout the Advisory for maximal success. Your notes
will not be available during exams.
Unexcused late work will lose points according to the DCPS Grading and Reporting Policy. DCPS specifies three different grade categories for all secondary subjects: Participation, Practice & Application, and Assessments. Work turned in late due to a verified excused absence will be subject to the DCPS Grading and Reporting Policy. Work not turned in on time due to any reason other than a verified excused absence will be subject to the following grade penalties depending on which category it falls under:
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PARTICIPATION -­‐ Will receive 0% credit with no chance to make up. Assignments missed due to an excused absence will receive an “e” and will not be counted towards the class grade. PRACTICE & APPLICATION (i.e. homework) -­‐ Will be worth half credit of the earned grade on the assignment. Assignments missed due to an excused absence will be worth full credit when turned in upon returning to class according to the DCPS Grading and Reporting Policy. The last day to turn in late assignments is the last day of the advisory. ASSESSMENTS -­‐ Tests and quizzes can be made up with no penalty. Other assessment assignments (projects, papers, etc.) will receive a 10% grade penalty for each business day late with the maximum deduction being 50%. The last day to turn in late assignments or take make-­‐
up tests and quizzes is the last day of the advisory. In all cases, it is the student’s responsibility to initiate make-­‐up work. Please note: If a student is absent for an extended period of time, or has other extenuating circumstances, the teacher will make appropriate accommodations. Cheating is forbidden. This includes blatant copying or “borrowing” of online assignments, and copying
online material for papers and projects. All parties involved in cheating will be given a zero on the
assignment.
Students are expected to:
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be considerate and thoughtful of others feelings;
respect one another;
demonstrate trustworthy behavior;
follow “ask 3 before me”
monitor their own speaking level for appropriateness
come to class prepared and on time
In order to achieve a positive, active working academic environment. In achieving the above
expectations, the following criteria must be met:
1. DO NOT TOUCH LAB CHEMICALS AND/OR EQUIPTMENT UNLESS INSTRUCTED TO
DO SO BY MS. P
2. BE KIND and hold respect and appreciation for your fellow classmates and teachers (i.e. do
not make fun of other people, no fighting, no cursing, do not interrupt our learning
environment, follow directions, etc.)
3. COME TO CLASS PREPARED for learning (bring your pens/pencils, notebook, homework,
etc. DAILY and COME ON TIME).
Special note: If you are having difficulty with this course, please make an appointment to see
me as soon as possible. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL YOU FEEL TOTALLY LOST!!! I hold office hours
every day during lunch (check with me ahead of time to ensure I don’t have a meeting or other
obligation).
Grading Policy
Per Advisory:
Grading Criteria:
Participation- 10%
Homework- 20%
Projects/Labs- 25%
Quizzes- 20% (including a notebook check)
Advisory Exam- 25%
Course Grade = Avg of 4 Adv Marks & Final Exam
Grading scale:
A = 100-93
A- = 92-90
B+ = 89-87
B = 86-83
B- = 82-80
C+ = 79-77
C = 76-73
C- = 72-70
D+ = 69-67
D = 66-64
F = 63-0
Course Content
The material to be covered each advisory is given below.
1st Adv
2nd Adv
3rd Adv
4th Adv
Cellular structures and functions
Genetics and Heredity
Plant and Animal Homeostasis
Evolution and Ecology
I have read and understand the above objectives, methods, procedures, expectations,
policies, obligations, evaluation criteria, and course content
Student Signature_____________________________
Printed Full Name____________________________
Student email ______________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature _____________________
Student phone # ________________
Printed Full Name ___________________________
Parent email ______________________________
Parent phone # ________________