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Miami Carol City Senior High School
Physical Science
Ms. Vega/ Mr. Christian
Course Syllabus
Contact Information: Ms. Vega/ Mr. Christian are available for parents to make appointment for conferences or for any concern regarding this course. Parents can reach teachers at 305 621 5681 or leave a message and your call will be returned as soon as possible. It is important to update parents’ phone numbers and address in order to have an effective Teacher-Parents communication
Course Description: The purpose of this course is to serve as a solid foundation for the study of the Physical Sciences. The role of the student in this course is to develop inquiry and problem solving skills within the context of scientific investigation. Students will apply what they learn to everyday situations by conducting investigations and formulating and testing their own hypotheses. Assessment of a student's progress is based upon daily assignments, laboratory reports, journal, bell ringers, homework, quizzes, tests, projects and class participation.
GENERAL COURSE POLICY: Please make sure that you read the handout completely, after which you must sign and turn in the signature portion. The signed in portion indicates that you will abide by the rules and regulations
Course Requirements
Attendance: Daily class attendance is a must if the student expects to complete this course satisfactorily. Students need to report on time everyday to class and bring complete the work. No makeup work will be granted unless the students brings a valid excused admit.
Home Learning: Required for all students. Assignments will be accepted only at the time they are due. Late assignments will not be accepted. At least 30 minutes of daily home independent reading practice (IRP) will be assigned.
Textbooks: Students will take a science book home and are responsible for it and returned to the teacher at the end of the school year. Students do not have to bring the science book every day. There are additional textbooks available for students in the classroom.
Bell Ringer: Bell Ringer assignments must be completed during the first ten minutes of class. All Bell Ringer assignments will be graded. If the student is late to class without pass, the student will receive an F for this activity for that specific day.
Materials: Students need to bring to class paper, pencil, pen, crayons or colored pencils, markers, a three ring binder or composition book which must be divided into sections, dictionary, ruler, calculator, USB flash.
Laboratory and Hand-on activities: Laboratory investigations and hands-on activities are required in this course. Laboratory investigations develop critical thinking processes. Student’s lab reports must be written up and handed in to the teacher neatly and in a timely manner. Rubrics are used as grading tools to measure basic skills to perform these activities. A three paragraph conclusion is absolutely required for lab reports and cannot be plagiarized from any source including other students. Students will receive an "F" for assignments that are worded the same.
Safety rules: Although many science activities present potential hazards, reasonable and prudent safety practices
greatly reduce the likelihood of accidents. When students adhere strictly to standard safety precautions, they are unlikely to encounter any risks greater than hose they might encounter in physical education, vocational education, or home economics classes. Knowing about possible hazards and taking precautions are the basis for creating a safe learning environment. Students have a responsibility to themselves and their classmates to learn and observe safety practices in all participatory science activities. Student who refuses to follow safety rules will be dismiss from the activity and his/ her grade will be an "F".
Science Fee: One time eight dollars science fee is required for this class to cover the value of materials that is going to be used for laboratory investigations and hand- on activities. This fee is due by the third week of school.
Grading
Success in Physical Science will be assessed by the following methods:
1. Homework will be checked for completeness, accuracy and/or understanding.
2. Positive student participation: Students will earn tickets for positive participation in class and they will be part of their participation grade.
3. Quizzes will assess students understanding of material.
4. Laboratory work will be graded with an emphasis on the use of the scientific method.
5. Tests will consist of matching, multiple choice, true or false and open ended questions.
6. Projects will be graded using a rubric combining content and correct form
7. Bell Ringers
Science Fair: Students should work in a science project for the science fair. Every student in this course has to present a science project by the last week of October. You will work on your project at home. You are allowed to work in group of up to three students and inform to your teacher previously.
Grading Scale
90 –100 : A Outstanding
80 - 89 : B Above Average Progress
70 – 79: C Average Progress
60 – 69: D Below Average
59 and Below : F Failure
Class Rules
In order that my students receive a proper education I believe is necessary to follow the following rules to keep a peaceful, safe and orderly atmosphere in our classroom environment.
1. Come to class on time.
2. Be in your assigned seat and ready to work when the bell rings.
3. Bring and take out all proper materials before I begin class.
4. Follow Directions the 1st time they are given.
5. Complete all assignments (CW/HW) on time and neatly.
7. Keep a Notebook (Daily)
8. Keep all objects, body parts and negative comments to yourself.
9. Respect your teacher, students and school property. Profanity is prohibited at all.
10. Remain seated unless given permission to do otherwise.
11. Raise your hand if you have a question. Do not call out.
12. Use the restroom during lunch and between periods. No bathroom passes will be
given unless there is an emergency.
13. Do not eat, drink, or sleep in class.
14. Cell phones have to be off or in silence mode inside your book bag during class. Cell phones need to be in a not visible place. Use of cell phones or any electronic is completely prohibited in class.
15. Keep your classroom clean.
16. Dress appropriately for school.
17. The bell doesn’t dismiss you. I do.
18. Laboratory rules: Students are expected to follow SAFETY GUIDELINES.
19. C.D players, PSP, I Pad, radios, cell phone radios, or any electronic device which disrupt the learning environment is prohibited in class.
The following are considered offenses
- Disruptive behavior.
- Talking when the teacher is lecturing.
- Eating, drinking, or sleeping in class.
- Use of vulgar and profane language.
- Play cards in class.
- Throwing papers.
- Writing on desks, books, walls, bulletin boards.
- Use radios, cell phones, hats, sunglasses, beepers, cell phone and any electronic device which disrupt the learning process.
- Come to class late without a pass.
- Be out of the seat waiting for the bell to ring. The bell doesn’t dismiss you. I do dismiss you.
Consequences:
- The student will receive a verbal warning the first time.
- The second time, the student will complete a classroom discipline slip and reflect about his/her behavior. The teacher will report the misbehavior in the grading book, and it will affect the student’s conduct grade.
- The third time, the student will complete a second classroom discipline slip and the teacher will contact parents. The teacher will contact parents if the student has a repetitive misbehavior.
- The students will receive a grade based on the amount of offenses committed.
Cell phones and electronics are totally prohibited and are not allowed during class. Electronics will be confiscated until the end of the class and the student must complete a classroom discipline form. If the student shows a persistent misbehavior a parent-teacher conference will be required before the student comes back to class, the teacher will send a note home with the student, and the student is responsible for giving the note to their parents.
0 to 2 : A
3 to 4: B
5 to 6: C
7 to 8: D
9 or more: F
Fights are considered major offense and, therefore, the student will receive an automatic F as conduct grade for that specific marking period immediately.
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Please make sure that you read the handout completely, sign and turn in the signature portion. The signed in portion indicates that you will abide by the rules, regulations and requirements.
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I acknowledge receipt of the Physical Science syllabus and I have read and discussed it with my child.
Parent Name _________________________________ Date _______________
Parent Signature ______________________________ Telephone ____________
E-Mail _____________________________ Cell Phone _______________________
Student’s Name (Print) __________________________________________
Period _______ Course ______________ Teacher _________________________
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