Frequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common questions
of students and parents.
- How do I reach you?
- What are the class rules?
- What do I need for field work?
- How do I get graded?
- What if I don't like my grade?
- What's up with my science binder?
- Is there a textbook?
- What do we do?
How do I reach you?
At school: 898-6388 ext 125, voicemail 734
or find me in my homebase (M12) or classroom (M6)
On line:
E-mail - sdero@bosqueschool.org (This is the best way to reach
me!)
Web page - www.bosqueschool.org then go to the faculty link
What are the class rules?
RESPECT!!!
People - peers, teachers, staff, adults, guests, YOURSELF
Places - the school, the environment, field trips
Property - the school's, other people's, your own
SAFETY - both in the lab & field - is ESSENTIAL at all times!
What do I need for field work?
Proper shoes & long pants
Dressed for weather
Water
Hat (warm hat or sun hat, depending on the weather)
Sunscreen and Bug spray are available in class
***ALWAYS ASSUME WE WILL BE IN THE FIELD!***
How do I get graded?
Each assignment will be given a point value. Assignments include
class work, projects, field notes, field data sheets, homework,
tests, and your science binder.
The grade for a given assignment is calculated by dividing the
points received by the total points possible. You will be given a
percentage and letter grade for the assignment. Your letter
grade for each semester will be determined by dividing the total
number of points you earned by the total points possible for the
semester.
LATE WORK: All homework assignments are due at the beginning of
class on the Due Date. If you do not turn in your assignment at
this time, it will be considered late. Late assignments are
docked one full grade from the graded work. Please see the 6th
grade Late Policy for more details.
What if I don't like my grade?
You have two ways to raise your grade:
1) Any non-test assignment may be corrected and resubmitted to
me. I will give you the average of the corrected and original
grades.
2) For tests, you may raise your test grade by completing an
extra credit project that shows me that you understand the
material covered on the test. The project does not need to cover
ALL of the material on the test -- only the parts you struggled
with. You need to let me know you would like to do this so I can
approve your project before starting.
TO EARN THIS PRIVILEGE, YOU MUST FIRST HAVE TURNED THE
ASSIGNMENT IN ON TIME AND PUT FORTH YOUR BEST EFFORT ON THE
ASSIGNMENT OR TEST. This opportunity must not be used as an
excuse to be lackadaisical on the original effort.
What's up with my science binder?
Science Binders are an important tool for organizing your work as
well as demonstrating your learning. Since we do not use a textbook,
the information and work you keep in your science binder becomes your
source for the content and skills we learn in science.
You will keep ALL classwork and fieldwork plus a table of contents with
your grades in your science binder. Each week, I will ask you to show me
one or more assignments in your science binder; this task will contribute to
your semester science binder grade.
Keeping your science binder COMPLETE and ORGANIZED are important study skills
and learning tools that will help you throughout your school years. Please
let me know if you need help organizing your science binder.
Is there a textbook?
There is NO TEXTBOOK for this course (Hooray!). The curriculum
is drawn from, and you (students) consult, original scientific
research, field guides, Internet sources, and many additional
texts. I will keep in my classroom or provide to you various
primary resource materials that we will use for our assignments
or projects.
You will be supplied with a packet of resource materials that
you will keep in your science binders. You will also create
primary resources during classroom and field activities.
These materials become your "textbook," so it is essential that
you maintain a COMPLETE and ORGANIZED science binder throughout
the year!
**Bring your planner and science binder EVERY TIME we meet!**
What do we do?
During a variety of field activities, you will collect data to
sudy the biodiversity and ecosystem changes in the bosque: local
weather conditions (e.g., rainfall and temperature); amounts and
types of leaf litter that falls to the forest floor; well beeping
to check water table depths; surveys of ground-dwelling
arthropods; small mammal trapping; and assisting with porcupine
surveys.
In the classroom, lab, and computer room, you will participate in
various inquiry and hands-on learning experiences designed to
strengthen your understanding and skills in science. You will
collect data during labs and fieldwork, learn to use spreadsheets
to manage and analyze your data, and prepare scientific reports
with logical conclusions. You will also learn and practice
communicating your science learning to other students and the
wider community through presentations and outreach activities.
