Mrs. Zangerl & Mr. Therrien. Killingly Intermediate School Mrs. Zangerl & Mr. Therrien Killingly Intermediate School 2017-2018 School Year 8th Grade Science Contact Information: E-mail: atherrien@killinglyschools.org jzangerl@killinglyschools.org E-mail is the best way to reach me, but you can also call the school at 860-779-6700 Units of Study This school year will be divided into distinct areas of study as Killingly Intermediate School along with other school districts in Connecticut are transitioning to the Next Generation Science Standards that were adopted by Connecticut in November of 2015. The first month of this year will be focused on forces and motion. This information will be applied in the following months while we study astronomy and waves. 2017 will end with our study of energy and alternate energy sources. Coming back in the new year, we will use the geologic time scale and fossil records to look at heredity and evolution. The final quarter of the year, students will be working on electricity, magnetism and water.    Grade Breakdown Student’s grades will be determined by performance in five categories: Classwork/Group work Homework Quizzes Projects Labs Grades can be checked on PowerSchool. Welcome to science class! Science as a collective institution aims to produce more and more accurate natural explanations of how the natural world works, what its components are, and how the world got to be the way it is now. Science is about the HOW and the WHAT Imagine a classroom where students have just completed a science investigation and a whole class discussion is under way. Students put forth competing ideas in their clearest and strongest forms, even though some ideas may turn out to be more correct than others. Students explain their ideas in detail with evidence. They listen carefully to each other with respect. Students take seriously and evaluate their own and others competing ideas and are intellectually engaged. Classwork/Participation What is Expected of me in Class? In order for our classroom to run smoothly and for all students to feel comfortable learning there are a few things I need from you… Come to class on time and prepared Be respectful to EVERYONE in our class Actively participate in class EVERYDAY Try your hardest and limit distractions **If you choose not to meet these expectations, you are choosing to accept the consequences associated with it. Cell phones are expected to be shut off and put away in your locker when you arrive to school each morning. There will be occasions when we will use them in class, but I will let you know when that time is. If you cannot resist the temptation of using your phone, it will be confiscated. 1

Materials Attendance Academic Integrity Quizzes/Assessments Need Help? Mrs. Zangerl & Mr. Therrien Killingly Intermediate School 2017-2018 School Year Materials Students are expected to come to class prepared everyday. Students should walk into science class daily with… Sharpened Pencils Erasers Science notebook and folder/binder Planner Attendance Attendance is important since when you are absent, you miss the material that is covered in class.   When you are absent, it is your responsibility to get missing notes from a classmate or the teacher. Additionally, it is your responsibility to submit any work that was due the day you were out. Academic Integrity Cheating/sharing/copying is taken seriously. Dishonesty of any kind will not be tolerated in this classroom. I expect you to complete your own work. Homework Students are expected to complete and turn in all homework in a timely manner. Homework is usually due the next day, unless otherwise specified by the teacher. If you are absent, any homework assignments are due upon your return to school and you have three (3) days to make up any missing assignments from the day you return. Note: Homework will be posted in the class & on my web page. Students are responsible for copying down the homework assignment in their planners each day. Quizzes/Assessments Quizzes will be given during units to check for understanding.  Students will still be responsible for all topics covered when testing occurs, even if you were absent If you are absent on a quiz day, you have three (3) days to make it up.    Note: Make-up quizzes may not be taken during class time.  It is the student's responsibility to arrange a time and date with the teacher to make up the quiz. Quiz/Lab Corrections - Students may retake any quiz or correct any lab that they choose. The corrected quiz/lab will be entered as the final grade. They will have one week from the time quizzes and labs are returned to correct them.   Students will use a Quiz/Lab Correction Form with a copy of their quiz or lab and will be expected to complete it to raise their grade and build their knowledge. Need Help? One of the most important skills students can have is self-advocacy. This means being able to identify when you need something and being able to seek out what you need. If students ever have a question or need help with something I encourage them to ask me for help! You can see me during skill block or lunch by appointment only. 2