8 th Grade Science

About Me Facebook page (personal).doc This is my 22nd year teaching. I teach 8 th grade science currently. In the past I have taught high school math, technology classes, several different science classes as well as education classes at Athens State University. I have two degrees in Biology (Bachelor’s and Master’s) and a degree in mathematics. I am a national board certified teacher

What will we be learning this year? This year is all about Physical Science We will learn basic chemistry and physics. We will use information in your textbook as well as AMSTI kits –1 st Semsester Experimenting with Forces and Motion Working with Simple Machines –2 nd Semester Exploring Properties of Matter Experimenting with Mixtures, Compounds, and Elements

Supplies List 2 composition notebooks pencil and/or pen – blue or black only! oone pack of notebook paper  large glue sticks CColored pencils aa personal pencil sharpener GGraph paper GGirls – Paper Towels BBoys – a box of tissue AAA batteries WWet wipes

Classroom Rules Rules: 1. Bring your book, journal and writing utensil to class every day. 2. Be in your seat ready to work when the bell rings. 3. Don’t talk when I or someone else is talking. 4. Raise your hand to ask or answer a question. 5. Do not disturb other students’ things or personal space. 6. The bell does not dismiss the class. I do.

Classroom Policies: No Food, Gum, or Drinks ALLOWED!!!! No personal, non class related items allowed at your desk or on the floor. 3 Bathroom passes are given only in case of emergency each grading period. If you lose or have used all your bathroom passes for the term you forfeit your next break. If you do not show up for break an afternoon detention will be assigned. If you enter the room after the tardy bell rings, sign the tardy sheet indicating if the tardy is excused by an , note or permission from me. If neither of these are the case then the tardy is unexcused. Four tardies to class in a 9 week period will result in after school detention. Do not groom in class. All personal digital devices will be stored and silenced unless instructed for use in class. –Red – no use –Yellow – limited use (i.e. A particular website or procedure) –Green – discretional appropriate use

Discipline procedure 1 st consequence – Recorded on discipline card (Warning) 2 nd consequence – Break detention or other assigned (failure to show up for break or complete assignment results in 3 rd consequence) 3 rd consequence – Morning or Afternoon Detention assigned, parent contacted 4 th consequence – Discipline referral to the office If any student receives more than four 1 st consequences recorded in a nine-week period, parents will be notified and a detention will be scheduled. A conference with the parents will be requested. School administrators will handle serious infractions.

Severe and Lab Clauses Any student who uses profanity, fights, damages school property (this includes the property of the teacher and other students), or is disrespectful (as defined by the teacher) will be sent to the office IMMEDIATELY. Since the lab is a serious environment, absolutely NO HORSEPLAY OR IMPROPER BEHAVIOR WILL BE TOLERATED. I may choose to skip other consequences and immediately remove student from the lab and assign a zero and/or send the student to the administration for discipline. Proper lab safety gear must be worn to participate in labs. This includes but is not limited to close toed shoes.

How will I be graded? Major grades (tests, lab reports, projects, journal checks, etc.) = 60% Daily grades (homework, quizzes, classwork, etc.) = 40% Semester Exam = 10% of semester grade – averaged separately Late work taken with 10pt./day deduction only with signed missing assignment sheet. A list of current assignments is posted on the wall of the classroom. We average a Major grade every 7 days and have a daily grade almost every day.

Retake’s I will give you the option to retake one test per grading period. You must fill out a “Retake Test” form and have it signed by your parents. You may only redo tests that were reasonably attempted the first time. Retakes will NOT be the same test that you took the first time. The new grade (better or worse) will be recorded. Retake’s must be completed on the scheduled retake day, unless extenuating circumstances necessitate otherwise.

After-school help I will offer help after school between 3:10 – 4:00 pm. After school help must be scheduled in advance.

“ A man found a cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared. He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could, and it could go no further. So the man decided to help the butterfly. He took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily. But it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings. The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time. Neither happened! In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It never was able to fly. What the man, in his kindness and haste, did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening were God’s way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon. Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our lives. When you are struggling remember that you are strengthening your wings so that you can FLY!!!