1. WE ARE COUGAR PROUD! Welcome to Coach Wilburns’8 th Grade Science Class

2. About Me… Wife: Chandra (2 nd grade teacher at Nelson Elementary) 2 beautiful daughters Charity and Kennedi. This is my 8 th year here at Calhoun. ISS Coordinator for 3 years. I taught 6 th grade Science for 3 years. 2 years in 8 th Grade Science. I am now the Science Department Head. I coach all boys athletics at Calhoun. I love going to Cowboy games with my brothers, and cooking out with family and friends.

3. Why Science??? SCIENCE TAKES ON A MORE ACTIVE ROLE OF LEARNING THEN MOST SUBJECTS. SCIENCE ALLOWS STUDENTS TO DEVELOP THEIR CURIOSIY AND GAIN A GREATER APPRECIATION AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE NATURAL WORLD. Why Calhoun??? SIMILAR BACKGROUD TITLE I SCHOOL SIMILAR EXPERIENCES IN SCHOOL That’s My story!!!

4. My Philosophy My personal philosophy of education reflects the IB MYP fundamental concept of Inter-cultral Awareness through incorporating each students belief system, experiences, and perceptions of themselves and others so that students can better understand and develop a respect for other cultures. My belief is that if you change a persons belief about other cultures, then you can change their actions. In education this plays out by students broadening their thoughts on other cultures and discovering how their actions can contribute to the world as a whole and not just their local city, state, or country.

5. International Baccalaureate Students will be graded using IB rubrics for several projects throughout the year. Two major IB projects will be completed during the year. 1 st -Earth Science Students will research a plate boundary of their choosing. They will design a project about the landform or consequences of the plate boundary on the culture of the area. This project will work to help students formulate correlations between science and social studies. 2 nd -Scientific Investigation w/ Independent and Dependent Variable, Controls, Procedures, Conclusions, etc. Regular Class- Will design and conduct an experiment of their choosing using Chia Seeds. Pre-AP- Will design and conduct any teacher approved experiment of their choosing.

6. What we cover in this class Scientific Method and Processes Chemistry Physics Earth Science Ecology Universe and Theories Weather

7. Classroom Supplies Needed This Year: Type in here… Supplies (2) composition journals (one for each semester) pencils (3) packs of 3x5 index cards (1) 1 inch 3-ring binder (to keep all tests in) (1) personal pencil sharpener to stay with the student Latex free gloves for students who have latex allergies. Copier paper Hydrogen Peroxide Alka Seltzer tablets

8. My Grading Policy Denton ISD scale: 30%-Homework/Daily Work 40%- Tests/Quizzes 30%-Labs

9. How to Contact Me… jwilburn@dentonisd.org 940-369-2356 Monday 10:00 to 10:45 Tuesday/Thursday 10:30-12:00 – Conference Period Wednesday/Friday 12:37-2:07 – Team Time/IB Cluster Meeting