The following guidelines will create a comfortable and productive learning environment for everyone.

You can expect me:

• To passionately share my love of science and provide opportunities for students to gain knowledge and provide opportunities for exploration and inquiry.

• To start and end class on time.

• To reply to e-mails within 24 hours.

• To assign homework that adequately covers the material and meets the learning objectives of the course.

• To give exams that accurately reflect the material covered in class and assigned in homework.

 I can expect you:

• To be in your seat with all required materials when class is scheduled to begin.

• To be attentive and participate in class.

• To be courteous and respectful to classmates and teacher .

• To spend an adequate amount of time on the homework each week and to turn homework in on time.

• To follow lab safety procedures.

• To seek help when appropriate.

• To take notes and maintain journal as directed.

Classroom Materials

• Science Journal - bring to class daily

• Pencil, scissors, glue, map pencils - bring to class daily

40% of the science grade will be based on summative exams or other summative assessments. Summative exams or other summative assessments may include tests, projects, long term assignments, presentations, papers and/or reports. 

60% of the science grade will be based on formative assessments and assignments.  Formative assessments and assignments may include class discussion, daily practice, quizzes, homework, classwork, and teacher observation.

Average science grades and graded papers will be sent home each week in the Friday folder.

Late assignments:

Students will have a two-day window to complete assignments. Teachers are responsible for implementing a process to assist students in completing missing work within a two-day window. The penalty for late work is a 10-point reduction for the first day the assignment is late. Assignments turned in the second day late will have a 30-point reduction. After the second day, a score of zero will be assigned.

 Academic Dishonesty:

Academic dishonesty includes cheating or copying the work of another student, plagiarism and unauthorized communication between students during an examination. The determination that a student has engaged in academic dishonesty shall be based on the judgment of the classroom teacher or other supervising professional employee after consideration of written materials, observation or information from students. Students found to have engaged in academic dishonesty will be assigned a consequence and given an alternative assignment to determine mastery of the content. Such action shall be determined jointly by the teacher and campus administrator.

The Science lab is an exciting place for students.  Here they will be introduced to many new science concepts that will reinforce what we are learning in the classroom.   While I encourage all students to explore and have fun, they must also follow all the safety guidelines we review the first week of school.

 All 5th graders and their parents will be required to sign a "Science Lab Contract". Upon receipt of this signed contract I will issue the student a lab license.  They must present this license to me each time we go to the lab.  

 I cannot stress the importance of lab safety! If any student violates any of the lab safety rules repeatedly they will be asked to leave the lab area and remain in the office for the duration of class.