HONORS BIOLOGY CLASS INFORMATIONMrs OsterhoudtRoom 305

FORMS Please download from my webpage:

Class Guidelines Honors Biology Syllabus Book Form

If you can not access forms online, let me know. Read each form with parents and sign all. On the book form, select only1 of the 3 choices All signed forms are due on or before; Friday, August 7th.

REMIND101 If you have not signed up, please do so…

Text @mrsohbio to 81010

I will use this as a communication tool for

HW, upcoming tests, general reminders and room changes, etc…

CLASS GUIDELINESOr… what are the ‘dos and don’ts’?

MATERIALS FOR CLASS…

1 inch, 3-ring binder Nothing fancy

needed 6 section dividers Blue or black pens Pencils Notebook paper

1 pack should cover you for the year

Highlighters Glue sticks Colored pencils Basic function

calculator scissors

NECESSARY OPTIONAL

ORGANIZATION IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS! Maintaining your notebook is very important! All materials are indexed and placed into specific

sections. Nothing is removed until after a notebook check is

completed. Necessary materials for EOC review will be removed at the end of units and placed into a portfolio Details on how to arrange your biology notebook will be during class on Monday, August 10th Please have all required materials with you by that date.

BYOT It is understood that personal technology devices can

be a useful tool in the classroom; where appropriate! Students understand that the use of such

devices will be limited to instructional purposes only.

The student should refrain from using electronic devices of any kind for non-instructional purposes during class time.

Repeated infractions will result in consequences in accordance with the BYOT Student Contract

and Alexander High School Student Handbook. Simply put… While in class turn it OFF!

HOMEWORK Homework is an important and essential

part of the class as it supplements instruction.

You must be willing, and are expected, to go beyond classroom instruction in order to fully develop comprehension of the material

Usually you will receive a packet of assignments for a unit with no specific due date…you should complete the worksheets as instruction is completed. Packets will be checked for completion with little advanced notice and this represents your HW grade…don’t wait until the last minute!!!

Often assignments will run concurrently. Unannounced homework quizzes are a regular part of

instruction.

ASSIGNMENTS

Must be completed by scheduled due dates. Assignments turned in over 3 days late will

receive a grade no higher than a 70. Prior arrangements must be made for any exceptions that may be granted.

It is your responsibility to check IC often to make sure you have no missing assignments; look for an “M” instead of a score.

I will remind you once or twice in class. Labs that can be made-up must be completed

within 5 days for full credit.

PROJECTS Generally, there are between 2-3 class projects. Project due dates are not negotiable. Projects are due by your class period, on or

before, the due date. Advanced notice must be received if you know

you will not be in class(i.e. sports, field trip, family event) on a project due date!

If absent on a date a project is due, you must have upon the day of return: An official excused absence form The project in hand

EXTRA CREDIT Occasionally EC activities may be provided, however, these are rare. You may at any time complete an additional

activity, such as, graphic organizers, flip books, flash cards, etc. and submit it for extra credit as part of your at home study or review.

It should be understood, however, that assignments completed for extra credit cannot be substituted for credit on missing class assignments.

Extra credit cannot be completed, en mass, at the end of the year in an effort to pass.

ONLY KNOWLEDGE IS CONSUMED IN CLASS! No food or drink, except water, will be allowed in

the classroom. No chips, candy bars, cokes, sports drinks, or

snacks of any kind in class..unless I provide them! Water must be in a sealed drink bottle.

No fast food cups. If you enter the class with one, it will be placed on the counter and retrieved after the bell on your way out.

If a medical issue requires a snack, that info should be included on your Medical Information Form.

I do not mind gum, mints, cough drops, etc; however…

I must not see it… hear it… or stick to it!

DRESS CODE Dress Code will be enforced. Follow guidelines as explained in the AHS Student Handbook.

Pants worn on the waist. Shirts must cover midriff and chest. (Only cells in mitosis should show cleavage!) Appropriate length on skirts/shorts…3 inch rule! Very form fitting ‘leggings/yoga pants’ covered to fingertips

Violations of dress code policy can create a safety and decorum issue while working in lab setting. Specific additions/changes to dress code policy will be addressed during discussion lab safety procedures.

RESTROOM POLICY You are expected to make every effort to use the restroom

between classes. You have plenty of time; if you’re not wasting it!

No one removes red hall pass from the classroom without permission.

No passes will be issued for visits to snack or drink machines. You will receive a total of 6 opportunities, for the year,to use the

pass for restroom visits during class. So…emergencies only! If you use a restroom pass for any purpose other than the

restroom, you forfeit any remaining opportunities to leave class

*Medical necessities for restroom use should be included on the medical form kept on file.

ATTENDANCE AND MAKE-UP WORK Regular attendance is a necessity due to

accelerated pacing of the curriculum. Make-up work is YOUR responsibility to acquire

and complete w/in the required time. (See Handbook.) All make-up work is located in the “sink” at the front of the room. When returning from absences look there first for assignments. Please do not interrupt instruction to ask for your make-

up. Do not hesitate to contact me if you are sick or out

for more than 1 day for your assignments. Once a test is taken for a unit, or section, no

late or makeup work will be accepted for credit.

SYLLABUSThe Format of the Class

School: Alexander High Teacher: OsterhoudtSchool Phone:770.652.6172 Date: August, 2015Email: peggy.osterhoudt@douglas.k12.ga.us Course: Honors Biology

COURSE SYLLABUSCourse Description: Biology is the study of the chemical and physical properties of life. During the course students will actively delve into all aspects of the living world including, but not limited to: the cell, biochemistry, biological diversity, genetics, evolution by natural selection, and ecology.

Performance Standards/Objectives: The biology curriculum follows the Georgia Performance Standards. This curriculum focuses upon inquiry based instruction utilizing problem solving strategies. The specific GPS curriculum can be accessed through the Douglas County Schools web site at: www.douglas.k12.ga.us.

Anticipated Classroom Format: Instruction in this course is on an advanced level. Pacing of instruction is accelerated and students must be willing and are expected to go beyond the classroom in order to fully develop comprehension. Instruction will include several different modalities including the following: lecture, laboratory inquires, dissection, group discussions, cooperative learning and research. Students will be required to take notes and maintain an organized notebook. Periodically, the students will participate in outdoor field activities, manipulate live, or preserved, organisms and complete computer investigations. Portfolios will be prepared from essential materials which can then be utilized for EOCT preparation.

Assessment/Evaluations/Required Student Products: Instruction will include, but is not limited to, the following: notebook checks, lab reports, research activities, projects/project presentations, group work, district assessments/quizzes, daily assignments, scientific vocabulary, and warm-up questions.

Grading Plan: Infinite Campus calculates grades cumulatively, using the following weights:

Formative Grades=15% Summative Grades=65% EOC=20%Homework=5% Lab Reports=20% State mandatedQuizzes=5% CDA/Formative Assessments=20%Notebook=5% Daily Assignments=15%

Projects (2-3) =10%

It is the student’s responsibility to frequently check their average on line. Parents may also keep updated on a daily basis by accessing Infinite Campus. Registration is required. Class information as well as all forms can be accessed at the following:

http://alexander.dch.schoolinsites.com/

Strategies for Student Learning: To be successful in honors biology students should be self-motivated, inquisitive, and conscientious learners. In addition, students should always: be on time for class, prepared for instruction, complete assignments by required dates, be courteous of others, ask questions to clarify learning, remain on task, adhere to all safety requirements, and obtain and complete makeup work when absent.

Remind 101: I utilize this texting program to keep my students apprised of upcoming due dates, as well as, to remind them of assignments, tests, room changes, etc. If your child has texting capabilities on their cell phone they may enroll in this free program by doing the following:

Text @mrsohbio to 81010 *Please check your cell phone contract as texting charges may apply if you do not have

unlimited texting capabilities.*

Academic Honesty: Students are expected to adhere to the highest standards of academic honesty. Plagiarism occurs when a student uses or purchases ghostwritten papers or when a student utilizes the ideas of, or information obtained, from another person without giving credit to that person. Infractions of code may include cheating, plagiarism, disruptive behavior and disorderly conduct. Students found to be in violation of the honesty code may be subject to disciplinary action and/or no credit for the assignment or class. Assignments submitted by a student must reflect the student’s own work.

Required Readings: Will include, but are not limited to, the following: magazine/newspaper/internet articles, textbook, labs and assignments, select supplementary texts.

Lost Book Policy: As per Board Policy Descriptive Code: IFAD, the student will be charged the full replacement cost for any lost, or damaged beyond use, textbook. Student will pay replacement cost for extensively damaged books (i.e. water, torn/missing pages, etc).

Replacement Cost: Glencoe Biology: Text = $25.00 Disk Version = $10.00

Glencoe Biology Text and resources can be accessed at www.glencoe.com. Complete instructions can be found on my web page in the Other Class Information tab

TOPIC/THEME TIME GPS STANDARDS 1 Organization 22 Days 1a-c, 3b-d, 5a-d, 4e,f 2 Energy

Transformations 22 Days 1b-d, 3a, 4a,b, 5b

3 Growth and Heredity

23 Days 1a, 2a-f, 4d, 5d,e

4 Equilibrium 13 Days 1a,b,d, 4a,c,d,e,f, 5b,d,e

Course Scope and SequenceA more detailed scope and sequence can be viewed at www.gadoe.org

Resources: These are a few of the websites that are used for instructional purpose

www.biologycorner.comwww.cellsalive.comwww.biologyinmotion.comwww.livescience.com www.sciencenews.com

*Power Points utilized in class can be found in the Presentations section on my webpage. Students are encouraged to utilize these presentations for introduction, maintenance, and review of topics covered in class.

Student Signature_________________________________________ Date_____________Parent Signature__________________________________________ Date_____________

BOOK FORMWhat? You mean, I don’t have to carry that thing around all day?

HONORS BIOLOGY BOOK FORM August 2015

Dear Parents;

I want to welcome you and your child to my Honors Biology class. I am looking forward to an exciting and challenging year ahead. In an effort to make sure you are kept abreast of all issues concerning your child, I wanted to make you aware of the options regarding textbooks.

Please understand that my instruction and out-of-class assignments are not dependent on any one particular book or resource. Textbooks are used primarily as references to support instruction.

To address textbook issues, I will follow these procedures:•I will keep a class set of Glencoe (or Zebra book) and Holt (or Owl book) in the room for students to use as a reference when instruction warrants their use.

•Out-of-class assignments may be completed using any textbook or reference source. There will be few references to specific pages or questions in the texts; only broad concepts.

•All students having internet access at home, regardless of whether they have been issued a text or not, will have access to an Authorization Code to use on the publisher’s web site www.glencoe.com. This code, directions to access the text and all materials online can be found on my faculty page at http://alexander.dch.schoolinsites.com/. Click on Other Class Information and follow the prompts.

•If a student prefers, the textbook and related materials can be issued in CD format. To access the text using the disk, internet access is required.

•Any student that does not have Internet access and/or computer a hardback copy of a textbook can be issued to keep at home. All textbooks have the same basic content as the Glencoe text and any version will enable students to complete out of class assignments without the use of a computer.

RETURN ONLY THE BOTTOM PORTION OF THIS FORM BY Friday August 7thth

Student Name: ________________________________ Class period: _________

Parent signature: ___________________________________________

Please talk with your child and check ONLY one of the three choices below:

____ My child has home access to a computer with Internet access and will use the authorization code for the on-line book.

____ My child has home access to a computer with internet and would like a Glencoe Student Works CD. I understand the cost to replace this CD if lost/damaged is $85.50.

____My child has no access to a computer and/or would rather use a printed book for home use. I understand the cost to replace Glencoe Biology is $71.70

Teacher use

Text_____________ CD_____________ ONLINE___________