Syllabus and Classroom Guidelines

Glendale High School
Course Syllabus & Classroom Guidelines

TEACHER:   Mrs. JAHSHAN                                                School Year:  2009/2010

DEPARTMENT:   SCIENCE                                                  COURSE:   CHEMISTRY     

A. KEY CONCEPT OF COURSE:

            Chemistry 1-2 is a Lab Science Course, based upon the California State Chemistry Standards. The major strands are Atomic and Molecular Structure, Chemical Bonds, Conservation of Matter, Gases and Their Properties, Acids and Bases, Solutions, Chemical Thermodynamics, Reaction Rates, Chemical Equilibrium and Organic& Biochemistry, with the Investigation and Experimentation strand integrated throughout the curriculum. This course meets the University of California admission requirement.

B. GENERAL PLAN FOR COURSE:

           Students are expected to be in their assigned seat before the tardy-bell, ready to copy the White Board Configuration and answer the Do Now questions while teacher is checking the Homework (the Do Now are collected every week or 2 and graded).Then, after discussing the objective of the day and taking notes from lecture or book, students have to complete the class work neatly and submit it by the end of the period. Practice homework will be assigned daily, corrected and graded.
          Group work is assigned during lab session where every student has to participate, follow procedure and instructions and focus on the work assigned for the group.

C. COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

            There will be lecture and note taking, solving problems, demonstrations, lab work, group work and projects. You should be focused on the work assigned and stay on task all the time. Homework is to be done every night and checked at the beginning of class. You will do well at school when you practice at home what you have learned in class.
            Keeping an organized notebook is required and will be checked at any time. You will need 5 dividers with tabs. Tabs will be in the following order and labeled as follows:
 STANDARDS, RULES & HANDOUTS
 WHITEBOARD CONFIGURATION                                                                            
 DO NOW                                                                            
 CLASSWORK/HOMEWORK (organized by chapters)                                                        
 TESTS, QUIZZES & LAB WORK + points record sheet
                                                                                                                                                                                
  You will also need: Pencils and pens (blue, black, green and red)
                                 Highlighter
                                Calculator with x/y or y/x, and Log function capacity.

D. TEACHER AVAILABILITY:

                I am available after school for students who need extra help, but it is your responsibility to show up and ask.
       I love to be in close contact with parents in any way to enhance the students’ learning, so please PARENTS! Feel free to Email me on njahshan@gusd.net or call me at school at (818) 242-3161 extension 1492

E. TEXTBOOK TO BE USED:

               CHEMISTRY MATTER AND CHANGE by Glencoe Science
     There will be a class set so students can keep their book at home, covered at all times.

F. SAFETY  STANDARDS:

             Lab Safety Guidelines must be always followed in every Lab session. A handout for Lab Safety Guidelines will be distributed and it has to be signed and kept in folder.

G. ATTENDANCE EXPECTATIONS:

             Daily attendance to class is expected. If you have an EXCUSED ABSENCE, then make sure your parents call the school to clear your absence at:
9th (818) 409-0155            10th   (818) 247-6068           11th    (818) 409-1742        12th   (818) 247-606 Remember it is your responsibility to find out what you have missed. You have to make up the class work and show up with your homework done so that you don’t lose credit. Therefore, I advise you to have at least 2 study – buddies (friends from class) to call, meet and discuss with them what you have missed.
I will try my best to post everyday Classwork and Homework on my website:
www.mrs.jahchan.4t.com
so I will not accept any excuses, since YOU and YOUR PARENTS can be informed about the Classwork and Homework at any time.
Tests and quizzes must be made up the day you return from a single excused absence, after school. (A longer delay may be arranged if illness causes extended absence.)  Therefore, avoid being absent, since it will cost you more time, more effort and a zero in case you fail to take the make-up test on time.
           As for tardiness, the school rule will be enforced. I usually call home after the second one. Excessive tardies will result in a poor citizenship and it will surely affect your grade level since homework will be checked only during the first 3 minutes of class, then you will miss instructions and won’t be able to finish your class work on time.

H. BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS:

           I expect my students to have a positive attitude and a willingness to learn. You have to take responsibility for creating a positive classroom environment by following the simplest rules:
1-  Be polite. Respect everyone’s space, privacy, and opinion and all will do the same for you
2-  Listen attentively to instructions. No talking while the teacher is talking.
3-  Raise your hand to talk or for permission to get out of your seat.
4-  If you are working with a partner or group, use your “ quiet voice “
5-  No eating, drinking or gum chewing is allowed in class.
6-  Be dismissed by the teacher, not the bell
7-  The above rules also apply when a substitute teacher covers the class.
Being all, young adults eager to learn, I expect not to have any discipline problems and concentrate on a better learning time. But if you choose to break the classroom rules, here are the CONSEQUENCES:
Progressive discipline will be used unless the situation requires an immediate referral to the appropriate administrator. The steps are:
1- Verbal warning and seat change.
2- Student-Teacher conference.
3-  Sent out to finish work in the chairperson’s room.
4-  Phone call home or to parent’s work
5-  Detention
6-  Referral to appropriate administrator which includes a conference with the parent, student and administrator.

CHEATING TS A SERIOUS OFFENSE. I do not expect anyone to copy any homework, class work, or test answers from anyone. However, if you choose to cheat, you will receive a double zero on that assignment, detention, a referral, a phone call home and notation in your permanent record with this school (also known as your cumulative folder)

I. ASSESSMENTS:

           Class work and homework are checked daily, out of 5 points each. You can earn 100pts every two weeks. I expect all of you to do CW/HW which will help you learn better and keep a good grade. A quiz is given on every chapter out of 20 to 50 pts. Then a cumulative test follows every 2 or 3 chapters out of 100pts. Quizzes and tests will be always corrected in class and most of the questions will be included on the Final which will be out of 30% of the cumulative grade.
           Lab work should be done carefully and seriously. There will be two types of lab: formal and informal. For formal labs you simply complete the lab and fill in information on the lab sheet. For informal labs, you will be given a format that must be followed for a complete write-up .If you follow instruction, procedure, collaborate with your group and write a good synthesis you will earn 50pts for each lab.

J.   GRADING RUBRIC:

             You earn your grade. It is dependent on your overall points which include tests, quizzes, homework, class work, lab reports, lab work, projects and the final. Daily work is expected; otherwise you will fall behind quickly! It’s your responsibility to read, do all the required work, ask questions and seek help whenever necessary.
            Your final grade would be a cumulative one where tests and quizzes count for 50%, class work/homework/notebook count for 40% and labs count for 10% of total grade.
    Standard Grading Scale: A = 90%-100% B = 80%-89% C = 70%-79% D = 60%-69% F = 59&below

Chemistry can be fun if you let it be. All of my class rules are in place for reasons that are in all of our best interest. They will be enforced always without exception. Following the rules is the key to learning in my class. You are a valuable resource to the class and I care for the success of each one of you. I look forward to working with you and hope you will give this class your best effort.

K.   PARENT SIGNATURE AND ACKNOWLEDGEMNT OF RECEIPT OF THIS DOCUMENT:

I have read and discussed this Course Syllabus and Classroom Guideline with my student,

_____________________________.
                                         Name of Student

Signed:_________________________________________________  Date:___________________                        
  Parent/Guardian