Mr. Nelson's Class Policy

"Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new." Albert Einstein

Class Policy 2005 - 2006

Grading:

	Approximately	Approximate Grades
Classwork:	50%	A: 90% or above
Homework:	15%	B: 80% to 89.9%
Final Exam:	20%	C: 70% to 79.9%
Quizzes:	10%	D: 60% to 69.9%
Participation and Citizenship:	5%	F: 59.9% or below
Extra Credit:	+4% applied to semester grade only

Classwork:
The main focus of learning in Mr. Nelson’s class is hands on learning through the use of projects, activities, journal entries, and labs. All lab reports must be readable by the teacher. If the teacher can’t read it, the student will receive no credit. All labs need to be completed using the scientific method.

Homework:
Students will be outlining the textbook three nights a week for homework. All homework must be hand written and readable by the teacher or no credit.

Final Exam:
There are two final exams for the school year, one for each semester. They are comprised of 100 multiple choice questions. Both tests are cumulative. The first semester test will come at the end of the semester. The second semester test will come right before star testing.

Quizzes:
Quizzes can be weekly, at end of quarters, and at random. Participation and Citizenship: The purpose of this grade is to encourage accountability by rewarding student who act responsibly, work collaboratively, and participate appropriately.

Participation and Citizenship:
The purpose of this grade is to encourage accountability by rewarding student who act responsibly, work collaboratively, and participate appropriately.

Extra Credit:
Students can only earn extra credit by:

Sem 1 - Parent attends Back to School Night. 1 %
Sem 1 - Parent attends presentation night. 2 %
Sem 1 & 2 - Student has no tardies or truants during the entire semester. 1 %
Sem 2 – Parent attends Open House. 1 %
Sem 2 - Student gets an C or better on the final exam. 2 %

Cheating:
Cheating is defined as: using another students work from a previous year or this year, copying another students work, looking at another students test, allowing another student to copy from your test, having access to any cheat sheet (on paper, on desk, written on self, anywhere), talking or passing notes during tests, use of cell phone, text messaging, and copying or pasting work from the internet and other published material without citing sources. Cheating will be reported to the administration, parents will be called and the student will receive an F for that assignment or test.

Required Supplies that every student must bring to class EVERY day:
Paper – line and graph
Homework binder (3 ring)
Pencil (#2)
Lab project binder (3 ring)
Black or blue ball point pen
200 page spiral bound notebook

Class Rules:

Show respect: teacher, others, room, and yourself.
No sexual, drug, violent or inappropriate topics.
No swearing, vulgar, or offensive language.
No food, drinks, edible items or phones.
Be on time and ready to learn.

Consequences:

Name written on board: student stays after class.
One check mark: 2-5 minute after class or work detail, and student will create an action plan acceptable to the teacher.
Two check marks: 5-15 minute after school detention, work detail, and student will create an action plan acceptable to the teacher.
Three check marks: student is sent to office, call home, and class suspension.
Severe disruptions: student sent immediately to office.

Class Procedures:

Students enter the classroom quietly and go straight to their desks.
Students must have a pencil / pen and paper out on desk before bell rings.
When the bell rings, students must be at their desks working on the warm-up quietly and by themselves.
When teacher raises his hand, students stop what they are doing and look at the teacher quietly. Teacher will count to three with his fingers, if he reaches three, class will stay after for 1 minute. Teacher will repeat this procedure until class is silent.
All papers should have their student number, period, date, and row number on the top right corner.
Students must raise their hand and get permission to speak or get out of their seat.
Students get three bathroom passes per semester.
All homework assignments will be posted on http://geocities.com/cphsnelson/ website and be displayed at the beginning of every week.
On assembly days, students will walk quietly with the teacher and come back to class quickly and quietly after the assembly.
Teacher dismisses the class at the end of the period, not the bell.

Excused Absence:
All homework is posted online and is due the day the student is back. Students will be excused from warm-ups and labs on the days they miss. Students will have to make up quizzes and tests. All unexcused absences will be giving a zero grade.

Lab Safety:
Students must behave safely in the classroom/lab environment. Science lab safety regulations are attached.

Classroom DVD:
At the end of the school year, a DVD of biology activities and projects may be distributed to each student. This DVD is a demonstration of all my biology students’ work. To create this DVD, I may be digitally recoding student presentations, labs, projects, and activities.

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