Dear Students,

Welcome to chemistry!  I expect that you are a bit nervous about the course and less than pleased with the loss of summer freedoms so I wanted to take a couple minutes to give you an introduction to the course and the workings of my class.  The following are the answers to some frequently asked questions (FAQ).

 

What do you expect of your students?

“RESPONSIBILITY.”  I expect each of you to take the responsibility for your assignments, your actions, and your results.  Specifically, those students who earned A’s or B’s last year did the following very well.

• Show up on time and be ready to learn.
• Work to learn to the best of your ability.
• Turn in all work.  I don’t know how to help you if you don’t give me something to start with.
• Ask questions!  I like the challenge.  I like discussion.  I want to help you and that is much easier if you stick up for yourself.
• Study every day.  Sometimes this will be assigned homework.  If not, you will have to know many names, structures, and formulas so memorize those daily.  I expect homework to take about 15 minutes to an hour EVERY SINGLE DAY.

 

What are your rules? (I know you are all dying to ask this!)

A. Be Safe

1.      Wear goggles for every experiment using fluids or glassware.  No exceptions.

2.      Keep your desk and aisles clear.

3.      Keep all noise and movement to a minimum during labs.

4.      Report all spills, broken glass, etc. to your teacher.

5.      NO FOOD OR DRINK IN THE LAB AT ANY TIME.

 

B. Live up to our ESLRs.

1.      Be a scholar of skills and content – Work to the best of your ability to learn chemistry and education skills.

2.      Be an advocate for self – it is your responsibility to ask for help and let me know if the class room environment can be changed to enhance your learning.

3.      Be an advocate for community – ALL YOUR ACTIONS MUST SUPPORT THE LEARNING OF YOUR GROUP AND THE CLASS.

4.      Be a model of integrity – all work is exclusively yours.

 

What can we expect from you as our teacher?

• I am ready and willing to MATCH your efforts to help you succeed.
• I thoroughly enjoy chemistry and teaching.  I have a lot of fun in my classes and I keep them as light as possible while maintaining a safe and thoughtful environment.

 

 

 

 

What stuff do we need for this class?

Students must have the following items immediately to begin working in this class.

• 2” 3-ring binder for this class alone.  It must have the word “CHEMISTRY” in large letters taped or written on the spine.  You will not be able to share this notebook with other courses.  I suggest black or white as each will be useful for specific labs.
• Pencils and Blue or black ink pens. No other colors are acceptable.  I am colorblind and can’t see many other colors on paper.
• White, 8.5”x11” paper.  Do not use spiral notebook paper, color or small sizes.
• Calculator – Use a simple scientific calculator for this course.  All we need is exponents, scientific notation, logs and the basic operations.  You must have a “sci” mode and an “EE” or “EXP” key.  Cell phones are not acceptable calculators.  I strongly suggest graphing calculators (the math department also strongly suggests these, so one purchase will cover both classes).
• Homework planner – the same one for all your classes

 

Can I go to the bathroom?

Everyone will get a page of bathroom and hall passes (5 total) at the beginning of the semester.  If you must use the facilities, you must ask me, have me sign off on one of your passes, then go.  If you have used all your passes, you cannot leave unless one of your partners is willing to let you use one of theirs.  Unused passes earn extra credit at the end of each quarter.

 

No one may use the restroom in the first or last 10 min of any class period.

 

How will I be graded?

Grades will be awarded based on the percentage of total points earned in the following categories:

1.      Process ~ 30% of each quarter.  This will include notebook checks, scanned homework, graded notes, and student generated review sheets.

a.      Group bonus points will be added to the process grade as an evaluation of community advocacy.

b.      Students will lose 3 points off the process grade per tardy.

 

2.      Content~ 70% of each quarter.  This will include tests, quizzes, graded labs, and current events.

a.      Note: Every student must retake any test until they earn a 60% or better.  It is the student’s responsibility to schedule retakes.

 

3.      Semester grades will be calculated using the following proportions:

 

1^st Quarter              40%                 2^nd Quarter             40%                             Final            20%

 

 

 

 

How will I know what assignments are due and when?

Every day the daily agenda, homework, and work due will be posted on the board.  The group record keeper will also be writing this information in the group’s folder. Every student is responsible for writing this down in his/her planner.

 

Do you accept late work?

Everyone has days when they just can’t get everything done.  With your bathroom and hall passes, you will receive a set of late work passes.  You may use these passes for any unexcused late assignment.  Again, any unused late passes will earn extra credit at the end of the quarter.

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How do we get missed assignments?

1.      Your group’s record keeper will put a copy of each assignment in your group’s folder for anyone absent.

2.      Check my website.  www.geocities.com/desantoswim.  I post all handouts on that site.  It also contains many useful links to help you.

3.      You may email me at [email protected].  I usually check this in the mornings and right before going home. 

a.    I expect you to be ready for class and caught up when you return.

b.    If we are taking a test, you are responsible for it on the day you return.

c.    Make up labs will be scheduled on Thursdays after school and will only

available for two weeks after the day the lab was assigned.  If you miss a lab, you are responsible for coming to the make up day for the lab you missed.

 

What are we going to study in this class?

I imagine the study of chemistry to look like a tree.  During the first semester we develop the roots and trunk of the tree.  The second semester has time for more freedom to delve into specific branches of chemistry.

1.      The roots.

a.      Class policies and procedures

b.      Math – dimensional analysis, scientific notation and significant figures.

c.      Experimental design – Scientific method, lab skills, critical thinking, problem solving strategies.

d.      5 why? (5 How?) method

2.      The trunk.

a.      Atomic structure – electron configurations, isotopes, the periodic table and nuclear chemistry.

b.      Bonding – how do atoms combine, molecule geometry, electronegativity and its effect on matter.

c.      Phases of matter and gas behavior.

d.      Chemical reactions – a general study of what reactions are and how they work

The above must be mastered for a student to be successful with the branches of chemistry.  I cannot stress this enough.  The first semester is the crucial foundation to the second semester. The second semester is more open to student curiosity and timing.

 

 

What are we going to study in this class (continued)?

3.      The branches

a.      Thermochemistry – How is energy involved in chemical reactions and why?

b.      Electrochemistry – How do batteries work?

c.      Acid/Base Chemistry – What is pH and why are these chemicals so prevelant in our lives.

d.      Solution chemistry – What are solutions, mixtures, colloids, and why do they behave the way they do.

e.      Biochemistry – How does all this relate to our bodies.

 

Finally, I want to give you the answer to all of chemistry.  The following statements are truly chemistry at its most simple and elegant.  Please memorize these statements and use them in class.  Use them at parties to sound more intelligent.  Use them in other classes (I can’t think of a reason why).  Just use them.

 

            1. OPPOSITE CHARGES ATTRACT, LIKE POLARITIES ATTRACT.

 

2. YOU CAN INCREASE THE ATTRACTION BY:

a.  ADDING ATTRACTIVE PIECES or

b. BRINGING THE PIECES CLOSER TOGETHER.

 

I hope this sets the stage for you and prepares you for a great year.     I am looking forward to working with each of you.  Please sign this page and return it to me.

 

Make it good,

Mr. De Santo

 

 

 

 

Parent signature ___________________________________ date _________________

 

 

Student signature __________________________________ date _________________