| Course Policies and Procedures, Biology |
| Your instructor has three very simple RULES which never vary: 1. Follow directions 2. Keep hands, feet and objects to yourself unless otherwise directed. 3. Use appropriate school language. In addition, your instructor has a number of Policies that students are expected to meet, otherwise (of course) they are not following RULE #1. Policies are more specific than the three very simple RULES and on rare occasions at the request of the instructor they be modified or disregarded. Here are some of the more important Policies: THINGS YOU SHOULD BRING TO CLASS, EVERY DAY 3-ring binder, for BIOLOGY ONLY lined paper, plain paper and graph paper pens (black or blue ink only) lab manual colored pencils for drawing calculator THINGS YOU SHOULD NEVER BRING TO CLASS weapons or controlled substances active pagers or cell phones non-school electronic devices other items, by school policy Bring a certain ATTITUDE to class, as well! You are expected to work hard, rather than to receive a particular grade. In addition to certain materials, students should also bring a willingness to follow directions and do the work they are given. ADDITIONAL COURSE REQUIREMENTS (IMPORTANT!): Students in Biology: 1) should have PREVIOUSLY passed Algebra with a grade of 'C' or higher; 2) must pass a Lab Safety test during the first three weeks of instruction; 3) must establish and maintain a valid e-mail address; (and) 4) must establish and maintain a working 'Turnitin.com' account by the end of the 1st quarter. Biology Students AND Parents: 1) are BOTH expected to know how to access grades through POWERSCHOOL. 2) are BOTH expected to sign a Course Contract with contact information in which they assent to the course policies and procedures as described on this web site. MISSING IN ACTION ? Every now and then students will miss class: this is a fact of life. It is also a fact that some absences can not be helped, while others are the result of poor choices. Mr. Hatfield WILL enforce Bullard's absence and tardy policies. Mr. Hatfield also has specific Policies to handle missing work that may be due to absences or tardies. ASSESSMENTS AND GRADES The school year divides into four quarters which are about 45 days of instruction, or 9 weeks. Each quarter will be given a letter grade that is based on a percentage of total points earned during the quarter. The total points may vary, but it will be close to 1000 point each quarter. Your instructor employs an academic grading scale which differs from many traditional courses. EXTRA-CREDIT HOMEWORK: THE REQUIRED ASSIGNMENT (RA) This may be the most important Policy for students and parents to understand. As your instructor, I am required to teach more content that you will find in other entry-level courses, and this presents a special challenge for students still making the transition from middle school. To assist students in making this transition I offer reading assignments which are graded for extra-credit according to a format which has been shown to improve student's critical thinking skills. Every parent and every student should know this format, since being able to satisfy it on a regular basis may be the difference between an above-average grade and an unacceptable one. |