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Email Updates Science – Vol. 4- Number 1 – October 9, 2009
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Greetings from Mr. Brewer,
You are receiving this email because either you are a student or the parent/guardian of a student in one of my Seventh Grade Science classes at Eckstein Middle School. This is the first edition of many update emails to follow. I will send regular updates about the class once a month throughout the semester.
In this first mailing you will find:
1). The Scope of the Class
2). Classroom Expectations and Classroom Consequences
3). Grading Policies & Homework Expectations
4). I Missed an Assignment: How Do I Find Out About Past Assignments?
5). The Source and my Website.
6). Missing Assignments & Labs and Late Homework Policy.
7). Thanks for the Donations!
8). My Contact Information
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1). The Scope of the Class
Life Science is another word for Biology, the study of life. We are going to stick close to the curriculum presented in these Kits: Diversity of Life, The Human Body, Our Genes, Our Selves, and Youth Take Heart. These are dynamic and exciting—they are all about inquiry science. “What is inquiry science?” you ask. It means we will be doing lots and lots of hands-on investigations and experiments. Roll your sleeves up and get ready to dissect, collect, draw, observe, design, test, document, hypothesize, and more.
We will first tackle the Diversity of Life and Our Genes, Our Selves kits. Get ready for DNA, cells and microscopic life. Did you know that if you added up the mass of every living thing on Earth that bacteria would be more than 50% of the total? Amazing since they are almost impossible to see even in a microscope! We will finish with a special project of your choosing, with presentations. More about this as the time approaches.
We will end the semester with the mysterious, the miraculous, the incredible Human Body & Youth Take Heart (which hopefully will not be as mysterious when we finish, but still miraculous and incredible). Do you know the importance of a system?
Assessment will be in the form of:
- Your teacher’s observations while you work in class.
- Peer Assessment
- Your science notebook (writing, reading, drawing, calculation)
- Participation and discussion
- Homework & Terrarium/Aquarium & Typed Formal Lab
- Quizzes (closed book) & Tests (open book)
- Regular Challenges
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2). Classroom Expectations and Classroom Consequences
I understand that people process information in a variety of ways. To facilitate diverse learning styles, there will be a wide assortment of structured learning activities in class and as homework. You will participate in group work, conduct labs and field studies, read, take notes, create visuals, take part in discussions, produce materials, play games, watch slide shows and video clips, analyze case studies, engage in creative writing and much, much more! Expect homework several times each week.
My classroom rules fall into three categories:
1. Respect — for yourself, classmates, teacher, classroom property, & classroom environment
2. Reliability — for following classroom rules, guidelines, and agreements at all times
3. Responsibility — for being a responsible scholar at all times, coming to class prepared (with pencil, paper, and right attitude), & following classroom rules, guidelines and agreements at all times.
Additionally, the following classroom procedures are expected to be adhered to at all times:
STARTING CLASS
Be in your assigned seat when the bell rings
Have needed materials out and ready before the bell rings
Write the Purpose Statement in your Composition Book
DURING THE LESSON
Be ready to participate
Raise your hand to speak or ask a question
Be respectful of the person speaking and the people listening
Stay in your assigned seat
DURING WORK TIME
Work hard and try your best
If you have a question about a problem, ask your table partners first
If you still have a question, raise your hand and ask Mr. Brewer
Don’t be afraid to ask for help
Keep the noise at a reasonable level
Use your science work time constructively
Stay in your assigned seat
DURING TESTS AND QUIZZES
Work quietly until everyone is done
Keep your eyes on your own paper
If you have a question about the test/quiz, raise your hand to ask Mr. Brewer
Stay in your assigned seat
ENDING CLASS
Return all class materials (calculators, rulers, etc)
Personal clean-up and exit task stamping
When the bell rings, wait to be excused
Push in your chair
Failure to comply with these stated rules and expectations will be enforced in the following manner:
1). Verbal Warning
2). In Class Consequence (BMS) and Phone Call home
3). Assigned Detention and/or Bucket Duty and Phone Call home
4). Office Referral and Phone Call home.
During the first week everyone received a copy of the Expectations, Roles & Classroom Management Plan and Science Safety Contract. This document was to be returned for credit on Monday September, 8 2008. This document explains the rules that all students must follow during science laboratories and hands on investigations. Because it is imperative that our students are working in a safe environment, students and their parents/guardians must affirm their awareness and understanding of the rules and agree to support them by reading and signing this document.
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3). Class Work and Homework Expectations
Everyday class begins with a written entry task in which students write a general purpose and objective statement of the days task. Students are expected to be actively working on this procedure when the bell rings; failure to do so will result in a marked tardy. This part of the day is important because it provides students with clarity about what will be done during the day and chance to focus on the class activities.
Homework is assigned to complete many of the projects that we begin in class. Homework usually consists of a short written assignment to review the day’s lesson and short readings or handouts to read and prepare for the following day. Homework is assigned toward the end of the class period and we begin the assignment together. Homework is due the following day unless otherwise indicated and is complete when a stamp is received in the journal.
Students are expected to record the assignment in their planner and ask any questions regarding the assignment.
As you work on your assignments please consider the following:
q Neatness counts: pencil is preferred for written assignments, because we all make mistakes. Journals are stamped daily.
q It is important that you do your best on every assignment. If you do not understand get help. See Getting Extra Help.
q LATE WORK IS ACCEPTED FOR CREDIT (75%)! any day after the day that the work is to be turned in!
q WORK WITHOUT A NAME OR PARTIALLY COMPLETED WORK IS CONSIDERED INCOMPLETE (60%) even if turned in on time.
q WORK MISSED BECAUSE OF UNEXCUSED ABSENCES OR WORK NEVER TURNED IN WILL COUNT AS MISSING (50%).
q Late work due to an excused absence or extension can be turned in for full credit under the following conditions:
q Extensions on any assignment will be granted only if asked in person or email one (1) day prior to the day to be turned in!
q Short-term assignments given out in your absence can be turned in late based on the number of days missed (for example if you were home sick for 3 days, a short- term homework assignment can be turned in 3 days after you return for full credit.
q Long-term assignments will have the same due date as the rest of the class unless unusual circumstances arise and an agreement is arranged with me AHEAD OF TIME.
q A test missed due to an excused absence must be made up in a timely manner- usually within a few days of returning.
Lab/Field activities must be made up within one week of your return. One day a week (Tues. or Wed.), lab make- ups will be held during advisory/HR. If you miss the make-up day, you can no longer get credit for the lab and the lab will count as missing.
Note: a few labs require perishable materials and cannot be made up.
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5). I Missed an Assignment: How Do I Find Out About Past Assignments?
All Assignments will be posted both on my website:
http://mrbrewer.org/Pages/science7.php
and the class calendar:
http://mrbrewer.org/Pages/calendarSCI7.php.
A Master copy of all assignments completed in the Science Journal is available in the classroom at all times. Students may access this Journal during homeroom and/or after school. This is the first place to check if you are absent.
You may find out if you are missing an assignment by checking your grade on the on The Source https://source.seattleschools.org.
I generally update my website every weekend; you can expect assignment for two week intervals to be available at all times. At times, however, I may need to amend the assignments that are posted with what is given in class depending, mostly, on student learning, comprehension and understanding. When in doubt, please email me and ask what the assignment is.
If you have any questions please be sure to email me for clarification.
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6). The Source and my Website.
As grades are posted on the source, if ever you notice a mistake in your grade, please bring these to my attention and I will respond appropriately. Either I have mistakenly entered the students grade in the computer while transcribing from my written grade book or there is a mistake on the computer version regarding total points. Additionally, if I have listed an assignment as “missing” and you know that you (the student) know that you have turned it in and received a score, show me the evidence and I will correct your score accordingly.
On The Source Class Page you will find links to the following pages on my Website:
– my home page, which includes some information about me (by clicking on “About” in the menu bar);
– the class assignment calendar, provided by Google Calendars;
– the class webpage, which includes information about assignments, class notes, and archives of email updates.
Please visit my webpage, http://mrbrewer.org, for more information about class information, assignments, readings, and me.
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7). Missing Assignments & Labs and Late Homework Policy.
First and foremost, it is important that all assignments are turned on the day that they are due, otherwise credit cannot be earned.
Assignments that are completed in the Science Journal are not considered late until all ten assignments have been completed, which allows students to make up work that they may have missed and/or been unable to complete in class. Because the Science Journals are kept in class, it is the students responsibility to complete this work during homeroom or after school. I may occasionally issue a pass for this purpose, but a good student will advocate for themselves and responsibly complete the work.
Missing Labs that are completed in class will require at least one day after school to make up the lab or during homeroom. Most likely this will be on a Tuesday because I also coach JV soccer on Monday and Thursday; later in the semester there will be more options. Please plan this into your schedule as you make arrangements to miss school and make up work. For your information, most teacher will require this time to make up work, as we cannot usually get this done in class time as we move forward and because homeroom is too short to complete, especially, a science lab (let alone get started). Thanks for your understanding regarding this time.
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8). Thanks for the Donations!
Thank you for your generous $5 Lab Fee donations to the Science Department. Your support will allow us to provide the best resources and opportunities that we can. If you wish to donate in the future, please make checks payable to “Eckstein Middle School.”
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9). My Contact Information
I can be reached/contacted several ways:
Real Mail
3003 NE 75th St.
Seattle, WA 98115
Web Page
www.mrbrewer.org/
Email (best way)
mabrewer@seattleschools.org or brewermaj@gmail.com.
Telephone/Fax
(206) 252-5010
(801) 665-5066
Thank you for attending to this email. If you have any additional questions and/or concerns, please do not hesitate to email.
I look forward to your continued correspondence throughout the year.
Warmly,
Matthew John Brewer
7th Grade Science Teacher
Eckstein Middle School
Seattle, WA 98115
tel.: 206-252-5010
fax: 801-665-5066
mabrewer@seattleschools.org
http://www.mrbrewer.org