I am committed to you and your student. Feel free to contact me at school or at home if you have any questions or concerns. The school number is 556-5070. If you call during class, I will return your call as soon as possible. My home number is 341-5236 and I can be reached after 6:00 most days. I would also appreciate a number where I can reach you during the school day if necessary.
Email me at mrteague@csasbiology.org
News:
> Parent/Teacher conferences went very well I think. Some recurring questions were:
>> Extra credit - I give extra credit opportunities from time to time rather than a planned number or interval. The assignments are almost always to look something up on the internet. Roughly 100 points are available per quarter (works out to about 10% on final average). "Credit" comes first - no extra credit if student has any zeros.
>> Many parents wanted to know how they could participate in their student's success. Mostly, homework is reading assignments, so becoming interested in the topic and discussing with your student encourages reading and deepens understanding. Plus, your student will be ready for class participation.
>> Many wanted to know my availability. I am available at school in the morning from 6:30 to 7:30 and in the afternoon from 2:10 to around 4:30. Be aware that I conduct labs on Mon, Wed, and Thurs after school and Tuesdays are meeting days. I can sometimes give help around the labs and Friday is free. I am not generally available during planning period, but conferences can be scheduled for those times (mornings).
>> Grade posting on SmartWeb. My goal is to let nothing get more than a week old before posting. To provide a consistent pattern, anything older than a week will be dropped (and no makeup work will be accepted). I cannot lower the standards for IB by eliminating essay type questions from tests to speed up grading. It can take 2 to 3 hours to grade one class test (~30 tests). Although my planning period is for posting grades, I have to grade them at home, so it can take a few days. Bottom line: Smartweb grades may be as of today - or up to a week old. We are in a new age of information and there are a few growing pains. Parents I've talked to understand this. I'm always looking for a better way : )
>> Thanks to the PTSA for making the day run smoothly - and for Lunch : )
Regular Stuff:
My testing schedule is straightforward. I try to test every Friday, alternating A and B classes. That means your student will have a test every two weeks. Due to concerns about having tests in other subjects on the same day, the testing schedule is necessarily flexible and is subject to change.
Homework will primarily focus on reading material from the textbook and discussing insights, questions and conclusions in subsequent classes. Students must read not only to get a basic understanding of the subject matter, but to also improve overall reading skills.
All Pre-IB students are required to participate in the Science Fair.
Date for Classen Science Fair is January 10th, 2007.
Science Fair forms and lots of info at http://www.sciserv.org/isef/
Grade will be reflected in third quarter.
Biology I students will do a 'group four' IB project as part of internal assessment that is also due in January.
The grading scale used will be:
90-100% = A
80-89% = B
70-79% = C
60-69% = D
0-59% = F
Grades will have the following weights:
30% Daily work (class work, quizzes, etc.)
10% Labs
10% Homework
50% Tests
Assertive discipline plan:
General School rules
1. Students must be in their assigned seat when the tardy bell finishes ringing.
2. Bring materials to class every day.
3. Keep hands, feet and other objects to yourself.
4. Follow directions of teacher.
5. Observe all other school rules (Student handbook).
Classroom rules
In this class, I expect students to:
1. Stop activity and listen carefully at teacher’s signal.
2. Practice laboratory safety at all times.
3. Complete all (100%) assignments on time.
4. Behave positively toward each other.
Students who do what is expected of them will:
1. Achieve the grades of which they are capable.
2. Parent contacts will be positive.
3. Rewards, as they are available.
Students who choose not to do what is expected of them will:
1. Receive verbal warnings (2) – (Behavior)
2. Third warning results in a parent contact after school.
3. Fourth warning results in a parent contact immediately.
4. Fifth warning indicates a severe problem that must be referred to Administration.
Severe clause: Immediate referral to the office:
Severe behaviors warranting an immediate referral are listing on the back of the referral form and include fighting, defiance, stealing, weapons, drugs, etc.
General school rules and the point system have been provided to you previously. Please go over them with your student.