Course Syllabus
by Rachel Miles
Course Syllabus 2010 - 2011
“Education is too important to be left solely to the educators.” – Francis Keppel
Teacher Contact Information:
Ms. Rachael Shelby
Everton R-III
Phone: (417) 535 – 2221
Email: rshelby@evertontigers.org
Planning Period: 3rd Hour 10:30 – 11:15 A.M.
Student Expectations:
1. Be responsible – what you put into a class, is what you will get out of the class.
2. Self educate – go beyond the classroom and the “box” to find more answers.
3. Respect others – be respectful to the others and be a respectable person.
4. Encourage – help and encourage your classmate to be better.
5. Be open minded to learn new ideas and theories.
6. Education + Work Ethic = Achievement (Mario Burgo)
Teacher Expectations:
1. I will treat each student equally.
2. I will treat each student fairly.
3. I will respect each student.
4. I will encourage every student to do and be their best.
5. I will be open minded to your ideas and new ideas.
Classroom Policies:
Homework – I will not accept late work. It is your responsibility to get your homework done in a timely manner. There will be an exception if you are on a school related trip, have a doctor’s note, or a parents note.
-Responsibility means the state of being accountable. So I need to count on you to get your homework turned in on time.
Preparedness – Be ready to learn: have your book out, homework, and pencils or pens.
-Being on time and ready for class is important to your education, it is also important, for work and sports.
- Class Materials:
Pencil
Pen (black, blue, and red only, please!!!!)
Notebook for notes and journal
Attendance – I expect you to be in class every day. However, if you know you are going to be absent, please come see and let me know. So I can give you your assignments and the material we will cover the day you will be gone. If you become ill or an emergency comes up and you are not in class, it is your responsibility to come ask me for your assignments and the material we covered the day you missed.
-Being in class everyday is beneficial to self discipline and self control.
Electronics –Respect others and the teacher by giving your full attention. Absolutely no cell phones, iPods or any other electronic device. If you are caught with one of these devices, I will take it from you and you will not get it back until the end of the day.
-It is disrespectful and rude to not have your full attention to what is going on in the classroom. I feel disrespected as a teacher to have a student on one of these devices.
Testing - A test will be given at the end of each chapter, and you are expected to know the content of the chapter.
-Webster – “In chemistry, a substance employed to detect any unknown constituent of a compound, by causing it to exhibit some known property. Thus ammonia is a test of copper, because it strikes a blue color with that metal, by which a minute quantity of it can be discovered when in combination with other substances.”
Quizzes – A quiz will be given for every section covered. They will be at the beginning of every class period.
-This will help you remember what you learned the day before.
Cheating – If I catch you cheating you will receive a zero for that test.
-Cheating is unacceptable in my classroom. You will never learn anything from taking someone else’s work.
Plagiarism – Webster, “The act of purloining another man's literary works, or introducing passages from another man's writings and putting them off as one's own; literary theft.” This is the definition of plagiarism, this act is illegal. You must cite everything you write.
Language – You are expected to use appropriate language in the classroom. If inappropriate language is used in the classroom, the teacher will take care of the problem.
Substitute –TREAT THE SUBSTITUTE AS THEY ARE THE TEACHER.
Discipline Policy
Discipline by the dictionary means “to learn or to teach.” My goal of discipline is to guide students to make good decisions such as respect others. Respect includes listening while other talk, staying on task, using appropriate language, encouraging others, and doing what is expected of you. If you are seen not displaying these actions the following will happen:
1. An obvious non verbal warning.
2. A verbal warning.
3. You will be asked to have a meeting after class to discuss the disrespectful behavior, or go to the principal’s office. Then further action will take place, a teacher, student and parent meeting to discuss the behavior and take action on the disrespectful behavior.
Grading:
Grading Scale:
A -- 100 – 90 %
B -- 89 – 80 %
C -- 79 – 70 %
D -- 69 – 60 %
F -- 59 % and below
• Grading will be based on a percentage of the point you earn.
o Example: if a student earns 520 points out of 600 the grade will be a B (87%) 520 / 600 = 87%
Show-Me Standard Performance Goals:
1. Students in Missouri public schools will acquire the knowledge and skills to gather, analyze, and apply information and ideas.
2. Students in Missouri public schools will acquire the knowledge and skill to communicate effectively within and beyond the classroom.
3. Students in Missouri public schools will acquire the knowledge and skills recognize and solve problems.
4. Student in Missouri public schools will acquire the knowledge and skills to make decisions and act as responsible members of society.
Show Me Standards – Science:
1. Properties and principles of matter and energy.
2. Properties and principles of force and motion.
3. Characteristics and interactions of living organisms.
4. Changes in ecosystems and interactions of organisms with their environments.
5. Processes and interactions of earth’s biosphere, atmosphere, lithosphere and hydrosphere.
6. Composition and structure of the universe and the motions of the objects within it.
7. Processes of scientific inquiry.
8. Impact of science, technology and human activity on resources and the environment.
Suggestions for Success
H. Jackson Brown, Jr. – An American author best known for his book Life’s Little Instruction Book.
1. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
2. Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know.
3. Be forgiving of yourself and others.
4. Be generous.
5. Have a grateful heart.
6. Persistence, persistence, persistence.
7. Treat everyone you meet like you want to be treated.
8. Commit yourself to constant improvement.
9. Commit yourself to quality.
10. Understand that happiness is not based on possessions, power or prestige, but on relationships with people you love and respect.
11. Be loyal.
12. Be honest.
13. Be a self-starter.
14. Be decisive even if it means you'll sometimes be wrong.
15. Stop blaming others. Take responsibility for every area of your life.
16. Be bold and courageous. When you look back on your life, you'll regret the things you didn't do more than the ones you did.
17. Take good care of those you love.
