Weekly Press # 20
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Welcome to weekly press. Week of Feb. 18-22nd.
So what is new in biology?
1. This week, the students will be experiencing some differences in class. Over the last few weeks, students have not been as prepared to come to biology as I would like them to be. As a result, they have not brought supplies needed to conduct work, have not had positive attitudes in class, have not turned in assignment on time and have not taken responsibility for self actions within the classroom. Success in education is founded on the very notion that students put in 100% effort into their school work while the teacher puts into 100% of their effort to teach. After weeks of observing, talking and pleading with students to put in 100% effort, I still had an overwhelming amount of students who felt that success was not as important as I would like.
2. Book checks will be held each class period. Students who do not have books will receive a 30 minute detention. Students are not allowed to share books with each other while working together. If a student is completely finished with individual work, they may choose to allow a student who did not bring a book to use their book. However, two students will not be using the book at the same time. Students will have one week to serve detention. If they are unable to come after school, they may come during their lunch break only if they make arraignments with me prior to the day. If the student does not serve the detention, it will turn into a 60 minute detention. If that is not served, it will turn into a referral. Students will sign a form stating they do not have a book and are receiving a detention. They have an option if they want a copy of their detention slip. We do not have biology class set as it is Clear Creek policy. So it is important and vital to the education process that students bring their book each day.
3. Late work policy is being enforced. This is a Clear Creek ISD policy and is in my course syllabus. 1 day late is 20% off. 2 days late is 40% off. After that, it becomes a zero. Example. Assignment is due on Monday. 20% off on Wednesday. 40% off on Friday. Will not accept the assignment after 3pm on Friday. Assignment becomes a zero and student can not turn it in. If a student is absent, they have one day for every day they were absent and then it becomes late.
4. Students will no longer be given power point notes. Students will be given fill in the blank notes or will hand write all notes. It will be up to student to write all examples and complete all vocabulary given for the chapter. It will not longer be given through power point notes. Students will stay focus and learn more as they write the notes instead of being given the notes. Students who are absent will need to get any information from another student if notes was given on the day of being absent.
5. As a reminder, students must right in blue or black ink or pencil on any assignment. 5 points will be taken off for any assignment that is any other color. Students must not doodle or draw on any assignments that will be turned in. 5 points will be taken off if this is done. In addition, as a reminder, students must have a binder for this class - with 5 dividers (objectives, notes, graded assignments, test and progress reports). Students will take a binder check test at the end of the nine weeks. Students need to come to class with supplies each day which include something to write with, paper, their biology book, any assignments and their binder.
6. Students have warm ups each class period. We normally go over warm ups together in class. However, overwhelmingly amount of students are not finding the answers and wait until I give the answer in class to write it down. I pick these warm ups every two weeks as a grade. I do not feel it is fair or very educational successful for students to not be finding the answers on their own and then receiving full credit for the assignment. Therefore, I will not be going over warm ups. However, students are still responsible for warm ups and I will be picking the warm ups up as usually every couple weeks. If a student is not sure the answer to the warm up, they may ask me and I will assist them.
7. Lesson plan: Monday: Evolution test. Review due. Ch. 17 focus on kingdom worksheet. (B day students did same assignment on Friday of last week). Tuesday/Wednesday:
If you have any questions, please let me know.
Thank you,