Geology

Instructor: Mr. London
Phone: 417-742-3524 ext. 3162
Email: qlondon@willard.k12.mo.us
Conference: 4th Hour

TUTORING:

            I will be available after school on most school days.  There are exceptions with meetings, appointments, etc., so please check ahead of time.

 
            Mondays:                                             3:00 - 4:00PM

Tuesday, Wednesday, & Friday:           2:30 - 4:00PM

Thursday:                                             2:30-4:45 (there is a late bus that runs on Thursday’s @ 5:00PM)

 
            I am usually at school by 7:00AM, but if needed, I can be here earlier by appointment.

Grading:

Throughout this course you will be expected to keep a portfolio with your daily notes as well as lab activities and assignments.  This course is designed to be as “hands on” as possible.  You will be expected to keep your lab activities, assignments, and notes in your portfolio.  This portfolio will be worth ~5% of your total grade and turned in at the end of the semester.

The labs, activities, and assignments will be vital to your grade.  It is extremely important that you are here on days of scheduled labs.  All students will be required to complete pre and post lab reports.  These reports will be kept with the student’s portfolio and will be graded with the lab component.  Your group’s grade on a lab will be designated for each individual.  It is therefore wise to keep your group on task.  You will be asked to give an oral presentation, either individually or as a group.  Your labs, activities, and assignments will account for ~37% of your total grade.

Your exams may be multiple choice, matching, identification, fill in the blank, and/or essay.  Your test and quiz scores will account for ~40% of your total grade.  Not all assessments will be on paper.  You should expect the possibility of being quizzed in person.

Your final exam will count as ~15% of this total for the semester.

Your personal level of involvement as well as behavior in my class carries 3% of your total grade.  This portion of your grade is the equivalent of a B+ becoming an A-.

Extra credit opportunities will be offered throughout the semester, but the points earned will only be considered in determining the final semester grade.  The students’ grades will be posted periodically throughout the semester and will not reflect any extra credit.  Also, extra credit opportunities are only offered to the whole class, not individuals.

These are only approximate percentages and your grade is based on the total points earned out of the total points possible for the semester.

Class Policies

Welcome to the 2007-2008 school year.  We have many challenges and opportunities ahead of us this year, and I am looking forward to getting to know each of you.  My classroom policies are fairly simple: the WHS handbook will be followed in this class at all times.  In addition to the rules in the handbook, I will expect the following:

                        1. Be prepared for class, both mentally and physically.  You will always need to have your book and materials with you.

                        2. Show respect for your classmates.

                        3. Show respect for me, the substitute, or anyone else in charge.

                        4. Show respect for yourself.  Give yourself the opportunity to succeed.

MATERIALS:           You will need the following materials for my class:

                                    - 1 inch 3-ring binder or larger with at least 4 dividers

                                    - a calculator: minimum, one that can do square roots, basic scientific calculator preferred

                                    - paper

                                    - #2 (HB) lead pencils

ASSIGNMENTS:

                  Assignments are due at the beginning of class.  Late assignments will be accepted at the teacher’s discretion.  The teacher reserves the right to refuse assignments or deduct additional points from the assignment.  All late assignments will have minimum of 20% deducted and the deductions will increase by 10% at the start of each quarter.

 ABSENCES: 

             You are responsible for making arrangements with the teacher for any material missed during your absences within the rules explained in the WHS handbook.  All test and quizzes will be made up before or after school.  Labs can be made up at the teacher’s discretion after school.  No additional time will be given for tests, quizzes, and assignments missed because of school related absences (field trips, competitions, activities, etc.).  The material is due the day you return to class, unless other arraignments are made before the absences.

 
TARDIES:    
 
           Refer to your student handbook for disciplinary action.  You will be considered tardy if you are not in the classroom and moving towards your desk in an orderly manner by the time the tardy bell rings.        

DRINKS/FOOD
 

            Absolutely no food in the classroom.  Students may have water bottles, unless instructed otherwise due to safety concerns.  Having water bottles in my class is a privilege and can be revoked.  This classroom is also a laboratory.

 
DISCIPLINE:           

 
            You and only you are responsible for your actions.  The WHS assertive discipline program will be followed in this classroom:

                                    1) Student receives verbal warning in class.

                                    2) Student meets with teacher and a discipline form is started.

                                    3) Student receives a formal warning and a discipline assignment.

                                    4) Contact with student's parent(s).

                                    5) Student is referred to administration.

Any student committing a serious disruption to class (fighting, disrespect of authority, damaging property, inappropriate language, etc.); will be sent immediately to the principal.

Assignments:

LINKS:
http://videos.howstuffworks.com/hsw/20848-basics-of-geology-geology-and-plate-tectonics-video.htm
Mineral ID