Biology

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

Course Description:

Biology is an everyday experience.  You may not be aware of the many ways Biology affects your everyday life.  This course is the study of living things, and living things are a part of everyday experiences.  It has been said that the 20th Century was the century of physics and that the 21st century will be the century of biology.  The national news announces new discoveries daily that radically change the face of our future, and these discoveries are all in the life sciences.  This course addresses the future -- your future.
       
        Happy is he who gets to know the reasons for things.
        Virgil (70-19 BCE), Roman poet

Why do we study Biology?            You are a biological being.

Everything we are going to learn is actually going on either inside your own body or it involves how you as an individual fit in with the living world around you.

Many of the major decisions and/or events in your life will be affected by your knowledge of Biology.

•    reproduction
•    disease and death
•    your effect on the world around you
•    the effect the environment has on you
•    interpretation of scientific or pseudoscientific claim


Competencies addressed:

1. Students will be able to identify the relationships and interactions of organisms and their environment.
2. Students will recognize that heredity/genetic information is contained in molecules of DNA.
3. Students will recognize that cells are the fundamental structure and functional units of all living organisms.
4. Students will have knowledge of scientific inquiry, processes involved, and tools used.
5. Students will be able to classify organisms into groups based on similarities and differences.

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.


Class Policies

Welcome to the 2008-2009 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.

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 1st semester and 35%* 2nd semester.  Not all assessments will be on paper.  You should expect the possibility of being quizzed in person.

Your 1st semester final exam will count as ~15%* of this total for the semester.

The Missouri End of Course Exam will be given during the second semester.  It will be worth ~10%* of the semester grade.  The departmental final exam will also be given and it will be worth ~10%* of the final grade as well.

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.

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

TEXTBOOK:

    You are expected to bring the textbook that was issued to you to every class.  It is also your responsibility to take care of this textbook.  Do not assume that if you leave your textbook in my classroom, it will be there the next day.  Somebody will “borrow” it.  Not only will you not have a book, but you may be buying a new textbook.  The replacement cost of the textbook is $75.00.  Once the textbook has been issued to you, it becomes YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to take care of it.  There are additional fines for damage to the textbook.
           
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.

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.


The Successful Student in Biology will:


•    Be in class every day.
•    Take pride in their work.
•    Have a good working relationship with others in the class.
•    Be open with the teacher about difficulties you are having learning the material or things in the classroom which are impeding your learning.
•    Be consistent in your daily work.
•    Prepare carefully for exams.
•    Look for things in the subject (Biology) that interest you or connect to your life.
•    Be honest.  You can be a person of integrity every day.
•    Take responsibility for your own learning!


Notes to Parents and Guardians


•    I know that you want your child to succeed.  I want to give you the information you need to maximize their success.
•    The two most important things you can do to help your child succeed are to
    o    make sure they are in class every day
    o    stay aware of and involved in what we are currently working on, studying and preparing for.
•    I will email you throughout the year concerning all major exams and projects.  I also welcome frequent email contacts concerning     the progress of your student. 
•    If you do not currently have easy access to email, please let me know and I will find other ways of getting you any needed                 information.
•    Meetings are welcome and may be set up by calling me at school.
•    You can leave voice mail for me by first calling the high school office.
•    Many parents/guardians are finding the SIS Parent Link to be a useful tool in monitoring their child’s progress.

LINKS:
http://www.biology4kids.com/files/cell_main.html
http://tolweb.org/tree/phylogeny.html