Teacher
Jeessy Medina
Minnie Dwaram
Brenda Chapman
Location
126
T23A
221
CHEMISTRY SYLLABUS 2012 - 2013
Email
jmedina@henry.k12.ga.us
mdwaram@henry.k12.ga.us
bchapman@henry.k12.ga.us
Website
LHSteachersmedina
LHSteachersdwaram
LHSteacherschapman
Textbook: Prentice Hall Chemistry (ISBN: 0-13-251210-6);
Price ~$85.00 (if you lose the book, you must pay Ms. Noonkester in the office before another book can be issued)
WHAT IS CHEMISTRY?
Everything you hear, see, smell, taste, and touch involves chemistry and chemicals (matter). Hearing, seeing, tasting, and
touching all involve intricate series of chemical reactions and interactions in your body. With such an enormous range of topics,
it is essential to know about chemistry at some level in order to understand the world around us. In more formal terms
chemistry is the study of matter and the changes it can undergo. Common usage might have us believe that ‘chemicals’ are just
those substances in laboratories or something that is not a natural substance. Far from it, chemists believe that everything is
made of chemicals.
Although there are countless types of matter all around us, this complexity is composed of various combinations of some 100
chemical elements. The names of some of these elements will be familiar to almost everyone. Elements such as hydrogen, chlorine, silver, and
copper are part of our everyday knowledge. Far fewer people have heard of selenium or rubidium or hassium. Nevertheless, all matter is
composed of various combinations of these basic elements. The wonder of chemistry is that when these basic particles are combined, they make
something new and unique.
And so it is with chemistry, understanding the basic properties of matter and learning how to predict and explain how they change when they
react to form new substances is what chemistry and chemists are all about. Chemistry is not limited to beakers and laboratories. It is all
around us, and the better we know chemistry, the better we know our world.
FALL PACING
Intro to Chemistry & measurements ch1, 3
Matter and Change ch1, 2, 3
Classic Atomic Theory ch4
Modern Atomic Theory ch5
Periodicity ch6
Ionic, Metallic Bonding, Covalent Bonding ch7, 8
Chemical Names & Formulas ch9
Chemical Reactions ch11
SPRING PACING
The Mole ch10
Stoichiometry ch12
Behavior of Gases ch14
Solutions ch15, 16
Thermochemistry ch17
Reaction Rates and
Equilibrium ch18
Acid, Bases and Salts ch19
Nuclear Chemistry ch25
Grading Scale: A = 90-100, B = 80-89, C = 74-79, D = 70-73, F = 0-69
DONATIONS (Please consider donating at least one of the items on this list to our classroom. Thank you for your consideration!)
Dry erase markers, Boxes of tissues, Hand Soap, Hand Sanitizer, Paper Towels, and Cleaning wipes or disinfecting wipes to clean
common surfaces in the classroom
CLASS MATERIALS:
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Get a 2-inch binder (3-rings) – (Do not share this binder with another class)
loose-leaf paper, pens and pencils, 10 dividers
1 composition notebook (self-assessment)
1 scientific calculator – MUST HAVE 1st WEEK OF SCHOOL and bring to class everyday
1 box of latex or latex-free gloves – bring to class 1st week
Infinite Campus Login (the main office can help you get access)
Internet and Printer Access (become familiar with the LHS media center fees)
You must own a scientific
calculator and must have
it with you any time we
need it in class. You will
not be allowed to use your
phone/electronic-device
calculator in class or
during a test. You will not
be allowed to share a
calculator during an
assessment. I will not
have available calculators
to lend you.
GRADING POLICY: Your semester final grade will be calculated as follows:
1.
85% from your class grade
i. 60% Assessment (40% assessments and projects, 20% laboratory reports)
ii. 40% Practice (20% classwork, 10% quizzes, 10% Homework)
2. 15% from the final exam
a. comprehensive final exam, evaluations, project, portfolio
A student progress report will be sent home requesting a guardian signature if the student’s grade drops below a 78. This is an effort on my
part to keep you informed on your child’s progress. I recommend that you have access to infinite campus (call LHS 770-898-9822) to keep
track of your child’s grade book and daily attendance. Please keep your information up to date with the school to save time in reaching you when
needed.
You have high expectations for your child, and I have high expectations for my students. Let us work together to teach them how to
meet those expectations consistently.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
Coursework submitted by a student must be the student’s own, original work. Students shall not cheat on any assignment by giving or
receiving unauthorized assistance, or commit the act of plagiarism. Students who commit such acts are subject to receiving a grade of
zero (0) on the assignment in question as well as disciplinary action. Students will NOT be allowed to resubmit the assignment or retake
tests where cheating has taken place. NO LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION will be given to students who fail to live up to academic
honesty.
FINAL EXAM
The final will be administered as determined by the LHS administration. It is comprehensive which means it covers the entire semesters’
material. There is NO EOCT.
HOMEWORK and CLASSWORK:
Assigning homework serves various educational needs. It serves as an intellectual discipline, establishes study habits, eases time constraints on
the amount of curricular material that we cover in class, supplements and reinforces work done in school. In addition, it fosters student
initiative, independence, and responsibility while bringing home and school closer together.
Turn in homework on time all the time. However, just in case, late work policy: Late 1 day max 75%, late 2 days or more max 50%. It is
the student’s responsibility “to turn in or be checked” on late homework even if the class does not meet, for example a block day. My best
advice, turn your homework in on time all the time.
You will also receive 2 extension passes at the beginning of the semester. These passes will give you a 1 day extension on an assignment without
losing any points (excludes tests). Any abuse of these passes will void all previously used passes and you will forfeit this privilege for the next
semester. Warning: passes do not exempt you from the assignment; they merely give you a 1 day extension. You are responsible for your
passes. You will not be given more if you lose your original passes.
There will be a set of “key assignments” that will yield you 10% points extra credit on the corresponding unit test.
Classwork is to be completed in class but in the event that you need more time, you will have 24 hours to complete it and bring it back for full
credit.
ABSENCES ON GRADES
Student Handbook: If your absence is excused, you have the same number of days as your excused absence to turn in your work. Students
may not be allowed to make up graded assignments missed during an unexcused absence.
If you are absent only one day, and on that day, a previously announced test or quiz or major assignment is due, you will be expected to take
that test, quiz or turn in the assignment on the day you return to class.
If a student is turning in an assignment not on its due date, include a “tardy HW note”. This “tardy HW note” should include what % you
deserve (100%, 75% or 50%) and why. Example: “This assignment was due on 8/6; I was absent but it’s EXCUSED. Today is 8/8 so I get 75%.
Thank you”. This note can be a sticky on the assignment or on a prominent location on the actual assignment.
All assignments turned in late without an appropriate note will be deducted the appropriate number of points.
Excused absences will be allowed to make up missing lab experiments within a 2 day period by appointment with teacher. I do not make up labs
in the morning. Making up a lab will get you the experience and your own data to write your lab report. If you are unable to make it up, then I
will give you an “exempt” for the lab participation grade. You will have to speak to a fellow classmate to lend you their data and a verbal
explanation of what occurred during the lab so that you will be able to complete your lab report. In summary, excused absences will write a
lab report whether you performed the lab or not. Lab reports count as assessment grades and must be turned in on time.
Unexcused absences will not be given the privilege of making up missed labs and will receive a zero on the lab participation grade. These
students will be allowed to borrow data and listen to another student’s experience of the lab so that they are able to write their lab report. In
summary, unexcused absences will have to write a lab report even though they did not do the lab directly. Lab reports count as
assessment grades and must be turned in on time.
UNIT TESTS
Major tests will primarily contain open response with calculations and may include some multiple choice, matching, fill-in-the-blank, true/false,
and short answer.
If you do not like the grade you receive on a unit test, you will have exactly 1 week (5 school days) to take advantage of the retest policy.
Retest Policy:
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Up to the student to take advantage of the retest or not.
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2 tests per semester may be retaken.
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You have 1 week to retest from the day the test was returned to the class.
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If you are going to need tutoring, plan on getting help before retaking the test.
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Student will receive the higher of the two grades.
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And this only applies to unit tests.
If you need to retake more than 3 tests, it will be up to the teacher discretion. See your teacher.
LABORATORY
Chemistry is a laboratory course. It is the student’s responsibility to dress appropriately and to be prepared for lab. This means closedtoe shoes, your hair tied-back and no loose-fitting clothing or the student will not be allowed to perform the lab and will lose the lab
participation grade.
Lab reports must follow the rubric at all times.
Inappropriate behavior during lab days will lead to student not being allowed to participate in the lab and a participation grade of a zero.
This will also lead to further disciplinary action: Guardian contact and administrator referral.
PROJECTS
Project(s) will count as test grades.
CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS
1.
Make sure you are prepared daily with the class binder, homework, available blank paper, pen/pencil, calculator, and all needed handouts for
class. All these materials must come with you and should not be borrowed from your neighbor. There will be binder/notebook, calculator,
notes, and handout checks without warning for a classwork grade.
2.
This is a chemistry lab, so for your safety, absolutely no food or gum is allowed. Bottled water is permitted, but it must remain at your
desk.
3.
This is a chemistry lab; do not touch anything in the lab stations without direct instructions from teacher.
4.
On lab day, no one leaves until your lab station has been checked by teacher. If necessary, I will give you a pass to your next class.
5.
Come in, turn in any work that is due, and begin working on your agenda and bell work. This is to be done as quietly as possible. You will get
5 minutes to do this while I take attendance, prepare for a demo, and hand out material and/or graded work.
6.
TARDY POLICY: determined by the LHS administration. Any work missed during unexcused tardies will not be made up. This includes
quizzes or prelab.
7.
You will have 2 emergency passes to use during the semester. Save them for real emergencies. 2 unused passes will be rewarded with 10
points on the comprehensive final exam (Yes, 1 unused pass with 5 points).
a.
Request permission as you walk into the classroom not after class has started.
b.
c.
8.
No one leaves the classroom the first 15 minutes or the last 15 minutes.
Even if you have available passes, I reserve the right to say no.
Classroom disruptions come in all forms and “usually” students are not aware that their behavior is disruptive. Disruptive behavior will be
from the teacher’s perspective and the role it has on teaching and learning. In our chemistry class, we want to teach you behavior that
makes you self-aware and some self-control.
a.
Warning: When a student begins displaying unwanted disruptive behavior, the student will receive a warning on the discipline
record. The student is asked to stop any (and all) disruptions and let the lesson continue. This gives the student the opportunity
to control and change the unwanted behavior.
b.
Intervention: If unwanted behavior continues, the student’s actual behavior will be recorded on the discipline record. An
intervention will be enforced at the teacher’s discretion. Examples include calling parents, assigning detention, moving seat, etc.
If the student decides to display positive behavior, no further action will be taken. This will be the end of unwanted behavior.
c.
Consequence: If unwanted behavior continues, the student will now face consequences. I will have a quick student-teacher
conference after class with the student and contact the parent/guardian. If I have to call parent/guardians additional times,
referrals will also be sent to the appropriate Assistant Principal (AP) each subsequent time unwanted behavior is displayed.
d.
Removal: Some students become disrespectful / insubordinate when they are being disciplined. The student will be removed from
the class and will be placed in a host classroom for the remainder of the period. They will miss class but they are still responsible
for the missed material and/or assignments.
Note: The instructor reserves the right to change any section of this course syllabus at any time during the semester to more
adequately meet the needs, interest or abilities of the students.
“I have reviewed the class syllabus carefully and I understand the course requirements and expectations outlined in the syllabus. I understand
that I may contact my teacher with any questions or concerns that I might have at her email which it posted at the beginning of this syllabus.”
The signed syllabus should be kept in the notebook at all times.
___________________________
Student Signature
_____________________________
Student Name (printed)
______
Date
__________________________________
Signature Parent/Guardian
_____________________________
Name Parent/Guardian (printed)
______
Date
______
Period