General Chemistry Course Guidelines
2013-2014
Instructor:
Email:
Phone:
Room:
Text:
Ms. Lucariello
glucariello@sanleandro.k12.ca.us
510-618-4600 x 2245
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Modern Chemistry, Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 2006
CLASS FORMAT
Materials: Students must be prepared everyday and bring all materials relevant to the
class. Students must bring:
 pens and pencils
 a scientific calculator
 chemistry binder with a 100-sheet notebook or lined notebook paper
Class binders must have 5 tabbed dividers in order to separate and contain the following
sections:
0.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
(in front of the first tab) Periodic table, class syllabus, reference handouts.
Notebook or lined notebook paper (100 sheets) for Warm Ups
Notes (from a handout or notebook paper)
Graded Homework/Classwork Assignments (useful for reviewing for tests).
Lab handouts and reports.
Vocabulary Sheets/Miscellaneous
Labs: Laboratory work and activities will serve to strengthen concepts presented in the
text and in lecture. Labs will be completed on handouts given out in class, or on lined
paper in a format designated by the instructor, and are due in class the next school day.
Safety is a primary concern during labs and activities. Students should always listen for
safety instructions presented before each lab.
***If you do anything to endanger yourself or others in this class, including
distracting other students while they are working in the lab, you will be suspended
from the lab and earn a Fail grade for the lab. If you make a second offense, you will
be drop failed from chemistry and earn a Fail grade for the entire semester. Game
over. You’re done. No argument. Just out.
Missed Labs: If a student misses a lab due to an excused absence, s/he must make up
the lab or obtain a substitute assignment from Ms. Lucariello. Labs missed due to
unexcused absences will result in a fail grade for that assignment.
Notes: Material will be presented regularly on topics in the text as well as related topics.
Students will take notes during presentations and keep them well organized in their three
ring binder notebook. It is the student's responsibility to have note-taking materials in
class every day.
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Homework: Homework is assigned nearly every day and is always due the next school day
at the beginning of class unless an exception is specified by the teacher. Students will
receive credit for completing homework assignments and will be assessed on their
understanding of the homework through regular homework quizzes. A homework quiz will
contain problems directly from homework assignments, as well as some that are changed
slightly from the homework.
Classroom Rules
1. Practice SLANT – sit up, listen, ask and answer questions, nod your head,
track the speaker.
2. Be “on your mark” by the time the bell rings, starting the Warm Up.
3. Use professional language. No cursing, name calling, or other put downs.
4. Give 100 percent. Be engaged and try hard.
5. Follow lab safety rules.
6. Silence during tests until everyone has finished.
7. No electronics other than calculators are allowed in class at any time. Cell
phones may NEVER be used in class for any reason.
Consequences for misbehavior
Level 1 (Incompetence, forgetfulness): Warning, correction, or self-check
Level 2 (Deliberate disobedience or defiance): Detention, loss of privilege,
reflection, apology, phone call home
Level 3 (Egregious or repetitive misbehavior): Referral to assistant principle
In order to pass the course successfully, the student shall:
1. Attend daily and complete all assignments.
2. Come in for extra help promptly if not understanding a new topic.
3. Study for tests by rereading the text, reviewing notes, completing study guides,
practicing problems, making flash cards, etc.
4. See Ms. Lucariello immediately after an absence and make up any work missed.
Please see absences section for guidelines
Absences:
For an excused absence, students have the number of days they were absent to
make up missing work assigned or exam/quizzes given during the student’s
absence. If a student only misses the day of an exam or quiz they are expected to
take the exam or quiz the day they return to school. If a student was absent for a
day or many days before the exam they will have the number of days they were
absent to make up the exam or quiz missed. If a student does not make up the
missing work or exam or quiz within the given time, the assignment, exam, or quiz
will receive a fail grade.
No assignment, exam or quiz that was assigned or given during an unexcused
absence may be made up. A fail grade will be issued for those assignments, exams
or quizzes.
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Tardies:
The school’s tardy policy will be enforced.
Hats, Gum, Candy, Food, Drinks:
There are no hats that are allowed in this classroom. Hats must be taken off
BEFORE you walk in the room. They are a safety hazard in a chemistry class and
they disrupt my ability to teach and communicate with you effectively. Students
who belong to a religious faith that requires them to cover their hair may wear
coverings in this room; however, the covering may not be a hat. In addition, any
material that is loose must be secured back by a clip or rubber band during labs so
that there is minimal danger of that material catching fire or coming into contact
with chemicals.
There is no gum chewing in this room. Throw gum out before you walk in the room.
There is no consumption of candy or food in this room at any time. There are no
liquids that may be consumed in this room other than water. If your drink has a
color or a flavor it is not water. Water also is a chemical that can be dangerous in
the lab and therefore water is not allowed at the lab tables at any time.
Bathroom:
You are expected to go to the bathroom BEFORE you get to this class. Class
periods are short. We have a large amount of material to cover and labs require
your presence and constant attention. Do not expect a bathroom pass to go to the
bathroom from me. I recognize that emergencies occur. For that reason I will allow
one emergency bathroom pass per month per student. Please see me if you have a
medical condition that requires you to leave class more frequently. Otherwise you
are expected to stay in class at all times.
Cheating:
The cheating policies of the school will be strictly enforced! In addition to those
policies, the cheating student will be required to write an apology letter to the
student whose work they stole and to their own parents/guardians. In addition,
they will have to write an apology to me, their teacher, in the form of an essay
demonstrating their understanding of the full ramifications of cheating in their
lives and the lives of their peers/colleagues. This will include the student’s
understanding of the meaning of integrity.
Grading: A student earns his/her grade through the points accumulated over the term.
The points are totaled and weighted as follows:
Classwork/Homework
Labs/Projects
Exams/Quizzes
Final Exam
20%
20%
50%
10%
of
of
of
of
grade
grade
grade
grade
I round up based on the point 5 rule only. For example, if you earn an 89.4%,
you have a B+ in the class. No arguments will be accepted.
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Extra Help: It is important that students master topics as they are discussed and not wait
until the night before a test. If a student needs extra help, they should arrange to meet
with me during my office hours:
3:10 – 4:00 pm (Tuesday-Thursday)
Returning After An Absence: If an absence is to be longer than two days, I suggest
emailing me for an update on what’s going on in class.
How to contact Ms. Lucariello: The best way to reach me is through email.
Address: glucariello@sanleandro.k12.ca.us
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