th

Hello students!
Welcome to your 8 th grade year! This handbook will help guide you through what to expect in your 8 th grade science classroom with Mrs. Linville. Please be sure to look it over as it contains important information about grading, assignments, projects, and classroom procedures.
This year you will be learning about physical science, chemistry, and biology. In the first nine weeks, we will start the year learning about how scientists perform experiments and how engineers build solutions to common problems. Then we will move on to atoms and states of matter. This class is very hands on and requires students to be engaged and active. We will do a lot of experiments, projects, and unique assignments throughout the course.
There is a class website where you can find a syllabus; all homework assignments, enrichment and extra help videos and resources, as well as potential extra credit/enrichment opportunities. Please be sure to check back on this website often! https://www.myhaikuclass.com/LinvilleScience/8thgradescience/
About your teacher
This is my first year teaching at Rucker Stewart Middle School and my 6 th year teaching science to middle school students. I graduated from East Tennessee State
University with my master’s degree in Biological Sciences. I also have a bachelor’s degree in zoology and physical anthropology. I absolutely love science and I love teaching it to other people. Some of my hobbies include reading, cooking, hiking, and kayaking. I have been to a lot of different places in the United States and really enjoy traveling.

Table of Contents
Academic Information
1.
Grading Policy
2.
Missing Assignment Policy
3.
Turning in assignments
4.
Classroom testing information
5.
Attendance Policy
6.
Classroom expectations and rules
7.
Science Literacy Program

Grading Policy
Directions: Grades will follow the RSMS scale. That scale is provided below:
A = 93 – 100
B = 85 – 92
C = 75 - 84
D = 70 - 74
F = 0 - 69
E = Excellent
S = Satisfactory
N = Needs Improvement
I = Improving
PT = Practice and Time Needed
Here is the way the grading percentages will be broken down for my class:
Homework – 15%
Projects – 25%
Participation- 15%
Assessment- 25%
Assignments/Labs = 20%
*There will be extra credit opportunities both in class (all the time) and additional assignments/challenges. The lowest grade will not be dropped in any category because of the availability to earn extra points.

Missing/Late Assignment Policy
Additional copies of any assignment that is passed out and expected to be completed as homework will be available in the classroom. Students may come and take an additional copy if they have lost their original, absenteeism, do not have access to printing (posted on
Haiku), have not yet turned in the assignment, etc. Please do not come asking the teacher for a copy. The assignments will be placed in the folders on the bulletin board by the teacher’s desk. It is your responsibility as the student to come and get a copy! Once the work is complete, please place it in the “late work” bin on the teachers desk.
If a student fails to turn in an assignment on time, the student will receive additional time but will lose points for each day the assignment is late. The amount of points will vary based on the length and importance of the assignment, but may range in 5%-15% per day deductions. If the assignment is not turned in within 5 days of the original due date, an additional make up assignment will be given and parent contact will be made.
Turning in Assignments
Assignments will typically be collected at the start of class on the day it was due. Not every assignment will be collected. Sometimes, we will go over the assignments together as a class or perform a daily task with them. However, homework is always checked to ensure that every student has completed their work.
If homework is not collected but still expected to be submitted, the teacher will give specific instructions on how to turn in the work. There will be a bin on the teacher’s desk labeled “turn-in.” Here is where you will turn in any assignment that is not collected directly by the teacher.

Classroom Testing Information
Each week, every student will be assessed to determine understanding and mastery of the various scientific concepts. This can be done either informally through class participation and discussion, or formally, as in Common Assessments, tests, quizzes, or projects. Here is what you can expect when it comes to testing:
 Common assessments are given every two weeks. They will consist of multiple choice, multiple select, and/or extended response. These results will be tracked on the classroom tracking chart with stickers. o If a student does not achieve mastery, additional work will be available. The student can then re-take the quiz to earn back points on their tracking charts.
 Quizzes and tests will always be announced (no pop quizzes). Quizzes will be short and in the form of do nows or exit tickets, and will only be about 5 questions. Tests, however, will be considerably longer, cumulative, and consist of multiple choice, short-answer, and essay. Study guides will be given prior to any tests.
 Lab reports, experiments, and lab packets will be used to determine the students understanding of scientific practices as well as content.
 Projects are a unique opportunity for the student to be creative and express their understanding in unique ways. These may be in the form of research based presentations, poems, comic drawings, etc. Each final product will vary and will be guided by the project packet.
 There will be a midterm (December) and a final (April).
 Science state testing will still use the multiple choice form of the TCAP at the end of
April.
Attendance Policy
If the student has an excused absence, the student will have the ability to make up any missed work. The work must be completed within two days of returning to school. IT
IS THE STUDENTS’ RESPONSIBILITY TO OBTAIN ALL MISSED WORK! THIS INCLUDES
NOTES, LABS, AND HOMEWORK!
If the student has an unexcused absence or has skipped, they will be held responsible for all missed work, but will not receive any credit.

Classroom Rules
1.
Communicate – you are expected to communicate respectfully and professionally with your peers, instructors, and other members of the classroom.
2.
Collaborate – work as a team!
3.
Citizenship – Help out where needed and give your best effort.
4.
Critically think – don’t give up if you don’t get an answer right away. Persevere, be determined, and keep trying. Look at problems in new ways and try to come up with unique solutions.
5.
Creativity – even though science is a very factual field, creativity is what fuels new discoveries and ideas. Be creative!
Classroom Norms

Science Literacy Program
In order to earn extra points in this course, you can complete the Science Literacy
Program (SLP) initiative. If you are finished with your work, you may check out one of the books in the room and read through it. You will have to provide a 1 page summary of the information that you have read and submit it to me for credit. This can also include the
Discovery of the Week or any other enrichment articles that may be available in the classroom.
Basic information:
 None of the books may leave the classroom. Period.
 Do not write in any of the books.
 Summaries can be types or hand-written. If they are typed, they must be size 12, times new roman font. No extra paragraph spacing or attempts to make your paper longer then it really is 
 Other books may be approved, especially if you are reading them on the side.
 There are novels available to read. See the list from Mrs. Linville. These will have more requirements and will be worth additional points.
 There is a check out sheet posted where the books are in the classroom. Please sign out and in all books and magazines that you borrow.
Requirements for Summary:
 You must state the title of the book and the author
 You must include an APA citation at the end of your summary
 You must summarize the book. This does not mean spit facts back out that you read. o How would you describe the book to someone who never read it? o Would you recommend the book? o Did it help you learn more about the topic? o Anything particularly interesting to you? o Anything you did not like about the book? o How would you have organized the book/presented the information better/differently?