Class+Syllabus


 * South High School **
 * Earth Science **
 * 2015-2016 **

Teacher Name: Ms. Rachel Aldrich Phone Number/Voice Mail: 720-423-6123 E-mail Address: Rachel_Aldrich@dpsk12.org Room Number: 227 Tutoring Hours: Tuesdays during lunch; Thursdays 7:45 – 8:15; after school by appointment Website: http://msaldrichscience.wikispaces.com/
 * __Contact Information__: **

Course Number: 03622

__**Materials **__**: ** EarthComm textbook Notebook (composition or spiral) Pen/pencil <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">12-inch ruler <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2-pocket folder <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Highlighter

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Students must bring these materials to class each day. Any student who does not have one or more items may purchase them (composition and spiral notebooks, pens, pencils, 2-pocket folders) from me. These items are available for purchase only—no loans will be given.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Grading is based on weighted points earned from assignments, hands-on activities, tests/quizzes, and participation:
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Grading **

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A 100 – 93% <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A- 92 – 90% <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">B+ 89 – 87% <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">B 86 – 83% <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">B- 82 – 80% <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">C+ 79 – 77% <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">C 76 – 73% <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">C- 72 – 70% <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">D 69 – 60% <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">F 59 – 0%

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">PARTICIPATION
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Participation points (30) will be given each week. You are expected to come to class every day prepared and ready to work. Points are automatically lost for unexcused tardies, and all points are lost for the week for truancies. Failure to follow classroom rules will result in an automatic loss of participation points. The rules are clearly posted on the wall, so you will not receive warnings. If you cannot follow the rules, I will call home and speak to your parents about your classroom behavior. Any dangerous or offensive/aggressive behavior will be an automatic referral to the deans’ office. Participation points are lost (5 per incident) when students:
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Arrive late to class
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Do not participate in daily warm up
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Have an unexcused absence
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Bring food or beverages to class (water bottles are OK)
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Use of any electronics, such as cell phones, MP3 players hand-held games
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Are disrespectful to the teacher, other student(s) or property
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Do not bring required material(s) to class
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Any other behavior that affects students’ learning

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We will work together in class, but there are times when homework will be assigned and must be completed outside of class. Please see me during scheduled tutoring times or make an appointment for after school if you need help. I will always make time to help students learn, but you must make the effort to see me before it’s too late!
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">HOMEWORK/ASSIGNMENTS **

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Late work will be accepted for half credit. Late work will not be accepted after three weeks from the due date.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Cheating is not allowed at South High School. Examples of cheating are:


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">copying someone else’s work/answers
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">allowing someone else to copy your work/answers
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">talking during a test or quiz
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">writing the answers/doing the work for someone else
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">allowing someone else to write your answers/do your work

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Please see page 23 of the student handbook for consequences of cheating.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**ATTENDANCE** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Your attendance can greatly affect your grade. If you have poor attendance, you will miss important lessons and fall behind in your work, which may cause you to fail the class. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Infinite Campus system will notify your parent(s)/guardian(s) of absences each evening by phone and/or email. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Absences can be excused with a parent/guardian phone call to the school attendance clerk or attendance line (720-423-6081; Español, 720-423-6070), a note from the parent/guardian, or a doctor’s note. A parent/guardian can also come to school in person to excuse the absence. It is the student’s responsibility to contact me about make-up work. Students missing classes for excused absences, suspension, or school business related absences are NOT excused from completing class work. You have one day for each absence to make up any missed assignments. Students with excused absences will be allowed to make up work for full credit. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Any student who misses an assignment because of an unexcused absence will be allowed to make up the work for half credit. Students who are truant will not be permitted to make up any assignments.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Parent/Guardian Notification **
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Excused Absences **
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Unexcused Absences/Truancies **

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**TARDY POLICY** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Students are required to be in class and in their seats when the bell rings. Students arriving after 15 minutes will be marked absent.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Students are expected to arrive to class on time and prepared. Any trips to lockers or the bathroom should be done during the passing periods. Any student who asks to leave the room to go to a locker or the restroom must show me a current student ID (no bus passes, driver’s licenses or Colorado ID cards) for a hall pass. If the student does not have a student ID, he/she will not be allowed to leave. Each student will be allowed three passes per semester, which may not be “transferred” to another student and expire at the end of the semester. The teacher may refuse a pass to any student, or cancel future passes if the privilege is abused. Any student who interrupts the lesson to request a pass will not be allowed to leave. Passes will not be given during the first and last 15 minutes of the period.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hall Passes **

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">South High’s dress code will be enforced. Please see page 20 of the Student Handbook.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Dress Code **

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It is recommended that students check my website at least once a week. It contains important information, such as:
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Teacher Website **


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Syllabus
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Class notes
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Assignments
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Worksheets
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My schedule and contact information
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Important links

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Students will apply what they have learned in Earth science to describe and explain the formations and conditions of our current Earth and predict how the Earth may change in the future. You will also create a project that demonstrates knowledge of the main ideas from each section of the chapter.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Course Expectations **

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">//Bedrock Geology:// In this chapter, students will learn about the three types of rocks and determine how they fit into the rock cycle. They will also discover how faulting and folding change rocks, and use geologic principles to determine the ages of rock layers. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">//Volcanoes:// Our study of volcanoes will focus on where volcanoes are most likely to form, as well as the dangers they create. We will also study the types of volcanoes and how to predict an eruption. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">//Plate Tectonics:// This chapter explains what happens at the different types of plate boundaries and the effects of the different types of plate movements. It also describes the mantle and crust layers, and how convections currents cause the Earth’s plates to move. Finally, the chapter discusses theories about plate movement and the evidence used to support those ideas. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">//Earthquakes:// During our earthquake unit, we will study earthquake waves, where earthquakes take place and the damage they can cause. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">//Astronomy:// After completing the astronomy chapter, students will be able to describe the objects that make up the solar system, compare the units used to measure distances in space and explain how objects and process in our solar system affect Earth. Finally, students will learn about the lives of stars, including our sun, and the formation of the universe.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Course Overview **

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In ELA Earth science, teachers and students work at a slower pace than mainstream Earth science. Teachers also use sheltered English instruction strategies to provide more focused and detailed attention to literacy.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Modifications **