Classroom Expectations for Concepts of
Force, Motion and the Universe
Students and Parents/Guardians:
Science is mostly common sense. It tells you
how things work and makes your life easier. In this class we study the
physical laws in action at amusement parks (and in our everyday
lives.). You are expected to define problems and their solutions.
Expect to study, read and learn. This is about making you better than
you are.
Since this is the first year for all four of
these “Concepts” classes, we will be smoothing off the rough edges as
we go. “Be Flexible” is our motto! We will have class sets of two
texts, and do readings from the internet and class sets of appropriate
articles. Most of the work is “class work,” and will be completed here
at school, instead of “homework”, since you won’t have a text at home
to use. You will have only a few assignments outside of the classroom,
mostly studying for your tests and the work you do on the performance
events. Writing should be in paragraph form, in English, with
corrected grammar and spelling. Never copy work from idiots. (Idiots
are the ones who let you copy their work.)
We will use some labs and activities from
three different classes over the last 3 years that worked well, and
add some new ones. We will have a M/C test and a performance event at
the end of each ~ three–week unit. The final will also consist of both
M/C questions and a performance event. The assessments will include
‘application’ questions that require you to apply what we learned in
the unit. They require logical thought, reasoning ability, some
opinions, and communication skills. You will not usually find answers
in the textbook you can just copy, and if you find yourself doing
that, you are probably not answering the question very well, and not
going to earn many points.
You will be working at your own pace (to a
certain degree,) pulling hardcopies of worksheets and labs you need
from the file when you need them, and turning them in, preferably the
same day. Please do NOT take more than one assignment at a time!
Nearly all paperwork will be available on my website, in addition to
in the file in class, so you may print them at home. You must
demonstrate a mastery of one unit before moving on to the next. If you
finish one of these Concepts classes early (in less than one semester)
you may move on to the next.
Your grade will be about ½ tests, ½ class
work/labs/activities. I make the final determination of grades. I
determine what is fair in my classroom. Anything happening in my class
IS my business.
All school guidelines will be strictly
enforced, so please review the expectations of behavior, attendance,
tardies, hall passes, etc. in your handbook. The back of this page has
a brief summary of the school’s policies on the usual: grade scale,
behavior, important dates, etc. In general, follow the golden rule:
TREAT PEOPLE THE WAY YOU WANT TO BE TREATED. Be here every day, on
time, and prepared (with text, paper, pen, and pencil) to learn. Put a
little effort into it, be nice to each other, and let’s have fun!
