Class Expectations

	Behavior
	Materials required for class
	Cell phone/technology use policy
	Daily attendance policies

	Daily Journals
	Late work and make-up work policies
	Grading
	Extra credit opportunities

Behavior Expectations

We all must do what we can to contribute to the success of everyone in the classroom (yourself, your classmates, and yes, even your teacher :)) To do that, there are a few general things that are expected about your behavior:

1. Show respect for everyone and everything! This includes yourself, your classmates, your teacher, and even substitutes, as well as classroom equipment and others’ belongings; listen to others and do not talk out of turn.

2. Be Prompt! Come to class on time and prepared to participate. Be in your seat by the time class is scheduled to begin.

3. Be on task! Use your class time wisely and appropriately. At no time should you be playing games on a calculator or computer.

4. Please eat and drink elsewhere J Neither food nor drink, with the exception of covered water bottles, will be allowed in the classroom.

5. Be Safe! Follow all safety guidelines in labs and in class at all times.

6. Ask questions during class discussions and work time!! If you have a question, someone else probably does, too! If questions are not asked, I will assume that everyone understands the topic!

* After-school help sessions will be scheduled periodically, or come in and see me whenever necessary.

Materials Required For Class

This is a list of everything you'll need for class, and a quick explanation about WHY you'll need it:

3-ring binder dedicated to physics (or physics and one other class)

You will need a way to organize your notes, your handouts, worksheets, and assignments. Please make sure you have a dedicated space for all physics related papers so you can remain organized.

Bound Composition Book

This will be used for your physics journal throughout the year.

Warm-ups will be written in your journals, as will any exit/entrance questions, pre-lab assignments, and news summary assignments.

Quad-rule composition books (the ones with graph paper) may be purchased from the ASB bookkeeper for $1.50--bring your receipt to class and trade it for a comp. book.

You need to have a comp book in class by Monday, Sept. 8 (if you don't have one, any warm-ups, etc. we do before you get one will need to be re-written in your book as soon as you do get one!)

NOTE: IB Students are required to have 2 bound composition books. The second book is specifically for completing your syllabus statements

Loose leaf paper

You'll need loose-leaf paper for any written assignments (such as book problems) that are handed in.

Ragged edges (like those you get when you rip pages out of a spiral notebook) will NOT be accepted on work that is turned in

Pencils and erasers

It's generally a good idea to do homework problems in pencil. EVERYONE makes mistakes from time to time (even your teacher :)), so erasers are necessary, too.

Blue or black pen

You'll need to do your warm-ups in pen (at least when you write the question), and you'll probably want to take your notes in pen, too.

Lab data should be recorded in ink (so it's an "official" copy)

Red pen or marking pencil

We will sometimes be grading things in class, so you'll need a red pen for when you're scoring. you cannot grade your papers with blue or black ink--you need a bright color, like red (Green or pink or purple could be okay, too)

USB/Flash Drive

You may need to save labs, graphs, excel workbooks, etc. periodically during class.

We cannot always be sure that e-mail attachments will work, or even that the internet connection will work, so please make sure you have some way to save things you're working on!

Scientific calculator

You will need a calculator that will perform the basic functions, plus all trig functions, percentages, exponents, roots, etc. A standard scientific calculator is probably just fine.

Graphing calculators are not required, however we will be doing some labs that require a TI-83 plus or TI-84 calculator in order to collect data, so it is recommended that at least one person per lab group has one of those calculators available at that time.

You will not be allowed to use any programs that have been written (by you or by someone else) for tests--that is considered a form of cheating and will not be tolerated.

Cell phones, technology, and card: Usage Policy

Cell phones and Music:

As cell phone technology advances there are more and more opportunities for the phones to become a distraction. In particular, games on the phones and instant messages are becoming quite a problem during classes. CELL PHONES ARE NOT PERMITTED IN PHYSICS CLASSES. IF A STUDENT IS FOUND USING A CELL PHONE IN CLASS IT WILL BE CONFISCATED. THE STUDENT MAY PICK UP THE PHONE FROM ADMINISTRATION.

This same policy will be followed if a student is listening to a CD Player/MP3 player during class.

Calculators:

If you choose to use your calculator in a way that is inappropriate for the class time provided (i.e. playing games at any time without permission), your calculator will be confiscated. You may pick it up at the following times:

1^st offense=after class; 2^nd offense=end of day; 3^rd + offense=from administrator

Playing cards:

Although cards are not technology, the consequences are the same as with the calculator. If you choose to play cards (ANY game!) during the regular class period and without permission, they WILL be confiscated!!

Daily Journals

you will keep a bound composition notebook where you will put all journal entries. Journal entries include: daily warm-up questions; pre-lab exercises; current events; other small assignments specifically designated as “Journal entry”

	Each journal entry must begin with the entry date
	At the end of a journal entry, draw a solid line across the comp. book page to separate it from the next entry.

Warm-up questions will be on the board nearly every day when you enter the room. You will earn up to 3 points each day for completing the following

	Including the appropriate date!
	Copying the complete question in ink
	Writing a complete answer distinctly separated from the question (i.e. write Q: and A:, or highlight the question, or consistently write in 2 colors: one for the questions and a different one for your answers)
	Having a Correct answer (or at least a very good attempt! J)

Note: Be sure to write legibly, and distinctly separate one entry from the next in your physics journals—if I can’t read it, the entry earns a zero (0).

· Answers to the warm-up questions will not necessarily be covered that day.

· Please be working on your warm-up question by the time the bell rings to start class.

· You must make up the daily warm-up question if you are tardy or absent unless you want to lose those 3 points. Get the question(s) you missed from a classmate. This is YOUR responsibility, and must be taken care of BEFORE the day a journal is collected.

Attendance Policies

Excused Absences:

It is the sole responsibility of the student to get any assignments missed during an excused absence. If an absence is Unexcused, any assignments or quizzes missed will go down as a zero in the grade book. No exceptions.

Tardies:

	Students who are not at their assigned desk and ready to learn (working on the daily warm-up, if there is one) at the time that class is scheduled to begin, will be considered tardy.
	Students will lose 1 professionalism point for the first tardy, 2 for the second, 3 more for the third, etc.
	Students will get the opportunity to "make up" a portion of the lost professionalism points after the 3rd tardy by attending an after-school detention, served with the teacher in the classroom.
	If the tardy trend continues beyond the third time and after detention with the teacher has been served, students may be referred to either Mr. McGowan or Ms. Fedore.
	Students who are 15 minutes tardy (or more) to class will be marked absent. Unless it gets excused, this will be considered an unexcused absences and the policy stated above will take effect, whether the student was present in class at the time work was collected or not.

Late work/Make-up work Policies

Late Work Policy:

· If you must turn something in later than the due date, you must fill out a “Late-work Pass” and attach it to your assignment before turning it in.

· You will receive 3 late work passes PER SEMESTER. When they are gone, they are gone—use them wisely! No late work will be accepted without a pass!

Make-up work:

Homework that was due the day you were gone must be turned in the day you return. Fill out an “Absent/Make-up Work” form and staple it to your assignment before turning in. These can be found in the front of the room.

Grading

Grading scales for all physics classes are as follows:

	A = 100.0% - 93.0%	A- = 92.9% - 90.0%
B+ = 89.9% - 87.0%	B = 86.9% - 83.0%	B - = 82.9-80%
C+ = 79.9% - 77.0%	C = 76.9% - 73.0%	C - = 72.9% - 70.0%
D+ = 69.9% - 67.0%	D = 66.9% - 60.0%	F = below 60.0%

There is no guarantee that a grade will be rounded up, so please don't ask.

Grading Categories:
for General Physics:

	Assignments = 25%
	Exams/Quizzes = 35%
	Labs/projects = 25%
	Professionalism/journal = 5%
	Semester final exam = 10%

for IB Physics 1 and 2:

	Assignments = 15%
	Exams/Quizzes = 45%
	Lab work = 25%
	Professionalism/journal = 5%
	Semester final exam = 10%

Extra Credit Opportunities

	Periodically in a semester you will be given the opportunity to earn some extra credit. Do NOT ask for extra credit—if you ask, you will NOT get it J. I will decide what to give as extra credit opportunities and when to give it.
	All extra credit will be entered at the END OF THE SEMESTER, regardless of when it is due and collected.
	You will ONLY earn this extra credit IF you have absolutely NO missing assignments!