Syllabus

Instructor: Ms. Wattles

Description: The science component of the special education program at Galileo Academy is designed to provide a solid foundation in science. During your science career here, you may learn about many areas of science including: integrated science, biology, and environmental science. All science courses are aligned with the California State Standards for Science.

Required Materials:
Binder: for science notes and work ONLY
Pencils and erasers (no pens)
Textbook

EXPECTATIONS of STUDENTS
High expectations produce high results. I expect everyone to follow the class rules, the Galileo Code of Conduct and, additionally, I expect everyone to conduct themselves as a scientist, meaning:

Observe your surroundings
Ask questions ~ question everything you learn and we discuss in class
Conduct background research ~ ask teachers, students and your family what they know
Form a hypothesis
Test your hypothesis ~ experiment if possible or seek answers from scientific sources
Analyze your findings and draw conclusions
Communicate your findings with the class

Expected Behavior : “Teachers have a right to teach. Students have a right to learn.”

4 SIMPLE CLASS RULES

· Be on Time. Your job is to be a student. Five points will be deducted from your warm-up for every tardy (six unexcused tardies will earn you a U in citizenship)

· Stay in Your Seat. Raise your hand if you would like to leave your seat. In addition, the bell does not dismisses you, I do. I expect the room to be clean and in order, you will not be dismissed until it is.

· Stay on Task. Sit upright and use your incredible mind. You have a privileged opportunity to learn about the world and how things work every day. Take advantage of this opportunity because it doesn’t come around often, sometimes only once, it will have an impact on the rest of your life and will influence how you understand the world around you.

· DO NOT DISRUPT THE LEARNING.
DO NOT talk while anyone is talking. Be mindful with your words and apologize if you have said something hurtful. “My bad” is both indecipherable and unacceptable in my class.

SCHOOL CODE OF CONDUCT

1. Be prepared to work

2. Arrive to class on time

3. Enter and exit the classroom appropriately

4. Use appropriate language

5. Follow all classroom rules/expectations

6. Wear appropriate clothing. (NO gang colored attire, short shorts/skirts, exposed undergarments)

7. No inappropriate objects exposed or heard during class. (cell phones, iPods, electronic devices, hats/du-rags, magazines, combs, make-up, etc…) Galileo staff reserves the right to confiscate items listed above.

8.Get permission and a pass before leaving the classroom

9. Be respectful of school property and grounds

10. Cooperate with in the instructions of all school staff

EXPECTATIONS of the TEACHER
Come to class on-time. Come prepared with thoughtful and engaging lessons. Be fair in all aspects of teaching. Treat my students with respect. More to be determined on first and second day of class.

GRADING: You will be able to check your grade on-line at: http://galileoweb.org/wattlesa/

Warm-up	10%	Daily Check/Free Write	10%
Classwork	30%	Tests/Quizzes	30%
Projects	15%	Homework	5%

Warm-up: There will be a warm-up every day on the board.
Once you walk in the room, get your binder and begin working on it. You will have 5-7 minutes to complete it. You will be given full credit if all of it is completed.

Class work: There will be class work Monday – Thursday.
Class work includes: active note-taking, interactive lessons, lab work, activities, worksheets and participation.

Daily Check/Free Write: There will be a Daily Check or Free Write at the end of class.
The Daily Check/Free Write will consist of 3-4 questions relating to the day’s lesson.

Tests: There will be a chapter test every Friday.
If the class did not finish the chapter, we will continue the chapter the following week and the test will be given the following Friday.

Homework: Any daily assignment.
It will usually be a worksheet or an on-line assignment. All homework will be marked and reviewed the following day.

Projects: Any in-class or take home assignment.
Some large, many small, that is not a regular homework assignment. There will be few projects and you are expected to complete all of them.

SEQUENCE: The class will complete one chapter per week. I have found that students perform better and are more confident if they know what activities will take place each day. Every week will vary, nevertheless, each day will incorporate the following:

Monday: Discussion of new concepts, introduction to new vocabulary and daily check/free write.
Tuesday: Reading aloud from the chapter, comprehension questions, discussion of chapter, and daily check/free write.
Wednesday/Thursday: Silent Sustained Reading (min. 20 minutes, max 30 minutes), active note-taking, clarification of new concepts, interactive lessons, labs, short videos, on-line projects, and daily check/free write.
Friday: Oral review of chapter and Chapter Quiz.

FIELD TRIPS
There will be a field trip once per month during the block days, either Wednesday or Thursday. Field trip destinations will include going to the Crissy Field Beach to monitor crabs with The Gulf of The Farallones National Marine Sanctuary and going to other parts of the Presidio with the Crissy Field Center staff. In addition, there may be visits to the Exploratorium and Academy of Science.

Requirements for Field Trips
Students who are receiving an A or B in the class and who exhibit mature and appropriate behavior will be allowed to attend the field trips. Students who do not participate in the field trips will be given worksheets to complete and may work on make-up assignments. Parents/Guardians MUST SIGN a field trip permission slip in order for you to attend.

TUTORING:
I am available for tutoring on a sign-up basis. I will be available after-school. Students interested in meeting with me for discussion, tutoring, homework help, etc. must make an appointment with me one day before.

Student name _______________________________________________________

Student signature ____________________________________________________

Parent/Guardian name_____________________________________________________

Parent/Guardian signature _____________________________________________

Galileo Academy of Science and Technology

Syllabus

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