Classroom
Policies!
Greetings,
AP Biology students and parents!! August,
2005
Here you will find important information about this biology class and my classroom policies. In order to be sure that everyone understands these policies, I ask that both you and your parents read the following items. In addition, much information can be found at the website. (Bookmark this site!) http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/about.html
1. The
required text is Biology, Fifth Edition, by Campbell, Reese, and Mitchell. Also required are a looseleaf notebook (for
organization; may be shared with other subjects); lined and unlined looseleaf
paper, colored pencils, and a ruler (12 - 15", ruled in metric and English units).
2. Students
will be expected to respect the right of others to learn. Tardiness and misbehavior will not be
tolerated.
3. You
must come prepared to class. Paper,
pencil or pen, and textbooks are required AT ALL TIMES. Students will be instructed as to other
necessary items for particular occasions.
Students who are not prepared will be required to serve detention and
make up the work that they missed. In
addition, on test days, you must always have a #2 pencil with an eraser and a
ball-point pen. ***Any student who does
not come prepared with a pencil on test days will be subject to detention!
4. Your
grade in this class will generally be calculated as follows:
50% - 66% tests
remainder: homework, quizzes, class activities and
assignments.
There
may be times when these weights will be different – you will be notified as to
the calculation of grades.
5. Homework
is generally due AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CLASS PERIOD on the due date. Assignments that are not ready when they are
collected or checked will be considered late.
(Leaving an assignment in another book or in your locker is not a valid
excuse for late assignments!) Late
assignments will be accepted, but points will be deducted from the grade for
each day that the assignment is late.
Nameless papers will have points deducted as well.
6. Lab
reports and similar assignments are due AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CLASS PERIOD on
the due date. Finishing up assignments
at the beginning of class will not be allowed.
If your report is not ready when I collect lab reports, it will be
considered late. Late lab reports will
be accepted, but with a deduction for each day late. Lab report format will be discussed at a later date.
7. ****Any
work that is turned in late must be turned in TO ME PERSONALLY and put IN MY
HAND. Students will receive NO CREDIT
for work left on my desk, in my mailbox, or anywhere else. THERE WILL BE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS RULE.
8. By
the time of the AP Biology exam next May (Monday, May 8, 2006, at 8:30 am), you
should have read all of the chapters in the textbook. This is a monumental task -- there are 55 chapters! I will give paced reading assignments, which
you should try very hard to keep up with, so that you are not
"cramming" next May. Parents
and students must also understand that we cannot cover all of the material in
class. This means that students will be
responsible for much of the material in the text on their own. It would be a good idea to take some kind of
notes as you read, so that study and review will be easier. A study guide, which includes suggested note
assignments for each chapter, will be made available.
9. Perhaps
most importantly of all, there may be times when you are unsure of material
that we covered in class, or would like some extra help. I encourage you to talk to me anytime about
questions or problems before they become serious issues. I will post times for extra-help sessions,
but I am always willing to see you at some other time if those times are not
possible for you -- just come and talk to me and we'll set up an appointment.
Because you,
as AP Biology students, were carefully screened, I expect that you will try
very hard to successfully complete this course. I also will try my hardest to make sure the course is successful
and that you are prepared for the AP Exam.
As a biology teacher, I am excited about biology, and I hope that you
will be, too. We will be off to a great
start if we understand these policies and ground rules clearly. Let's have a great year!
Sincerely,
Dr. Lisa
Hellstrom
Special
note to parents: I hope to have a chance to meet or talk with
you as well. If you have any
questions, I can be reached through
B.E. (849-9599, ext. 320). Please leave
a message, and I will get back to you as soon as possible. Alternatively, you could contact me through
e-mail: lhellstr@behs.com
d Back To Dr. Hellstrom’s
Home Page