Instructor: Mrs. Jennings
Room Number: 214
E-mail: Rachel.jennings@eisd.net
Phone Number: 444-8075 (Please leave me a voice mail; calls will be returned within 24 hours.)
Course Information:
Eighth Grade Science will be covering the TEKS established by the Texas State Board of Education throughout the school year. Eighth grade science expands on previous topics covered in sixth and seventh grade and introduces new topics. Students will be challenged through various activities, labs, tests and benchmarks in order to prepare them for the STAAR. ALL students are expected to participate in every lesson.
Major Units of Study: (just to name a few)
• Lab Safety
• Atoms & Periodic Table
• Chemicals, Formulas, & Reactions
• Force & Motion
• Newton’s Laws
• Earth Cycles
• Light Years & Theories
Classroom Expectations:
1. Show respect to yourself and others.
2. Begin class by focusing silently during warm-up time.
3. Use class time to work on assigned tasks.
4. Take care of our classroom.
5. Perform to your best potential.
6. Food, drink, gum, and use of personal electronic devices are not permitted in the classroom.
* Interactive Notebooks are provided for each student; they are required and will remain in the classroom. Paper and pencil are expected in class every day. Students are responsible for bringing all materials to class and being prepared to participate in all lessons and labs.
Attendance Policy:
Students are expected to be in class everyday unless there is an excused absence. A call home will be made after the third consecutive absence or if absences are affecting grades.
Tardies are not acceptable behavior. Tardies are recorded when a student is not in the classroom when the bell rings. If tardies become a chronic issue, parents/guardians will be notified.
Grading Procedures:
Students will receive 3 grades per week. Assignments will vary.
50% of the student’s grade will be taken from formal tests that are structured according to the State TEKS which will be covered in class. The other 50% of the student’s grade will be summative. It will be based on homework, labs, class activities, and assignments that done throughout the grading period.
Homework:
• On Mondays, students will receive vocabulary words pertaining to our lesson.
• On Tuesdays, students will receive a homework assignment.
Completing all assignments is essential to success in science. Reading, writing, problem solving, laboratory work, and note taking are all important parts of the learning process. Many of our assignments will be completed in class so that we are able to collaborate and so that students will have the opportunity to ask questions. However, eighth grade is an important time to build independent learning, studying, and organizational skills in preparation for high school academic work. Homework will provide extra practice and reinforcement of concepts first learning during class.
Make-up Work: Make-up work will be the responsibility of the student to obtain the day he/she returns to class. Students will only be allotted a certain number of days to complete those assignments that were missed, they are to ask me for the proper due date.
Lab Safety:
Labs in the class could be dangerous to yourself and those around you. I will not tolerate immature behavior and horseplay. A signed lab safety contract is required to participate in all labs. You and your parent or guardian must sign it.
Science Fair:
Each student is required to choose and complete a Science Fair project for multiple grades this year. The due dates will ne announced as the year progresses. Science Fair Projects are mandatory! |
