Science 2012-2020

Student success is the number one priority in this classroom. This plan will allow
students to understand what they need to do to succeed in this course.

Dear Parents and/or Guardians,

Hello, my name is Ms. Crowley and I will be your student’s science teacher for
this school year. I am very excited to meet and get to know each of your students and
help them succeed this school year. To give you a little background information about
me, I received my bachelor’s degree in marine biology at California State University
Long Beach (GO BEACH!). After finishing my bachelor’s program, I went straight into
my credential program at California State University Fullerton. My credential is in
secondary science education for both middle school level science and high school level
life science.
My teaching philosophy is based on hands-on learning. To me, science is best
learned through interaction, collaboration, and trial and error. I believe that students
learn in many ways, and I plan to teach students through all forms of learning and
understanding.
Science teaching is still transitioning to the newest form of the science standards
(NGSS). These standards focus on four main categories of activities: Modelling,
argumentation, negotiation of texts, and experimentation. During this course, students
will be approaching scientific concepts using those four general practices.
Experimentation will be done through in-class labs, which will be done in small groups.
Negotiation of texts will be conducted through interactive article annotation activities.
Modelling will be a large part of this course. Students will create initial models and then
revise these models using the evidence found through experimentation and negotiation
of text. Last is argumentation. Argumentation will be used to help defend the models
that are created. Students will form claims and use evidence to support their claims.
This is just a general overview of the way’s students will be exposed to the material over
the course of the school year.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions: ecrowley99@[Link]

Extra information can be found on my website: [Link]

I would also like to invite you to both back-to-school night and open house night. These
are both great opportunities to get to know me better and to see the classroom. The
dates are listed below:

Back-to-School Night: Date TBA

Open House Night: Date TBA

Sincerely,
Ms. Crowley
 Course Content, Goals, and Expectations
In this 8th grade science course, students will explore physical science. Students will
learn about different forces and forms of energy within the universe that we live in. They
will investigate the way light and sound behave, and then finish off the year with
evolution and extinction. The goal of this course is not just for students to understand
the content being taught, but for them to obtain the skills necessary to conduct
themselves in higher level science environments.

Course Units
• 8.0: Launch
• 8.1: Force and Motion
• 8.2: Space and Gravity
• 8.3: Wave Properties
• 8.4: Light Properties
• 8.5: Evolution and Extinction

Student Expectations
1. Students will stay on task during class time
2. All questions and comments will be appropriate
3. Students will treat both their peers and the teacher with respect
4. Raise a hand before doing anything
5. Always try your best!
6. Have fun!!!
Students are in control of their own actions in the classroom. The choices they make
are up to them. If students should choose to not follow directions, they will receive a
warning. If necessary, the warning will be followed up with a one-on-one chat with the
teacher to see if there is something that can be done to make their experience better in
the classroom. After that, any repeated warnings will result in a planner signature. After
multiple planner signatures, the student will be referred to administration for a detention.
Further consequences are up to the administration.

Rules and Routines

During every class period, students are expected to have their notebooks with them.
Their interactive notebooks are what all class activities are done through, so not having
the correct materials will affect their ability to succeed in this class. Students will begin
every class period with a warm-up question, so they are expected to have their
notebooks out and be actively writing by the time that the bell rings. Students will be
seated in lab groups. Each lab group will contain about four students. Each student will
be responsible for a different job during all lab activities. Students are able to get up
during class to sharpen pencils, get a tissue, etc., as long as they choose to do so
during a non-disruptive portion of the class period. If the student is disruptive, they will
be asked to return to their seats. Students are always encouraged to ask (appropriate)
questions. Students will need to raise their hand when they have a question and then
patiently wait to be called on.
Communication
This plan will be given to each student at the beginning of the school year and will also
be available on my website ([Link]). Students will also
receive a parent/guardian letter that they (hopefully) pass on. That letter will also be
available on my website. Parents will be able to ask any other questions through email,
the contact portal on my website, or in person at both back-to-school night and open
house night.
 Policies
Attendance:
Attendance is mandatory! Students are expected to be present, so they do not fall behind and
miss any in-class activities/discussions.

Absences:
Excused absences must be pre-approved by the school. Please contact me or meet me in
person prior to absence so you can receive your work.

Late Work:
Late work will be accepted, but only for partial credit. If work is turned in late, it will automatically
only qualify to receive half credit. Late work will be accepted up until the unit is complete.
Students are responsible for bringing their late work to the teacher to receive credit. The teacher
will NOT seek out students to get their work graded. Students need to be PROACTIVE!

Make-up Work:
Students that are absent can have their completed work graded for full credit the day they return
to school. Students who are absent for multiple days will have that number of absent days upon
return to get all their work done. Students that do not turn in their absent work on time will
receive late work grades (half credit). Some assignments will be available online for students to
access while absent.

Academic Dishonesty:
Academic dishonesty (aka cheating) is not tolerated in this class! Students are given enough
time in-class to work on assignments and either collaborate with the teacher or with other
students. If a student is caught cheating, there are multiple consequences involved. Students
are automatically given a zero on that assignment and then referred to the administration.
Depending on if the student is a repeat offender, larger consequences could be administered.

Grades
Grades will be available for viewing through the school's grading system. All assignments,
quizzes, exams, labs, etc., will be used to calculate your total class grade. The overall grade
breakdown is as follows:

- Classwork/Homework: 70% A = 90-100%

- Assessments: 20% B = 80-89%
- Participation: 10% C = 70-79%
D = 60-69%
F = 0-50%
Extra credit will be available throughout the school year. Students are only able to receive extra
credit through the limited opportunities. No special treatment is available.

My student and I have read and discussed the course requirements and classroom rules. We understand
and agree by the information and rules set forth in the parent letter.

Student Name Class Period Student Signature Date