Welcome to Chemistry

Course Description
Chemistry is a two-semester course consisting of Chemistry 1 first semester and Chemistry 2 second semester. Chemistry 1 introduces students to the field of chemistry. It includes the language, symbols, vocabulary, and the initial computations of beginning chemistry. The course includes labs intended to reinforce the book-work and also to inspire or uncover an interest in Chemistry-related careers.

Chemistry 2 follows Chemistry 1 and involves deeper concepts and more complicated calculations. Labs continue to solidify concepts and to allow students to become "lab literate" and develop laboratory skills.

Students are expected to demonstrate a mature approach to their studies, especially in the lab, where carelessness can lead to serious, and on occasion, permanent injury. Students will need skills in mathematics, specifically Algebra, to complete the problem solving steps and computations required for many of the assignments and tests encountered in this course. In addition, I expect my students to put forth their best effort to master the concepts and skills presented and to help build a positive learning environment.

Like all sciences, Chemistry is an organized and systematic attempt to understand the world around us. Chemists make careful observations about the world, generating questions which they seek to answer. They test possible answers, or hypotheses, through experimentation. Together, these steps are known as the scientific method.

The testing of a hypothesis may occur in the chemistry laboratory. Students will find that observing proper safety procedures is a major concern in the laboratory. Students will use a variety of skills include measuring in a highly accurate and precise manner, recording and analyzing data, using scientific notation, significant digits, dimensional analysis, and graphing.

Classroom Expectations:

1. You will be courteous and respectful at all times.
2. You will come to class prepared to learn.
3. You will take responsibility for your own actions.
4. You will conduct yourself in accordance to all safety rules established by the school district contract.

Required Items:

• Scientific calculator. You cannot use graphing calculator during tests.
• 3-ring binder, paper, pen, #2 pencil,
• Mead composition book (or similar bound composition book) to be used as a lab book
• Metric ruler between 15 and 30 cm
• periodic table (provided on the website)

Text Book:
World of Chemistry  (Zumdahl), McDougal Littell,. 2007. ISBN# 0-618-80748-9

This book is available online for students in this course through McDougal Littell's website, www.classzone.com. Students will be given a login and password to access the text. In addition, we have CD-ROM versions of the text that can be loaded onto home computers if you do not have internet access at home. Traditional books will be used in the classroom

Holt Chemistry - This is a supplemental textbook that we'll use at various times.

Grades:
Grades in this course will be determined by the percentage of points students earn on daily assignments, in class activities (including labs) and tests using the following scale:

100 - 93% = A   93 - 90% = A-   90 - 88% = B+   88 - 83% = B   83 - 80% = B-   80 - 78% = C+   78 - 73% = C   73 - 70% = C-   73 - 70% = C-   70 - 67% = D+   67 - 62% = D   62 - 60% = D- < 60% = F

Tests and Finals:
The final at the end of the first semester is only over the first semester. The spring semester final is a comprehensive test over the entire year. As Chemistry concepts build upon each other, each test is somewhat cumulative in nature.

Note-Taking and Class Participation:   It is expected that during chemistry class every student is actively participating in the class, taking notes, and writing down example problems.  Active participation includes asking and answering questions during class discussions.  You may not work on assignments from other classes during chemistry, as I would not expect you to work on chemistry in any of your other classes.  During laboratory experiments, each student must contribute to the lab group's success.  A portion of each semester's grade will be assigned based upon class participation.

Deadlines and Late work:
This chemistry class moves at a fast pace, and most topics must be learned in a sequential order.  In order to be successful in chemistry, students must keep up with, and fully understand, the daily work.  Often, if you do not do today's homework, you will not understand tomorrow's lesson.  Homework assignments will be collected at the beginning of each class.  They are due when called for, and considered late at any time after that (even if you turn it in 5 minutes later).  Late work will be accepted but heavily penalized. Late assignments will be graded at 10% off per school day (not class meeting day) after the due date. After 5 days they will not be accepted at all. 

Students will be given one day of extension for each full day of an excused absence. However, students who are present in school for any portion of the day are required to turn in the assignments on the due date. To aid you in keeping up to date, assignments will be posted on the class website calendar. If a student feels s/he has special circumstances that would warrant special consideration, have your parent/guardian write an explanation, sign it, and submit to the teacher for a possible extension.

Make-Up Tests:
Make-up tests may be given for excused absences only. Make-up tests must be taken before or after school. The student must make the arrangements for the make-up with the teacher as soon as they return. You will be given one school calendar day for each day missed to make up missed work.

Honors Credit:
Honors credit may be earned in Chemistry by meeting each of the following:

• Earning a 94% or better in the given semester
• Creating an original science fair project and submitting it at the local science fair
  • Science Fair Project Requirements
  • Judging Criteria
• Performing the lab extensions at the end of each lab
• Peer tutoring during class period when asked by the teacher

Tardiness:
Tardiness disrupts the student learning process and may affect your academic performance as you may miss opening instructions or quizzes. A warning will be given for the first tardy, but any additional tardies will result in time cleaning in the teacher's classroom. Any student who is tardy more than four (4) times will be referred to the office.

Hall Passes:  In case of an emergency, the teacher must know where each student is at all times.  To ensure this, no student may leave the classroom without letting the teacher know, signing out, and carrying the Hall Pass.  Only one student may be out of the classroom at any given time.  The Hall Pass is to be used for the restroom or to get a drink of water - not to visit the vending machines, go to the library, etc.  You should be gone from the classroom for only 3 to 5 minutes.  Be sure to sign back in as soon as you get back into the classroom, and replace the Hall Pass.  Excessive use of the Hall Pass will not be allowed.  Failure to adhere to the above rules will result in a loss of Hall Pass privileges.

Ethics:
I expect students to put forth their best effort. At times they will be asked and expected to contribute within lab and study groups toward a group product. At other times students will be expected to demonstrate their own individual effort and understanding. At no time will it be acceptable for any student to turn in another's work as his/her own. Cheating and/or plagiarism will result in a zero grade for the assignment or test and disciplinary measures. Repeated offenses will severely jeopardize class grade and credit.

Extra Help:
I am on campus at 7:00 am and can stay late after school if you make an appointment. If you don’t understand something, please come in and talk to me as soon as possible. Tuesday afternoons and Wednesday mornings are generally reserved for teacher meetings.

Non-academic items in class:
Music/video players, cell phones, calculator games, food, candy, gum, and beverages are all items that can cause distractions in class. These items must be kept completely out of sight during class time. For the first offense, the teacher will confiscate the offending item for the rest of the day. The student may retrieve the item from teacher at the end of the day. Future offenses will require that the student's parent / guardian come in to retrieve the item from the teacher. Since this is a chemistry classroom, dangerous chemicals are often spilled on tabletops.  As a result, no food or beverages are allowed in the classroom, except water.

Here is the Parent Website Syllabus Homework assignment:

Parents / Guardians:
While navigating the website with your student, please use the various links to help in answering the following questions. E-mail the answers to your student's teacher at the address below from the parent / guardian e-mail account. Thank you for your time. I look forward to a great year with your student!

Ms. Lee ( leek@peninsula.wednet.edu )

Please supply the following information:

• Student name
• Class period that s/he is taking chemistry
• Parent's / Guardian's name(s)
• E-mail address(es) at which you would like to receive grade reports.

1. How is your grade determined in Chemistry, and what percentage must you earn to get an A?
2. How can you earn honors credit?
3. What supplies must you bring with you everyday to class? 
4. What is the late work policy for this class?
5. If you miss class on September 15^th, what work would you need to make up, and what would your homework be?

Parents / Guardians, please include any questions or comments you may have after navigating through the site.