Honor Chemistry Syllabus
Welcome to Chemistry with Mrs. Zarley
azarley@morrishs.org
Supply List:
Please purchase a binder, notebook, pencil pouch, pen, red pen, pencil, scientific calculator, markers, and highlighter for chemistry class.
The Honor Chemistry courses at Morris Community High School exist to provide academically strong and motivated students with opportunities to enhance and enrich their education. The courses challenge students to think and create at the highest levels of their abilities and encourage them to excel as they work to realize their potentials. The Honor chemistry courses have established higher standards and expectations than courses in the regular curriculum. Higher standards are defined as an accelerated pace and greater depth. Students enrolled in the course are expected to develop refined and advanced critical thinking skills and apply those skills in examinations, presentations, labs and projects.
The Honor Chemistry class will move at a faster pace and will present students with expectations for higher quality work, not necessarily a greater quantity of work, than those in the regular curriculum. Students will be expected to complete activities requiring higher levels of thinking.
Expectations of Honor Students
• Maintain an above average percentage in the course
• Consistently completes and submits work on time
• Consistently completes and submits assignments that demonstrate thorough preparation
• Consistently completes and submits high quality written work
• Consistently demonstrates an attitude of cooperation, active participation, and good classroom attendance
• Consistently sets a positive example for others in class by exhibiting positive behavior and carrying his/her load in group work situations
Not Meeting Expectations
*Any student who receives a grade of a D or lower, or who repeatedly fails to meet the expectations bulleted above, may be recommended for withdrawal from the class
Attributes needed for Honor Chemistry: Strong Work Ethic, Responsibility, Positive Attitude, and a Willingness to Help others and the Instructor.
To be Successful in Honor’s Chemistry you will be required to:
Read the textbook and take notes on the reading material.
Do all required research for labs and projects. The labs we complete will require outside research.
Show work for all Calculations for credit.
Write a formal lab report for each lab completed. The formal lab report is done on your own. Every student will turn in a formal lab report. You may collect data with your lab partner but all write-ups and calculations are done on your own.
Quizzes, Tests and Labs have much higher point values than homework. Put forth the extra effort required to be successful on these assignments.
Zarley Policies
1. All rules and regulations as set forth in the student handbook are in effect.
2. Late homework is not accepted. Due at the beginning of class or it is late. Labs maybe turned in one day late for a minor penalty on the earned grade. I will not accept labs beyond one day late and the student will earn a zero on the lab. If you turn in a lab that is not complete you will earn a zero. Therefore it is better to finish the lab and turn it in late with a minor point penalty rather than turn it in unfinished and earn a zero.
3. Extra Credit will seldom be offered but when it is offered it is only available to those students who have completed all required assignments. Extra credit opportunities will be academic in proportion and when completed will enhance your chemistry knowledge.
4. Absence Policy: Immediately upon returning to class all missed materials must be picked up by you from your class absentee folder. It is your responsibility to pick up materials and finish assignments on time (one day extra for each day missed). If you were absent on lab day then you must stay after school when you return to make up the lab. If you are unable to stay after school to make up a lab then you will earn a zero on the lab. Don’t miss class if you can’t stay after school to make up your work. We do several labs for each chapter.
5. A graphing calculator is not necessary, however, if you own a graphing calculator you may use it for chemistry as long as you never play games on it during class. If you disregard this rule then you will not be allowed to bring a graphing calculator to class and will be required to purchase a non-graphing, non-game playing, scientific calculator.
6. Zero Tolerance for misbehavior in the lab. Misbehavior in the lab results in a zero on the lab and the student will be sent to Mr. Johnson for the class period. Safety must be followed at all times. Wear safety goggles at all times in the lab. If you are not wearing your safety goggles you will be asked to leave the lab and receive a lowered grade on your lab. No eating or drinking in lab. Do not touch anything in the lab without permission. You are not allowed in the equipment room unless you are given permission. You are never allowed in the chemical room. You are responsible for your lab stations. They must be cleaned at the end of every lab. This includes washing and putting your equipment away, cleaning out the sink, wiping down the lab counter and cleaning out the cubicles. Failure to clean up will result in an after school detention and a lowered lab grade. READ and sign the safety contract.
7. If you are addicted to texting then keep your cell phone out of my class. Cell phones are not to be used in class. If you use it or if I suspect you are using it I will write a referral.
8. If you are tardy to class please enter the room quietly and record the date of the tardy on the form attached to the bulletin board. Find your class, your name, and record the date of the tardy. 1st tardy- warning 2nd tardy- warning, 3rd tardy teacher detention and parent phone call, 4th- teacher detention and parent phone call, 5th and on referral to the office. See Handbook.
GRADING PROCEDURES
School-Wide Grading Scale- posted on pg. 38 of the student handbook.
A= 100-92 B= 91-83 C= 82-74 D=73-65 F= 64 and below
School-Wide Grading Policy for Semester Grade is 85% term grade and 15% final exam.
Term grade will be calculated as a percentage of total points earned on the items listed below.
1-Test: A test will be given for each chapter.
2-Homework/Writing assignments/Quizzes: Each chapter will have required homework assignments and quizzes(all quizzes are announced so the students can study for them). Attention Students and Parents there will be chemistry homework everyday. Late homework is not accepted. Homework assignments are posted on the chalkboard everyday and on MCHS website. Show work for all chemistry problems no work no credit.
All homework I assign is directly related to the learning objectives on tests and labs. I do not give busy work. Do your own homework so you can master the learning objectives before the test.
All homework is assigned after the lecture. You will always be taught the material before going home and doing it on your own. We will do sample problems in class that can be found in your notes and referred to while doing homework at home. The book outlines step by step how to do all chemistry problems. It’s a good book so use it when completing homework.
3-Laboratory Work: Each chapter will have a required lab(s) and lab write-up.
Each student will have a lab partner to work with. You carry out the lab and collect data with your lab partner. You do not work with your lab partner on the write-up portion of the lab. Write-ups and calculations for the lab must be done on your own. Every student will turn in his or her own lab report.
4-Cooperative activities: will be included with some chapters.
5-Projects: TBA
6- Keep all chemistry materials in a binder designated for chem class. The binder will be organized into sections and separated by tabs. The binder will be collected throughout the term. All work (homework, quizzes, tests, and labs) will be graded and passed back to you so you can make corrections. Make the corrections and show work in a different color pen/marker. After making the corrections organize the papers into your binder under the correct tab.
Binder Organization: Syllabus, Notes/notebook, Homework, Quizzes, Tests, Labs, Crib Sheets, Index of useful tables, figures, periodic tables.
Chemistry is heavily math based. You need good math skills to be successful in chemistry. It is required that chemistry honor students have taken or are taking Algebra II. If you do not meet these math requirements see me immediately.
One of the main goals of this course is to learn problem-solving techniques, which are important and useful throughout your life. In chemistry we use observation, sifting facts, logic, and trial and error to come up with answers. These are important skills that can be used in any life situation.
I believe a strong work ethic will get one further in life than natural ability. I admire hard work and have a very difficult time accepting anything less than one’s best effort.
Suggestions For Success
- Read the Book. Reading assignments must be done before coming to class. Read everything on the pages assigned including picture headings, explanations, tables, and graphs. Outline the chapters by writing down key words and the meaning of the words. Re-read the chapter following class lectures if you are having difficulty with the learning objectives. Complete all sample and practice problems found in the reading assignment.
- Note-taking Tips: begin with the date, highlight key words and information, when I use visual aids or examples in class put those examples into your notes, review your notes daily and highlight material you don’t understand and ask for help during class.
- Quizzes are given to make sure you understand the material along the way before a test is given. All quizzes are announced and you need to study before a quiz. Suggestions for studying could be any or several of the following: re-read the chapter, study your notes and homework assignments, highlight key words, make flash cards, or re-copy your notes.
- Test dates are given far in advance. Do not wait until the night before to begin studying. Make a crib sheet for each chapter test. These crib sheets will be kept in your binder and will be used to study for the final exam. Your book is divided into sections. My suggestions are study a section a night and add material from each section to the crib sheet. The night before the test study your crib sheet and make sure you can recall all information without the aid of the crib sheet. Access my webpage to find learning objectives for each chapter and include these on your crib sheet. Use the tutorial weblinks provided on the webpage to help you prepare for the test. Complete the chapter review found at the end of each chapter with accuracy.
- Labs are just as important as a test. Take them very seriously. Be prepared for lab. You must read the lab completely before coming to class. You must understand the textbook material surrounding the lab. YOU will be required to work on pre-lab questions, an introduction, hypothesis and procedure before lab day. Be prepared by having all requirements met before lab day. If you fail to meet pre-lab requirements you will receive a zero on all pre-lab questions. Your understanding of the lab is essential to keep everyone safe.
- Take a few minutes at the beginning of each class and review the notes you took yesterday.
- Thinking is a skill; use it often when doing chemistry.
Problem solving can only be mastered through practice. Put forth the time and effort to solve chemistry problems. Some can be challenging (this is honors chemistry) but you can always put something down on paper as a starting point. Never come to class with nothing done and use the excuse I didn’t get it. Use your book, notes, weblinks, and previous assignments to assist you in writing something down, use this as a starting point, and then keep working at it until you get it. Quitters never win.
