Chemistry

Contact Information:

Email: bbrunner@ridgeview19.org

I arrive before most days by 7:40 am and stay after until 3:30/4, if you need help, feel free to reach out to me or come in for help during those times.

Textbook:

This class utilizes the CK-12 e-textbook that will also be linked through the google class. Additional content throughout the year will utilize POGIL’s and various PhETS.

Attendance Policy:

Students are expected to be in the classroom when the bell rings. If you are not in the classroom, you will be counted tardy. Per district policy, after 3 tardies a student will be given a detention

Cell phones and other devices:

Cell phones and other mobile devices are expected to be silenced and put away, having them out without permission will result in a warning, a second offense will result in a confiscation.

Cheating:

Cheating will not be tolerated in my classroom. This includes blatant copying and “borrowing” homework. Any and all parties involved will be given a zero on the assignment, parent contact will be made, and other disciplinary action will be taken according to the handbook. 

Discipline:

Students found to be breaking any rules on the syllabus or in the handbook will be subject to the following consequences:

1.  Verbal warning

2.  Detention

3.  Class dismissal

These steps may be skipped or added as the situation requires.

Laboratory Damages: Please note; a student can have fines applied to their student account for damaging or destroying laboratory materials through intentional malic or negligence. These fines will be assigned to replace in full the item(s) that are broken or destroyed.

Grading:

This class grades based off of a weighted grading scale, broken down into 4 categories. Each category will contribute the given amount to your quarter grade. The categories are as follows:

Homework – 10%

Homework will be broken into paper and online assignments on the google class. Paper homework is due by the time I leave for the day, and must be placed into the proper basket for your hour. Paper homework will be graded based off a combination of completion and accuracy. Online assignments will be due by the time posted on the assignment (usually 11:59 pm) and will be graded for accuracy. Students are encouraged to work with each other if they are having problems with the homework.

Participation – 10%

         Participation is a reflection on how much effort you put into the class, how much you contribute to class discussions and engage in class activities, as well as your participation within group projects and labs.

Projects - 15%

Periodically a research or design project pertaining to a real world topic will be assigned, such as researching and creating a presentation on chemical disasters in history for Earth Day or the Nobel prize in Chemistry. 

Tests and Quizzes – 35%

         Test will be given at the end of each unit. They will cover vocabulary, problems, and lab work. They may consist of multiple choice, true/false, fill in the blank, problems, and short answer. Quizzes may be given throughout a unit, covering materials within the unit when applicable.

Labs – 30%

         Lab experiments and reports will be assigned when applicable. During the lab, points will be given to each student depending on the amount of work they contribute to the lab and their lab group. In order to receive full points, students must be active members of their groups. Lab makeups will be held after school by appointment. Labs must be made up within two weeks of the lab.

The Finals - 

While the district no longer requires teachers to give a final, students in chemistry will still receive a final that is worth approximately 15% of their semester grade. The final in first semester is a cumulative test that will cover all information that has been covered in class, assigned readings, and projects throughout the semester. The second semester final is project based, where students will be using the cumulative sum of what they have learned for the entire year to complete an objective that they are assigned. Students are encouraged to prepare together, but the final assessment will be individual.