Biology Syllabus &

Guidelines

What is the purpose of Mr. Long's Biology

class?

What materials should I bring to class?

Textbook?

How should I organize my binder?

Welcome to the wonderful world of Biology!!! Biology meets the UC (a-g) and CSU laboratory science entrance requirements. Our biology course focuses on the four major areas of the science, as per the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Simply: molecules, cells, and organisms; ecology; genetics; and evolution. Scientific practices are emphasized along with biology's connections to other scientific disciplines. Required Materials – bring daily

Lined paper Pencils

Highlighter Blue or black ink pens

3-ring binder Your brain

Biology: The Dynamics of Life. Biggs, Alton. (You need not bring to class. Copies are available in class.)

Bring your Biology binder each day. All labs, readings, quizzes, worksheets, notes, and tests must be included in your notebook/binder. Every item in your binder must have an assignment number and title to receive credit. Everyone is required to have an organized binder. (5% of your grade is an organized binder.)

Instructor - Mr. Ryan Long Room – 1216 Phone – 818-558-4700 x51216 Email – ryanlong@burbankusd.org

Availability – By appointment only. *Email is really the quickest and easiest way to communicate!

Optional Donations: There are many resources we use regularly in class that we frequently need

replaced, so donations are greatly appreciated! ● Hygiene supplies: Kleenex, Clorox wipes, hand sanitizer, liquid hand

soap, spray cleaners, small towels/rags ● Classroom supplies: Scotch tape (or refills), colored printing paper,

colored pencils, markers, erasers

How do you calculate the biology

academic grades each semester?

How often does Mr. Long update his

grades?

How does he grade citizenship?

Your assignments will be weighted in this way: Exams, quizzes, & projects: 43% Final exam: 12% Labs & Classwork: 35% Binder organization/participation: 5% (+bonus) Homework: 5% Your current/updated grade for the semester will always be posted every Wednesday, so you will always know your grade and completed assignments. If you have an "F," your parent will be contacted. There should be no surprises for you or your parent come end of the semester. o Aeries At Home Portal:

mystudent.burbankusd.org

Students and parents can keep track of grades and current attendance. Directions are posted on burbankhighschool.com

Get your verification code from the student center.

This is NOT to be used as a way to see assignments you

forgot to turn in or what you missed while absent.

I update grades approximately every 5 weeks. I wait until

all the late work is turned in.

Check the portion that says “grading complete”. If it says

“no”, then I have not finished putting in everyone’s grade

and that grade is not calculated into their overall grade.

Hold on to all of your work and keep it organized. You

will taping/stapling all of your work into your lab

notebook. This is your receipt and it will be a study guide

for your final.

This grade will be based upon your attitude, cooperation, behavior (and willingness to change behavior), participation, character, integrity, and attendance. Being on time and prepared for class will strongly affect this grade. You will be considered "on time" (not tardy) if you are in your seat, ready to begin the day's work, when the final bell rings. Everybody begins with an "A." Mr. Long and his students follow the BHS Attendance and Discipline Policies available at www.burbankusd.org/BHS. One of the best keys to personal and group success in life is the ability to control your own behavior at your best. I want successful students.

Grading Scale A: 89.5-100%, B: 79.5-89.4%, C: 69.5-79.4%, D: 60-69.4%, F: 59.9% & below

What is his homework policy?

Does Mr. Long allow make-up labs and

tests? What is the procedure?

Homework will be assigned approximately 4 out of 5 days and should require about 20-60 minutes, plus another 10 minutes daily to review notes on the subject we are studying.

A. All homework must have a name, date, period, an assignment number, & title for full credit.

B. Late work will be accepted twice/semester. After that, credit for late work will be taken off (with possibility of no credit) on a case by case basis at Mr. Long's discretion.

C. Students who are absent (non-truant) have as many days as they were absent to make up the work. (So if you aren't at school for two days, then starting the day you return you have two nights to do what was missed.)

It is the student's (your) responsibility to get any make-up work on the day of your return. Make sure you have at least two other students' phone numbers: Name________________ #____________________ Name________________ #____________________

D. Students caught copying or sharing answers on homework and/or tests will both receive zeros on their paper, Fs in citizenship on transcripts & a breach of integrity form sent to your administrator. You are expected to follow the BHS Academic Honest Policy. Violations will be noted in your record.

You are expected to make up work missed due to absences. You should check the binder list or ask a friend to get any missed notes or homework. You are responsible for any missed work. You have as many days to complete the make-up as you have excused absences. You are responsible to check with me and arrange the make-up test or quiz. Make-up work for unexcused absences will receive NO credit!

A. Make up tests will be allowed only on Tuesday's following the test. They will be held in Mr. Childress' room (1230) at lunch. Students who were absent for the test will be expected to attend the following Tuesday

What are Mr. Long's rules and

consequences?

Does Mr. Long offer extra credit

work/questions?

for a make-up test. If you do not show up, you will get a zero for that test (and may choose for that test to be their retake at the end of the semester, see "B"). Make-up tests will NOT be the same test that was given in class.

B. Additionally, students may retake or make up ONE test at the end of the semester to replace the test score for that test (whether it is a 0% or 99%). This will be a different test on the same content, will be offered during class the week before finals, and the new score will replace the old score (for better or for worse). Students not making up or retaking a test that day will be allowed the period to study for the final.

C. Occasionally, labs will not be possible to retake and an alternative will be given.

Behavior Rules:

Behavior in class should reflect the respect which is due to each of us as a person

Behavior in class is helpful, so that learning and teaching will be allowed and encouraged.

Note: You are expected to keep your cell phone in your bag or pocket. It should be silent or turned off.

Consequences:

1. Documented Warning 2. Teacher/Student Conference & Detention 3. Parent Contact Detention 4. Parent and Student Meeting 5. Office referral, 2-Day Class Suspension

and/or parent conference You are expected to stay on task in class daily and keep current with your work. I will occasionally offer extra credit. NO large lump sums available! Students will be given 20 points of Extra Credit at the start of the semester. I will deduct points for the following: hall passes, cell phones out, food/drinks, sleeping, earbuds/music, disruptions, foul language, disrespect of teachers/classmates, off task on computer, or roaming around room.

What are the Lab expectations & rules?

Class activities will change often, so transition quietly and get to work.

Your lab partner will change often. Be able to work with others.

Clean up after yourself

o Push in lab stools

o Wash all dishes with soap and brush or sponge

o Wash down lab station with sponge and spray

o Dry things with the towel

o Only use paper towel to dry hands

Points will be deducted from your lab for inappropriate behavior, or you may be removed from the lab & receive a 0. Collaboration Safety/Lab Rules Understanding Content Following Directions Clean Up

Consistently and

actively works

toward group goals.

Helps keep entire

group focused.

Consistently and

actively follows

lab rules and safety

rules.

Demonstrates a thorough

understanding of the concepts and

content needed to successfully

complete the activity.

Consistently follows the

procedure. Reads the

procedure 2 times before

asking for help.

Lab station is wiped down, all

materials are cleaned, dried, and

put away, and stools are pushed

in. Failure in cleaning up a lab will

result in ½ of lab points lost.

Treatment of Organisms You will be working with laboratory specimens that were once living and they need to be treated with respect. No

tapping, shaking, hurting, or any sort of mistreatment of organisms that are living or were once living.

Your classroom also contains living lab animals and plants. They need to be treated with respect. No tapping on the

glass of aquariums or terrariums, no harming the delicate chemical balance within the container, no handling of the

organisms without teacher approval.

***Failure to adhere to these guidelines is inappropriate classroom behavior (see consequences above).

Biology BHS

Parents and/or guardians: I am very excited to get to know your student. In the following space, please write me a short note with any information you would like me to know about your student. Possible topics include: the student’s strengths academically or behaviorally, interests, attitude, beliefs, personality, and anything else you think I should know. Thank you with helping me get to know my students a bit better!

Please fill out the following information, sign this form, write a note in the above space and return to Mr. Long by the 2nd Friday of school. Make a copy or take a picture of the guidelines for your reference over the school year. (It is also online at: biolong.weebly.com/biology.html)

Student Name: Period:

Parent’s Name: Parent’s Email: Parent’s Contact Phone:

Parent’s Name: Parent’s Email: Parent’s Contact Phone:

Does the student have computer access at home? YES or NO Does the student have Internet access at home? YES or NO

We have read the guidelines and understand the expectations for success in Mr. Long’s Anatomy class.

Student Signature:

Parent/Guardian Signature: