Course Information and Expectations
General Chemistry
Mr. Etter
Course Description:
This is a college preparatory class in which students will have the opportunity to do individual and group assignments, laboratory experiments, and inquiry based activities. Students will work to improve their critical thinking, problem solving, and scientific literacy skills.
Welcome to Chemistry!
Today you begin an adventure. You will be doing much more than learning a bunch of facts about chemistry – you will be learning to explore, question, and analyze like a scientist. I am so excited to be your guide through this journey! You will be required to work hard in class each day – I have very high expectations for each of you. But, I am also committed to providing all the support you need to exceed those expectations.
My Philosophy of Learning Chemistry:
Learning chemistry is a challenge for many students. I have seen over the years that many students think learning is binary (either you know it or you don't). IT'S NOT! The process of partially knowing something is normal, and it cannot be skipped. This fits well with a motto I heard: I can explain it to you but I cannot understand it for you. I will do my best to present the information clearly and concisely. However, I cannot make meaning of the content for my students. So, how can students best make meaning of chemistry? Persevere through the learning process. Learning is more than just listening to what you don't know. It is a conscious choice of the student to engage and participate in lessons and activities.
Grading Scale:
89.5-100%=A 79.5-89.49%=B 69.5-79.49%=C
59.5-69.49%=D Below 59.5%=F
There will be no curve (as it is accounted for in the grading scale above).
Grade Book:
Classwork = 80 % (Labs 20 %, Assignments 20 %, Tests/Quizzes 60 %)
Final Exam= 20 %
Notice that tests and quizzes are worth the highest percentage, meaning they are the most important.
To ensure integrity, new seats will be assigned for each class period that we have a unit test.
Students in class on the day of the test are expected to take the test. Students are allowed to be absent on only one test day per semester; if exceeded, a meeting with parents will be required before the grade is changed from a zero to whatever the student has earned.
If a student is absent on the day of a test or quiz they will be expected to make it up, in class, the first day they return. Failure to do so will result in a zero.
If a student knows they are going to miss a test right before a long break, I encourage them to communicate and take the test before they leave.
Grade Book:
To Parents: Communication between teacher and student is very important. I frequently receive emails from parents prior to having a discussion with the student. I believe students need to practice their self-advocacy and bring their questions or frustrations to me, first. As such, I usually respond to those emails by first having a face-to-face interaction with the student.
To Students: Chemistry can often be a frustrating subject to learn. I do not want you to sit in frustration - please contact me for help. With that said, if you contact me the night before a test with questions, it's often a little too late for me to help you. Along the same lines, coming in for help the day of the test will do little for you as I am not interested in testing your short-term memory abilities (aka, I will not be able to help you with questions the day of the test).
I occasionally communicate via Remind. This is only one-way communication. Please take the time right now to sign up for Remind notifications.
Text: @genchem2 To: 81010
How to best reach me:
My office is in the Prep Room of Room 323
The best way to contact me is to through e-mail: edetter@dcsdk12.org
I will do my best to respond to all emails within 24 hours.
FOUR WAYS YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE:
1) Be Here - Attendance:
Regular attendance and punctuality are critical for the learning process. All assignments missed due to an unexcused absence will receive a score of zero in the grade book.
If you are absent:
-Get the agenda and lecture notes from a reliable friend. You are responsible for any information presented on the day of your absence as well as any worksheets. Obtaining and completing makeup work is your responsibility.
2) Be On Time - Tardy:
The bell is the signal to start class therefore I expect that you will be seated in your assigned seat when it rings. It is important to be on time. It shows you are responsible, willing to work hard, and ready to learn.
3) Give Your Best Effort - Work hard:
Students who do ALL their own work and turn it in on time will do very well in this course. Students say this year after year.
Homework: Take some time right now to sign up for the online homework system.
In addition to the online homework, there will be the Mandatory Practice Packets made specifically for each unit. These packets are designed for additional practice and extra credit will be given for the students that complete them. The packets are designed for students to practice all types of problems from that unit. As such, students can find answers to the packets on Mr. Etter's website. Please understand, answers without showing work do not communicate that the student did the problems and will not receive any credit. Science is not just about getting answers, but it is about HOW the answer was obtained.
4) Get Help - Availability:
I am available to you for extra help. I encourage you to seek me out whenever you do not fully understand a concept or an assignment. I will be available during homeroom, before school, after school, and during my plan periods. I prefer a scheduled meeting, but please feel free drop in anytime you have a question.
Students are encouraged to study together and to discuss information and concepts. With that said, plagiarism will not be tolerated and will result in a zero on the assignment.
Also, I will not be able to help you the day of a test.
Supplies:
These supplies should be brought to class EVERYDAY!!
1) Agenda/Planner
2) 3 Ring binder for Chemistry Workbook
3) Composition Book or Spiral-Bound Notebook (We will be taking a lot of notes, so it is important to keep them all together)
4) Pencil and eraser (mechanical pencils allowed)
5) Calculator (a scientific calculator is highly recommended but the one you use for math class will be fine) YOU WILL NEED YOUR OWN CALCULATOR. I do not have extras.
6) Safety gear (on lab days)- hair ties and closed toe shoes.
Laboratory Policy:
My first priority is providing a safe, student-oriented learning environment. Safety is extremely important because we will be using chemicals that if not handled correctly will cause irreparable harm. I expect students to conduct themselves responsibly, courteously and to be accountable for their own actions and academic success.
To participate in the laboratory experiments, students must pass the Science Safety Quiz (below). Violation of lab safety rules (including unsafe behavior) will result in a warning on the first offense and a zero on the current lab if the behavior continues. Repeated violations will result loss of laboratory privileges until a parent conference is held and the student retakes the safety test. If you break or damage any lab materials while violating any of the safety rules, you will be responsible for paying the replacement cost of the item. If you need to make up a lab due to an excused absence it must be made up (before or after school) within one week of your return to class.
Take the following lab safety quiz:
Lab Safety Sheet and Quiz (Quiz is worth 30 points in gradebook)
(Hint: Use the lab safety sheet to help you answer the questions on the quiz. However, some answers will not be found in the safety sheet; use common sense)
Cell Phone Policy:
Cell phones are a wonderful thing. However, year after year they prove to be distractions in class. The phone is not the issue. The issue is the lack of focus on what they are supposed to be doing. One skill I want to help my students get better at is focusing. Research suggests that when students have the ability to look at their phone they have an internal desire to look at it - hence, they are distracted even if they don't look at it. Research also suggests that students who never look at their phone in class score, on average, half of a letter grade higher than those who look at the their phone even once per class. So, in order to help teach students to focus with an added benefit of them performing better in class, I am asking all students to turn their phones into pocket-holder on the side of the classroom when they walk into class. The pocket holder is also setup with many outlets so that the phones can be charged at the same time. If students are uncomfortable with this system they may speak to me about alternative options.
Failure to comply with this policy will lead to confiscation of the cell phone by the teacher. I will then turn the phone into the office no later than the beginning of 7th period.
Tasks you should have accomplished:
1) Sign up for Remind notifications
2) Sign up for UT Quest Online Homework
3) Take the Lab Safety Quiz
4) Fill out the acknowledgment of all course expectations form below.
To acknowledge that you have read and understood the terms and conditions of this General Chemistry Course as well as the Chemistry Lab Expectations, click here (not active).