Informational and Procedure Packet for Mrs. Herstine’s Biology Class

Welcome to Mrs. Herstine’s Biology class! I am pleased to be able to spend the year with you! In order for our class to run smoothly and to enable us to conduct our investigations there are some procedures you need to follow. These are not rules! However, you will need to follow these procedures.

1. Entering the room

Please enter the room quietly and orderly. When entering the room you need to bring with you, your binder, book, notebook, and something to write with. Most days you will need to pick up any papers we will be using for the day on the table to your left as you come in the door. Please remember to pick them up.

2. How to begin class

At the beginning of each class, you are to complete the Bell work, which is written on the Smart Board. Unless instructed otherwise they are to be answered in complete sentences. Each Bell work entry is completed in your notebook and must be dated.

3. If you need to sharpen your pencil or blow your nose

Please try to remember to sharpen you pencil at the beginning of class. If you need to sharpen your pencil during class please get up quietly and go sharpen your pencil. You do not need to ask for permission or disrupt class. However, if someone is speaking please wait until they have finished, before you sharpen your pencil. If you need a Kleenex feel free to get up and get one whenever necessary.

4. If you forget your pencil

If you forget to bring your pencil, please find one. I will have some pencils that I find; in the tray marked PENCILS in the first set of cupboards. You are welcome to borrow these pencils, please put them back when finished. If there are no pencils in there I do not have any.

5. Turning in papers

When I ask you to turn in papers please put them in the appropriate drawer and make sure your name is on the paper.

6. Turning in a test or quiz

When you are finished with a test or quiz, please place them in the appropriate drawer.

7. When you are absent

When you are absent, you need to check the folder with your mods on it, on the table at the front of the room under the chalkboard. In there you should find a sheet that explains what you missed and what you should do. There should also be attached any worksheets we used that day. If you have any questions please ask your team and then me. You have the amount of days you were absent to complete your work. ALL WORK MUST BE TURNED IN!!

8. When you need help

If at anytime you need help, please ask. You can leave a note on my desk or talk to be me before or after class. I want all of you to succeed. I am available during the day mod 7, mod 11, 12, 13, 17 and 18. I can also arrange for you to work with me at other times.

9. Asking and answering questions

If you need to ask a question please raise your hand, do not yell my name, wave your hand, or get out of your seat. I will call on you and then you may speak. If you want to answer a question, please raise your hand. Once again do not yell my name, raise you hand, bounce up and down in your seat or go “I know, I know”. I will try to call on as many people as possible.

10. When I want your attention

If I want your attention while you are working in groups, I will ring a bell and then you have four more seconds to be quiet and face me.

11. Inappropriate Behavior

If you misbehave during class, you will be removed from the group and work alone. If the misbehavior continues, detention will be assigned.

12. Missing/late work

If you do not have your homework when I ask for it you will lose points towards your homework grade. Your homework grade will be passed on the number of assignments during the nine weeks. It will not exceed 20 points. Missing homework assignments will be noted on the assignment posters, all work, even late must be turned in.

13. Illness

If at any time you may have to throw up please leave and go to the restroom. You do not need to ask to leave. If you want to go to the nurse’s office please ask me and I will give you a pass.

14. Restroom

If you need to go to the restroom, please ask at the beginning of class not during the middle. You must sign out when you leave and when you return. You cannot go during class.

15. Drills

When a fire drill, tornado drill, ect is announced please stay quiet and follow my instructions.

16. Visitors

When a visitor enters the room, keep working quietly. You do not need to wave to the visitor or talk to them.

17. If you finish early

If you finish your work early, you can work on the following:

Missing work

Read a book

Work on other homework if it is with you

You cannot talk!

18. Substitutes

When there is a substitute for me, you are to treat them with the same respect you treat me with. If there are any problems with a substitute teacher the consequence is doubled.

19. Extra Supplies

If you need colored pencils, crayons, markers or glue please use the ones in the first cupboard and not from the team boxes.

20.Exiting the room

As the end of class, you must make sure your table is clean. There should be no paper on the floor or on the table. Make sure all supplies are cleaned up and in the proper place. If we are using the team boxes they must have all the required materials in them. They are not trash boxes for papers you don’t want. You leave when I dismiss you. You must push in your chairs when you are dismissed.

Helpful Information

Contact Info: herstinm@perry1.sparcc.org

(I rarely check my email in the evening, but I do check it by 6:45am.)

My website is on the Perry High School page and will contain homework, class notes, link to the book’s website, reminders for quizzes, tests and projects and other helpful information.

Supplies

1. A 1 inch binder with pockets.

2. A spiral notebook.

3. Loose-leaf paper (10 sheets to start is good)

4. Pencil and pen

Grades

Your grade will be passed on points. The number of points will vary each nine weeks. Included in the nine weeks grade will be quizzes, tests, lab performance (rubric will be given), lab reports, projects and homework. The homework grade will be based on the number of assignments each nine weeks. It will not exceed 20 points and will be based on the number of assignments completed. Your nine weeks grade and your 2 semester exams will be combined to determine your final grade. I keep Pinnacle up to date, so you will always be able to know your grade.

Labs

Biology is a lab and field study class. You will be expected to participate in all labs/field studies and will be graded on them. You will know ahead of time how and when you will be graded. A lack of participation or completion of labs will lower your grade. The exception to this will be the dissection lab, which can be completed online.