COURSE DESCRIPTION & REQUIREMENTS
This course will investigate the principles of chemistry and their application to your daily life. The course will present an overview of the nature of matter and energy and the interactions between them. Some of the topics we will investigate in this class are the structure and states of matter, chemical reactions and chemical formulae, stoichiometry, equilibrium, acids and bases, redox chemistry, kinetics, thermodynamics, nuclear chemistry and organic chemistry.
There are many ways to approach the great deal of material to be learned in this class. I encourage all my students to be active participants in the learning process. I especially encourage you to form small study groups and call, email or text each other (outside of school!) for help with homework, labs, and studying for tests. It is important that you learn to cooperate in a group setting, both in and outside of the classroom. You may at times want to request my help – in this case, please see me in advance to schedule some time either before school, during lunch, or after school.
MATERIALS REQUIRED The following materials are required every day:
paper
pencils
pens
scientific calculator (NOT a graphing calculator - see below)
3-ring binder dedicated to chemistry class only
You may also want to consider bringing a metric ruler, some colored pencils, and 5 or 6 sheet protectors. Textbooks will be handed out, but they may be kept at home - they will be used only for homework and reading outside of class.
GENERAL SYLLABUS A syllabus is a guideline and not etched in stone. Please go to the calendar page to see the current syllabus. Remember, it is a general guide and is subject to change. Other topics which may be covered if time remains include Bio/Organic Chemistry, Environmental Chemistry, and Applications of Nuclear Chemistry.
GRADING Grades will be determined using the total points method; your grade will be calculated by dividing your earned points by the total points available, expressed as a percent. Homework assignments will typically earn anywhere from 10 to 20 points per week, while tests will earn 40-60 points. Laboratories, quizzes, and classwork will fall somewhere in between. The CHHS grading scale will be used to determine your grade (90-100, A; 80-89, B; 70-79, C; 60-69, D). In most cases, grades will not be curved, so please work to obtain as many points as possible. Extra credit opportunities are rare, and most often non-existent.
INTERNET AND E-MAIL The internet can be a powerful tool for enhancing the learning process. I encourage you to use it for research on chemistry topics as well as for communication with myself and your peers.
My E-mail Address: [email protected]
My Web Page: http://rissbergersrealm.weebly.com/
CLASS PREPARATION Be in your seat and ready to work when the bell rings (that means be on time!). Pencils should be sharpened and materials ready before we begin. Lots of time can be wasted if students are not prepared! Make sure you have your notebook, paper, pens & pencils, and scientific calculator ready.
TESTING Tests must be completed and handed in within the allotted class period. If a student has an IEP or 504 Plan that allows for extra time on tests, then the extra time will be granted as long as it is arranged for ahead of time . A student who misses a test due to an excused absence must schedule a time with me to take a makeup; the makeup must be completed within 5 days of the student’s return.
LABORATORIES Please be prepared before a lab; when possible, read the lab over the night before we conduct it. Any student who misses a lab due to an excused absence must schedule a time with me to take a makeup; the makeup must be completed within 5 days of the student’s return.
CALCULATORS, PHONES & OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES You will need a scientific calculator for this class. Graphing calculators will NOT be allowed. Furthermore, if a student is found playing video games on a graphing calculator (or cell phone) at any time during class, it will be confiscated until a parent comes to retrieve it.
Cell phones and mp3 players are disruptive and reduce time on task. They must be turned off and put away while in this class. Students found talking on phones, text messaging, or listening to an mp3 player will have their devices confiscated until a parent comes to retrieve them.
SAFETY Do not handle the materials in the classroom without permission from the teacher. There are chemicals and equipment in the classroom that require respect when handling them, and of course we don’t want any accidents. Please adhere to the safety rules which were handed out to you.
BATHROOM POLICY Bathroom privileges will only be given during classwork periods and according to whatever the current CHHS hall pass policies are. Do not ask to go to the restroom during lecture and note taking. Do not ask to go to the restroom when the bell rings at the start of class – please take care of your needs during the class changes.
SAFE ZONE POLICY Our classroom is a “Safe Zone.” Students shall refrain from making discriminatory statements or actions toward other students; our classroom must be safe, welcoming and accepting of all people, regardless of race, culture, ethnicity and sexual orientation. Students who violate this policy will be disciplined accordingly.
FIRE DRILLS During a fire drill, students will proceed out the classroom door to the right, out the east end of the “A” building, around the C building, and then on to the upper baseball field, where I will take attendance. Anyone not reporting to the designated location will be considered to be skipping. Make sure you bring some work with you, as many times I will continue with our lecture out at our meeting place.
There are many ways to approach the great deal of material to be learned in this class. I encourage all my students to be active participants in the learning process. I especially encourage you to form small study groups and call, email or text each other (outside of school!) for help with homework, labs, and studying for tests. It is important that you learn to cooperate in a group setting, both in and outside of the classroom. You may at times want to request my help – in this case, please see me in advance to schedule some time either before school, during lunch, or after school.
MATERIALS REQUIRED The following materials are required every day:
paper
pencils
pens
scientific calculator (NOT a graphing calculator - see below)
3-ring binder dedicated to chemistry class only
You may also want to consider bringing a metric ruler, some colored pencils, and 5 or 6 sheet protectors. Textbooks will be handed out, but they may be kept at home - they will be used only for homework and reading outside of class.
GENERAL SYLLABUS A syllabus is a guideline and not etched in stone. Please go to the calendar page to see the current syllabus. Remember, it is a general guide and is subject to change. Other topics which may be covered if time remains include Bio/Organic Chemistry, Environmental Chemistry, and Applications of Nuclear Chemistry.
GRADING Grades will be determined using the total points method; your grade will be calculated by dividing your earned points by the total points available, expressed as a percent. Homework assignments will typically earn anywhere from 10 to 20 points per week, while tests will earn 40-60 points. Laboratories, quizzes, and classwork will fall somewhere in between. The CHHS grading scale will be used to determine your grade (90-100, A; 80-89, B; 70-79, C; 60-69, D). In most cases, grades will not be curved, so please work to obtain as many points as possible. Extra credit opportunities are rare, and most often non-existent.
INTERNET AND E-MAIL The internet can be a powerful tool for enhancing the learning process. I encourage you to use it for research on chemistry topics as well as for communication with myself and your peers.
My E-mail Address: [email protected]
My Web Page: http://rissbergersrealm.weebly.com/
CLASS PREPARATION Be in your seat and ready to work when the bell rings (that means be on time!). Pencils should be sharpened and materials ready before we begin. Lots of time can be wasted if students are not prepared! Make sure you have your notebook, paper, pens & pencils, and scientific calculator ready.
TESTING Tests must be completed and handed in within the allotted class period. If a student has an IEP or 504 Plan that allows for extra time on tests, then the extra time will be granted as long as it is arranged for ahead of time . A student who misses a test due to an excused absence must schedule a time with me to take a makeup; the makeup must be completed within 5 days of the student’s return.
LABORATORIES Please be prepared before a lab; when possible, read the lab over the night before we conduct it. Any student who misses a lab due to an excused absence must schedule a time with me to take a makeup; the makeup must be completed within 5 days of the student’s return.
CALCULATORS, PHONES & OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES You will need a scientific calculator for this class. Graphing calculators will NOT be allowed. Furthermore, if a student is found playing video games on a graphing calculator (or cell phone) at any time during class, it will be confiscated until a parent comes to retrieve it.
Cell phones and mp3 players are disruptive and reduce time on task. They must be turned off and put away while in this class. Students found talking on phones, text messaging, or listening to an mp3 player will have their devices confiscated until a parent comes to retrieve them.
SAFETY Do not handle the materials in the classroom without permission from the teacher. There are chemicals and equipment in the classroom that require respect when handling them, and of course we don’t want any accidents. Please adhere to the safety rules which were handed out to you.
BATHROOM POLICY Bathroom privileges will only be given during classwork periods and according to whatever the current CHHS hall pass policies are. Do not ask to go to the restroom during lecture and note taking. Do not ask to go to the restroom when the bell rings at the start of class – please take care of your needs during the class changes.
SAFE ZONE POLICY Our classroom is a “Safe Zone.” Students shall refrain from making discriminatory statements or actions toward other students; our classroom must be safe, welcoming and accepting of all people, regardless of race, culture, ethnicity and sexual orientation. Students who violate this policy will be disciplined accordingly.
FIRE DRILLS During a fire drill, students will proceed out the classroom door to the right, out the east end of the “A” building, around the C building, and then on to the upper baseball field, where I will take attendance. Anyone not reporting to the designated location will be considered to be skipping. Make sure you bring some work with you, as many times I will continue with our lecture out at our meeting place.