Ms.

Garcia
[email protected]
www.ethschemistry.weebly.com

What is Chemistry?
Everything you hear, see, smell, taste, and touch involves chemistry and chemicals (matter). In this class you
will be learning the science of matter, especially its properties, structure, composition, behavior, reactions,
interactions and how it changes. You will investigate the ways in which chemistry is part of our everyday lives
and learn to think and act like a scientist. Chemistry is a challenging and complex subject, but this doesnt
mean that it wont also be exciting, interesting, and fun! To get the most out of time together, you need to be
prepared to work effectively and seriously every day. The concepts and skills that you will learn in chemistry
will not only prepare you to take the Regents Exam in June, but they will also help you develop the critical
thinking skills and techniques that will help you become true scientific thinkers, and this will help you
regardless of what your future career goals are. The course will also include a lab component where you will
get to see chemistry happen right in front of your eyes.

Course Outline
Unit 1: Atoms, Elements, and Electrons Unit 7: Kinetics and Equilibrium
Unit 2: The Periodic Table of Elements Unit 8: Acids, Bases, and Salts
Unit 3: Chemical Bonding and Moles Unit 9: Oxidation-Reduction Reactions
Unit 4: Matter and Change Unit 10: Organic Chemistry
Unit 5: Mixtures and Solutions Unit 11: Nuclear Chemistry
Unit 6: Chemical Reactions and Stoichiometry

Required Supplies Optional Supplies

1.5- or 2-inch binder devoted to Chemistry* Scientific Calculator
One 2-pocket folder devoted to Chemistry* Highlighters
Pens (blue or black) 2 packs of 3x5 Index Cards
Pencils

Chemistry Binder and Folder*

In chemistry, you will be provided with many notes, worksheets, and readings that are meant to help you keep
on track and to help you study for exams. I highly suggest having your binder with you every day in class, but I
understand that you may be carrying around a lot of other school materials and may not be able to fit it in
your bookbag. If this is the case, you may choose to leave your binder in the classroom, but you will be
required to keep your chemistry folder with you every day. Your folder will have all handouts and notes
pertaining to the current unit. It is your responsibility to maintain an organized binder and folder and ensure
that you are prepared every day for class. If you think you might have trouble with organization, make an
appointment with me and I can help you get started, as well as helping you keep track of your materials
throughout the year.
Lab Requirement
In order to be eligible to take the Regents exam at the end of the year, all students much complete a minimum
of 1,200 minutes of lab work, and each lab must be accompanied by a satisfactory lab write-up. In addition,
many of these labs will count towards your Major Assessments category of your final grade. During lab
periods, we will be performing our own chemistry experiments to test and explore what weve learned in
class. While you should try your best to be in class every day, it is very important to NOT MISS LAB DAYS.
These are assignments that you cannot completed on your own, and will require you to stay after school to
makeup the lab. If you start to fall behind in labs, you will be required to attend Saturday school to make them
up.

Class Website www.ethschemistry.weebly.com

This year, you and your families will have access to a classroom website. On this website, I will provide you
with a class calendar, an updated list of labs and assignments, and links to other helpful resources, such as
YouTube videos or study sites.

Castle Learning www.castlelearning.com

Students will be required to complete weekly homework assignments on the online platform Castle Learning.
These assignments are intended to get students familiar with the language and question formatting that they
will see on the Regents. Students username is their OSIS number and if they need a password reset, please
just ask Ms. Garcia. Computers will be available after school in Ms. Garcias classroom should a student
want/need to use them to complete these assignments.

Grading
Major Assessments: 40% tests, lab reports, projects
Minor Assessments: 20% quizzes, lab write ups
Classwork: 25% warm ups, exit tickets, notebook checks, participation
Homework: 15% homework worksheets; weekly Castle Learning Assignments

Some assignments will have a percentage grade.

Others will have a + (100%) +/(90%) (80%) /- (70%) - (65%)

Due Dates and Late Work

No late homework will be accepted for credit as per ETHS policy. Assessments can be turned in late with a
penalty of 10% off the final grade per day late. Assessments turned in more than 5 days after the due date will
be accepted for a maximum of 50% credit.

Academic Support
If students are struggling with their homework or other assignments or concepts, the first thing they should do
is ask for help. There will be opportunities for extra help during class as well as after-school tutoring. I will post
a weekly schedule of when I will be available after school for tutoring and homework help. If a student is not
happy with their grade on a major assessment, they will be able to retake the test if they attend a tutoring
session to go over the original test. This is to ensure that students are prepared for a retake and have clarified
any previous misunderstandings.

Procedures for Classroom Participation

Please be on time to class. If a student is late, they are required to get a late pass and sign in the late book.
Students may use the bathroom following ETHS bathroom policy. Students must raise their hands to speak. In
order to maintain a safe space and respect each other, only one person should be speaking at a time, and all
other students should be listening. Students are expected to behave respectfully towards each other, their
teacher, and their classroom at all times.
Cell Phone Policy
As per school policy, students may not have their cell phones or any other electronics out during class for any
reason. This includes headphones and any other handheld electronics.

Absences/Missed Work
If students have an excused absence for a short period of time, it is their responsibility to get the class notes
they missed, and make up their work upon their return to school. Copies of the handouts and guided notes
will be kept in a master binder for students to use if they were absent. They will generally have the number of
days they were absent for to make up the work (eg. if a student is absent for 2 days, they have 2 days to make
up the work). For longer absences, we will develop a plan on a case-by-case basis, with the input of the
student, parents, and students advisor.

Online Grades
Students and parents both have access to the online grading system. Grades for each assignment as well as
missing work can be viewed.

Academic Honesty
Working collaboratively is an important part of the Energy Tech model, and students are permitted to work in
groups on their homework assignments. However, all students must contribute equally to the group effort,
must write up their OWN solutions and responses, and must include a list of the names of the students they
worked with on the top of their paper. COPYING ANOTHER STUDENTS ANSWERS WITHOUT WORKING
TOGETHER TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS IS CHEATING AND IS A VIOLATION OF ACADEMIC HONESTY.

Students must do their own work on all assessments (tests, quizzes, labs etc.). Any student found to have
given or received assistance on assessment work is in violation of academic honesty. Instances of suspected
academic dishonesty will be dealt with according to school policy.

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Ms. Garcia 2017-2018

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