DiMaggio's Biosphere

Life Science: Project Information

The Organ Trail book and Wanted poster:  Wednesday through Friday we will work to complete the Organ Trial Book and Wanted posters in the PC lab.  Right now students should be working on their rough draft by answering the the questions on the Organ Trail handout.  Also students should choose an organ, research the questions about the organ they choose for the Wanted poster. 

If a students does not complete their project in the three days I am giving in the PC lab then they will have the weekend and Monday to finish the project.  This project is the equivalent of a test grade weighted at 60%. 

In addition the Human body packet will also be turned in for a class work grade.  Grades are updated  on Pinnacle now however any missing assignments can be turned in by Monday without penalty. 

 

Science Literacy:  Today the majority of students were very disrespectful during student presentations.  Every time I turned my head to view power points and listen to the presentation the students would start cutting up and talking; I will use the Eagle cards to correct this behavior in the future. 

Every student should have a journal in class at this time.  I will not accept loose leaf paper for journals.  Journal must stay in class so that I can read and grade them regularly. 

Life Science:  Today students took the on-line LMMS Health Survey.  Then they began working on the Endocrine System hand out/ note and answered discussion questions.  We will resume warn up questions on Monday of next week.

Science Literacy:  Today students began presenting their Call of the Wild pre-reading projects.

Sorry for the delay in updating pinnacle.  I was out 7 days due to serious family illness.  Thanks in advance for your patience.

 

Life Science

Warm Up Q2:  What is the difference between the central and peripheral nervous system?

Agenda:  Today students participate in two -nervous system- labs.

• Observing Involuntary Reactions
• Testing You Reaction Time

 

Science Literacy:  Today the class began reading, taking notes, and discussing animal behavior. (testbook pages 360-363)  This information will be very important when we begin reading Call of the Wild.  

 Students will be tested on this information Thursday of next week. 1/12

Life Science:

Warm Up  Q1:  What is an enzyme and how does it help with digestion?

Note to Parents - Today we discussed 3 expectations for the second half of the year:

• Zero's will not be tolerated  for daily warm ups any longer for the  following two reasons - 1. I choose warm up questions that will be on the chapter test, and students need them to study.  Also I will be using the warm ups to review and remediate for the CRCT.  2. Warm ups are also used as a behavior management tool.   Students are instructed to come into the classroom, quite themselves (with litle prompting from teacher) , copy the daily warm up and answer the question.  I no longer want to plead with the students or raise my voice to get the class to cooperate.  It is not fair to the majority of students who are following class procedures.  I collect warm ups every two week; if a students receives a zero for warm ups, they will be required to complete assignmnet during a "zap zero lunch."

 

• Copying the daily agenda is not optional!  However only  a hand full of students are copying this important information daily.  A large number of students are consistently turning assignments in late, and it is very upsetting when students walk in class and say, "we have a test today!?!"  when it has been on the board everyday for over a week.  This is a daily classroom procedure that I will closely monitor the second half of the year.  Students who still refuse to  follow these direction will receive an eagle card mark.  Please check your student's agenda and if they have not been copying their agenda daily, please help me stress the importance of following all classroom procedures and teacher's directions. 

 

•   Notes:  All students are required to take notes .  Taking good notes is a skill I have been  working   with the students on for half a year.  All students should have a highlighter for reviewing notes.   When I review notes for a chapter section, I make sure the students have everything they need for the test and quiz.  I will say, "this is important please write this down" or "please highlight this part in your notes", yet I am finding that many students are not practicing what I have taught them.  Studying from the book is difficult because it is an overwhelming amount of information, but studying the highlighted portions of their notes along with warm up questions is much easier.  On test day students will be required to turn in their notes with their test for a grade.

Science Literacy

Just wanted to say it was nice meeting everyone today! 

 Please bring your textbook for the next three days.  We will study animal behavioral adaptations then we will read the Jack London novel  Call of the Wild .

Required materials:  A small notebook (70 pages) or a composition notebook for journal writing.