Teacher: Miss S. Gdaniec

        

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

            This course is designed to provide students with a background of chemistry.  The central theme, the properties of matter are a consequence of its structure, will be presented to strengthen analytical and critical thinking skills.  Attention will be given to expanding laboratory skills, enhancing technical writing, applying mathematical skills, and utilizing technology.  Units covered throughout the year will include:

• Matter and Change
• Measurements and Calculations
• Atoms: The Building Blocks of Matter
• Nuclear Chemistry
• Arrangements of Electrons in Atoms
• The Periodic Law
• Chemical Bonding
• Chemical Formulas/Chemical Compounds
• Chemical Equations and Reactions
• Stoichiometry
• Physical Characteristics of Gases
• Molecular Composition of Gases
• Liquids and Solids
• Solutions
• Ions in Aqueous Solutions/Colligative Properties
• Organic Chemistry: Carbon and Hydrocarbons

 

TEACHING METHODS:

               The general method for teaching this course will be a combination of lectures with note taking, problem solving, demonstrations, videos, laboratory investigations, and activities/assignments using the iPad.

 

REQUIRED MATERIALS:

               A textbook (Modern Chemistry by Holt) will be provided.  You will need a 1–1½” three-ringed binder, binder dividers (at least 10 for all of our units), college-ruled loose-leaf paper, lab folder (2 pockets no prongs), graph paper, metric ruler, colored pencils, blue or black pens, pencils, and a scientific non-graphing calculator (must be able to do powers of 10).  If individually preferred, the iPad will be used predominantly as the notebook for the year.  Also recommended but not required: a box of tissues!!  Items need to be replaced as necessary during the school year.

Students are expected to bring all required materials to class daily.

 

LABORATORY INVESTIGATIONS:

               All science classrooms are scientific laboratories.  A laboratory is a place where scientific investigations and experiments are done.  As you study science, you will be carrying out such investigating using equipment and materials that can harm you if not used correctly.  Everyone who works in a science laboratory must learn the skills necessary to make it a safe place.  Students are expected to read and follow safety guidelines.  Parents and students will be required to sign a lab safety agreement.  Prior to any lab investigations, students will be expected to have read the procedures and understand the necessary safety precautions.

 

ASSIGNMENTS:

               Daily assignments will be given including: reading, text questions, problem solving, worksheet activities, written laboratory reports after lab investigations, and preparing for tests.  Success in this class is highly dependent on you doing your assigned work!

              All assignments will be posted on the MPS website at: www.mpslakers.com.  To find it, go to Students & Parents, then Teacher Web Sites, then Gdaniec.  In addition to daily assignments, some worksheets and helpful links will also be available on the webpage.

               Students are responsible for handing in assignments on the due date at the beginning of class.  If students do not have the assignment, they will be required to fill out and hand in a “Missing Work Log” in class on the day that the assignment was due.  It is the student’s responsibility to seek out the teacher if there are any questions or lack of understanding in the assignment prior to the class it is due.  Late assignments will lose 25% of the total grade per day (not class) and must be handed to the teacher directly.  No credit will be given once the assignment has been returned and/or reviewed in class.

               Students who are absent are expected to email the teacher on the day of the absence and see the teacher the day they return to school to discuss missed class material, obtain new assignments, and turn in assignments that are due (or else those assignments will be considered late).  If the absence causes the student to miss a test, the parents are asked to inform the attendance secretary when calling the school that they are aware their child is missing a test.  If a student is absent on a test or lab experiment day, they will have exactly three school days from their first day back to make-up the work.  If the student fails to comply with this time frame, they will receive a ‘0’ on the assignment.  Please consult the MPS handbook for more information regarding vacations.  It will be exceedingly difficult to maintain your grade if a vacation is taken during school time.

 

GRADING:

               The grading scale for this course follows that listed in the Student Handbook.  Student achievement will be based on these factors: tests, quizzes, lab reports, in-class activities, and homework assignments.  Students will be expected to keep track of their grades so they may continually evaluate their progress and parents/students should regularly check their grades on Power School.  Students must keep graded assignments (also keep digital copies of any computer work).  The burden of proof rests with the student in any grade discrepancy.   All students should realize that Chemistry is a course that requires constant effort to keep up with reading, lecture, note-taking, assignments, and laboratory investigations and reports. 

              The final assessment will be given in two parts; one exam in February and the other in June.  The average of the two final exams will constitute one-seventh of the final yearlong grade while each term grade will account for two-sevenths of the final year grade.

 

CLASSROOM DISCIPLINE:

               Students are expected to act in accordance with the MPS Disciplinary Code outlined in the student handbook.  These policies encourage an environment of mutual respect, honesty, and fairness for both students and teacher alike.  Behavior not appropriate will be handled in accordance with the guidelines set forth in the student handbook.  Additional classroom expectations will be reviewed in class and are outlined on the homework website.

 

iPAD USE IN CLASS:

               As mentioned above, the iPad will be used in combination with lessons.  Students are expected to act in accordance with the MPS Acceptable Use Policy outlined on the school website and reiterated in the student handbook.  Photos and video may not be taken of teachers, staff, or students without their permission, and if during a class, without the knowledge and express permission of the teacher of the class.  If a student is using their iPad when not permitted to do so or is utilizing it for something other than the current assignment, it will be taken away and the student will receive disciplinary consequences.  It is important for the student to recognize that the use of the iPad in class, while exciting, is a privilege and not a right.

 

HELP SESSIONS/CONTACT:

               Do come see me if you have a question or need extra help.  Come before you feel hopelessly lost! The sooner you come in and ask a question, the sooner we can find a way to help you understand! A National Honor Society student can also be arranged to tutor you one-on-one. I will be in Room 212:  Monday – Thursday until 3:30PM or later if necessary.  If I will not be available it will be announced in class and posted on the homework website.  Morning sessions can be prearranged if after school sessions cause a conflict.  I can be contacted through email at: sgdaniec@mpslakers.com, via the Contact tab on the homework website, through the Remind app, or by calling the school.  On a similar note, to help maintain a healthy balance in my own life, I will not be checking my email/Remind on weekdays between the hours of 7:00pm and 8:00am.  I will check it up until 3:00pm on Saturday and Sunday.  Please always feel free to reach out and email me at any time with a question or a comment but know the replies may not be immediate.  However, barring any major problem, a reply will always arrive within twenty-four hours.

 

Welcome to CHEMISTRY!

We are going to have a GREAT year!

Just remember. . .

  CHEM IS TRY NOT CHEMYSTERY!!!