Explanation of grades given:

1.  We will be working from another book this year that students have been asked to purchase.  EOG Coach will be used along with other sources because it is especially adapted to NC curriculum and the questions are formatted like EOG questions.  Students are expected to highlight and write in this book as instructed.  It will be graded periodically but will be used continuously.

2.  Various foldables are completed in class and concentrate on major concepts.  It is a way to help students know what is important in a chapter.  Foldables count as class work.

3.  16 squares counts as quizzes.  Students must write all they can remember from a study sheet without looking at the sheet. It is not a pop quiz and the originals are created during class.

4.  Labs of any kind must follow the 10 point process for scientific method.  I grade each lab, concentrating on the Discussion section which explains why the events occur and what they mean.  It is discussed orally in class but the lab must be written.  Students may re-write any lab they wish as many times as they wish until the dead line.  Dead line is Friday before progress reports and Friday before report cards.

5.  Videos in class are used to reinforce subject matter.  Students take notes as the video plays and the notes count as a daily grade.

6.  Steno:  List of all vocabulary words used for a given chapter.  We discuss all vocabulary during class.  Correct definitions are used in class but students depend on dictionaries.  Dictionaries typically do not give science definitions as the first choice.  I tell students a minimum number of words required per chapter.  Additional words count as extra credit and go in the students’ credit account.  There is no limit to possible credit earned.

7.  Essentials is an interactive text book. Students are supposed to write in it.  I require: highlighted sections, vocabulary, margin questions, review questions at ends of sections

8.  Chapter tests, Essentials and Stenos all count as test grades.  If Essentials and Stenos are complete, students earn 100 on each.

9.  Credit bank:  points accumulated throughout the quarter by completing extra work and by turning in selected assignments early.