1. Mountaineer Team 8 th Grade Science Beth Roland

2. Instructor Background I have taught at JFMS for 15 years and hold a Bachelor's of Science degree in Biology from Lenoir-Rhyne College (or should I say University?) and I graduated Magna Cum Laud I have a NC Middle Grades Science Certification from Appalachian State University I am a Master Teacher with Intel Teach to the Future I have twice been named Corning Educator of the year I am the current Technical Support Contact for Jacobs Fork I have taught at the Catawba Science Center for 9 years and continue to provide Science Outreach programs I completed the River City project of Harvard University-Active Worlds based learning platform I am married and have two daughters; Sydney- a college freshman at Queens University and Avery- a rising 5th grader at Mt. View I enjoy jogging, nature, and traveling with my family Most importantly, I love middle school students!

3. Major Units of Study Hydrosphere Chemical Composition of Matter Evolution in Organisms and Landforms Ecosystems and Biomes Microbiology Scientific Inquiry

4. Necessary Student Materials Composition Book Large 3 ring Binder 2 Divider sections Loose-leaf Paper Colored Pencils Pencils, Pencils, and more Pencils!

5. Grading Rubric The 9 week student Science grade will be comprised of the following components: Classwork/Homework- Counts as one grade Quizzes/Labs- Count as two grades Projects/Tests-Count as three grades Completed Journal- Counts as three grades

6. Journaling- The key to Grade Level Assessment Success! Each student will need to have a composition notebook that will be brought to class daily. All class notes, diagrams, graphic organizers, important vocabulary, and project research will be kept in one central location. Students will respond daily to an essential question that will also be recorded in the Science Journal. In preparation for the EOG, students and parents will review the journal nightly during the month of May.

7. Teaching Philosophy I hear and I forget, I see and I remember, I do and I understand- Chinese Proverb In order to make Science come alive and ignite a passion for scientific inquiry, we must immerse students in an engaging and hands on approach to learning. Cooperative Learning (pods) will be used throughout the year to facilitate a greater understanding of curriculum and foster a cooperative outlook on learning and peer interactions.

8. Parent/Teacher Communication Please feel free to e-mail at any time: Beth_Roland@catawbaschools.net JFMS Phone Number: 704.462.1827 Teacher Web Site: http://www.catawbaschools.net/schools/Jaco bsFork/Staff/Beth_Roland/default.aspx

9. On-Line Textbook Access Each student has access to their textbook on-line. Please access the following website: http://my.hrw.com/ User name: asuroland Password: science