REGENTS EARTH SCIENCE MRS. SMYTH

Content Geology Oceanography Hydrology Meteorology Astronomy

Class Grades Classwork Labs Tests Quizzes Attendance/Participation Extra Credit

CLASSWORK Classwork may be worked on individually or with a partner. Partners may be assigned or unassigned. Assignments will be given different amounts of time to complete, depending on the amount of work required. If your child is absent, their work will be placed in the “Were You Absent?” bin.

Were You Absent? Each time a student is absent, I will place their name, the date and the period of the day their class is held and place it in the bin. They are then responsible to pick up the work they missed THE DAY THEY RETURN. They will have the same amount of time that was given to the class to complete it unless they are absent for an extended period of time.

Lab Charts 2 lab charts will be available to students. –1 set in the rear of the room for “in class labs.” –1 set on the side of the room for “lab class labs.” Stickers will be used to show passing completed labs.

Lab Requirements NYS mandates that each student enrolled in Regents Earth Science successfully complete 30 labs to be admitted into the FINAL EXAM. Students must also complete 18 labs to enroll in summer school as there is not a formal lab setting provided in summer school class. Lab class labs and class labs both combine to meet the state requirement. Close to 50 labs will be completed between both classes.

Lab Grades The lab grades are included in each quarter grade for Earth Science Class. A lab class grade will appear on the report card. This will tell you if your child has turned in the labs required for that quarter. An “S” tells you they are not missing more than one lab from each chart. A “U” means they are missing more than one lab from at least one of the charts. Labs can be made up for a grade only within the quarter they are assigned. Labs made up after that time will only be used for “EXAM CREDIT.”

More Lab Grades As the end of the year is reached, many students will reach the 30 lab requirement. To combat the thought that future labs are unimportant, the weight of the lab grade will increase for each quarter. The breakdown is as follows: –1 st Quarter = –2 nd Quarter = –3 rd Quarter = –4 th Quarter = 20 points 30 points 40 points 50 points

Tests Tests will be given at the end of each unit. Some units are longer than others, this does not allow for a “regular” test day. Advance notice is given for tests. Usually a weeks notice is given. Quizzes may or may not be given advanced notice.

Homework Homework will be given with at least enough time to start or ask questions before students leave class that day. Homework occurrence will differ with each unit. Homework weight will average out with test grade weight for most units. HOMEWORK IS VERY IMPORTANT!!!

Attendance/Participation A point for attendance is given to each student for each day they are present. A point for participation is given to each student for each day they are present. The points are tabulated at the end of each quarter as extra credit so students are not penalized for being absent.

Extra Credit Extra Credit will be available to ANY student, provided that all of their homework is turned in for the current unit. Extra Credit will be extra assignments pertaining to the current unit and can be used to gain the average the student desires. Other extra credit considerations will be kleenex, colored pencils and pens/pencils.

Books Text books will be available for use in class and lab. Students will NOT be assigned their own personal text book, but will be allowed to sign them out at any time, for as long as they need them. The school provides Review Books, which are given to the students to keep. They will be used for homework assignments and for class work or review.