WELCOMEto Ms. G-West’sscience class!

A little bit about me

• This is my 14th year teaching science (13th year at LMS)

• Received my BA in Biology at CU-Boulder• Teaching certification also from CU-Boulder• I also have a M.Ed. & am NBCT• Love it here!

7th grade (curriculum map & course description-on

website) Topics covered during the year:

Semester 1:Scientific Method, Characteristics of Living Things, Cell Theory, Chemical Cycles, Genetics, Natural Selection/Evolution

Semester 2:Diversity of Life, Classification, Viruses & Bacteria, Protists, Fungi, Plants, Animals, Animal Behavior, Body Systems

Quizzes every week:students have homework every night-studying for that weeks quiz and finishing any assignments not completed in class!

Keys to success:I believe that middle school is about:• learning how to interact socially around the

content• developing a deep understanding of the science

concepts, and • developing organizational and learning

strategies for the content

8th grade (curriculum map & course description-on website)

Topics covered during the year:

Semester 1:safety, scientific method, properties of matter, rocks & minerals, earth processes, chemistry

Semester 2:earth’s oceans, acids, bases, salts, hydrologic cycle, meteorology & climate, solar system, astronomy, physics

This curriculum covers the 8th grade advanced earth science concepts as well as the 9th grade advanced physical science concepts.

Completion of this class does not mean that every student should skip 9th grade physical science. That is dependent on the students themselves as well as the particular high school they will be attending.

Quizzes every other Friday:students have homework every night-studying for quizzes, finishing assignments and labs, and often reading!

Keys to success:I believe that middle school is about:• learning how to interact socially around the content• developing a deep understanding of the science

concepts, and • developing organizational and learning strategies for the

content

Class expectationsStudents should come prepared daily to class with:

planner, writing implement, science notebook (do not lose!!)lined & graph paper

Consequences: (1 “check”)for not being prepared (not having materials), not having an assignment, coming late, chewing gum, general class misconduct.

3 checks=lunch detention (w/me)

Calling parent/guardian:

-6 checks -or when summative assignment is more than 2 days late!

Ways to contact me (e-mail):anne.gallager@bvsd.org

(located on the LMS website & my website)

Please check IC grades often-redos/late work graded before the end of semester

My website:updated 1x/week-(usually on Friday)

Go to LMS website-next to my name

I will contact you occasionally via schoolmessenger (mass e-mail)

Extra help:during E7-get a pass & with an appointment

Grading Policies (grading scale)

• See handout (attached to website)

• Redos:o only allowed on Summative Assessmentso only one redo per assignmento students get one week to turn in a redo after

they have received the original back gradedo students can receive a 100% for the summative

grade of the work but will lose all of the PP points and it will be labeled as such in the comments section