Welcome Scientists To The 2013 -2014 School Year !
My name is Mr. Gibson, and I am thrilled to be teaching this group of students about the wonders of Science.
A Little About Me.
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I am originally from Michigan, where I grew up and went to college. I Graduated from Grand Valley State University three years ago with a degree in Integrated Science. Science is a deep passion of mine as well as education.
Currently I live in Goodyear Arizona with my Wife, Mrs. Gibson (4th grade), and a cat named London. During my down time here in Arizona, I love to go hiking with friends. It is one of my personal goals this year to hike all the way down the Grand Canyon to the Colorado River.
Before I came out to Arizona with my wife, I taught 5th and 2nd grade in the inner city of Grand Rapids. When we moved out here last year, I spend some time teaching at Jasinski Elementary. This year I was asked to join the Buckeye family as your Science teacher.
Currently I live in Goodyear Arizona with my Wife, Mrs. Gibson (4th grade), and a cat named London. During my down time here in Arizona, I love to go hiking with friends. It is one of my personal goals this year to hike all the way down the Grand Canyon to the Colorado River.
Before I came out to Arizona with my wife, I taught 5th and 2nd grade in the inner city of Grand Rapids. When we moved out here last year, I spend some time teaching at Jasinski Elementary. This year I was asked to join the Buckeye family as your Science teacher.
What I Will Be Teaching
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Science is a vast, broad, and every growing area of learning that is sometimes hard to define. In both the 7th and 8th grade classrooms this year, we will be focusing intensely on what science means now and what it will mean for you once you graduate.
Through out the year we will be utilizing labs, demonstrations, and activities to develop our skills with the method of science. I hope to also use Technology to "publish" students scientific findings and increase computer fluency.
Within and beyond the labs however, I expect all of my students to keep a detailed scientific journal. I will be going over that with students at the beginning of the year how to keep their journal organized and information easily accessible.
8th Grade
Specifically in 8th grade this year we will be learning some very interesting things. The beginning of the year will start with Scientific Method review. I will be working with you as students to learn to identify key parts of the Scientific Method, activity participate with the Scientific Method, and "publish" findings with the Scientific Method.
Then we will proceed onto our Force and Motion unit. In this unit we will explore the basics of physics. Being able to measure, record, and analyze speed and momentum in our every day life. During this unit we will be utilizing our own bodies in measuring the change in speed and distance.
Towards Christmas we will take a break from the Physical Sciences and begin a unit on Heredity. The study of Heredity explores the passing on of traits from parents to children. During this lesson we will be observing the passing of traits using Fruit Flies.
When we return from Christmas Break, we will be restarting the Physical Science by investigating Chemicals and Reactions. We will be spending the majority of the remaining year covering the vast amount of information in this unit.
7th Grade
In 7th grade, we will also be reviewing the Scientific Method with you, and beginning the journey of breaking down its many parts. We will explore random scientific concepts for the first month while I walk you through the specific steps and procedures in the scientific process.
Once the Scientific Method is concrete we will be moving on to Ecology, where we will be taking advantage of our class pets. Once a week students will observe and journal the pets behavior in the classroom setting.
To finish off the year we will move from Ecology to the Changing Earth. You as students will be able to look at the complete processes that our Earth performs to create the beautiful planet that we live on. We will be identifying rocks and processes as well as large scale disasters.
Through out the year we will be utilizing labs, demonstrations, and activities to develop our skills with the method of science. I hope to also use Technology to "publish" students scientific findings and increase computer fluency.
Within and beyond the labs however, I expect all of my students to keep a detailed scientific journal. I will be going over that with students at the beginning of the year how to keep their journal organized and information easily accessible.
8th Grade
Specifically in 8th grade this year we will be learning some very interesting things. The beginning of the year will start with Scientific Method review. I will be working with you as students to learn to identify key parts of the Scientific Method, activity participate with the Scientific Method, and "publish" findings with the Scientific Method.
Then we will proceed onto our Force and Motion unit. In this unit we will explore the basics of physics. Being able to measure, record, and analyze speed and momentum in our every day life. During this unit we will be utilizing our own bodies in measuring the change in speed and distance.
Towards Christmas we will take a break from the Physical Sciences and begin a unit on Heredity. The study of Heredity explores the passing on of traits from parents to children. During this lesson we will be observing the passing of traits using Fruit Flies.
When we return from Christmas Break, we will be restarting the Physical Science by investigating Chemicals and Reactions. We will be spending the majority of the remaining year covering the vast amount of information in this unit.
7th Grade
In 7th grade, we will also be reviewing the Scientific Method with you, and beginning the journey of breaking down its many parts. We will explore random scientific concepts for the first month while I walk you through the specific steps and procedures in the scientific process.
Once the Scientific Method is concrete we will be moving on to Ecology, where we will be taking advantage of our class pets. Once a week students will observe and journal the pets behavior in the classroom setting.
To finish off the year we will move from Ecology to the Changing Earth. You as students will be able to look at the complete processes that our Earth performs to create the beautiful planet that we live on. We will be identifying rocks and processes as well as large scale disasters.
My Goal For The 2013-2014 School Year
My goal this year for you as students is to use multiple resources to help you ask and answer important questions, in a scientific way, about the world you live in.
Classroom Procedures
In order to help ALL students reach this goal for the 2013-2014 school year, I have set up some classroom procedures to help streamline learning. Students are expected to follow these procedures throught the year in a timly manner.
Entering the Classroom
Before entering the classroom you will be in two separate lines; one for boys and one for girls. This is the time I will make any needed announcements for the days lab. When you enter the room, please take out your pencil, bellwork notebook, agenda, and pride Card. Then put your things in the cubby by the door. This whole process should take no more than 2 minutes.
Tardy
You are considered tardy in my classroom in you are not sitting down ready to work two minutes after the bell rings. That means bags away, supplies out, and ready to work. Even if you are in my class, but you are not ready to work , I will mark it down as a tardy.
Purchasing from the Store
Last year you were able to purchase during bellwork. This year you hand me a piece of paper when you enter my room and I will get the things for you while you complete your bellwork. I will not take your money until the snack is delivered. (remember that there will be not food allowed on lab days).
Bellwork/ Ticket out The Door
Every day you will enter the room and expect to complete the bellwork. This bellwork is to be turned in at the end of each week on a single sheet of paper.
Before you leave my room, on certain days, we will be doing a ticket out the door. The ticket out the door will be written in your agenda, and will need to be presented to me before you leave for your next class.
Sharpening Pencils
When I am not teaching or talking to the class. Be responsible with this freedom. If you get up to sharpen your pencil, it is not time to wonder around the room and talk with your friends.
If you are missing a pencil, let me know before class starts and I can supply you with one. Other than that, ask a friend.
Science Partners
You will be given a perminate science partner on Monday thay you WILL work with. If you refurse to talk to or work wiht your science partner that is the same as not participating in classroom assignments.
Ready Position Back : SWAG
S - Sit up and stop talking
W- Watch or track the speaker
A - Ask questions
G - Give POSITIVE responses
Daily Helpers
Passing out work--- Someone to pass out work to the class
Putting in absent folder -- - Someone to put the daily work in the "Missed" folders
Lab Manager ---- Someone to help me pass our lab equipment
Store Clerk ---- Someone to gather supplies from the store
Bathrooms
You get 2 bath room passess on your Pride Card and a bathroom break every 50 min. Bathroom breaks beyond that will be a mark on the Pride Card for not being prepared for class.
Questions
Raise your hands to ask them
Absent Work
YOU are responsible for getting your late or missing work. If you do not get your late or missing work 1 week after it is due, it is considered missing and you get a zero for that assignment. Take responsibility for your self when it comes to missing work.If you know ahead of time that you will be missing school, let me know and I can get you the work early.
Late Work/ Missing Work
Late work gets a 5% decrese in the grade for each day it is late. If an assignment is over a week late it is considered missing and you cannot replace that grade
Tardy
Starting on Monday, you are tardy to my room if you come in after I shut my door. Also you are tarty to my room starting Monday if you cannot get yourself ready in 2 min. time.
Turning in Work
Please bring homework to your desk at the beginning of the hour with you. We will discuss it and another student will pick it up.
Done Early
I know Mrs. Ricci has you carry a book with you, so you can read if you want. You can also ask me if there are any tasks that done eairly people can do. A lot of times I will have something planed.
Entering the Classroom
Before entering the classroom you will be in two separate lines; one for boys and one for girls. This is the time I will make any needed announcements for the days lab. When you enter the room, please take out your pencil, bellwork notebook, agenda, and pride Card. Then put your things in the cubby by the door. This whole process should take no more than 2 minutes.
Tardy
You are considered tardy in my classroom in you are not sitting down ready to work two minutes after the bell rings. That means bags away, supplies out, and ready to work. Even if you are in my class, but you are not ready to work , I will mark it down as a tardy.
Purchasing from the Store
Last year you were able to purchase during bellwork. This year you hand me a piece of paper when you enter my room and I will get the things for you while you complete your bellwork. I will not take your money until the snack is delivered. (remember that there will be not food allowed on lab days).
Bellwork/ Ticket out The Door
Every day you will enter the room and expect to complete the bellwork. This bellwork is to be turned in at the end of each week on a single sheet of paper.
Before you leave my room, on certain days, we will be doing a ticket out the door. The ticket out the door will be written in your agenda, and will need to be presented to me before you leave for your next class.
Sharpening Pencils
When I am not teaching or talking to the class. Be responsible with this freedom. If you get up to sharpen your pencil, it is not time to wonder around the room and talk with your friends.
If you are missing a pencil, let me know before class starts and I can supply you with one. Other than that, ask a friend.
Science Partners
You will be given a perminate science partner on Monday thay you WILL work with. If you refurse to talk to or work wiht your science partner that is the same as not participating in classroom assignments.
Ready Position Back : SWAG
S - Sit up and stop talking
W- Watch or track the speaker
A - Ask questions
G - Give POSITIVE responses
Daily Helpers
Passing out work--- Someone to pass out work to the class
Putting in absent folder -- - Someone to put the daily work in the "Missed" folders
Lab Manager ---- Someone to help me pass our lab equipment
Store Clerk ---- Someone to gather supplies from the store
Bathrooms
You get 2 bath room passess on your Pride Card and a bathroom break every 50 min. Bathroom breaks beyond that will be a mark on the Pride Card for not being prepared for class.
Questions
Raise your hands to ask them
Absent Work
YOU are responsible for getting your late or missing work. If you do not get your late or missing work 1 week after it is due, it is considered missing and you get a zero for that assignment. Take responsibility for your self when it comes to missing work.If you know ahead of time that you will be missing school, let me know and I can get you the work early.
Late Work/ Missing Work
Late work gets a 5% decrese in the grade for each day it is late. If an assignment is over a week late it is considered missing and you cannot replace that grade
Tardy
Starting on Monday, you are tardy to my room if you come in after I shut my door. Also you are tarty to my room starting Monday if you cannot get yourself ready in 2 min. time.
Turning in Work
Please bring homework to your desk at the beginning of the hour with you. We will discuss it and another student will pick it up.
Done Early
I know Mrs. Ricci has you carry a book with you, so you can read if you want. You can also ask me if there are any tasks that done eairly people can do. A lot of times I will have something planed.