Welcome back parents and students. My name is Mr. Thomas Gibson and I am excited to be starting off this 2013-2014 school year as Buckeye's new middle school science teacher. Although I am new to this school I am not unfamiliar with the district. Last year I was honored to teach at Jasinski Elementary in a 5th grade classroom. Before that I taught in Michigan, where I graduated school with a degree in Integrated Science. I have a deep passion for science and technology, and have plans to incorporate the two in my classroom. My goal this year for your student is to use technology to help students ask and answer important questions about the world they live in.
In order to achieve this goal in the classroom, I have set up procedures so that students will be able to work together and succeed with each other. I will be covering these procedures with the students during the first week of school; however, it is important to communicate my expectations of your student to you as a parent as well.
Rules and Expectations
1. Be on Time and Ready to Learn 2. Respect All Classroom Materials 3. Follow Directions Quickly 4. Participate! Participate! Participate! 5. Raise Your Hand to Talk 6. Let The Teacher Teach 7. Demonstrate The Buckeye Character Traits 8. Practice Safety In The Lab
Discipline Procedure
The school wide discipline procedures are laid out in the student handbook on pages 11 and 12, and will be followed in my classroom. Outside of the school wide discipline, I will be adding to the laboratory and technology use in the classroom.
The 7th/8th graders this year are also using the Pride Card. Students will be able to earn positive remarks as well as negative ones for their behavior. Students who earn enough positive remarks will be able to participate in a reward with their fellow 7th/8th graders.
Laboratory: If the students demonstrate a lack of self control by . . . 1. abusing lab equipment 2. Disrupting other lab groups 3. Refusal to work on the task at hand 4. Or any other distracting action that takes away from the learning of others The student will be given one warning, and then removed from the lab for that day if it continues. Instead of participating, they will fill out a reflection sheet, and make up the lab at a different time. If the student demonstrates excessive distractions (removed more than 2 times a month), the student will be sent to Mr. Bartlett, our Dean of Students, and further action will be taken.
Technology: if the student demonstrates lack of self control by. . . 1. Abusing the technology equipment 2. Disrupting other groups 3. Refusal to work on the task at hand 4. Any other action that takes away from the learning of others or themselves The student will be given one warning, and then removed from the lab for that day if it continues. Instead of participating, they will fill out a reflection sheet, and make up the lab at a different time. If the student demonstrates excessive distractions (removed more than 2 times a month), the student will be sent to Mr. Bartlett, and further action will be taken.
Technology
We will be using a variety of technology this year including I-pads, computers, clickers, and document cameras. Students will be required to sign and comply with the district's “Use of Technology Resources In Instruction” before they are allowed to participate with classroom technology. All terms in this document will be upheld including personal responsibility and proper etiquette. Students caught misusing the technology in my class may have their privileges revoked for a time. If the offenses continue, their privileges may be removed for the rest of the year. Cyber bullying will not be tolerated, and if caught, they will lose all technology privileges for the year, and be written up.
Pictures/ Class Website
To correlate with the use of technology in the classroom, I have created a class webpage for the students to use. On this website, students can complete their morning Bell Work, research for projects, or classroom assignments. Parents can also use the website to find important links such as Parent VUE. With this website, I also hope to include photographs of the students during labs, activities, and explorations. Because of this I have attached Buckeyes “Permission for Electronic Publishing. If you do not want your student on our classroom webpage, make sure to check the “No” on the form, and I will make sure your student is blurred out
Cell Phones
As a school wide policy, cell phones are to be turned off and put out of sight during the school day. If they are found in use by a student, per school policy, I will confiscate it and turn it into the office. At that point a parent or guardian must come to the school to retrieve the phone from the front office.
Eating/Drinking
Students will be allowed to bring snacks and drinks into my classroom as long as they do not become distracting to themselves or others. Students will not be permitted to chew gum during class or drink non school approved beverages such as energy drinks.
However, due to the fact that we will be having lab in the same space that we learn in, students will not be permitted to bring any drink or snack into the class on Thursdays. This is for the safety of the students. From time to time this year we will be working with different chemicals that may be harmful if consumed. We will be cleaning these desks after every class, however as a safety precaution, food and drinks will not be allowed in the learning area on Thursdays.
Laboratory
Students will be using the laboratory at least once a week. While in the lab, safety is the number one priority. In the "parent" links, a set of laboratory rules and procedures for my class can be found. If students choose not to follow these rules or procedures, they will be asked to leave the lab and complete a reflection form. They will then be required to make the lab up at a different time. If the lab cannot be made up, I will provide an alternate assignment.
Materials 1. Compost Notebook 2. Pencils 3. Highlighters (three separate colors) 4. Spiral Notebook If students cannot bring the following materials, I ask that they tell me as soon as possible, so I can have time to find the materials. Grades
Grades will be recorded every day for students to be able to review what they have in and what is still missing. Parents will be able to view these grades on Parent VUE every Saturday. The link can be found under "parents" of this website, or visit the BESD website, and look under the “parents” link. If a parent does not have a computer, or would like to have a hard copy sent home of the student’s current progress, please send a note with your student. Extra Credit
Every week I will be offering extra credit to the students up to ten points (1 class work assignment). The extra credit is not to be done during my or any other teachers’ class time. The extra credit will be posted on Monday’s and can be turned in any time the following Friday. Extra credit will not be accepted from previous weeks.