Syllabus 2015-2016

Welcome to Ms. Cotta’s Chemistry Class!
 Room: S 303     Periods: 1, 2, 3, 5 & 6                  E-mail: julianne.cotta@lausd.net
Website: www.mscotta.blogspot.com
 
 Chemistry is a laboratory course that will consist of classwork, laboratories, take home labs, reading assignments, and homework. This school year we will study many aspects of chemistry including properties of matter, periodic table, atomic structure, atomic bonding, radioactivity, and energy. It is essential in order to be successful at chemistry to have a strong algebra foundation. This class will also require strong reading and thinking skills. It is essential that the student keeps up with the work assigned and studies regularly. There will be a midterm and a final that will require students to review and prepare in order to receive a passing grade in the class. All work and upcoming due dates are posted on Ms. Cotta’s website on a regular basis. Also feel free to contact with questions via e-mail or calling the main office to schedule a parent conference.

Textbook: Zumdahl, S.S.; Zumdahl, S.L.; DeCoste, D. World of Chemistry, 2nd ed.; Houghton Mifflin Company: Evanston, Il, 2007.

Required Materials (brought to class EVERY DAY!): 1) Folder 2) Composition Book 3) Loose lined paper (not in a spiral notebook) 4) Pencils and pens (blue or black ink)

Grading Policy: A = 100-90% B = 89=80% C = 79-65% D = 64-55% F=less than 55%

Assignments are given the following percentages in your final grade: Tests (including midterm & final): 50% Labs: 20% Homework: 10% Class Assignments: 10% Projects (including take home labs): 10%

 Class Rules: 
1) Respect others & yourself
2) Be on time, prepared & ready to learn
3) No electronic devices used in the classroom, make sure cell phone are off Students that have cell phones or other electronic devices out during classtime will be confiscated and returned after the class period. If the student continues to have electronic materials during classtime; the device will be collected and sent to the SOTA office for the parent to pick up.
4) Take care of the classroom and all supplies and materials; no gum, food or drink Students will not write on or destroy any materials in the classroom. If any material is found tagged or defaced, the student will be expected to help clean and beautify the defaced area. Groups will be held responsible for their table and area around it, all members will be held accountable for cleanup. Students who are chewing gum in the classroom will be responsible for scraping gum off furniture during classtime.
5) Have a positive attitude & do your best
6) Always reuse, reduce & recycle, recycling bins are next to trash can

 Absences: If a student is absent, it is their responsibility to make up the work missed. Student can see the teacher before school, after school or lunch to pick up missing work. If class notes are missed, the student is responsible for asking another member of their class for missing notes. Any missed test will be made up the following class. Homework and assignments can be found on Ms. Cotta’s website, so check it often to make sure you are up to date or have any questions.

Topics to be covered this school year: --Periodic Table --Chemical Reactions --Bonds/forces --Reaction Rates --Equilibrium --Conservation of mass --Nuclear Energy --Energy Flow --Molecular movement

Homework: Homework will be assigned every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Late homework may be turned in but will receive a deduction of 20% (two grades will be deducted). NO late homework will not be accepted after the date announced by Ms. Cotta.

Tests: Students will be given a test at the conclusion of each chapter or unit and will be notified with at least two days notice of upcoming test dates. Study guides will be posted on Ms. Cotta’s website to help review topics that will be found on the test. It is also essential that the students’ review all work assigned including homework, labs and classwork/class notes.

Laboratories: Laboratory activities are an essential part of the chemistry classroom. In order to create a safe working environment, all students must follow directions, keep work area clean and be efficient and safe when working. All students will need to sign a safety contract before participating in laboratory activities. Any student that is creating an unsafe environment by not following directions or “goofing off” will not be allowed to participate in that laboratory and will receive a zero on that assignment. The student will also receive an alternate assignment that will need to be completed.

Composition book and classwork: All warm up assignments, notes, class assignments and laboratories will be written in the students’ composition books. Composition books will be kept neat and orderly with legible handwriting. Every Friday after a test has been given, composition books will be collected and graded. For example, if a test is on Tuesday, students can expect to turn in their composition book three days later on Friday.

Tutoring/extra help: Students can visit Ms. Cotta for questions or help before or after school or lunch. Ms. Cotta will also hold after school tutoring if students need additional assistance to keep on track. Tutoring sessions will be on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, the same days homework has been assigned. Students can receive a note at the end of tutoring to bring home to their parents. All students are welcome to attend tutoring sessions, but some students will be required based on their class performance. Parents will always receive notices home if the student is required to attend tutoring after school with dates and times noted on the paper.

Communication with parents: I will call on a regular basis if your student is missing work or has behavior issues in class. Feel free to contact me or e-mail me at the address on the other side of this paper. If you have concerns, please schedule a parent conference. Please make sure that there are correct phone numbers on file, so we may contact you. I look forward to working with the students and the parents this year to make it a highly successful year.

Please do not hesitate to contact me with any concerns or questions.
Thank you for your help and support.
Ms. Cotta