1. Guided Academics – Science
Syllabus  2011-2012  1st Trimester
I. General
Information
Course
Guided
Academics
–
Science
Instructor
Mr.
Dunn
Room
C
10
Email
jdunn@admin.clio.k12.mi.us
Phone
(810)
591-­‐
II. Grading
Procedures
and
Regulations
General
Your
grade
for
this
course
will
be
based
on
your
performance
on
the
Weekly
Action
Sheet,
Grade
Tracker,
blog
posts,
and
other
assignments
to
be
determined.
This
class
is
meant
to
support
your
efforts
in
other
classes.
Grading
Scale
A
93
–
100
C
73
–
76
A-­‐
90
–
92
C-­‐
70-­‐72
B+
87
–
89
D+
67
–
69
B
83
–
86
D
63
–
66
B-­‐
80
–
82
D-­‐
60
–
62
C+
77
–
79
F
<60
III. Class
Expectations
• Show
up
on
time
and
prepared
everyday.
• Always
be
on
task.
Not
sometimes.
Not
usually.
• Respect
yourself
and
your
classmates.
• Ask
questions
when
you
have
them.
• Use
appropriate
language.
• Turn
in
your
work
on
time.
• Give
your
best
effort
on
every
assignment.
• Have
fun—of
course,
if
the
other
expectations
have
also
been
met.

2. TRIMESTER
PLAN
(for
all
Guided
Academics
Classes…Our
plan
may
be
modified)
WEEK
1
–
Believe
in
Yourself
• In
order
for
you
to
succeed,
you
have
to
believe
in
yourself
and
your
abilities.
You
need
to
recognize
the
talents
and
abilities
you
possess,
and
you
must
know,
and
believe,
that
you
can
succeed.
Think
about
each
course
you’re
taking
and
the
highest
grade
you
think
you
can
earn
in
it.
Think
of
this
as
your
academic
goals
for
this
grading
period.
• Get
to
know
each
other
• Strengths/Weaknesses
• Goal
Setting
• Learning
Style
WEEK
2
–
Be
Organized
/
Manage
your
Time
Well
• -­‐Use
the
time
teachers
give
you
or
study
hall
to
ask
questions,
get
help,
or
start
on
your
homework.
• -­‐Figure
out
a
schedule
and
study
plan
that
works
for
you.
Determine
how
much
time
you
have
and
how
much
you
have
to
do
in
the
day
then
develop
a
plan.
For
example:
• 3:00-­‐5:00
Band
Practice
• 5:00-­‐6:00
Do
Math
homework
• 6:00-­‐8:00
Study
for
quiz
and
do
biology
questions
• -­‐Prepare
for
interruptions
by
avoiding
them.
For
example,
take
calls
or
watch
tv
only
after
9pm,
when
you
have
already
completed
all
your
homework.
• -­‐Use
an
assignment
notebook
or
a
planner.
Write
down
all
assignments
and
due
dates.
Break
up
large
assignments
into
smaller
parts
so
you’re
not
overwhelmed
with
trying
to
do
it
all
and
finish
at
once.
• -­‐Use
three
ring
notebooks
for
class
notes.
This
makes
it
easy
to
insert
handouts
and
copies
of
notes
you
might
have
missed.
• -­‐Use
different
color
folders
with
pockets
for
each
class.
Keep
current
and
past
assignments,
tests,
and
quizzes
of
each
class
in
them.
Having
all
the
class
work
together
can
help
you
study
for
future
tests
and
it
may
come
in
handy
if
there
is
ever
a
question
about
a
grade.
• -­‐Have
at
least
one
classmate’s
phone
number
for
each
class.
If
you’re
absent
or
you
have
a
question
about
an
assignment
having
someone
to
call
and
find
out
information
is
handy.
• -­‐Keep
your
locker
and
backpack
neat,
clean,
and
organized.
Never
put
loose
papers
in
them,
always
put
them
in
their
appropriate
folder.
• -­‐Get
organized
before
you
go
to
bed.
Put
completed
homework
in
its
corresponding
folder
and
put
everything
you
need
for
the
next
day
in
the
same
place
each
night.
This
will
minimize
the
chances
of
forgetting
something
the
next
day.
Use
sticky
notes
to
remind
yourself
of
what
you
need
to
do
in
the
morning.
• Goal
achievement
process

3. WEEK
3
–
Be
Successful
in
the
Classroom
• -­‐Be
in
school,
on
time,
everyday.
When
you
miss
school,
you
miss
quizzes,
assignments,
lectures,
notes,
class
discussions,
etcetera.
No
matter
how
good
you
think
you
are
at
making
up,
you
can
never
make
up
for
everything
you
missed.
• -­‐Learn
how
to
adapt
to
different
teachers.
Know
your
teachers,
their
rules,
teaching
styles
so
you
can
make
the
most
of
your
classes.
• -­‐Be
prepared
for
each
class.
You
need
to
have
all
your
supplies
(books,
paper,
pencils,
and
folders)
with
you
for
each
class.
You
also
need
to
have
your
homework
done.
Being
prepared
also
means
being
mentally
alert,
getting
exercise,
enough
sleep,
and
good
nutrition.
• -­‐Sit
in
the
front
row
of
the
class
if
possible.
It
is
easier
to
pay
attention,
participate
and
avoid
distractions
when
you
sit
at
the
front.
It
is
also
easier
to
ask
questions
and
see
what’s
being
presented.
• -­‐Be
aware
of
your
body
language.
Teachers
are
at
the
front
and
they
can
see
everything
and
everyone,
even
the
back
row.
Slouching,
rolling
your
eyes,
sighing,
putting
your
head
down
say
that
you
don’t
care,
and
teachers
notice
this.
Your
body
language
must
show
you
want
to
get
good
grades.
• -­‐Always
do
your
homework.
Think
of
homework
as
something
you
must
(not
should)
do.
Your
grade
drops
every
time
you
miss
an
assignment.
Whenever
possible
do
extra
credit
work.
• -­‐Participate
in
class.
Participating
might
give
you
extra
points,
helps
you
focused,
and
makes
the
class
more
interesting.
• -­‐Be
a
good
group
member.
Do
your
share
of
the
work
and
do
it
well.
Accept
that
everyone
is
different
and
be
open
to
all
ideas.
Support
all
your
group
members.
• -­‐Treat
others
with
courtesy
and
respect,
the
way
you
want
to
be
treated.
Be
polite,
look
at
your
teachers
when
they’re
speaking,
listen
while
others
are
talking.
Be
aware
of
the
tone
of
your
voice,
the
tone
also
communicates
a
message.
Remember
that
teachers
are
people
too,
they
appreciate
when
a
student
shows
interest
in
them.
Give
positive
comments
whenever
a
situation
makes
it
possible.
• -­‐Involve
your
parents.
When
they
ask
you
what
you
did,
tell
them,
they
will
like
the
fact
that
you
tell
them
about
what
you
are
learning
at
school.
Whenever
possible
let
your
parents
help
you
with
an
assignment,
studying
by
quizzing
you,
listen
to
you
practice
a
speech,
or
read
over
a
paper
you’ve
written.
Parents
can
also
intervene
on
your
behalf
when
you
have
a
problem
and
help
with
difficult
situations.
• Review
Learning
Style
WEEK
4
–
Study
Smart
/
Use
Test-­‐Taking
Strategies
• -­‐Find
a
good
place
to
study.
Make
sure
it
has
a
surface
for
writing,
it
is
well
lit,
comfortable,
and
equipped
with
(or
have
space
for)
all
the
supplies
you
need
and
your
books.
Listening
to
classical
music
can
improve
your
concentration
while
you
study.
• -­‐Just
get
started.
Don’t
put
off
studying
until
later
or
you’re
in
the
mood.
Start
with
a
simple
subject
and
just
start
studying.
Organize
your
study
time
by
making
a
plan,
deciding
what
you
want
to
get
done
and
the
order
you
are
going
to
do
it.
Prioritize
and
allow
more
time
than
you
think
you’ll
need.
Study
your
least
favorite
subject
first
to
get
it
out
of
the
way
and
alternate
types
of
assignments.
Take
a
short
break
every
20
minutes
to
get
a
drink
of
water
and
stretch.
• -­‐Know
your
learning
style.
Figure
out
if
you’re
a
visual,
auditory
or
kinesthetic
learner.
• -­‐Know
how
to
study
for
tests.
Understand
the
big
picture,
know
the
main
points
and
key
facts.
Pay
particularly
close
attention
in
class
the
day
before
a
test.
Have
all
your
reading
done
ahead
of
time.
Go
over
important
facts
and/or
formulas
as
much
as
possible
before
you
take
the
test.

4. • -­‐Use
tricks
to
help
you
memorize
information,
such
as
flashcards;
stare
at
what
you
want
to
memorize,
say
it
out
loud,
close
your
eyes
and
do
it
again;
go
over
any
information
you
want
to
remember
right
before
you
go
to
sleep;
use
acronyms;
use
the
first
letter
of
words
you
want
to
remember
to
make
up
silly
sentences;
look
for
an
easy
or
logical
connection;
use
diagrams
to
group
information;
use
ridiculous
images
to
help
trigger
your
memory.
• -­‐Get
off
to
a
good
start.
Have
everything
you
need
for
the
test
when
you
go
to
class
and
try
to
relax
right
before
the
test.
As
soon
as
you
get
the
test,
write
down
anything
you
want
to
remember
from
your
memory
aids.
Read
the
directions
and
write
your
name.
• -­‐Quickly
look
over
the
test
and
develop
a
plan.
Decide
how
long
you
will
spend
in
each
section
and
try
to
give
yourself
a
few
minutes
at
the
end
to
check
your
answers.
Read
each
question
carefully.
• -­‐Mark
the
questions
you
want
to
go
return
to.
Don’t
spend
too
much
time
on
any
one
question
or
problem.
Don’t
panic
if
you
don’t
know
the
answers
to
the
first
few
questions,
go
back
to
them
and
you’ll
probably
remember
the
answers.
• -­‐Multiple
choice
questions.
Try
to
come
up
with
the
answer
in
your
head
before
you
look
at
the
choices.
Read
all
the
choices.
When
you’re
unsure,
eliminate
the
choices
you
know
are
incorrect
first,
and
then
make
an
educated
guess.
• -­‐True/False
questions.
Look
for
key
words,
read
carefully;
one
word
will
often
determine
whether
the
statement
is
true
or
false.
Statements
with
always/never
are
usually
false;
those
with
usually/often/most
are
usually
true.
• -­‐Draw
a
diagram
or
picture
when
solving
a
difficult
math
problem.
Show
all
your
work,
you
may
get
partial
credit.
• -­‐Open
book
tests
require
preparation.
Highlight
your
notes,
use
sticky
notes
or
bookmarks
to
help
you
locate
information.
Write
down
information
you
will
need
on
a
separate
piece
of
paper.
• -­‐For
essay
tests
it
is
important
that
before
you
do
any
writing,
brainstorm.
Take
a
moment
to
write
down
what
you
know
about
the
subject
and
make
a
quick
outline.
Note
how
many
points
each
question
is
worth
and
spend
time
on
it
accordingly.
Begin
writing
using
clear,
concise
sentences
and
write
legibly.
• Review
learning
style
WEEK
5
–
Take
good
notes
/
Know
how
to
read
a
textbook
• -­‐Be
an
active
listener,
think
about
and
try
to
understand
what
is
being
presented.
• -­‐Take
notes
to
help
you
pay
attention.
Thinking
about
the
lecture
helps
you
stayed
focused
so
you
don’t
have
time
to
think
about
anything
else.
Taking
notes
also
shows
your
teacher
you’re
interested
in
the
class
and
paying
attention.
• -­‐Recognize
important
information.
Listen
for
changes
in
tone
in
you’re
teacher’s
voice
and
for
verbal
cues
like
“the
most
important
reason”
or
“the
three
causes.”
Most
of
what
is
on
the
board
or
on
an
overhead
is
important,
highlight
this
information.
• -­‐Take
notes
that
are
easy
to
read
and
organized.
Put
the
name
of
the
class
and
date
on
every
page
of
notes.
Leave
space
to
add
information
later
and
write
key
words
on
the
margins.
Use
symbols
and
abbreviations.
Use
erasable
pen/pencil.
• -­‐Go
over
your
notes
as
soon
as
possible,
this
will
help
clarify
any
information
that’s
confusing
and
help
you
remember
the
lecture.
Redo
your
notes
whenever
possible,
eliminate
unimportant
information
and
rewrite
the
rest
in
your
own
words.
This
way
you
are
relearning
and
“fixing”
the
information
in
your
memory.
• -­‐Get
copies
of
class
notes
when
you
are
absent.

5. • -­‐Pay
attention
to
boldfaced
subtitles,
the
important
words
that
are
in
italic
or
bold
print,
charts,
vocabulary
words,
summaries,
and
review
questions.
• -­‐Scan
to
get
an
overview
of
the
material
and
get
an
information
outline.
• -­‐Read
to
comprehend.
Turn
bold
subtitles
into
questions,
keep
your
questions
in
mind
and
try
to
answer
them
when
you
finish
the
section.
• -­‐Review
what
you
read.
This
makes
a
huge
difference
in
remembering
the
material.
Read
the
bold
print
and
briefly
state
what
it
means
and
why
it’s
significant.
Answer
all
of
the
review
questions.
Review
everything
again
a
day
or
two
later.
WEEK
6
–
Reduce
Test
Anxiety
/
Get
help
when
you
need
it.
(Importance
due
to
midterms.)
• -­‐Start
studying
early,
study
enough
so
you
feel
confident
that
you
know
the
material.
Replace
worry
and
negative
thoughts
with
positive
thoughts
and
relaxing.
Cramming
increases
anxiety.
• -­‐Learn
and
practice
relaxation
techniques.
Take
a
deep
breath,
hold
it,
release
slowly,
and
repeat.
Staring
at
the
top
of
your
head
flex
and
relax
each
part
of
your
body.
Close
your
eyes
and
relax,
visualize
tension
flowing
out
of
your
body,
relaxing
your
muscles.
• -­‐Walk
with
confidence,
head
up
and
shoulders
back.
How
you
act
can
definitely
affect
how
you
feel.
• -­‐When
you
have
a
problem,
do
something
to
resolve
it.
Most
questions
can
be
answered
and
problems
resolved
when
you
explain
them
to
the
appropriate
person.
Remember
your
teachers,
counselors,
principals,
and
your
parents
can
help.
• -­‐Everyone
has
problems.
When
your
problems
feel
overwhelming,
get
help.
Problems
with
alcohol,
drugs,
pregnancy,
eating
disorder,
health
concern,
abusive
relationship,
depression
or
problems
at
home
need
to
be
addressed
immediately.
All
kinds
of
students
go
through
struggle
every
day.
Be
smart
and
get
help.
WEEK
7
–
Intervention
week
based
on
mid-­‐term
grades
(Everyone
will
receive
an
intervention,
even
if
prior
interventions
were
given.)
• *At-­‐Risk
Liaison
/
Counselors
program
• Mini-­‐staffing
with
individual
student,
teacher,
and
maybe
an
administrator
WEEK
8
–
Attitude
/
Motivation
• “Attitude
is
like
peeing
your
pants.
Everyone
can
see
it,
but
only
you
can
feel
it.”
–Jeff
Yalden
WEEK
9
-­‐
Communication
• Proper
ways
of
talking
to
other
people
in
certain
situations
• Reactions
to
different
situations
• *At-­‐Risk
Liaison
/
Counselors
/
Guest
Speakers

6. WEEK
10
–
Review
of
Test
Taking
Strategies
WEEK
11
• Testing/Final
Exam
Prep
WEEK
12
• Study
for
final
exam
• Possible
extended
time
for
taking
final
exams
Summary
from
How
To
Get
Good
Grades
In
Ten
Easy
Steps,
Woodburn
Press