August 12, 2010
Sixth Grade Science
Welcome to Mr. Swafford’s classroom! I enjoy telling stories and trying engaging activities as we do meaningful schoolwork.
I have two goals for this year. One is to have fun while learning together. The second is harder to measure but no less important: I want each student in my class to feel liked and needed while he/she does his/her very best work.
Here are seven tips that will make your school year great.
1. Have fun!
2. Be a friend. Yes, a teacher can be your friend too, even the hard ones.
3. Have respect!
4. Work for yourself.
5. Always ask questions, especially when you are not sure.
6. Join a club, sport, or an activity.
7. Try your hardest, even when things are not going in your favor.
I trust these tips will help you as you start this school year. Yet if you find you need help, ask one of your teachers; they are here for you! My classroom will be open most lunches. Come into the room if you need a quiet place to study or if you need help with an assignment.
Starting the year off, we will be studying Ecology as our main unit of study. See the reverse side of this letter for a tentative yearlong outline. Teaching will follow the State of Tennessee Science Standards as directed by HCDE policies.
Classroom Expectation
Students are expected to use their agendamates to record homework and as a backup www.smmhs.com. Each student should turn in tasks the day they are due to receive full credit and late work should be placed in the “IN” tray located in the classroom. Science lab journals will be used to record notes, vocabulary, and handouts for review and testing purposes. Benefiting students Holt online offers students the science text, study aids, practice test, short videos and more online. Please login and checkout the wealth of information (passwords given out with the textbook).
Grading: 93-100 = A 10% Homework
85-92 = B 30% Classwork (quizzes, task, labs, projects, journal)
75-84 = C 40% Tests (test, quizzes, performance task, labs)
70-74 = D 20% Exam
0-69 = F
| Journals are expected for each student. Notes and vocabulary are kept in the journal for review and testing purposes. Keep journals neat, up-to-date, and present in classes. |
