Welcome to General Chemistry. The students in this course will examine the interrelationships of matter and energy in their everyday environment. Topics will include atomic structure, chemical properties of elements and compounds, gas laws, equations, and solutions. A working knowledge of ratios and proportions is necessary. Successful completion of a series of masteries covering key concepts of the course is required to receive a passing grade. (excerpted from RRHS course catalog).

My Expectations:

     Journals. I would like you to do your all of your work in a standard “COMP Book”, except an occasional formal laboratory report. We will go over the format for the journal in class.

     Neatness - mainly your work needs to be legible (by me). You should use both sides of your paper and all mathematical work is to be shown. Graphs must be Neat, Accurate, and have Labels to collect full credit.

     I expect students to follow all laboratory safety rules. There is no room for those who misbehave and put themselves and others in jeopardy. Students will sign a contract for proper conduct in the laboratory.

     All tests & quizzes will be announced in advance which makes you responsible for participating on the scheduled day, even if you are absent the day before.

     My statistics show that students who makeup assignments and tests generally do worse that the ones on time, therefore, I do not do late unless you are on an excused absence (the law makes me do that) then I must give you reasonable time to make up the work.

     Practice is set to prepare you for the tests. I will set assignments usually by unit and go over it when appropriate stressing that the correct answer is almost irrelevant; understanding the question, using a valid method to solve the problems and communicating your thoughts are the main things that count -- give an honest effort and reap the benefits! I will check assignments periodically.

     I expect you to be honest or suffer zeros.

     Occasionally we will have laboratory and other hands-on-data-collecting-analysis exercises. You will be responsible for the participation, collection, and analysis of data. I would like to avoid the pre-made fill-in-the-blank labs found in the laboratory manuals and would like to focus on other experiences. If you are absent on Lab days, you should complete it within a week.

     RRHS has a wonderful attendance policy (at least I think so) hence, I will not reinvent the wheel.

     Tardy policy: At the beginning of each term you will be given 50 citizenship points. Each time you are tardy you will lose 10 points. When you exhaust your points, you will be referred to the administration. Points can be earned back by spending 30 minutes after school  improving the quality of life in our classroom, not as part of individualized help. You may not gain more than 50 citizenship points for each term.

     I will remind YOU that if YOU are absent, YOU need to check with me at the beginning of class, to see what YOU need to turn in from your absence and what YOU have missed and what YOU need to makeup and when YOU need to turn the new assignment in.

Your expectations:

     You should expect to be treated fairly. Each of you are individuals, however, that shouldn’t mean different standards for everyone. I attempt to stand by what I say. Please accept my professionalism even if it affects you negatively.

     You should know what your grade is in class on a weekly basis. I will display grades after major events (tests, labs, projects). I can also print out your progress, speak to you on the phone or email your grades.

     I will be available for extra help after school. Please try to contact me in advance so that I can be here for you.

     I can give you ideas for senior projects. I welcome your interest in science and will do what I can to help.

Mastery Tests:

RRHS Chemistry department has developed a policy for specific skills which states: Students must demonstrate a mastery level of 80%(90% on #1 Naming Elements) on a series of 10 mastery tests in order to receive a passing grade in the course. The test will be given initially in class. Those that do not become a master for that test are required take retakes until they pass. If the student does not attain mastery for that level within two weeks from the initial test date, parents will be contacted. All mastery tests must be completed by the Monday of the last week of the semester otherwise an “Incomplete” will be given.

I am looking forward to this year in Chemistry and hope you are too.
You get out of it what you put into it.
Everything is relative!

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