Welcome to Mr. Miller's Earth Science class!
And of course welcome to high school as well! Below you will find some information that will prove useful as you prepare for the academic year. Feel free to click on the other tabs to learn a little bit about me as a teacher, or where to contact me if you have any other questions or concerns.
Rules and Expectations:
All rules laid out in the school code of conduct are to be followed in all classes, this one included. There are a few additional rules due to the added constraints of a science classroom. They are as follows:
1. Attendance is mandatory, unless excused. A Regents requirement for successfull completion of this course is active participation in lab activities. In order to participate one must be present every day. Even on days where there is not a lab scheduled, it is likely that there will be lab preperation for a future lab. Accomodations can be made for medical emergencies.
2. Electronic use is at the descretion of the teacher. There will be many classes where phones, tablets, and computers will be a necessary tool to participate in class. There will also be classes where they will not be allowed, like test days or during certain labs. It is up to the teacher to decide whether a student is allowed to use their device during a class. If you aren't sure if you are allowed to use it on any given day, just ask!
3. Preperation is key! In addition to basic levels of preparation (for example paper, pencils, and somewhere to keep and record notes), some lab activities will require that the student have closed toe shoes, as well as a way to pull back hair that is shoulder length or longer.
4. Be respectful! This includes respecting all other's (not just the teacher's!) time, space, and thoughts. If you aren't sure if something is respectful or not, it probably is not, so don't do it.
*** These rules will continue to be developed as the school year continues in order to accomodate for the specific needs of the students***
Course Information
Grading Policy
Assignment type | explanation | Percentage of total grade |
Homework | Homework will be assigned on a bi-weekly basis, and will be due Tuesday and Thursday of each week in order to inform future instruction. | 15% |
Quizzes | Quizzes will be given at the end of each week to gauge student understanding and inform future instruction. | 15% |
Tests | Tests will be given at the end of each unit and will be used to gauge student's mastery of the material. | 25% |
In class assignments | In class assignments will occur everyday. These provide guided practice of the material while informing future instruction. | 10% |
Labs | Labs will be given at least once a week. Labs are assigned to allow students to practice applying their scientific knowledge to real world applications. | 35% |
Schedule
The General Pacing of the class will be determined largely by the needs of the students as we progress through the material as shown by the homework, in class assignments, and quizzes. The tentative schedule (as well as due dates and free periods) for our first week can be found in the following google callendar:
Standards
Students will be taught in accordance to the Next Generation Science Standards, which can be accessed by clicking here. Navigating this resource can be confusing, so feel free to reach out with any questions by following the instructions on the Contact Me tab at the top of this page.
You can also access a brochure explaining the NY Regents Exams a little bit more thoroughly by clicking here.
Additional Resources and Enrichment
You can find the Baron's review book to assist studying for the Regents exam by clicking here. There will be practice in the class, but if you would like to have additional practice at home this book is a good resource.
If you lose your Earth Science Reference Table, one can be viewed by clicking here.
If you wish to learn more about earth science, there is a ton of great information that can be found by clicking here and searching for whatever topic you may be interested in.