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General Information PDF Assignment Sheets: Questions and Answers Student Scores |
General InformationClass Time: Mondays, 10:00 to 12:15Text: Chemistry: Matter and Change © 2005 (Glencoe) Teacher: Lisa Swieson (610.355.9174, LSwieson@science-resources.org) Overview: This is a rigorous, math-heavy, high-school level chemistry course for students who plan to go to college. It may seem like a lot of work, but diligent students will be rewarded with a very thorough introduction to chemistry. Class Particulars: Each week, the first 45-60 minutes of class will be spent reviewing assignments and preparing for lab. The remainder of the time will be in lab. I also hope to schedule a field trip or two along the way. The last class session of each term will be devoted to an exam. Dress Code: Students should wear comfortable (not baggy) clothing that is easily washable or that you don't mind getting dirty. Long hair must be tied back. No open-toed shoes, bracelets, rings, or loose jewelry should be worn. Aprons, protective gloves (when needed), and safety glasses will be provided and should be left here week to week. Students are expected to bring the following to class each week: textbook, notebook, pen/pencil, folder/binder for handouts, and all written assignments (see below). Assignments: The Chemistry Assignment sheet will include all of the assignments for several weeks at a time. (Assignments will also be posted online at the class web site.) There will be five assignments each week, and I recommend completing one each day to avoid falling behind. Assignments will include:
Grades: Most of us, as homeschoolers, are not accustomed to giving our children grades. However, if our children are enrolled in a diploma program or aspiring to college some day, these institutions expect grades at the high school level. I also believe that by 9th grade, grades can be a motivating factor for any student. Here is how I will calculate grades:
Mid-Week Help: In addition to being available by phone or email during the week, as questions arise I will also send emails (check email regularly!) and post some of your questions (with answers!) on this class web site along with extra information & clarification, etc. Absence: I realize that students may need to miss class once or twice for illness or family obligations. If your child must miss class, please let me know ahead of time, if possible. Even so, students are responsible for the material they missed - homework assignments must still be completed and handed in, and, though the lab itself cannot be made up, students must understand the reactions that should have occurred during lab. Note that, since the student's lowest lab score will be dropped each term, absence need not affect that portion of the student's grade, unless the student misses more than one lab each term. Lab Safety: Chemistry lab has many opportunities for injury (broken glass, chemicals, open flames, etc.), so it is essential that lab safety rules be followed carefully. Remember, students who repeatedly ignore these rules are putting their classmates at risk and will be suspended from class with no refund. In addition, students will be expected to pay for glassware or other equipment that they break. About Your Textbook: All chapters in your textbook contain Discovery Labs, Problem-Solving Labs, and Mini-Labs, which should be read along with the text. Occasionally, I will assign one of these labs to be conducted at home during the week. At the end of every chapter, there is a one-page feature about real-world chemistry ("How It Works," "Chemistry and Society," etc.). I encourage you to read these when you get to them, but you do not have to answer the questions. In the back of your textbook is a Math Handbook. Many of these pages should be review, but some are not. If your math is a little rusty, please go over pages 887-892, 897-899, and 903-910a before our first class to familiarize yourself with some of the math topics you will need for chemistry. SCIENCE Resources will buy back your textbook at the end of the year for one-half the price you paid for it (i.e., for $30.24) if it is in good condition - no writing (other than your name in the front), no dog-eared or torn pages, no spills, etc. To help keep it in good condition, we recommend putting a book cover on it. I plan to teach this class again in 3 years, so if you have a younger sibling, you may want to keep it. The Lab Manual is a consumable workbook and cannot be sold back. |
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| Questions? Email me! | Last modified: 30 March 2005 |