Welcome,+Biology+I+Students!

Welcome back to school. I am looking forward to an exciting year with each of you! Some of you are familiar faces to me and some of you I am meeting for the first time. For those of you who don't already know, here are the things you should know about your teacher:


 * I prefer to be called either Mrs. Dennis or Mrs. Anna (Some students who know me from other areas of my life already have a preference.)
 * I am beginning my twelfth year here at AHS. Most of those years were spent teaching biology but I have also taught eighth grade science for several years.
 * I am married and live in Enville.
 * Five of my six children graduated from AHS. Four of my grandchildren are attending AES right now.
 * I grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, and attended college in in the great state of Texas.

You will find that this is a very hands-on classroom; We do not depend solely on the textbook, although we will use it when we need it. We will be using our computers quite often, even though you are not part of the one-2-one program. The internet has the latest information on life science topics, and we will take full advantage of it.

You will be involved in several projects this year, group as well as individual. This means that you must possess or develop the ability to work independently and within a group setting. Part of your grade will depend upon your ability to work well with others.

Curriculum 

Some of the main units we will cover this year include:
 * Biomolecules
 * The Cell
 * Genetics
 * Structure and Function of DNA
 * Protein Synthesis
 * Evolution of the Species
 * Biological Diversity and Interactions
 * <span style="font-size: 120%; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Photosynthesis and Respiration

<span style="font-size: 120%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; background-color: rgb(221, 192, 14);">Requirements

<span style="font-size: 120%; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> You will be expected to come to class each day fully prepared to begin work. This means you should always bring with you the following materials:
 * <span style="font-size: 120%; background-color: rgb(255, 252, 0);">Pencils or pens (blue or black ink only)
 * <span style="font-size: 120%; background-color: rgb(255, 252, 0);">Notebook paper
 * <span style="font-size: 120%; background-color: rgb(255, 252, 0);">Your science folder
 * <span style="font-size: 120%; background-color: rgb(255, 252, 0);">Your textbook
 * <span style="font-size: 120%; background-color: rgb(255, 252, 0);">A jump drive (optional but very useful)
 * <span style="font-size: 120%; background-color: rgb(255, 252, 0);">Earphones (optional, but you must have them if you expect to use audio)

<span style="background-color: rgb(251, 243, 243); font-size: 120%; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Because we are a lab class, a breakage fee of <span style="background-color: rgb(193, 73, 73); font-size: 120%;">$5.00 <span style="background-color: rgb(250, 240, 240); font-size: 120%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">is required. If you are in the free/reduced program, you should let me know privately as soon as possible. Otherwise, fees should be paid within the first two weeks of school. <span style="font-size: 120%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; background-color: rgb(243, 233, 27);">

<span style="font-size: 144%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; background-color: rgb(224, 194, 11);">Grading <span style="font-size: 120%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; background-color: rgb(243, 233, 27);">

<span style="font-size: 115.2%; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; background-color: rgb(248, 237, 237);">Grading for this class is as follows: First Quarter Daily Work 40% Tests/Projects 40% Exam 20%

Second Quarter Daily Work 40% Tests/Projects 40% End of Course Exam 15% Final Exam 5% <span style="font-size: 120%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; background-color: rgb(243, 233, 27);">

Rules and Expectations

<span style="font-size: 120%; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I have only one rule in my classroom: RESPECT. media type="custom" key="4189323"

<span style="font-size: 120%; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> This means that you respect all persons in the class, including your teacher. By the same token, I will treat you with respect. <span style="font-size: 120%; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; background-color: rgb(239, 255, 0);">Please be aware that I have zero tolerance for bullying. Bullying, harassment, racial intolerance, gender stereotyping and other behaviors of this kind will be dealt with swiftly and harshly.

<span style="font-size: 120%; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">You will be viewing a video about bullying and violence. Please answer the following questions before the video starts:
 * 1) How safe do you feel at school?
 * 2) How can teasing be a problem at school?
 * 3) What are examples of school violence?
 * 4) What kinds of kids are the victims of bullies?
 * 5) How do you suppose it feels to be teased, taunted, or bullied?
 * 6) What makes something a crime?
 * 7) What are bullies like?
 * 8) When is fighting acceptable?
 * 9) What do you do when you are angry?
 * 10) Do you think the adults in your school know how much teasing and bullying goes on each day?
 * 11) What do you think can make a bully stop?
 * 12) What advice would you give a bully?

<span style="font-size: 120%; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">After viewing the video, you will record your responses to twelve questions on the video.

My personal goal for this year is that every student will not only meet the standards set by the State of Tennessee, but will also develop a love for the living planet that will last a lifetime.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; background-color: rgb(239, 255, 0);">Again, welcome to Biology 1.