Robin Pryor
8th Grade Science Syllabus
941-5500 ext: 6412
Room 412 Green Hall
Course Description and Goals:
South Carolina eighth-grade students engage in thinking and solving problems the way scientists and engineers do to help them better see how science is relevant to their lives. To capitalize on the natural curiosity all students have about the world around them, learning experiences are built around the three dimensions of science: Science and Engineering Practices (SEPs), Crosscutting Concepts (CCCs), and Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCIs). This three-dimensional approach to teaching and learning helps educators provide meaningful learning experiences that offer varied entry points for students from diverse backgrounds.
The five core areas of the grade eight standards include:
- Forces and Motion
- Waves
- Genetics and Reproduction
- Earth’s Place in the Universe
- Earth’s History and Diversity of Life
Communication with Parents:
I communicate with my parents through various means, such as by phone, Parent Portal, e-mails, text, student interim reports, nine-week grade reports, in person, and Talking Points.
Assess Students:
Students are assessed by formal and informal means. I use regular quizzes, tests, projects, teacher observations, daily written work, homework, labs, activities, participation, and exit (reflection) slips. I also use integrated fine arts and subject assessments, such as dance movements, tableaus, challenges, and song writings. I use partner, group, and individual assessments.
Rules / Consequences / Expectations / Non-negotiables / Procedures:
Rules: 1) Be Respectful
2) Be Responsible
3) Make Good Decisions
Consequences:
Step 1) Parent Contact / Warning
Step 2) Lunch Detention & Complete Reflection (Refusal to serve lunch detention or
refusal to complete reflection = office referral)
Step 3) Mandatory Parent Conference
Step 4) After-School Detention (Skipping / Refusing After-School Detention = 1-Day I.S.S.)
Step 5) Office Referral
Expectations / Non-negotiables:
1) No Gum or Candy in the Science Lab.
2) Earbuds may not be used for non-instructional purposes only. (No earbuds, headphones, or AirPods in the
hall.)
3) Students will remain seated at all times and may not leave class to go to another location.
5) Students may go to the restroom during transitions and not during class time.
6) Students will be held accountable and penalized for not coming to class prepared daily.
Procedures:
The daily agenda and homework assignments are written on the board each day. Students are monitored in the halls and in the bathrooms. Students are taken to the restrooms by their lunchroom teacher and monitored.
Grading Policy:
Students will be graded according to Greenwood District 50 grading guidelines in the following ways: daily class participation, tests, quizzes, projects, homework, integration work, and teacher observation. Homework is determined by the teacher on an as-needed basis according to completion and comprehension of the daily assignments.
Grade Percentages: Grading Scale:
Assessments 35% A 90 - 100
Quizzes 25% B 80 – 89
Classwork 30% C 70 - 79
Homework /Participation 10% D 60 - 69
F 59 - 0
Materials Needed:
I expect students to come to class every day prepared to learn. These are some of the items needed daily in class: pencils, pencil pouch, notebook paper, binder, dividers, graph paper, highlighter, and earbuds (No Beats, headphones, or AirPods) that work with a Chromebook.
Expectations:
All students are expected to come to class daily, completely prepared and ready to participate in the daily activities. All students are expected to follow all class, school, district, and state rules. I want my students to learn as much as possible, learn how to study, and how to use resources while having fun when possible.
Resources:
McGraw-Hill 8th Grade Science Textbook with a variety of other support resources. (The textbook
online version is available on ClassLink.com for at-home use.)
Ms. Pryor’s Class Schedule
1st Period 08:05 A.M. - 08:47 A.M. (PLANNING)
2nd Period 08:49 A.M. - 09:56 A.M. (Science & Homeroom)
3rd Period 09:38 A.M. - 10:25 A.M. (Science)
4th Period 10:27 A.M. - 11:14 A.M. (Science)
5th Period 11:16 A.M. - 12:03 P.M. (Science)
6th Period 12:05 P.M. - 12:52 P.M. (Lunch)
7th Period 12:54 P.M. - 01:41 P.M. (Science)
8th Period 01:43 P.M. - 02:30 P.M. (Science)
9th Period 02:32 P.M. - 03:20 P.M. (PLANNING)
Teacher Bio:
Dear Parents,
This will be my 43rd year in education. I have 3 fur babies, 2 adult nieces, 2 adult nephews, a great-grand nephew, and a great-grand niece. I am looking forward to teaching and getting to know all your children. I look forward to a wonderful school year. I have listed below a few things that you can do at home with your children to help them have a successful year. Thank you for your support this year.
- Parents, please remind your child to do their vocabulary homework sheet when it is assigned, complete any incomplete classwork, read for 10 to 15 minutes, and study for 10 to 15 minutes each night, after they complete their written homework.
- The purpose of math and science is to expand our knowledge about the natural world. My goal is to allow my students to do this through exploration and hands-on activities. This is the best way to prepare the students to think like mathematicians and scientists. Together, we will explore the areas of math and science. The students will learn how to ask questions and discover the answers through investigations, just like real mathematicians and scientists do!
- Brewer Middle School Web page: http://brewer.gwd50.org/
Helpful websites in math and science:
http://www.amathsdictionaryforkids.com/ https://phet.colorado.edu/
http://science.nasa.gov/ http://science.howstuffworks.com/
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/labs/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QM8yXFgzqgE