Welcome - Mr B.'s Regents Chemistry

Mr Bianchi (“Mr. B”) Room 13; Lab 19

Regents Chemistry has two basic aims: to have students uncover the fundamental principles of chemistry and to explore how chemistry is applied in our lives and our society. This course combines theory (the science), application (the technology) and the impact of chemical concepts on society.

You will be involved with the fundamentals of chemistry in practical and applied ways, so that its relevancy is apparent. We will relate this knowledge to our own experiences. We will break concepts down and put them back together.

Expectations

The students will be challenged to do their best work.

The students are expected to help maintain a positive learning environment for all.

The students are expected to arrive on time and ready to work.

We will follow our curiosity and learn to question critically and think creatively. We will respect ourselves and each other; we will work together and learn from each other.

If you have any questions, ask! The only dumb question is the one that is not asked.

If you need help, ask! That is what I am here for.

Student Outcomes

At the end of the year, student will be able to:

Demonstrate critical thinking via the processes of scientific inquiry: by observing, hypothesizing, modeling and testing, evaluating, comparing & contrasting concepts & characteristics, classifying and interpreting data

demonstrate process and lab skills such as : measurement, separation, titration, graphing, charting, mapping and interpreting

discuss chemical concepts, terminology and technology and relate these to real life situations

Text

Chemistry: Visualizing Matter (Holt)

Brief Review For NY: Chemistry (Student Workbook to be purchased in November: ~$12)

Lab Fee (~$8 collected in November)

Materials Needed:

One 3” 3-ring binder with index dividers (14 of them) and supply of looseleaf paper

Scientific (or graphing) calculator

Two 2-pocket folder with clips

Index cards (100)

1 box of tissues and 1 roll of paper towels

blue/black pens/pencils

highlighters

Optional: package of colored pencils, mini stapler, three hole punch (in binder)

Grading

The students’ quarterly grades will be determined in the following manner:

Unit Tests / Quarterly Projects 55 %

Quizzes / Small Projects 20 %

Labs 15 %

Homework / Classwork 10 %

I will do my best to have your averages available to you on a bi-weekly basis. Progress reports will be issued every 5 weeks or whenever necessary.

The Final Exam Grade shall be composed of: Mid-term (40%), Special Project (20%), Regents Exam (40%).

{also: see Math Rules below}

Homework/Classwork Policy

Homework/Classwork is a student’s responsibility. It must be done completely, neatly and on time to receive full credit.

All assignments are due the next class period unless otherwise stated.

Homework will be checked using two methods:

Ø Complete (100%); Attempted (50%); Missing (0%) – Checked by teacher at beginning of class

Ø Collected homework: Collected by teacher at beginning of class; graded as percent correct

Quiz Policy

Student understanding will be assessed using short announced and unannounced quizzes. If you stay current and ask questions about any material you are having trouble with, you will do fine on the quizzes. Assume that there will be a quiz every class !

Absences

If you are absent from class, it is your responsibility to check with the teacher to find out what you have missed. If you were absent for one day and were in class when the test or quiz was mentioned, then you will take the test or quiz as scheduled. If you are absent on a test/quiz day, you have one week to make up the test. Tests/quizzes not completed in this time frame will be given a zero.

Office Hours:

I am generally available in Room 19 (or 13) from 7:10 to 7:45 AM and in Room 13 (or 19) from 2:45 to 3:00 PM every day. As with all your teachers, I am also available during Advisement (for appointments). Finally, appointments can be made for 1st period BDF days and from 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM as needed.

Students should review their notes on a daily basis. The pace of this course is intense, so knowledge of the material is imperative. If you feel like you are getting behind, let me know immediately.