Introduction Packet 2016/17

Homework (due TOMORROW!)- Lab Safety Contract signed by you

and your Parents/Guardians- Safety Quiz - complete all!

Bring this whole packet tomorrow!

AP Biology SyllabusCentereach High School

Instructor: Ms. Sabrina BickoffPhone: 631 285 8100 Email: sbickoff@mccsd.net

Course Overview The AP Biology course offers a great learning opportunity in a field of study that is fascinating and challenging.  There is a tremendous volume of material that must be covered in a relatively short period of time.  This course will demand a great amount of time and effort. Students and parents should not be surprised by the course requirements, they are in excess of what students expect from a typical high school course. This course is equivalent to an introductory college-level biology course. Students will cultivate their understanding of biology through

inquiry-based investigations on topics such as evolution, cellular processes, genetics, ecology and interactions.

From my observations, the greatest challenge for a student taking AP Biology is the need to do consistent work over the entire year.  Many bright and highly motivated students sometimes let their efforts slide from time to time.  They make up for this slip with a big rush of hard work right before a test.  This strategy will not work in this class, and will threaten even the brightest student’s opportunity to excel in AP Biology.  

Success in this course depends on a student’s motivation, consistent daily

preparation, and organizational skills. These skills, at the present time, may not be 2

AP Biology

Ms. Bickoff

NAME:__________________ CLASS PD:______________

at their peak, but the student’s willingness to develop, practice and apply them throughout the year is essential for a wonderful learning experience in this course. Keep up with the daily readings and class notes. Ask for help when you do not understand something.

Class Rules

My class rules are simple and can be summed up for the most part with one word. RESPECT. It is something that should be given at all times. With that one word you can cover a myriad of normal class rules.

Text

BIOLOGY, Sixth Edition  By Neil A. Campbell and Jane B. Reece ISBN 0-8053-6624-5

Materials Needed

Pen Pencil Binder for handouts and labs

Keep a binder only for AP Biology. Students will use guided notes that correlate with media presentations and will incorporate handouts, homework, class work, quizzes etc. You will keep a separate section for labs.

Laboratory Component

The course is setup so at least 25% of the instructional time will be spent doing hands-on laboratory work. The majority of this will be accomplished as inquiry-based investigations. These types of labs and activities will allow students to apply the science practices. These investigations will call upon students to ask questions, make observations and predictions, design experiments, analyze data and construct arguments. We will do them in the form of AP labs, supplemental labs and computer simulations. Lab assignments must be completed according to the standard format (unless instructed otherwise). Lab reports are due 1 week after the lab is completed. Students will lose credit for each day late and a maximum of 50% for a satisfactory report after 2 weeks late. If you are legally absent for a lab you must make it up as soon as possible during extra-help. Some

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activities cannot be made up but you are still responsible for a write up that includes the purpose, procedure, results and concepts of the activity.

Homework Policy

Textbook Reading- Very important! Read the book nightly and stay prepared.Textbook & Question/Essay Assignment- All assignments will be collected on due dates. They will be checked/graded and returned. Keep them in your notebook. If absent, you are expected to complete the work within a day. No credit will be given after the exam. It is very important to start the homework as soon as you receive it!

ExamsExams are composed of AP style multiple choice questions and essays. At times, exams will take a double period and time will be limited as it is on the AP exam. Questions will be based on class notes, labs, and the Campbell text.

Grading Policy

Tests: 40% Labs / Lab Reports: 25% Quizzes 20% Participation: 15% (Homework is included)

**4th Quarter- 50% student project

AttendanceStudents are expected to be on time to class every day. If you are illegally absent, you will not receive credit for the activities of that day. Students must make up missed exams on the day you return.

Daily Class Routines

Be prepared with pen, pencil, and binder Exams are announced 1 week in advance Labs are due 1 week after it is completed

End of Year

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Course work will be completed by the end of April. We will have a chance to review before the AP Exam. The AP Exam is around May 8, 2017. After the AP Exam you are expected to attend class. We will use that time to complete student projects. Activities include, web quests, PowerPoint, and models. These activities are a major part of the 4th quarter. The exam is 3 hours in length and consists of two sections. Section I is 63 multiple choice questions and 9 grid in. Section II is 2 long free response and 6 short free response.

Contact Information:Mrs. Bickoff sbickoff@mccsd.net

I am looking forward to working with your child and you this year. If you have any questions or comments please do not hesitate to contact me at any time (email is the preferred way, as it gets to me faster than a message left with a secretary).

Key to Success in this Class:Keep up with the daily readings, your homework and class notes. Be sure to seek out help on any topics you do not understand. You should feel comfortable to ask questions and enjoy yourself while filling your head with knowledge! Dear Parents,

My name is Ms. Bickoff and I will guide your child through the AP Biology Curriculum. This course will be both exciting and challenging as we explore pertinent and relevant topics such as Human Impact Body Systems, Population Dynamics and Genetics. It is my goal to encourage and nurture your child's creative thinking and inquiries about our living world. 

As a parent your goal is to have your child excel academically and socially; therefore I look forward to working with you as a team to help your child succeed and reach their greatest potential. Organization, hard work and integrity are imperative skills that every student must strive to master this year in AP Biology. However, I realize that it is my responsibility to adapt lessons to meet the learn style of every student. I achieve this by incorporating differentiated instruction, visual demonstrations, technology, cooperative learning, and kinesthetic activities into my teaching repertoire. To facilitate transparency and student success I keep the Parent Portal updated every two weeks. If your child is absent, please visit my e-board.  

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  Beyond my dedication to teaching science, I plan to help your child prepare for the rigors of college-level work.  I believe that literacy, strong study habits, and active goal setting are invaluable skills to your child's education and future success.  I will focus on helping your child develop and improve these skills throughout the year.  Centereach High School "Open House" night is scheduled for September 2016 (exact date TBA). I am looking forward to meeting you and working together to have a great year. Please feel free to contact me at sbickoff@mccsd.net, or by calling the school. I will be happy to discuss your child’s performance at any time.

Respectfully, SBickoff

Ms. Bickoff sbickoff@mccsd.net 631 285 8100

To be done in class! Do NOT complete at home!

NAME: ______________________________________________ Preferred Nickname………………..ACADEMICS

LAST YEAR’S SCIENCE TEACHER: __________________LIVING ENVIRONMENT REGENTS GRADE: ____ FAVORITE SUBJECTS: (you can pick more than one)__SCIENCE __MATH __ENGLISH __SOCIAL STUDIES __LANGUAGE__BUSINESS __ ART __MUSIC __PHYS. EDUCATION __COSMETOLOGY

SPATIAL ISSUESDo you prefer to sit in a specific spot in the classroom? ________ If, yes, where in the room? First row –front of room By the window By the front boardAny specific people you don’t want to sit near?.....................................................................................................

INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR LEARNING STYLEHow do you learn best? (circle one or more)Hands-on activities Visually (seeing info) Auditory (hearing info.)

Do you learn best when you work: Independently (alone) As a team memberDo you have difficulty reading textbooks? Yes NoDo you have difficulty understanding what you read? Yes NoDo you have difficulty solving math problems? Yes NoDo you have difficulty summarizing information? Yes No

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Do you have difficulty researching info? on the computer? Yes No

OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATIONHave you always lived in the Middle Country School District? Yes NoHow many times have you moved in your lifetime? __________What is your cultural background/ethnicity?_________What is your favorite food? __________________________________________Band/music?______________________ What holidays do you celebrate? Can you name two holidays you celebrate based on your cultural background and/or your families? __________________________________________________________________________________ Do you have any siblings?_______________________________ Pets?__________________________Do you speak any other language?______________ What is your favorite thing in the world?_______________________***Is there anything you want me to know about you? This form is confidential and no one sees it, but me!

My Goals Sheet! ~ To be done in class! Do NOT complete at home!

To achieve something in life, you must plan to achieve it!

Please give a numeric score between 80-100. Do not write a Range or Letter. Challenge yourself & AIM HIGH!!!!

Long Term GoalsGoal for your final grade:______ Goal for your Midterm: ________Goal for the AP Exam: _______

Short Term GoalsQuiz Average:_______ Exam Average:______ Homework Average:______ Lab Average: _______ First Quarter Average:_______

How do you plan to achieve these goals? (Please make a bulleted list)______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

How do you study for exams? What will you do exactly to ACTIVELY study?

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___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What will you do different from last year?___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

How much time will you put aside for study and review each night? Do you participate in a lot of extracurricular activities? How will you plan to manage your time? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Now fill out the index card provided by answering these three questions: 1) What can Ms. Bickoff do to aid you in achieving your goals? 2) How do you learn best? 3) What is your long term goal for your final grade and for the AP Exam?

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Please turn over

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Complete at home!!!

AP Biology Student-Teacher-Parent Contract Acknowledgment

Ms. Bickoff 2016/17Directions: Please verify that both student and parent/guardian have read and understand the following documents by initialing next to each item.

Reading Check List: Student Initials Parent Initials

SyllabusLetter to Parents

Classroom ProceduresMy Goals Sheet

Lab Safety Contract and Quiz

I have read and reviewed all documents with my child.

Student Name (Please Print) _______________________________________________________________

Parent (s) Name (Please Print) _______________________________________________________________

Parent(s) Signature_______________________________________________________________

Student Signature _______________________________________________________________

*** Please tear off this page and return this section to class tomorrow. *** *** Do NOT forget to fill out the Science Safety Contract on pg.15-16 ***

Bickoff

PARENT CONTACT SHEET

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Pd:___________

STUDENT NAME:_______________________________________ STUDENT I.D. #___________________________

Preferred nickname:________________________

HOME PHONE NO.:____________________________ ________________________ PARENT/GUARDIAN NAME & CELL #: _______________________________WORK #_______________________ PARENT/GUARDIAN NAME & CELL #:______________________________2ND WORK #_____________________Allergies/Sensitivities_____________________________________________________

Any other pertinent information?_____________________________________________________________________________________

DATE TIME TELEPHONE/CELL# SPOKE W/ LEFTMESSAGE

REGARDING

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