General Chemistry

2017-2018 Course Expectations

Teacher: Ms. Willson Email: willsona@issaquah.wednet.edu
Classroom: 1207 Office: 1410D Phone: 425-837-7817
Website: mswillsonsscienceclass.weebly.com
Welcome to Chemistry! General Chemistry is a lab-based science course consisting of lecture, class discussion, laboratory work,
and problem-solving. You will be provided with numerous opportunities to explore, discover, and understand the intricate
concepts of chemistry in an environment that is student-centered and discovery based. It is my goal as teacher to make this
experience exciting and challenging. I expect you will actively participate in class; this might mean taking risks in formulating your
ideas and understandings of the field of chemistry. We are here to help each other!
We will be discussing the topics listed below and reading about them in your text, Chemistry. There will also be numerous lab
experiments to help emphasize and elaborate on concepts explored in class. Labs will require critical thinking skills; will ask you to
support your statements with evidence; and will give you practice in manipulating laboratory equipment.
Topics covered:
Semester 1 Semester 2
Base knowledge for Chemistry Chemical Reactions and Equations
- Metric units and measurements
- Dimensional Analysis
- Significant figures
- Safety
Energy Transfer- phase change and specific heat Stoichiometry
Atoms, Periodic Table, and Nuclear Chemistry Solutions (concentrations and dilutions)
Compounds and Bonding (IMF) Gas Laws (combined and ideal)
Enthalpy
Equilibrium, Kinetics, Factors that affect rxn. rates
Our Textbook:
Chemistry (Prentice Hall 2008)
You will check out a textbook at the beginning of the course. It is your responsibility to keep it in good condition. Lost or damaged
textbooks will result in a fine at the end of the school year. You will primarily keep your textbook at home, though there may be
work days when I will ask you to bring it to class.
Required Class Materials: (talk to me if you will have trouble acquiring any of these items)
Writing Instruments- pen and pencil* Goggles are required for all lab activities. Classroom goggles
Binder to organize your work* are provided for student use.
class notes/ handouts/ homework* Students may purchase goggles if they wish.
Notebook and/or loose leaf paper * -It will then be the responsibility of each student to have their
Scientific calculator* goggles on lab days.
General Chemistry Lab Manual* (purchase
online)
*Required for each class period
Professionalism -Class Policies and Expectations
We (as a class) will be working together to come up with a list specific to this years classes. In the meantime, here are some non-
negotiables that I expect of you as Chemistry students:
Follow all safety guidelines outlined in the safety contract (to be distributed at a later time)
Be courteous, considerate and respectful. Show respect for yourself, your classmates, and visitors to our class, the room,
equipment and your teacher (me). Always strive to be a little nicer than necessary.
Work to the best of your abilities. I have high expectations and standards. Use your resources. Ask for help. Give help
when you can; Get help when you need it. Keep trying even when its hard. This is about your learning . Remember, if
youre not making mistakes, youre not trying.
Be prompt/on time and prepared to learn. You always have a choice; however, my expectation of you is that you will be
in your seat when I start class. Please take advantage of every opportunity to learn and be engaged in class. It is expected

Chem Course Expectations Willson 17/18 -1-

 you will arrive by the beginning of the class period. After seven (7) tardies, a work-detention will be given and must be
completed within a week (or another will be given). Additional work-detentions will be given for each subsequent seven
(7) tardies. If a student does not attend their work-detention, the infraction will be escalated to an administrative referral
which can include lunch-time detention and/or Saturday school.
Cooperate. Much of what we will be doing in class involves teamwork. You will collaborate with your classmates as you
teach and learn from each other. Working with others is fundamental to your success in the sciences.
Communicate. Tell me when you do not understand something. Actively try to monitor your level of understanding. Let
me know what is going on in your life, the more I know, the more I can help! Im human too and life does happen.
Check the class website DAILY (mswillsonsscienceclass.weebly.com). Practice as well as due dates are posted on the
calendar daily. Occasionally, I will ask you to print handouts/assignments and bring them to the following class.
Food and drinks are acceptable in the FRONT of the room only. There are, or have been, chemicals in the lab area.
Contained food and drinks are allowed ONLY in the front of the classroom. Anything that crosses into the lab area will be
confiscated and discarded. NO FOOD or DRINK in the lab area. Running back and forth from your food to the lab area is
not tolerated. You MUST wash your hands each time you leave lab.
Be ethical and responsible. Academic honesty is imperative. You are expected to assume responsibility for your own
work and your individual contribution to group work at all times. Working together is encouraged. However, working
together and directly copying or paraphrasing someone elses work is cheating. I would rather you take responsibility
and tell me if your work is not done. Even if an assignment is completed cooperatively, be sure to accurately show what
YOU know on the assignment, not what someone else knows. You and your partner will have identical data, however that
is the ONLY thing that should be identical.
SHS has a very strict cheating/plagiarism policy and repeated offenses can result in you failing this course. The following
information is outlined in more detail in your student handbook.
1st Offense: Zero credit for assignment.
2nd Offense: Potentially fail entire course !!! SHS is a no tolerance zone for cheating/plagiarism!!!

Grading Policy: Grades are electronically rounded to the nearest 0.1%. and will not be adjusted because they are close to a
borderline. Only handing in late/missing assignments (see late policy below) and minimal extra credit might improve/change a
grade. Extra credit is based upon your knowledge of the subject matter and given during assessments (if at all).
Semester Grading Categories:
30% - Formative (Practice, some Quizzes*, Scale:
some Labs*) A 93-100% B+ 87-89.99% C+ 77-79.99% D+ 67-69.99%
60% - Summative (Unit Assessments, Lab A- 90-92.99% B 83-86.99% C 73-76.99% D 60-66.99%
Assessment(s), some Quizzes*, some B- 80-82.99% C- 70-72.99%
Labs*) Assignments are due during the class period on prescribed day to be
10% - Semester Final (2nd semester final is considered on time"
cummalative for the year.)
*Quiz and/or Lab category (formative/summative) will be determined and communicated ahead of time.

Test: Tests will be composed of multiple-choice, short answer/problems, and short written essay. There will be one major test at
the end of each unit and they will be announced in advance, and review work time will usually be provided in class.

Quizzes: Quizzes are a formative assessment, based off of practice (homework). It is a way for you and me to see how your
understanding and skills are progressing.

Practice (homework): Topics discussed in class and lab will be directly related to the practice assigned. Practice will be assigned and
either checked or turned in almost every day. Practice will typically be due at the beginning of class. If there are questions about
the practice work, the work must be attempted for credit. Excessive missing practice work may result in a student being assigned
Academic Overtime. This will be a scheduled time in which a student will come in before or after school to work on the missing
assignment(s).

Missed Work/Tests/Late Work: You are responsible for determining what work/tests you missed after an excused absence (check
the website!). Warm-up questions will be online and should be completed for excused absences. Work and tests missed due to an
excused absence must be completed within a period of time equal to the length of the absence (absent 2 days = 2 days to make up
work ) and will be accepted without penalty. All other late work will be given an Incomplete in the grade book until it is turned
in. For chronic late work, Academic Overtime will be assigned. If a student does not arrange/attend Academic Overtime, the
Chem Course Expectations Willson 17/18 -2-
infraction will be escalated to an administrative referral which can include lunch-time detention and/or Saturday school. Please
discuss any unique circumstances with me.

NOTE: All missing assignments for a unit must be turning in BY that units test. No exceptions with PRIOR arrangement(s) and
agreement.

Safety!!! Safety will take the highest priority at all times in this classroom. Prior to a lab, you will be expected to review all safety
protocols and SDS (Safety Data Sheet) for all chemicals used in the lab. We will have a separate unit dedicated to lab safety, and
you must pass the safety test with a 90%, or above, in order to participate in lab activities. Furthermore, you will be given an
Issaquah District safety contract to read over and sign. Failure to follow and/or blatant disregard for safety protocols may lead to a
deduction of points, possibly removal from the lab with NO CREDIT, and even removal from the class.
Labs: All labs require a pre-lab document, which can vary in its form. These Prelab activities should be prepared before you arrive in
class on a lab day, and will be checked for completion.

Every pre-lab document should have at least: (see your lab manual for more thorough pre-lab instructions)
Lab #, Title, Name, Date, Period and Partner (#TNDPP) A graphical procedure summary (flow chart or drawing)
SDS table for all chemicals data tables with lines drawn with a ruler and proper titles
Any other safety precautions
This pre-lab document will be checked at the beginning of the lab period. During the lab you are expected to record on the pre-lab
document all data in the appropriate data tables as neatly as possible in ink. The stamped pre-lab document will be turned in,
attached to the final lab report. All graded lab reports are to be kept in a portfolio.

You must wear appropriate clothing on lab days and will not be allowed to participate in any lab for which you are not safely dressed.
You are expected to leave the lab as clean as (or cleaner) than you found it. Messy lab stations will result in Academic Overtime for
those lab groups. You will be responsible for all lab materials and may be fined for breakage.

Missed labs will be made up after school within two weeks of the absence. The after school lab make-up schedule will be arranged
with me. Please discuss any unique circumstances with me prior to labs/tests.

ELECTRONICS IN THE CLASSROOM

There are times that electronics can be both useful as well as distracting. Any electronic device that takes your attention from class
will not be permitted. However, there are times in which devices will be allowed:
There are some independent work times when listening to your own music is appropriate. I will notify you of those times.
Please ask me prior to using your phone to access school information (a teachers website, math homework, etc). That way
I know that you are using your phone appropriately.
Consequences for inappropriate cell phone use (e.g. texting, selfies, etc.) in my class will be applied in a progressive
manner:
o First two weeks of school: confiscation of the phone for the period.
o Remainder of the school year: confiscation of the phone until the end of the school day.
o If phone use becomes a consistent problem, other measures could be enacted, including (but not limited to)
school/administrative intervention.

Extra Help:
I am typically available most days before and after school. Please check with me or the classroom board for available days each
week. Please talk to me if you have questions I am here to help!
Please remember that it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to obtain notes and other information from our website, or a peer, if you are
absent. It is also YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to come see me to make up any assignments, tests, or exams that you missed on the days
you are absent. Lastly, it is (can you guess?) YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to get help/ask questions as I do not read minds.

This document should be kept in the students Chemistry binder and/or at home, for reference.

Chem Course Expectations Willson 17/18 -3-

Chem Course Expectations Willson 17/18 -4-
Please Print page 5 (next page) to be turned in to teacher. ONLY page 5 needs to be turned in.
Chemistry Course Expectations Acknowledgement Willson 2017-2018
Required Signatures and Acknowledgements:
Please initial each box to indicate you have read and understand the following about Ms Willsons General Chemistry course
expectations:
STUDENT PARENT/GUARDIAN

This is a lab-based class This is a lab-based class

Topics covered Topics covered

Required class materials Required class materials

Professionalism
expectations
classroom policies and Professionalism
expectations
classroom policies and

Grading policy
Tests
Grading policy
Tests
Quizzes & quiz retakes Quizzes & quiz retakes
Practice Practice
Make up work (tests, quizzes, practice) Make up work (tests, quizzes, practice)
Late work/Academic Overtime policy Late work/Academic Overtime policy

Safety general classroom/lab policy Safety general classroom/lab policy

Electronics Electronics

Extra help Extra help

_________________________________ ________________________________
student name printed parent/guardian name printed

_________________________________ _____________ _________________________________ _____________

student signature Date parent/guardian signature Date

The use of contact lenses is NOT recommended during chemistry labs as they can act to hold foreign materials against the eye.

Please initial if your student might be wearing contact lenses in class, including during labs.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Parent Contact Information:
Parents/Guardians, please provide some contact information for my reference. Feel free to provide only the information with
which you feel comfortable. I can be contacted by e-mail (which is best) at willsona@issaquah.wednet.edu or (425) 837-7817

parent/guardian name (printed) e-mail address

____________________________________
home phone work phone

Chem Course Expectations Willson 17/18 -5-