I implement a portfolio method in my teaching. The portfolio serves as a teaching tool and an assessment (grading) method. Students collect all their work in a 3-ring binder. The portfolio allows me to better monitor students' progress. It gives the learners more options to express what they learn. It allows them to control their own progress and gives them an ownership of their work. In addition, the portfolio allows parents or guardians to observe student's work and progress. Students are required to have the 3-ring binder to collect their work.
Homework policy:
Students are given a set of homework questions or problems related to the covered material. Students have two weeks to complete and turn their homework to me. The deadline for turning the homework is specified on each homework set
Grading policy:
Homework 10%
Class assignments 10%
Quizzes 15%
Exams 20%
Participation 10%
Labs 15%
Portfolio 20%
aPeriods: 1, 3, 4, 6, 8
To view scores and grades please visit the Student Portal!!!
My display( you will find here pictures of the display "Fossils,
Minerals and Rocks". )
My display: "Fossils, Minerals and Rocks"
Topographic Map ( you will find here a description of the project "Creating a Topographic Map" and two topographic maps created by stydents.
Project: "Creating a Topographic Map"
The project "Creating a Topographic Map" was a 2005 Teacher Incentive Grant Winner of the Oppenheimer Family Foundation. The Grant allowed me to purchase sophisticated instruments such as (Global Positioning System) GPS systems and Altimeters for my students to create a topographic map. My students learned about a topographic map by creating their own very detailed map of the area around the school. The project was completed in one month and involved 10 teams of 3-5 students in my Topics in Science classes. Students performed field measurements of latitude, longitude, altitude, distance, and dimensions of all ground features of the area. They used their measurements to create the topographic map of the area in scale 1:240. Ten teams used their measurements and graphing skills to create their unique maps. Click on the pictures to see full size photos of two topographic maps of the school area created by my students (the real maps are the size of a big poster).
Map #1
Map #2
CEarth and space science gives students one more option in choosing among different science classes. It takes them into a new dimension. For some students, it is an introduction and excellent preparation for more advanced subjects like physics or chemistry. For others, it is a challenge and opportunity to venture into the world of unknown. Students will not only learn about our Universe, galaxies, stars, planets, the Earth and forces that shape our planet but also refine their mathematical, scientific, artistic and linguistic skills. The earth and space science class incorporates a variety of activities including reading scientific journals, watching scientific movies, exploring physical phenomena by performing hands on activities, discussions, inquiries about the past, present, and the future of the Universe and its integral part, the human kind.lick heredd text.
The astronomy class gives students one more option in choosing among different science classes. It is a class designed to acquire knowledge about our Universe and Earth that is an integral part of the Universe. Students will not only learn about the Universe, Earth, forces and phenomena that shape them both but also refine their mathematical, scientific, artistic and linguistic skills. The astronomy class will incorporate a variety of activities including reading scientific journals, watching scientific movies, exploring physical and chemical phenomena by performinghands on activities, discussions, and others.
Astronomy Assignments, Labs, etc.
1. Class work 2. Labs 3. Handouts 4. Homework
Joshua Bautista
Andy Wittock
Paul Baumgartner
Justin Valentin
Jose Mena
Freshman 2010/2011xt.
Scientific Concepts Assignments, Labs, etc.
1. Class work 2. Labs 3. Handouts 4. Homework
1."History of the Universe..."
set 9/23-9/27
2."The sun, inner planets,
outer planets..." set 10/13
10/17
3. "Earth in space, tides,
eclipses, moon..etc" set
10/26 - 10/31
4. "Exploring Earth's
Surface....etc" set
11/16-11/22
5. "Rocks, Rock Cycle..etc."
12/7-12/8
6. Weathering, erosin,...etc
1/9-1/12/12
7. Fossils, age of rocks
1/19 - 1/23/12
1."Haw far and how fast"
9/14-9/16
2."The Sun's Structure"
10/3-10/5
3. "Lunar Lander"
10/19- 10/21
4. "Earth's Interior
Structure - model" 11/2-11/3
5. "Identifying Minetrals"
11/29-11/31
1.Set #1 9/13-9/27
2.Set #2 10/3-10/17
3.Set #3 10/21-11/04
4.Set #4 11/9-11/23
5.Set #5 12/5-12/19
6. Winter break project 12/20,21,22 -
after the break
1.e"Kepler's Laws" set
9/16--9/19
2. "History of the Univesre,
scales..." set 9/26-9/28
3. "Star systems. Galaxies"
10/13 -10/14
4. "Characteristics of
stars....etc" set
10/21- 10/25
5. "The Sun, Suns' size...."
set 11/3 -11/8
6 "Planets -data table"
11/22 - 12/2
7. "Inner,Outer Planets...etc
12/6-12/8
8. Earth is space 1/11-1/12/12
1.e"Haw far and how fast,
red/blue shift"10/3-10/6
2. "The Sun's Interior
Structure" 10/27-10/31
3. "Measuring the diameter
of the Sun" 11/14- 11/16
4. Lunar lander 1/13-1/17/12
1. Historical view of the
science of Astronomy
and Kepler's Laws. 9/14
2. Exploring the Sun 10/27
3. Asteroids, Comets..12/5
1. Measuring objects
9/14-9/16
2. Radioactivity,
radioactive dating,
half-life 10/19 - 10/21
3. Creating a cloud
1/17-1/18/12
4. Building an anemometer 1/19- in progress
1.Conversions between units 9/15
2. Lesson on the meaning
of percentage 9/20
3. Atoms, ions, radioactivity 10/17
4. Periodic table of elements 10/21
5. amu, mol, compounds 10/24
6. pH scale, acids, bases, acidic
precipitation 11/2
7. Greenhouse Effect 11/22
8. The Ozone Shield 11/22
9. Climate set. 12/5
1.Set #1 9/13-9/27
2.Set #2 10/3-10/21
3.Set #3 10/21-11/04
4.Set #4 11/9-11/23
5.Set #5 12/5-12/19
6. Winter break project 12/20,21,22 -
after the break
1.Set #1 9/13-9/27
2.Set #2 10/3-10/17
3.Set #3 10/21-11/04
4.Set #4 11/9-11/23
5.Set #5 12/5-12/19
6. Set #6 12/20,21,22 -
after the break
1. Measurements & Units
9/19-9/20
2. Percentages 9/21-9/23
3. Interpreting data tables
9/26-9/29
4. Interpreting graphs
10/4 - 10/10
5. Periodic Table of
Elements 10/25 - 10/27
6. Acid Precipitation: Active
Reading 11/3 - 11/8
7. Solar radiation, ozone..etc
11/25-11/29
8. What causes climate
12/7-12/13
9. The air aroud you...
1/9-1/12/12
Scientific concepts class gives juniors one more option in choosing among different science classes. The class is designed to prepare students for ACT and PSAE exams. It combines topics from subject like earth and space science, chemistry, physics and biology. For some students, it is an introduction and excellent preparation for more advanced subjects like physics or chemistry. For others, it is a review of scientific knowledge. Students not only learn about our Universe, the Earth, forces that shape our planet, physical and chemical phenomena, and life but also refine their mathematical, scientific, artistic and linguistic skills. Scientific concepts class incorporates a variety of activities including reading scientific journals, watching scientific movies, exploring physical and chemical phenomena by performing hands on activities, discussions, and others.
