Facilitator Information: ​Mrs. Jennifer Esser

Email: ​Jennifer.Esser@k12.sd.us
Team Website: ​http://sms8th.weebly.com/ Twitter: @ EsserJK

Topics to be covered:
Fall Semester​: Scientific Practices, Forces & Motion, Types of Interactions, Energy,
Conservation & Conversion of Energy, Force & Energy Relationships, and Waves
Spring Semester​: Structure & Properties of Matter, Periodic Table, Chemical Reactions, and
Earth Science & Life Science Review

Learning Materials:
Texts: Science Fusion workbooks; Hold McDougal, 2012
Needed Supplies: markers, colored pencils, highlighters & calculator

Students will be use multiple classroom set texts during the school year which remain in the
classroom unless being borrowed to make up work. They will be supplemented with digital text and
laboratory activities. Students are encouraged to utilize a 3-ring binder as a means to organize
course materials. Within the classroom, students will be keeping an digital notebook on Book
Creator for note-taking, drawings and labs.

Ways To Be Successful
Be Respectful:
▪ Respect others, property and yourself!
▪ Gum only during non-lab time and if I don’t see or hear it.
▪ Clean up after yourself!
▪ Cell phones are to be put away before entering class and only out with teacher permission.
Park it in the basket on the teacher’s desk if you do not trust yourself to keep it put away.
▪ Words matter! Encourage those around you with a positive attitude & use appropriate
language.

Be Responsible:
▪ Come to class prepared with your writing utensil, device, headphones & any other required
materials. Your Science Notebook & Workbook will remain in the classroom unless otherwise
stated.
▪ Be in your seat working on your daily bellringer in your Science Notebook when the bell rings.
You will receive a tardy if you are late to class without a note or if you come unprepared.
▪ Turn in completed assignments on time to the designated In Box or on Empower. Failure to
do so will result in you being placed on the ICU list and work must be completed outside of
class.
 ▪ Be on-task, making the most of your time in the classroom! Visit the restroom before or
after class. In case of an emergency speak with the teacher.

Be Safe:
▪ Work cooperatively with others.
▪ Follow all lab safety procedures outlined in the district’s Lab Safety Contract you signed.
▪ Above all use common sense!

For those following these expectations I will happily ​☺​ encourage you will verbal praise, preferred
activity time, prize candy, calls home....For those not following classroom expectations, a verbal
warning will be followed by a pink slip and then a trip to the office and a call home.

Grades:
Students will be assessed through a variety of measures in order to monitor student progress,
content mastery and provide the opportunity for curriculum refinement. All assignments must
be completed and late assignments will land you on the ICU list and must be complete during
Directed Studies. Student grades may be monitored through the school’s parent portal.

● Summative Assessments​ include: End of Unit Exams, Group and Independent

Research Projects…

● Formative Assessments​ include: Interactive Science Notebooks, Lab Reports, Unit

Relevant Assignments, Socratic Seminars, Homework, Current Events, Quizzes…

✓ All assessments below an 80% or Progressing Grade may be redone for full
credit within a week after being handed back. A Redo/Retest form must be
approved by the teacher before it is completed and accompany the assignment
when resubmitted.

A combined standards-based grading with a more traditional grading scale will be used to
distinguish between various levels of performance. Students must maintain a grade of
Emerging or higher in each course standard to pass the class.

Middle School Grading Scale

Grade Percentage
Meets Standard (M) 90% and above
Progressing (P) 80-89.5%
Emerging (E) 70-79.5%
Standard Not Met (N) 60-69.5%
Incomplete (I) Inadequate work; final grade not assigned
Standard Not Assessed No scored in grade book

Homework:
Will be given on an as needed basis.

Absences: