SCIENCE CLASS RESPONSIBILITIES & EXPECTATIONS

After discussing, over and over again with students and many parents, the following responsibilities and expectations needed to be explained in detail. Many of these responsibilities and expectations came about after really careful reflection on what challenges students, teachers, and parents face with education. Teachers always reflect on what they do and make changes as needed. Students should always reflect on what they do and make changes as needed. I put the following responsibilities and expectations in very detailed writing to help your child better understand responsibilities and help you as parent better understand expectations, so you are better able to explain and help your child understand these responsibilities & expectations and help guide them through their education. The length and detail of these responsibilities and expectations I hope show the care I have for all students and the desire in my heart for all students to do their best and be their best. My main goal is to instil in students the strategies needed to be successful in school and later in life. Teaching is not just a job for me. It could never be that, especially when you are molding and shaping the lives of children. I love teaching. I love the interactions and discussions I get to have with students each day, and I really love when I get the chance to work with a student and their parent together. 

Respectfully, & With Lots of Love, Care, & Concern,

Michele Lawson

Harmony Grove Elementary School 5th/6th Grade Science Teacher

SCIENCE CLASS RESPONSIBILITIES & EXPECTATIONS

Come to class prepared with all materials needed, pencils, pens,    paper, binder, journal, classwork, homework...

Respect the reason you are in science class, which is to learn, listen, participate, & question.

Be respectful and compassionate and encouraging to others.  Be kind to others. Give compliments to others.

Ask questions during a lesson, after a lesson, after class, or write a note and put it in the classroom question box when you don’t understand something or need more explanation on something. If you do not know the exact question you have or exactly what you don’t understand, then put a note in the question box and request a teacher/student conference, so we can discuss the issue and work together to solve the problem.

Interact with your peers during group discussions and listen to each student’s discussion. Interact with the class during whole group discussions and listen attentively to whoever is talking. Ask questions of peers too, not just the teacher.

Give thoughtful feedback. Respect others and their thoughts. Use soft voices. Follow agreed upon rules for discussions. Speak one at a time. Raise your hand to speak. Stay with your group.

Do not wait until the last minute to ask for help on an assignment.

When correcting/discussing homework, classwork, assignments, make sure you write the "correct" information in and any "important" notes or diagrams Ms. Lawson tells you to write, so that you have what you need to study and to take tests.

Be sure you understand the expectations of the teacher regarding any lessons, activities and assignments and that you are clear on what the teacher expects for the assignment. Put a question in the box and/or ask for a student/teacher conference for help understanding what is expected. If you are ever "uneasy" or "uncertain" if your work meets requirements do not wait until the last minute and definitely do not wait until a low grade goes home to ask for feedback and/or help.

When you are given a graded assignment back, like homework or tests, do not just look at the grade and put it aside, even if you got an A or B. Look over the graded work and understand exactly why you missed certain things on the assignment. If you still do not understand why you missed what you missed, even with teacher comments or the grading rubric, then ask to have a student/teacher conference with me. I cannot always talk in detail during our short 50 minute class time about grades and why you missed what you missed. We have to use class time wisely.

Don’t give up easily on tough assignments. Be determined and persistent in your learning and with assignments. If an assignment is difficult or you know it’s going to take a lot of time and thinking to complete do not wait until the last minute to do the assignment, that way you will have enough time to ask for feedback on your work and/or help with the assignment. Do not just turn in the assignment to just have something turned in. Make sure it’s your best and relates back to the teacher’s requirements for the assignment.

Take responsibility for your own learning and know what you are  responsible for as a student. Be organized so that you can find classwork and assignments and are not fumbling through paperwork during an important classroom discussion. Take part in the process of learning by participating fully in class activities and discussions and asking questions when you are curious or do not understand a concept fully. Ask questions to the teacher or another student when you do not understand. Ask the teacher to clarify or explain specific requirements for an assignment if you do not fully understand what is expected after it is discussed at length in class. Ask the teacher to explain words and/or "reword" parts and/or sections of grading rubrics that you do not understand, so that you are sure to do the assignments correctly.

Make sure you know your options for help and always ask for help with difficult concepts or assignments from, teacher, another student, parent, family friend, another teacher, a tutor,…

Keep your parents informed about science class subject matter, homework, homework grades, tests, test grades, progress reports, future assignments, and give parents letters from the teacher right away. This is even more important if you do not have internet access at home.

Tell your parents that they can go to the school website and access Ms. Lawson’s science page for important science information and grading rubrics at www.hgsd1.com and that they can email Ms. Lawson from that site or access Ms. Lawson’s personal cell phone number from that site.

Take responsibility for your actions and for your work, and don’t look for reasons to challenge the teacher’s grading of your work when you know you were not as responsible as you should have been in all aspects of the assignment, from beginning of the process to the end.

Do not ever feel that you cannot give your opinion and/or suggestions on the teacher’s or other students’ ideas in regards to science content, science lessons, or science requirements/rubrics. We are all in partnership together, teachers, students and parents. If you are for certain you have done everything that you are responsible for as a student, then never ever feel like you cannot express your explanations, suggestions, or comments. You are valuable to the learning process. Teachers many times learn from students and parents. Students many times learn, not just from teachers, but from others students and other adults. Parents many times learn from you, from the teacher, from other school personnel, and other parents. When we are all in contact frequently and are in discussion about your education, then you benefit!  I value your input, your parents’ input and other educational staff when creating lessons, discussing and explaining science concepts, and when creating grading rubrics and authentic tests and assessments.

Most importantly, understand that I only want the best for you and, I know you are not "perfect," neither am I and neither are your parents.

I understand that you are only 10, 11, 12, or 13 years old and that these are responsibilities many of you need time to strengthen, learn, and understand fully. However, just know that I will never stop expecting these high standards from you. Your parents wouldn’t want me to lower expectations. But, I will always remember that you will sometimes forget things. You will sometimes lose things. You will sometimes not feel well. You will have days where you do not feel up to participating fully. You will sometimes get discouraged. You will sometimes forget your role as student. I want to promise you that I will help you with all these responsibilities and remind you often. Also, I will help your parents be better able to help you by putting most everything from science class on the school website. Right now there is only science fair information, binder check information, and websites and videos from class. Eventually, I will also have a schedule of what areas of science will be covered each week/month, homework assignments, study guides, grading rubrics, how extra credit can be earned throughout the year, and a lot of helpful information for you and your parents. I really do care about your learning, not so much your grades, but your actual learning process, thinking skills, writing skills, and problem solving skills. These are skills you will need for the remainder of your school years and also in your adult life.

Thank you and your parents for taking the time to read, discuss, and understand science class responsibilities & expectations. Many of these expectations are also expected in other classes as well and will be expected throughout your school years here at Harmony Grove and beyond. 

Please fill out, sign, and return the attached form, letting me know that you and your parents have read and discussed science classroom responsibilities & expectations.

If you or your parents have any questions or concerns please email, call, text, send in a letter, or schedule a conference. I am here for you and your parents. 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Student’s Name:

______________________

Homeroom Teacher:

______________________

"I have read Ms. Lawson’s science classroom list of responsibilities & expectations for my child and have discussed them with my child." "If my child or I do not understand any of the expectations listed, then I will contact Ms. Lawson for understanding, clarification, and/or to give Ms. Lawson some possible suggestions."

___________________________________

Parent’s Signature

_____________________

Date Signed