…to Dr. Mitch Busick’s Marine Biology class. I hope you are as excited as I am to start a new year at a new school – exploring the living world and expanding your minds.
My Marine Biology class should be easy. If you want an “A,” all you have to do is be on time, do the work and be classroom appropriate. Quizzes will be frequent but open notes – but they must be your notes! This class is an elective, which to me means that either you are here because you want to learn about marine biology or you want an easy but interesting class…
This is my first time teaching Environmental Systems and Societies so I will be learning with you. It should be one of the easier IB courses but we’ll see as time passes.
My goal is to provide every student an environment that will promote maximum learning, the confidence that comes with
success, and a desire to continue learning about the miracles of life.
About myself: I have been a licensed doctor of chiropractic since 1993. I sold my practice in 2002 to study education at Cal State Fullerton and to obtain a teaching credential. I’ve taught at the Los Angeles College of Chiropractic, Sunny Hills High School in Fullerton, and am now starting my 15th year at Firebaugh. I love learning and sharing our world’s rapidly expanding understanding of life with eager young minds.
My classroom rules are simple. I expect students to demonstrate respect for
people, property and the learning environment. If you have any questions or would like to visit our classroom, you may email me at [email protected]. You can also access my educational material at
https://sites.google.com/a/busick.net/dr-mitch-s-hl-biology/home/resources (or google search “Dr. Mitch Busick resources”)
Parents, please sign the “Notice To Parents: Student Responsibilities” (final page) to confirm that you are aware of your child’s responsibilities. Your support at home is essential to your child’s success here at Marco Antonio Firebaugh High School.
Sincerely,
Mitchell A. Busick, D.C.
Marine Biology: Room 2120
Required Course Materials
1. Marine Biology text: Introduction to Marine Biology, 3rd Edition 2. Environmental Systems and Societies text:
3. Note taking materials:
a. Colored pencils and/or pens: Students will be coloring, making diagrams and drawings almost daily.
Classroom etiquette – I know you know the rules, but here are some reminders…
1. No one stops me from teaching and no one stops you from learning… 2. Be on time! If you’re not in your seat when the bell rings, you’re tardy.
3. Contained drinks are the only consumables allowed in the classroom. No eating in class. You may chew gum if I can’t see it or hear it. If I ask you to spit it out, do not argue (you may lose classroom behavior points).
4. Smartphones may be used in class for some classroom activities. Students using their phones for non-academic purposes or wearing headphones during lectures will lose classroom behavior points. If you finish the day’s activities, you may play on your phone as long as you don’t disrupt others who are still working.
5. Students must get permission and a pass to leave the classroom for any reason. If a student leaves the room without permission they will be marked absent.
6. Talking is not allowed when anyone (teacher or student) is addressing the class. a. During group activities, if your voice can be heard over the rest of the room
noise, you are too loud.
b. Students who are unable to maintain reasonable volumes will be lose classroom behavior points.
7. Students may move around the room for necessary activities (to get a tissue, sharpen a pencil, staple something discard trash, etc.) as long as they do not disrupt the class. 8. Deliberate classroom disruptions will result in loss of all classroom behavior points
for that day. Continued disruptions will lose more points and lead to other
disciplinary consequences: calling parents, referral to the office… you know the drill. 9. A raised hand and eye contact is sufficient to get my attention, but do not be
discouraged if I do not call on you immediately during lecture. I encourage students to write down questions to ensure that they get answered.
10. Use of materials (microscopes, stains, etc.) will be covered in detail before they are distributed to students. If you don’t know how to use it, don’t touch it!
11. Students are absolutely NOT permitted to collect by the door before the bell.
Special Needs
Please let me know if there is any way that I can be of special assistance to your individual needs. I have endless patience for all students with a desire to succeed.
Procedures
1. If a student is not in his or her assigned seat when the bell rings, the student will be marked tardy. If you are tardy, come in quietly through the back of the class to your seat. Tardies already disrupt class but if your behavior increases this, you’ll lose classroom behavior points.
2. If you are tardy, it is your responsibility to make sure that you are not marked absent. See me after class or when I’m not lecturing to make sure my records are correct. I make every effort to mark students tardy when they come in late but I’m not perfect. It is your responsibility to make sure your attendance is correct.
3. If a student is more than 29 minutes late to class they will be marked
ABSENT. Absence:
1. You must still do the work: get assignments and notes from me or another student.
2. Work due during absence is due on the day of return.
3. Work assigned during absence is due after no more than the number of days missed. Unexcused absences cause assignments to lose points as if late. Late work:
1. Assignments lose 1 point per day until they have no point value. Most
assignments are worth 5 points and will therefore be worth 0 after 5 days. Do not attempt to turn in late assignments after that time unless prior
arrangements have been made with me. If you have a vacation or illness – let me know ASAP so we can make arrangements for you to stay current.
2. There will be no make-up work for missed assignments. Classroom participation:
Extra classroom participation points will be awarded for exceptional classroom participation and effort.
Extra credit:
Extra credit is award for exceptional work. I RARELY assign extra credit work. Turning in assignments:
Assignments may be due at the end of class or possibly collected at the beginning of the next day’s class. After this time, assignments not turned in are late.
Tests
1. Tests and quizzes will include a combination of objective (matching, multiple choice and true false) and subjective (short answer, essay) questions.
2. Ten to twenty (10-20) point quizzes will be given on most Fridays. They will be open notes (for Marine Bio) but the student must use their own notebook. I expect all notebooks to have the student’s name in ink on every page!
3. If a student is absent on the day of the exam, they must take it immediately upon returning to class.
4. One hundred (100) point exams will be given at the end of each semester.
5. I will select one of the following for a missed exam: - An alternate examination of the same material. - A special project of equivalent value.
Labs and Activities
There will be activities requiring student work to be turned in during some classes. Points are awarded for completeness, neatness, effort and understanding according to rubrics.
Marine Biology Class schedule:
This is a tentative outline for this year’s marine biology activities.
Unit 1: Introduction
Learning styles
Order of magnitude: the very small and the very large Science and marine biology
Unit 2: The Chemistry of life
Chemical elements and water Enzymes
Photosynthesis Cell respiration
Unit 3: Ecology
Marine environments Species interaction Biogeochemical cycles Climate change
Unit 4: Marine Geology
Tectonics
Types of rock and their effect on marine life Continental drift
Unit 5: Weather
Water, waves and tides
Ocean currents, up currents and el Nino
Unit 6: Building blocks of life
Carbohydrates Proteins Fats
DNA
Cells Evolution
Units to follow will focus on specific types of marine organisms
Environmental Systems and Society Course outline
Topic 2—Ecosystems and ecology
Topic 3—Biodiversity and conservation
Topic 4—Water and aquatic food production systems and societies
Topic 5—Soil systems and terrestrial food production systems and societies
Topic 6—Atmospheric systems and societies
Topic 7—Climate change and energy production
Topic 8—Human systems and resource use
Grading policy
Final grades will be determined by adding up points from all types of assignments and the standard grade percentages are applied: 90-100 = A, 80-89.9 = B, etc. Points are earned for:
1. Daily participation points (5/day) 2. Quizzes and semester exams
3. Worksheets: most will be 5 points. Some class work will be worth more
Academic dishonesty
Lynwood School district has strict disciplinary guidelines for cheating or plagiarism. These guidelines will be enforced in my class.
Parent participation
Notice To Student and Parents: Student Responsibilities
Parents and students please sign and return by Friday, August 30
th, 2019.
(10 easy points)
Dear student and Parent or Guardian,
One of our most important goals at Firebaugh High School is to increase and improve parent involvement in the education of our students. With the active participation of parents/guardians, students value their education more and enjoy greater success. Therefore, I am asking that, together, you discuss the responsibilities, expectations and consequences together. Then, please sign the acknowledgement below and return it to me. Thank you for helping to start this school year on a positive note. I am looking forward to a great year of learning together!
Name of Parent/Guardian ________________________________________________________
Name of Parent/Guardian ________________________________________________________
Phone numbers:
Daytime ______________________________________________________________________
Evening ______________________________________________________________________
Is there anything about this student that I should be aware of? ____________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
If you have any questions, please contact me. The school phone number is 310-886-5200 and my email address is [email protected].
I have read and understand the class syllabus and the student responsibilities.
Student signature: _______________________________________________________________
