Mr. Larry Jones
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Frequently Asked Questions
About Physical Science
1. What are the keys to
doing well in this class?
2. How do I get extra help when needed?
3. Are the labs dangerous?
4. How do I study for tests and exams?
5. What simple steps can I take to keep up and make good
grades?
6. How should I take class notes?
7. What can I as a parent do to help my child?
8. What are some of the labs done during the year?
9. How can this website and the Internet help
students?
10. Physical Science Standards: http://www.myscschools.com/offices/cso/Science/Sciencest.htm
All classes will be using graphing calculators. Any in the TI-83, TI=83 plus, TI-84, etc. series are appropriate.
1. What are the keys to
doing well in this class?
The following is a short list of important ideas: try to never miss class unless necessary, review class notes for a few
minutes every day (the notes we worked with that day and the ones for the next
class), try to turn in assignments on time that are done to the best of your
abilities, ask for help (before school is best) when you don't understand.
If you are absent or get behind: come by in the morning and we will
work out a schedule to get you caught up.
The number one thing: study, review, make study-notes as needed.
2. How do I get extra help
when needed?
I am available almost every morning before school (as early as 7:30 am).
I can meet with you after school if given advance notice. Use the web
pages to help (there are lots of help sites
listed that you can use. We can usually find class time whenever you have
pending work. Older students can help as well. There is a tutoring
service available through the school. I have computer review programs
available on disk. You can use the computers in my room (I have about 15
available) for these review programs.
3. Are the labs dangerous?
NO. Our labs do use some materials that could be dangerous if not handled
properly. We only do these labs at the end of the chemistry unit
when we have had ample time to practice and review safe procedures. We use
the Bunsen burners often but I preburn each one in the mornings and only allow
students to light them by themselves when they have proven they know how to do
it safely.
We start out the year with a thorough coverage of equipment and safety rules
(both my rules and the ones published by Flinn Scientific). We then have a
test on these rules which must be passed with a 90% rate. A laboratory
safety contract must be signed by a parent/guardian before any labs are
attempted. All labs are explained completely before we do
them. All safety devices are available during labs (fire
extinguishers, spill kits, eye wash, safety shower, fire blanket, first aid kit,
etc.) We have special codes for emergencies that give the students
specific assignments in case of an accident.
Goggles and aprons are worn when we do any experiment dealing with heat, glass,
and/or chemicals. No play or food is allowed in our lab.
4. How do I study for tests
and exams.
We use handouts and class notes daily. We also use extensive lab
experiences and demonstrations. These sources are combined to create the
test/exam materials. Our textbooks are of average quality and are only used
as an occasional secondary source of information. Each student is asked to keep daily notes by the day
number (running 1 through 180). Handouts are coded as well. A review
guide is given to the students several days prior to the test/exam (and most are
included on the web site). We discuss any questions the students have
about the upcoming test and the students are usually given an idea of the
structure for the test. Most major test have some bonus assignments
tied in with the test. After the test is graded we refer back to the
review guide and make exam review notes. Due to security issues with the
major test I must keep the test on file. Students that wish to come
by in the week following make any additional notes from the test that they
wish.
I recommend that students spend 5-10 minutes every class day looking over the notes we took that day in class as well as the handouts for the next class day. Students usually have some outstanding assignment (a lab or project) that they should be working on. Students can write questions in the margins that they wish to ask the next class. Extra review can be done by using the Internet as a source.
5. What simple steps can
I take to keep up and make good grades?
Take thorough notes and keep them organized. Develop a system for each
class (when you need to study, what materials to bring each class,
etc.) Come by the room in the morning if you have extended
questions. Turn in homework on time. Start studying a few days prior
to the test. Keep a good agenda or calendar of events
upcoming. Try to find time each day to have a few minutes to yourself for
relaxation and stress relief. Involve your family in you assignments.
Be neat.
6. How should I take
class notes?
Get a good quality 3 ring notebook, plenty of notebook paper, several pencils,
and try to develop a good organizational habit about taking notes. We ask
that you place the day number on the upper right of all notes and handouts (if
absent it will be easy to look at someone's notes and see what you are
missing). Try to write down key ideas and descriptions of what we
talk about and demonstrate during class. The more you write down
during class the better your grades will end up (you will also have ample study
material before test and exams). Try to keep handouts in order with your
handwritten notes. Most of the notes we take in class are written on the
board (as sample problems) or repeated several times to allow the student to get
the idea down on paper. Make drawings as neat as possible and use
lots of paper (don't try to squeeze it all into one tiny space.)
7.
What can I as a parent do to help my child?
Please understand that these ideas have been generated by countless discussions
with students that seemed to do well in my class (or did well when they had
Physical Science). I believe the best atmosphere for learning is created
when the student, parent, and teacher all agree that they are working together in the
best interest of the child. The student must do their part (and it
is the hardest part). They must study (both prior to material being
covered and after the testing of material), they must complete home assignments,
and they must be willing to make the commitment to doing their best. Now,
what are those things a parent can do:
1) Set up a study time each evening while making accommodations for sports, special
events, family events, etc. Make available the kitchen table or a study
area that has as many study aids as possible (books, supplies, computer,
etc.)
2) If possible have the student discuss classroom topics with you. Can they
explain what we did in class? If not, help them with questions they need
to ask the next class. They may not always know how to state these
questions. Have them use a pen to write the questions in their notes.
Hint, you need to look at their notes daily/weekly.
3) Help the student to develop a disciplined study habit. Being efficient
will cut back on the time required for homework and will give better
results. One parent does not allow any phone calls in or out to the
student after 9:00 pm. The student should involve you in assignments. You
can proof read assignments and get an excellent idea of the progress your child
is making and their ability level..
4) Use this web site to keep up with assignments. Expect the grade sheets
(I publish the dates they will be sent out). Help your child understand
that they will not always make "A"s. Just as they will lose
ballgames, help them to understand why they did not make that perfect
score. If a student does not turn in an assignment, try to find out what happened and help the student to prevent it from happening
again.
5) Help the student prepare for exams early. Keep a folder of topics to
review for exams and do this throughout the semester. This will help keep
the material fresh and show the student how the material integrates
together.
I hope some of these ideas help. Please send me ideas that you have found
to work and I will include those in this section.
6) The biggest problem most students experience is not turning in work. All work is graded and will count. Teachers do not really expect every homework assignment to be perfect (even though I will proof assignments if brought to me prior to the due date - thus assuring a perfect score if the corrections I suggest are done). Just turn in what you can get done. Plan your schedule so that you can give each assignment its due time. Very few assignments to be completed out of class are due the next class period. Students may have as long as a week to complete a larger assignment. This give the student time to ask questions in class and work around their other class assignments as well.
8.
What are some of the labs done during the year?
You will be doing labs the first day of class. These involve stacking
water drops on pennies, watching crystals dissolve, and studying cohesion versus
adhesion. We start off the year doing measurement labs. These
include drawing ellipses and learning to use laboratory measurement tools like
lab scales and vernier calipers. We do density labs next.
These include the density of solids, the density of liquids (the infamous Toxic
Death Liquid), and then Balloon Wars. A new lab will be measuring the
viscosity of liquids. We separate colors using
chromatography, mix up glurch and oobleck as colloids, find the solubility of
unknown salts next. Radioactivity labs are more paper and pencil labs but we do one
with as many pennies as you can collect. We do several computer labs next
(concerning the Periodic Table). Then we really get started with lab work
by doing the milk glue production, conservation of mass lab, and then the
antacid testing lab. We do several labs in the heat unit including heat of
fusion, heat of solutions, heat of combustion, quantity of heat, and
chemical/physical properties. We finish up the year with the calculation
of g (gravitational acceleration) and dynamic carts as well 2 dimensional
collisions and pendulums. The final lab is looking at projectile motion. A full year of labs!
9.
How can this website and the Internet help students?
Please investigate this website. I have tried to place as much
valuable information as possible on it and will continue to place more
information and helpful areas as I have time. This site was designed to
help the student, not look pretty or have too many fancy things. I hope
you will enjoy using it and offer suggestions for improvement.
Test reviews are available as
well as information on labs and teaching topics.
Using the Internet is both rewarding and challenging. To get information
out of it that is useful you must be willing to search. This takes time
and effort. You will look at endless pages of junk just to find several
sites that are incredibly helpful. Go the the help
site for my suggestions or use the search engines available from your
browser. Get help from other students that use the Web or talk to teachers
that use it.
Page Last Updated on: May 23, 2007 Pickens County School System
