**Change in classroom structure* *

In this last unit of study for the year we will be studying weather and atmosphere. Due to the limited time frame of our last few weeks together there are a few challenges when is comes to grading and monitoring student learning.  We will most likely not be able to complete the unit.  I had to make a few changes to make it easy to "cut-off" the unit material at any point, and most likely without a wrap-up exam.

1. The first change is how we do journals.  I will be checking journals for completion after every activity, then as a class, we will grade/correct all questions.  Journal grades will be based on the set-up (complete Table of Contents, Titles...), complete sentences, and having all questions answered / corrected.

2. Another change comes with the unit scoring guides.  We will not be having one this unit.  Instead, students were given a vocab list which they are responsible for filling in as we go.  It will be collected at the end of the year and graded based on how far we got in the unit.

3. Every Friday (unless under special circumstances which will be announced), we will have a recap quiz.  The quizzes will be short and will review the activities we completed that week only.

At Mishawaka Catholic we have a unique science curriculum. Our learning comes from a series of activities that range from readings to labs with specialty equipment. To go along with these activities, students keep journals where they take notes such as vocab, lab observations, or information from class discussions. The journals also contain student answers to analysis questions that follow each activity. The journal grade accounts for 35% of the total class grade. Our Journals are due every Friday. There is always more than enough time in class to work on the activities and analysis questions. In the event that extra time is needed due to an absence or other circumstance, extra time can be scheduled before or after school. This year students will be discussing topics in 3 general areas of study: Physical Science, Life Science, and Earth Science. We started the year with a unit a few students previewed last year as 7th graders.

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Rise Up Academy
Andrea Horban