TINA TRUJILLO: 10TH GRADE PHYSICS
"The whole of science is nothing more than a refinement of everyday thinking." ~Albert Einstein
Instructor Contact |
Classroom Materials |
EMAIL: [email protected]
This is the most effective way to communicate with me. With the current state of our educational system(s), at AHS, I tend to check my email more frequently than other platforms. Also, I am being very intentional with my work/life/stress balance this year and will not be responding to emails after 6:00PM. I implore you reach out to me sooner rather than later on all matters. Communication is key! OFFICE HOURS: By appointment only. I'm typically available during 1st period on Mon/Tues/Thurs/Fri and can schedule meetings after school most days. Please email me or speak with me in class, during independent work time, to set up a time to chat. |
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Big IdeasThroughout this course we will be covering a range of topics, ideas, and concepts that are the building blocks for a strong understanding of the physical sciences. The first portion of the year will focus on the study of optics (light). Our next investigation will be into mechanics and kinematics and we will push into electricity and magnetism by the Spring. It's difficult to predict the pacing of the school year, after a year of hybrid learning. However, we will strive for excellence, make mistakes, correct ourselves, and persevere in our learning. The most important part is that we are here to better ourselves as students and human beings!
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Essential Questions
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Osprey Culture Expectations
Animas High School strives to maintain a Culture of Excellence to prepare you for college and postsecondary success. To me, this means conducting ourselves in a manner that models respect and kindness for our community, space, education and selves. Being excellent goes beyond the classroom walls and is just as important in the hallways, outdoors and off campus. This looks like showing up on time, being present mentally and physically, doing your best work, behaving, speaking, and dressing professionally, as well as encouraging others to do the same. You are always representing someone, be it your guardians, your work, your friends, your communities or yourself. Let's represent AHS well!!
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Classroom Norms and Expectations
Let's be good humans. Mean, intolerant, or profanity-ridden speech and/or behavior will absolutely not be tolerated. One of my goals in life is to be the best human I can be and I expect that we all practice this while at school and/or representing AHS. Everyone belongs here and it takes all kinds of people to make up the world. This is a safe space and I intend to keep it that way. Everybody love everybody!
Let's use technology respectfully and responsibly. This means that you are not distracting yourself, classmates, or me with your phones, laptops, or music during class. Music will be allowed on headphones during independent work time.
Let's be present and engaged in our lives. There is a beautiful thing that happens when you finally decide to show up for yourself and fully engage with whatever it is you're doing. Too often, we go through life distracted by the happenings around us and don't end up giving 100% of our attention to the task at hand. This can lead to less productivity and, more importantly, results that we're less proud of. I challenge each of us (yes, myself included) to be present while in class and to see how far we can go when we fully commit ourselves to our work.
Let's use technology respectfully and responsibly. This means that you are not distracting yourself, classmates, or me with your phones, laptops, or music during class. Music will be allowed on headphones during independent work time.
Let's be present and engaged in our lives. There is a beautiful thing that happens when you finally decide to show up for yourself and fully engage with whatever it is you're doing. Too often, we go through life distracted by the happenings around us and don't end up giving 100% of our attention to the task at hand. This can lead to less productivity and, more importantly, results that we're less proud of. I challenge each of us (yes, myself included) to be present while in class and to see how far we can go when we fully commit ourselves to our work.
Laboratory Expectations |
In the physics labs throughout the year you will be interacting with some potentially hazardous substances and delicate equipment. Prior to participating in any lab you, and your guardian, will be required to read and agree to a safety contract. This contract will outline expectations for conduct with the lab. Violations of the safety contract will result in consequences that range from a warning to immediate removal from the lab depending on the severity of the violation. If a student is removed from a lab they will forfeit all credit for that experiment. Students must have appropriate safety equipment to participate in labs and failure to participate in a lab may result in a partial or complete loss of credit for the lab.
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10th Grade Physics Grading and Assessment Policy
Rational
As an educator, teacher leader, and advocate for progressive and equitable education, I recognize the challenges, pitfalls, and stress inducing nature of our traditional grading systems, including:
In response to these challenges, while also holding students accountable, I will be utilizing the following grading system. This system will still result in a student receiving a traditional grade, but will hopefully make the process of grading more meaningful and transparent. It is my goal that all of my students feel that they are in control of their grades and that they have a clear road map to academic success in more course.
Note: This represents a big shift from what many students are accustomed to! I ask that you remain patient as we adjust to a new system, and that you ask questions when you have confusions or concerns.
As an educator, teacher leader, and advocate for progressive and equitable education, I recognize the challenges, pitfalls, and stress inducing nature of our traditional grading systems, including:
- Lack of clarity for students (what do grades mean?!?)
- Increased anxiety and stress levels for students
- Disconnection between learning and grading
In response to these challenges, while also holding students accountable, I will be utilizing the following grading system. This system will still result in a student receiving a traditional grade, but will hopefully make the process of grading more meaningful and transparent. It is my goal that all of my students feel that they are in control of their grades and that they have a clear road map to academic success in more course.
Note: This represents a big shift from what many students are accustomed to! I ask that you remain patient as we adjust to a new system, and that you ask questions when you have confusions or concerns.
4 Point Grading ScaleThis year, to eliminate a scale that is weighted towards failure, I will be grading all assessments on a 0-4 point scale. Essentially, this means that the lowest grade a student can get is a 50%, and then it will go up from there. This provides a more accurate assessment of mastery, as well as more opportunities for students to succeed even if they have a rough start or an academic setback.
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Minimizing Completion/Preparation Grades
I will assign many activities in class (and very rarely at home) that are preparing students for the assessments and projects that are the culmination of our work. These include general classwork activities, drafts of projects, laboratory experiments, etc. In order to encourage students to take intellectual risks and to reduce their stress around this work, these assignments will only be worth 10% of the final grade. These assignments will be graded on completion basis- 50% if not turned in, 75% for turned in partially or completed and late, and 100% for turned in complete and on time. Please note- although they are not heavily weighted in the grade, these assignments are crucial for practicing skills and learning content. It will be difficult to succeed on assessments if students are not completing classwork with regularity.
I will assign many activities in class (and very rarely at home) that are preparing students for the assessments and projects that are the culmination of our work. These include general classwork activities, drafts of projects, laboratory experiments, etc. In order to encourage students to take intellectual risks and to reduce their stress around this work, these assignments will only be worth 10% of the final grade. These assignments will be graded on completion basis- 50% if not turned in, 75% for turned in partially or completed and late, and 100% for turned in complete and on time. Please note- although they are not heavily weighted in the grade, these assignments are crucial for practicing skills and learning content. It will be difficult to succeed on assessments if students are not completing classwork with regularity.
Retakes, Revisions, Resubmission:
Because my goal is student mastery of content knowledge and skills in our subject areas, I am allowing students to retake, revise, and resubmit assessments. This will allow students to show their growth, to demonstrate ownership over their learning and grades, and to move at a pace that is appropriate for their individual capabilities. Please not, this does NOT apply to daily assignments. Any revision, retake, and resubmission must be submitted no later than a week after the assignment is returned with my feedback.
For more information, please see the following article: Taking the Stress Out of Grading
Because my goal is student mastery of content knowledge and skills in our subject areas, I am allowing students to retake, revise, and resubmit assessments. This will allow students to show their growth, to demonstrate ownership over their learning and grades, and to move at a pace that is appropriate for their individual capabilities. Please not, this does NOT apply to daily assignments. Any revision, retake, and resubmission must be submitted no later than a week after the assignment is returned with my feedback.
For more information, please see the following article: Taking the Stress Out of Grading
Grading Categories
Late Work
Assignments should be turned in at the start of the day they are due, unless I communicate otherwise.
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Exception to Late Work Policy
When late work is NEVER acceptable: Students need to be prepared for exhibitions, student-led conferences (SLC's), and POLs/TPOLs. These will often fall at the end of a semester and will not allow for refinements and resubmissions because they are scheduled in such a way to have an outside, real-world audience at a scheduled event where the audience is expecting to see student work, it is simply not acceptable for students to not be prepared. Thus, unless there are extreme life circumstances, (i.e. a death in the family, major illness) I will not accept late work for these major deadlines.
Extensions
I understand that life happens and that my students are, afterall, human. However, in order to prepare you for success beyond my class, it is important that you communicate clearly, honestly, and proactively (i.e. ahead of time when possible) to request an extension on assignments. It is also important that you not take advantage of this policy. As the general rule of thumb, one should not ask for more than 3 extensions per semester. I also reserve the right to honor the extension request based on your work habits leading up to the assignment deadline and the legitimacy of the extension request.
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How to Request an Extension
In order to receive an extension on a deadline you must write me an email no later than 7PM the evening BEFORE the assignment is due (preferably sooner!). This email must be professionally written, and must include the following information:
Please note that extensions will never be grated for Exhibition produces, which must be completed by Exhibition.
- The reason for the request
- The date by which you think it's appropriate to submit the assignment
Please note that extensions will never be grated for Exhibition produces, which must be completed by Exhibition.
Email Etiquette: How to effectively communicate in the professional world
Subject: Email Format
Dear Students,
Email is a useful mode of communication, particularly during the school day when teachers tend to busy and might forget information transmitted orally during the course of the day. You should use email to communicate any of the following types of information: future excused absences, to ask questions you might have that were not addressed during class, etc.....Email should always include a clearly stated purpose, necessary background information, a recommendation or action plan and clear and concise writing. Please keep in mind you are communicating with a teacher in writing about your work. That means you should read over what you wrote before you send it and correct any typos or errors. Do not use text message abbreviations or emoticons. I "m not ur bff," so do not send me emails that read like text messages you would send to a friend. ALWAYS begin your email with a respectful greeting (Dear Tina, Good morning Tina, Hello Tina, etc...) and conclude your email with an appropriate closing such as Sincerely/Respectfully/Best Regards, Your Name. Following these guidelines will help you make good impressions not only on your beloved Animas teachers, but also with prospective employers and college professors.
Best Regards,
Tina Trujillo
Dear Students,
Email is a useful mode of communication, particularly during the school day when teachers tend to busy and might forget information transmitted orally during the course of the day. You should use email to communicate any of the following types of information: future excused absences, to ask questions you might have that were not addressed during class, etc.....Email should always include a clearly stated purpose, necessary background information, a recommendation or action plan and clear and concise writing. Please keep in mind you are communicating with a teacher in writing about your work. That means you should read over what you wrote before you send it and correct any typos or errors. Do not use text message abbreviations or emoticons. I "m not ur bff," so do not send me emails that read like text messages you would send to a friend. ALWAYS begin your email with a respectful greeting (Dear Tina, Good morning Tina, Hello Tina, etc...) and conclude your email with an appropriate closing such as Sincerely/Respectfully/Best Regards, Your Name. Following these guidelines will help you make good impressions not only on your beloved Animas teachers, but also with prospective employers and college professors.
Best Regards,
Tina Trujillo
Absent From School?
If you are absent from school, it is your responsibility as a student to contact me for missed assignments. For excused absences, you will be given the same amount of time to complete the assignment as the rest of the class had. When possible, plan ahead when you know you are going to be absent. If you are really ill, please let me know and I will work with you to develop an appropriate plan to get you caught up on the essentials.
Google Classroom vs. Digital Portfolio
I will be using two digital platforms for organizing our class content and assignment materials.
- Google Classroom: this is where you will turn in your assignments digitally.
- Digital Portfolio: this is where you will find our daily lessons, resource, etc.
How to Check Grades:
Infinite Campus. Make sure to save your username and login and check your grades regularly to ensure you're keeping up with all your classes. This Tech Resources at AHS document has information on how to access Infinite Campus.
Guardian Communications Expectations
One of my goals is to help my students develop autonomy around their school work and grades to prepare them for doing so in college. In other words, please communicate with me about your grades and/or school work (by email, in writing or speaking in person) BEFORE having your guardians do so. I want you to take ownership over your work and learn to initiate important conversations on your own. If, after communicating with me you, and/or your guardians still have questions then I am happy to speak with everyone!
Frequently Asked Questions
"Can I use my phone during class?"
-No. All phones will be placed in the phone tree at the start of class, and will be left there for the entire class. If your guardians really need to get in touch with you during class, they may call the front office. Want to know why? Check out the data. If I catch you using your phone in class, the first time it's mine until the end of class. The second offense means I take it until the end of the school day. A third misuse means your guardian comes to pick it up. If it continues to be an issue, you will be in a meeting with guardians and administration, and may result in you losing cell phone privilages entirely for the rest of the semester in all classes. "What do I do if I am late to class?" -Come in quietly. Do not disturb others or try to make some foofaraw entrance. Make sure your phone and other non-essential technology devices are put away and begin your warm up. If it is clear that you are making an effort to be on task ASAP, and it's within the first few minutes of class, I won't mark you tardy. If lateness becomes a habit, we will have a conversation about further consequences. "What do I do if I am sick or miss school?" -It is your responsibility to check my DP and Google Classroom for warm-ups and daily assignments and contact me to let me know why you are absent. See previous Absences Policy for make-up work. "Can I get extra credit?" -No. Nope. Absolutely not. How 'bout that regular credit though? "What if I'm not challenged by an assignment, am too challenged by an assignment, or am finding it hard to connect to a project?" -Come talk to me! I love brainstorming with students how to make their educational experience meet their needs and am almost always open to making modifications/personalization's of assignments and projects. However, I can't help you in these areas unless you come talk to me. As much as I would like to be a mind reader, sadly I am not. "How do I turn assignments in?" -I'm glad you asked. The majority of assignments will be submitted to Google Classroom. There will be some assignments done by hand (let's be real, being on a screen all the time is getting old...). For these, you will take a photo and submit it to Google Classroom, or show it. "Can I swear in class?" -Avoid swearing. I understand that you're human and swearing can be, well, fun (swearing is my favorite!). However, there is a time and a place for everything and foul language does not help foster our culture of excellence. I reserve the right to publicly shame you (have you sing in front of the whole class, do burpees, or whatever cruel and unusual punishment I can think of on the spot) if your language choices go too far. "Do I have to go to SLC's, POL's/TPOL's, and/or Exhibitions?" -Yes. These are school-wide requirements and you agree to be present when you sign your student contract. |
Not so fine print: This document is subject to change as seen fit by the instructor.