Hello and thank you for stopping by My Science Space.
This site is for anyone interested in science and education, particularly Earth & Space Science. Since I teach an 8th grade science class, it tends to closely follow what I do in class. It’s a place where students, parents and educators (well, actually anyone) can find resources to learn more about science and participate in discussions on various topics related to science and education. Take some time to explore the site and the links.
Discussions (commenting) on this site is open to anyone, so feel free to click on the “comment balloon” link next to any post and leave your thoughts. Please keep the discussion relevant to the post you are commenting on and think of this as a school classroom, so act accordingly. Students, protect your privacy when commenting on this site by only using your first name and the first initial of your last name.
Your comments will not appear immediately, instead you’ll see a message stating that it is waiting moderation. That means I read all the comments before approving them to become a public part of this site. While this slows down discussions, it prevents a whole host of other problems.
About My Class
8th Grade science is an important year as students prepare to take the Middle School Science FCAT and, more importantly, prepare for the demands of high school and beyond.
This year in science they’ll be exploring :
- The Earth in Space and Time — A look at our evolving knowledge of the universe and our place among the stars.
- Our Changing Earth — Earth has changed in many ways from its early form nearly 4.6 billion years ago; erupting volcanoes and earthquakes are just 2 of the signs of the enormous forces at work.
- Earth’s Systems — The interactions of water, land, air and life, that creates our weather and governs our climate.
- The Role of Science in Society — Understanding our dependence on Earth’s resources and the impact humans have on our planet.
You can see a detailed view of the standards and benchmarks associated with these topics on the Big Ideas and linked pages. Understanding these standards is critical to student success! It is how they are evaluated.
How Are Grades Calculated?
- 100% of student grades are based on mastering the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards. Students will demonstrate their learning in a variety of ways including typical tests, practical exams / labs (demonstrating their abilities through hands-on activities), verbal and written responses to discussion questions, and a portfolio of work.
- If you are taking the high school credit class your standards can be found here. In addition you will take county mandated midterm and final exams, each of which will count as 20% of your semester grade. It is recommended that students in the high school credit class maintain a B or better average to remain in this class.
- Reviewing the class rubric and mastery requirements will help you attain your desired grade.
- You always have the opportunity to improve your grade by demonstrating additional learning (mastery of the benchmarks). However I do not give extra credit.
How Do I Earn A Good Grade?
- Participate! Much of what we do and learn is through investigations and discussions. Become an active participant in these both in class and on the web. Open your mind to the wonders around you, ask questions and pursue the answers.
- Do your best! Learning takes effort on your part. Stay focused on your studies and not on all the other things around you that can distract you from getting a good grade. Work bell to bell. That means be in your seat working when the bell rings and not packing up until told to do so by your teacher.
- Stay organized! Keep your planner and notebook / portfolio up-to-date.
- Study daily! Spend a minimum of 10-20 minutes per day doing at home study. Review, re-write and highlight notes. Reflect on your activity and record your thoughts in your notebook. Complete activities, do extra reading and look for science in the news. Use the resources on this site to enhance your learning.
- Seek help! As soon as you feel yourself getting behind, not understanding or dissatisfied with your grade make arrangements to come in for help sessions Wednesday mornings or during any lunch period. You can also reach me anytime by email.
