It’s a Wonderful Life!

What’s Happening in Biology

for the week of

January 9-13, 2012

Dear Parents and Guardians,

 Welcome to Biology! I am so excited about his group of students they have been well prepared for class everyday and have participated in labs. This is a great start to the semester.  Thank you to all of you who responded to the 5 bonus point opportunity for your child.

 This week we are completing our Unit 1A which is an introductory unit to Biology  where we are refreshing our basic  scientific skills. We have learned about lab safety and the scientific method so far. This week we will learn about lab equipment, measurement and how to use the microscope. 

 Students will have their first test on Friday. If your child will make an additional study guide such as flash cards they can earn 5 bonus points on their test. Students are expected to make A, B and C’s on all test. If they make these grades they will be rewarded with Red Velvet Cake no nuts due to allergies.

 Please find attached a copy of the study guide for the test. These will be passed out in class on Tuesday and we will review the correct answers on Thursday. If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me.

 Thank you and I look forward to working with you this semester!

Mrs. Balkcom

 The Week Ahead

M = Scientific Method

T = Measurement and Equipment

W = Microscopes

H = Review for Test

F= Intro to Science Test

 Important Dates:

 Jan 13 Intro to Science Test and Guiding Questions Due (Please  find attached.)

Jan 16 Holiday – No school

Jan 18 Unit 1A Project Due. (Please find attached)

What’s Happening in Biology

For the week of

Dec 12-20, 2011

 Dear Parents and Guardians,

 We are entering our final full week of the semester. This week we will complete our unit on Ecology. We will have our test on Ecology Wednesday. I passed out the study guide today in class and have attached one for you review. This should be an easy test for the students. Students will be given two test choices a 50 question multiple choice test or an essay test.  

 We will also be preparing for our final exam. Every day this week I will  write 18 – 20 question on the board that will be on the exam. It is their responsibility to copy the questions off of the board. I will not give them a paper copy. I have found that when I give a paper copy students do not do as well because they put off studying. When they write the questions from the board they are studying because they are trying to think of the answer. After they have had time to copy the questions I will give them the correct answers. I have told them to make flash cards for any questions they do not know the answer  for each day and study them. This will help them to be prepared for the final exam.

 The final exam will count for 2 test grades. Test have been worth 65% of their grade. Students will need to study every day this week. If you could call out the question to them that would be great! If they could study about 15 – 20 minutes that would really help them.

 The week ahead!

M = Weather

T = Review for Ecology Test

W = Ecology Test

H  = Review for final exam

F = Review For final exam

M = 1^st and 2^nd Block exams. This will be a half day. Students will be dismissed at 12:10.

T = 3^rd and 4^th Block Exams. This will be a half day. Students will be dismissed at 12:10.

 Students are strongly encouraged NOT to go downtown unless they are with a parent. They are not to go other schools and visit previous teachers. This time is meant to give the students time to prepare for their exams.

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

 Thank you for a great semester!

 Mrs. Balkcom

What’s Happening in Biology

For the week of

Nov 7-11, 2011

 Dear Parents and Guardians,

 We complete our unit on Cell Reproduction last week. The test grades were not bad considering the material. It is often a topic that students have a hard time understanding.  The grades are as follows:

 2^nd Block

A = 8

B = 5

C =  4

D = 2

F = 0

 3^rd Block

A = 5

B = 4

C = 8

D = 4

F = 1

 4^th Block

A = 9

B = 4

C = 4

D = 2

F = 2

 The Week Ahead

M = Mutation

T = Dominant and Recessive

W = Incomplete, Co-Dominant and Multiple alleles

H = Genetic Disorders

F = Holiday

What’s Happening in Biology

for the week of

Oct 31 – Nov 4, 2011

 Dear Parents and Guardians,

 This week in Biology we will complete Unit 3B and start our unit on Heredity. The unit on Heredity is typically  one of the students most favorite units. I have attached a copy of the study guide with answers. Please take the time to review this with your child. This test is memorization. They have to know and understand the terms to be successful. They will have to draw all the phases of mitosis and meiosis on the test.

 As always your child can earn 5 bonus points if they make an additional study guide.

 Thanks,

Mrs. Balkcom

 The week Ahead

M = Review Study guide

T = Test

W = Transcription and translation

H = Transcription and translation

F = intro to Genetics.

What’s Happening

For the week of

Oct 24-28, 2011

 Dear Parents and Guardians,

 Last week we took our Unit 3A Test on Cell structure and Function. Overall the grades were very good and 3^rd Block continues to improve.  We have some students who still do not understand how to study. Just reading over the study guide or notes does not work for the majority of students. Please help and encourage your child to make flash cards or some other type of study guide and call the information out to them.

 This week we will learn about DNA structure, replication, mitosis and meiosis. Unit 3B test will be next Tuesday. It is a lot of information in a short period of time. With this in mind, I have attached the guiding questions for this unit as well as the study guide for this test. Please start asking your child to explain this information to you. If they can teach someone else or explain the content to someone, the better they will do on the test.

 Unit 3A Grades

2^nd Block

A = 12

B = 3

C = 3

D= 0

F= 1

 3^rd Block

A = 7

B = 5

C = 5

D = 4

F = 0

 4^th Block

A = 14

B = 4

C = 4

D = 0

F = 1

 This Week in Biology

M = DNA structure and Replication

T =  Cell Cycle and Mitosis

W= Mitosis continued

H = Meiosis

F = Meiosis

 Next Week 10-31 and 11-1

M = Review for Unit 3B Test Cell Reproduction

T = Test

 Important Dates

 11-1-11  =  Mitosis and Meiosis Test

11-1-11 =  Guiding Questions Due

 If you have any questions or concerns please let me know.

 Thanks,

Mrs. Balkcom

Mrs. Balkcom

9th Grade Biology

334.887.1960

website http://balkcom.edublogs.org/

What’s Happening in Biology

For the week of

Oct 18-21, 2011

 Dear Parents and Guardians,

 This week in Biology we will have our Unit Test on cell Structure and Function. The students will have to label and identify the parts of an animal and plant cell. I have attached a completed study guide so that you will be able to help your child prepare for this test. On the last test students did not do well on labeling the pats of the flower. Please be sure to work with them on this skill. The cell will not be exactly the same as the one on the study guide and some students were upset about this last time.

 This week in Biology

M  = Teacher work day

T = Review for Cell structure and Function Test.

W = Test on cell structure and Function Test.

H = Start Cell Reproduction Unit  – stem cells vs somatic cells vs  gamete cells.

F = Cell cycle – DNA Structure and Replication

 If you have any questions or concerns please let me know!

Thanks,

Mrs. Balkcom

What’s Happening in Biology

for the week of

Oct 10 – Oct 14

Dear Parents and Guardians,

 This week in Biology we are going to learn about cell transport. Last week we learned the parts of the Eukaryotic cell. We also learned the difference between plant and animal cells. On Friday students will present their  cell claymation projects to the class. Students have been asked to bring a food item to share with their classmates that reminds them of part of the cell. This is not required nor is it linked to a grade. It is merely an opportunity for the students to celebrate their success and share their work with their peers.

 Important Dates

Guiding Questions  8-23 Due Friday Oct 14

Teacher Work Day – Monday Oct 17

Cell Test (Unit 3A) –  Wednesday Oct 19.

 The week ahead

M = Diffusion

T = Osmosis

W = Osmosis vs Diffusion

H = Active Transport

F = Cell –a – bration Day