Keeping up with the pace of the course is crucial. Homework is kept to a minimum, but that's only if you attend class every day, make good use of your class time, and complete work as soon as it is assigned. Each day's work build on the ones which came before, so you can't afford to miss anything or allow yourself to fall behind.
When you are absent, you must take steps to learn the material that was covered in class that day. Check the calendar for what was done. You may need to read a section of your text. There may be a Powerpoint presentation which presents the material you need. Spend some time going over the material and take notes! The next day's lesson will make much more sense if you know the one you missed. |
Be prepared for class each day! Learning happens best when students are prepared. Sleep at least eight hours, eat breakfast, and avoid unnecessary stressors. Learning is tough work, and the brain expends a lot of energy to do its job well.
Being prepared also includes having necessary supplies. For chemistry class, the required supplies include
The above supplies are required to be brought to class every day, even on test days. |
Your best work is always expected. Science is the pursuit of knowledge, but just finding things out is not enough. Scientists have to communicate what they know. Fortunately, all of my chemistry students have taken at least ten years of classes which taught them communication skills. Being an effective communicator may mean the difference between being a world-renowned scientist and being a subordinate lab assistant. For this class, it may be the difference between success and failure.
Students in chemistry class must express themselves effectively not just out loud (in full sentences), but also in writing. Questions will be answered in full sentences. When a paragraph is required, the students write well-formed paragraphs with topic sentences and supporting evidence. The details are important, too. Grammar, spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and even neatness make a difference in how you are perceived, so always make every assignment the best it can be. |