Learning goals for this class are based on the National Next Generation Science Standards and the Utah Science and Engineering Education Standards.

-Students will analyze data to provide evidence for the effects of resource availability on organisms and populations in an ecosystem.
-Students will ask questions to predict how changes in resource availability affects organisms in those ecosystems. 
-Students will construct an explanation that predicts patterns of interactions among organisms across multiple ecosystems. 
-Students will develop a model to describe the cycling of matter and flow of energy among living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem.
-Students will construct an argument supported by evidence that the stability of populations is affected by changes to an ecosystem. 
-Students will evaluate competing design solutions for preserving ecosystem resources and biodiversity based on how well the solutions maintain stability within the ecosystem. 

I have a masters in Earth Science science and I have taught integrated science at the middle school level as well as high school Biology, Wildlife Biology, and Zoology.
During the last two years, I have worked as a Science Specialist for a large school district in Utah, supporting teachers and administration in science education. 

Homework Offered
Students may be required to complete 20-30 minutes of homework, reading, activities, etc. per each live lesson depending on the flow of the class. 
0 - 1 hours per week outside of class
Assessments Offered
Assessments will be given as an indication of how well a student is learning the content and skills for the class and to help me continuously develop a better curriculum. Students will be assigned a number on a proficiency scale* that lets the student, parent, and teacher know how the student is doing. Each assignment will have a rubric attached to it letting the student, parent, and teacher know the expectations for the assessment. 

Assessments may be multiple choice, free response, modeling, or many other types. Most assessments will be taken in class, but some may be at-home projects. 

Assessment retakes and/or revisions will be provided and encouraged. 

*See Grading Policy for our Proficiency Scale
Grades Offered
Grades will be provided by default to all learners. If students do not want their student graded or to not have access to their grades, please let me know.

Grades allow students, parents, and myself to understand where the student is at in their learning. 

Classwork will be graded using the outline below: 
0 - The students understanding is incomplete, incorrect, or missing. 
1 - The students understanding is complete and correct. 

Assessments will be graded using the outline below: 
0 - The student demonstrates no evidence of learning.
1 - The student demonstrates a minimal understanding of the concept.
2 - The student demonstrates a partial understanding of the concept.
3 - The student demonstrates a complete understanding of the concept.
4 - The student demonstrates an understanding of the concept and can apply it to a new situation. 

Students will be able and encouraged to retake assessments and redo classwork throughout this class. 

I will be referencing the Utah Science Curriculum Consortium's SEEd Storylines and 
Jordan School District's (Utah) open-source curriculum. Both are created by certified expert teachers. 
If you would like more information please see
https://www.seedstorylines.org/
https://middlescience.jordandistrict.org/7th-8th-grade-exemplary-units/