Questions

I will be checking in for questions until around 9:30 or 10:00.  Breakfast is at 7:15 tomorrow morning in my room.  Hang in there.  It's almost over!

Saturday Review

The review will start at 9:00 am in my room.  Park in the back parking lot and come in through my outside door.  Bring food (if you'd like) and questions.  See you tomorrow!

Tonight's Assignment

There are only TWO school days left before our exam.  You are more than welcome to come in during ANY block, ELT,  or after school.  I am planning on a Saturday morning review as well, but I'd like it to be well attended.  The blog is open for questions.

BTW:  If you missed today due to testing, I went over several past free response questions and gave a practice multiple choice exam.  If you don't have it and will not be there tomorrow PLEASE pick one up before school tomorrow!  Everyone who already has the exam, the first 60 are due tomorrow.  Do more if you have time.

AP Testing

I just received an email stating that cell phones will NOT be allowed in the AP testing rooms this year.  In the past, we have collected cell phones as you entered the room.  This is not the case anymore.  Your test will be invalidated if you bring your cell phone into the room.  My advice:  lock your cell phone in the glovebox of your car.  Don't even bring it inside the school.  You do not want to lose one or two semesters worth of work because of a cell phone issue.

Those of you who will be taking the AP Psych test tomorrow--GOOD LUCK!!:)   We will move along in our reviewing without you, so please plan to come by after school to get what you missed.  It's almost over, so hang in there!

Tonight's Reading

Chapters 34-38 are the Ecology chapters.  I know you are very familiar with most of this material, but I feel quite certain there are a few new concepts (particularly in the Population Ecology chapter) that you may have never heard before.  Over the next week, we will be addressing these concepts, conducting a few labs, and reviewing old material. 

Highly recommended for review:  The Biology AP app, the Barron's book, the exam apps.  Also, the Biology Place website.  (The link is in a previous post, but I can't remember the exact date of the post.  Scroll down and look.)

Test Tomorrow

Yes, the dreaded plant test is tomorrow.  Study your graphic organizers, skim over the chapters, and don't forget the diagrams.  The test covers chapters 31-33.  No essay.

In case you missed today (and will miss tomorrow)

We created a table that includes the levels of organization ( ecosystem, community, population, etc...all the way down to atoms) and six of the eight AP Biology themes.  In case you've forgotten what those are, they are on a red sheet of paper that I gave you back in August. (The course break-down is on the other side of the handout.)  Now---what we are doing is coming up with examples of how that theme relates to each level of organization.  Today, we came up with an example of evolution at each level.  (That's as far as we've gotten.) The goal is tackle one theme per day until we get the entire table filled in.  We can always go back and add examples as we remember/think of new ones.  This is a GREAT way to make you think outside the box and relate those AP Bio themes to things you may or may not even think they apply to.  I was quite impressed with the examples that were offered up today in class.  This is the kind of thinking that will be expected of you on the AP exam free response section--seeing the big picture and not just memorization of detailed facts.

The levels of organization (ecosystem, community, population) introduced chapter 34 and the remainder of the chapter discusses the biomes.  We will summarize the biomes tomorrow in class.  Keep reading.  On the iPOD, go to the Biology AP app and listen to the lecture on Ecology and Behavior (at least the first part of it.)  The information is excellent.

Tonight's Reading

Make sure you are caught up on the plant chapters (31-33) and begin reading chapter 34.  Chapter 34 mainly discusses aquatic and terrestrial biomes (freshwater, marine; tundra, taiga, desert, etc...) so it is a topic you've heard before.  (But that doesn't mean you shouldn't read and study.)  We will work on chapter 34 for the next two days. 

Come prepared to ask questions Monday for the plant test on Tuesday.  The plant test (chapters 31-33) will be the last exam of the semester that goes in the gradebook.  We will take a couple of practice AP exams, but they will be for diagnostic purposes and not for a recorded grade.

Tonight's Reading

I'm pretty sure you know what to be reading (Chapter 32), but just in case you don't---Read chapter 32.  We will finish the content tomorrow and you should have time to complete the self quiz as well.  Thursday and Friday will be acceleration for the Ecology unit.  If you are going to be absent either/both of those days, the bad news is we will be moving along without you.:(  The good news is the material is pretty easy stuff to understand.  If you read chapter 34 and jot down some notes, you will be caught up.

Next week:  Monday--Review for chapters 31-33.  Tuesday--Exam over chapters 31-33.  Be advised:  The plant material seems easy on the surface, but it is very easy to confuse one tissue with another, etc... when the content is out of it's 'natural' order, i.e. your notes and diagrams.  Do not wait until Monday night to study!

Tonight's Reading/Assignments

Finish all plant sketches tonight if you have not completed them already.  We will continue chapter 33 tomorrow--discussing the plant hormones, tropisms, and photoperiodism.  PLEASE READ this chapter!  Also--it would be a great idea to complete the self-quiz at the end of chapter 31.  The test over chapters 31-33 will be Tuesday, April 19th due to so many people being out next Thursday/Friday or both.  As always--it is your responsibility to keep up with your reading and self-quizzes.  Do not wait until the last minute to study this material.  The plant test will be your last test grade of the nine weeks.

Tonight's Reading/Studying

Don't forget your test tomorrow.  As promised, it only covers what we went over today (and has been on the board since Monday.)  It only has 15 questions and they are pretty straight-forward.  I'll check in until around 10:30ish.

Tonight's Reading/Assignments

I hope everyone has checked their email this afternoon.  I sent a link (got it right the second time) to the Biology Place website.  It has several awesome tutorials and interactive lessons.  There is one on Plant Growth and Development that I highly recommend you check out ASAP.  See what you can do with a few of those lessons.  Choose topics we have already discussed. 

Also--you need to be working on the sketches I assigned in class today:  the root longitudinal section (p.631), the flower (p.634 Figure A), the monocot seed (corn, p. 636 Figure B), and the eudicot seed (bean, p.636 Figure B.)  All sketches will be due on Friday, including the leaf we did in class today and the root and stem cross sections we will draw tomorrow.  The sketches will be for a daily grade.

Reminder:  Test Thursday over the material listed on the board (it's still there.) 

Tonight's Reading

As discussed in class today, thoroughly read sections 31.1-31.5.  Skim the rest of the chapter, paying close attention to figures and diagrams.  We will finish chapter 31 tomorrow and begin reviewing for the test on Thursday.  Make sure you get the study guide list for the test.  It is still on the board and I will leave it up through Thursday.  Oh yeah---I forgot to include muscle contraction on the list, so please add. 

Tonight's Reading/Work

As of today, chapters 28 and 29 are complete.  Please complete the self-quizzes at the end of each chapter.  Also--don't forget to have your powerpoint for chapter 30 printed and and with you tomorrow.  Juniors, I know you are exhausted but PLEASE keep up with your reading.  If you are behind, use some downtime during spring break to catch up. 

Tonight's Reading/Thursday and Friday

We made it up through hearing and vision today.  Not bad for an hour.  We will finish our discussion of chapter 29 tomorrow (if time allows--who knows how long the social studies test will take tomorrow.)  If we don't get to meet Thursday, we resume first thing Friday.  PLEASE have the powerpoint for chapter 30 printed out and with you on Friday.  I would also like for you to be able to go to the web and try out some of the brain games on perception and find out whether or not you are left or right brained.  (You may think you already know, but...)  Pretty interesting stuff.

Tonight's Reading

We now move into chapter 29--The Senses.  I have a concept map for the different types of receptors and I will be looking for volunteers tomorrow and Thursday to explain taste, vision, and hearing.:)  I emailed the powerpoint for muscle contraction earlier today, so please check your email.  Print out slides/handouts for Friday.  As always--read. 

Tonight's Reading

We began chapter 28 today and discussed up through section 9 on action potentials, neurotransmitters, and brain chemicals.  Tomorrow we will compare the nervous systems of different animals, but will focus on humans as always.  You have a GREAT app on your iPOD that gives different views of the human brain.  Check it out.  Juniors--I downloaded three new apps today for exam review so please bring your iPOD in ASAP to be synced.  We will be in chapter 29 (The Senses) by Wednesday and I will email a powerpoint to you for chapter 30.  We will have comparative anatomy and physiology wrapped up by spring break. 

NO quiz or test this week due to the GHSGT.  We will discuss an assessment after break.
This week:  Chapters 28, 29, 30.  Happy Reading.:)

Quiz Tomorrow

The quiz is over all of chapter 25 and the first three sections of chapter 26.  Study your handouts; read through the sections again; pay attention to diagrams.  I will be on the blog to answer questions until 10:00ish.

Tonight's Reading/Work

I just checked quizlet and the vocabulary we did today is still #7 on the endocrine system search list.  The title of the cards is "Endocrine System Hormones" and the author is tzophia.  There are 22 terms.  Have a look tonight and play the matching game.  (It's never too early to start learning the hormones, even though they are not on the quiz Friday.)  Again--all of chapter 25 and the first three sections of chapter 26 are on the quiz.

Tonight's Reading

As of today, you should have read chapter 25.  We also took notes in class today over the chapter and answered the questions on the self-quiz.  Tonight you need to read through chapter 26.  We will take a few notes tomorrow over the first page of handouts (which you already have) and we will also begin sorting through the hormones.  I have a manipulative that you can work on in class tomorrow with a partner.  I printed the cards from quizlet.  If you go on quizlet and search 'endocrine system', it is #7 on the results list.  There are 22 terms and they are VERY close to our vocabulary.  You can go ahead and give it a test run tonight if you'd like.

Quiz Friday will be over all of chapter 25 and the first three sections of chapter 26 (NOT the hormones--yet.)

Tonight's Reading

Read chapter 25 tonight.  Make sure you look carefully at the diagram of the nephron I gave you in class today.  We will discuss this in class tomorrow.  We will quiz on Friday over chapter 25 and maybe the first part of chapter 26.  You have handouts for both chapters.

Quiz Tomorrow

Don't forget!  Quiz tomorrow (Monday, March 14) over chapter 24--the immune system.  You have vocabulary and a detailed graphic organizer for this chapter. Both are on the blue paper.  The quiz will have approximately 20 multiple choice questions.  You will not have much time in class to study before the quiz, so make sure you get in some time today/tonight.  We start chapter 25 tomorrow as well.  Time is ticking to May 9th...

Tonight's Reading

Have the vocabulary assigned in class today completed by class time tomorrow.  We will organize the major concepts of the immune system tomorrow, namely innate vs. acquired immunity and humoral vs. cell-mediated immunity.  Remember, there will be a quiz over this chapter on MONDAY, March 14th.  Please keep up with the reading and start learning the vocabulary.  Tonight.  Also--iPOD.  Have it with you and charged tomorrow.  I will check in tonight for questions.

Tonight's Reading

Please begin going through chapter 24 on the immune system.  We will begin sorting through and organizing the information tomorrow.  This is a detailed chapter, so for right now hit the high spots:  chapter summary; headings, key vocabulary, charts, tables, diagrams.  Try to get an idea of the big picture:  innate vs. acquired immunity; humoral vs. cell-mediated.  Those are crucial.  Also--don't forget to have your iPOD tomorrow morning, charged and ready to go.

Test Tomorrow

I will check in periodically tonight so if anyone has a question,  please ask.  There is no essay tomorrow.  Study your handouts/peer notes, diagrams in the book, questions at the end of the chapter, and the manipulative for respiratory and circulatory pathways.  There are 45 questions total tomorrow. 

Reading/Studying

If you have not done so already, cut out the pieces to your manipulatives you received in class today (respiratory system was on the left, circulatory on the right) and start trying to put them in order.  Make sure you have read both chapters (22 and 23) and are studying your notes/handouts.  We will finish the circulatory system tomorrow and I will give you time for research.  Lab on Friday.

Test Tomorrow

Just a reminder that you have a test tomorrow over chapters 20 and 21.  We had a good review today, so keep studying.:)  I will check the blog for questions until 10:30ish.  No essay tomorrow.

Friday

Just in case you missed the news in class today:  NO QUIZ ON FRIDAY.  The test, however, is still scheduled for Tuesday.  I have left work for chapters 20 and 21 for tomorrow and Thursday, so read, define vocabulary, and complete your handouts.  I will see you guys on Friday--unless you are going to be modeling for the UN--and in that case, see you guys Monday.

This Week

At this point, Chapter 18 has been completed, which means you should be finished reading it.  We began Chapter 19 today, so begin/continue your reading in this chapter.  We will complete the graphic organizer tomorrow in class and graph the data in your handout.  The rest of this week we will focus on Chapter 20, which begins comparative anatomy with a focus on human anatomy. 

Your next test is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 8 and it will cover Chapters 18 and 19 only.  Be prepared for a quiz over Chapter 18 (the invertebrates) on Friday of THIS WEEK.  You have all of the notes and lab information already.

Tonight's Reading/Studying

Study all graphic organizers, including the ones we did for the prokaryotes (archaebacteria, bacterial shapes, modes of nutrition, and structures.)  Those are the ones that take up both sides of the paper.  You also have a manipulative for the three domains (it's blue.)

The protist notes are organized by notecard.  Study those and be prepared to practice with the graphic organizer I have in class tomorrow.

For the fungi, you have a lab sheet and either notes on notebook paper or on notecards.  Remember--I gave you the option of how to take those notes.

The plant adaptations for life on land are in a t-graph.  The classifications are in a graphic organizer that you cut into a manipulative.  You also have the flower diagram you drew today in class.

Lastly, any vocabulary terms not specifically covered in notes should be on notecards.  The only exceptions would be vocabulary from the plant life cycles (i.e. sections 17.4, 17.5,17.6,17.7, 17.9.)  You need to know the alternation of generations (when plants alternate between a haploid gametophyte generation and a diploid sporophyte generation), but you do not need to study the actual life cycles--see sections above.

I also sent everyone the links to the online quizzes you were doing in class today on the smartboard.  Check your email! 

Tonight's Reading/Notes

As you read about the fungal groups tonight, have your notecards out and jot down some key characteristics for each group.  You also need to list examples for each group.  We will TRY to do some collecting tomorrow if the weather is not brutally cold or rainy.  Pond water is needed for Thursday as well.

This Week

Finish reading chapter 16.  We will be adding to your notecards tomorrow to finish the protists.  Also, on Thursday we will be in lab.  If you have pond water at your disposal, we'd love some.:)  The fungi come next, so look ahead into chapter 17 if you've finished 16.  Separate vocabulary cards are still HIGHLY encouraged.

Tonight's Reading/Vocabulary

First of all--great day back after the long break!  It was good to see all of you again in class today.  Here's what going on this week:

1)  Sections 16.1-16.10 Wednesday and Thursday in class.  Quiz over these sections on Friday.
2)  Mini-lab tomorrow, then we finish up the prokaryotes.  You will be given a manipulative over the three domains tomorrow in class.  (That is Table 16.2 in your book, so start familiarizing yourself with the information in that table because you will have to know it.)
3)  Vocabulary cards.  Although I am not requiring them, I highly recommend you do them.  Why?  They are strong reinforcement of vocabulary taught in class.  You can mix up your cards and see if you know the terms out of their 'natural habitat', i.e. not in a graphic organizer. 

The only vocabulary terms you can omit from the first ten sections are:  gram stain, proteobacteria, chlamydias, gram-positive bacteria


After the quiz on Friday, we will begin to decipher the protists.