Hello!  I am Heather Rothkegel and I recently moved to the Atlanta area from Westlake, Ohio where I was born and raised.  I attended college at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio where I majored in Middle Childhood Education (4-9) with a concentration in Science and Social Studies.   I have two amazing parents as well as an older sister, a younger brother, and a family dog named Max.  In my spare time I enjoy running and swimming, as well as spending time with my family and friends. I am extremely excited my life science classroom and anticipate a wonderful school year to come!

Course Description:

    The 7th Grade Life Science curriculum provides students with the necessary knowledge and skills to transition from  elementary life science standards to high school biology standards.  The course is designed to provide students with an overview of the common concepts and strands in the life sciences including but not limited to: structures and functions of cells, tissues, organs, and organ-systems, heredity, biological evolution, diversity of living organisms, and ecosystems.  These concepts are investigated through observing, collecting, summarizing, analyzing, and presenting results of scientific investigations and fieldwork designed for students to develop appropriate knowledge and skills in science as inquiry.

Weighted Grades:

                    Homework - 10%

                    Daily/Class work - 20%

                    Labs/Investigations - 30%

                    Tests/Projects - 40%

Homework Expectations:

    Make-up work and missed or late assignments are the student's own responsibility.  The Project Based Inquiry classroom setting is a lab environment and it is often difficult to make-up some of the group activities.  Incomplete homework will result in a grade of 60% if submitted within a seven day time period.

Help Sessions:

    If a student is experiencing difficulty on any activity or homework assignment or simply has a question, he/she is encouraged to make an appointment to come in for help any morning, Monday-Friday between 7:45 a.m. and 8:20 a.m. and any time after school.  Students may also come to my room for extra assistance during REAL time with a pass from their homeroom teacher.