Let's Be Real

Last week the chem 20s had a quiz on topic 14-16. This encompassed Quantity to Moles, Moles to Quantity, Quantity to Quantity and the Ideal Gas Law. Although this sounds like a lot, the process is exactly the same for all of the concepts. It is simply the stoichiometric process. After (maybe) 5 students being successful on the quiz, I asked the students to show me their work book questions. After looking at the first 3 kids' books in a row with NOTHING completed, I gave up, realizing that clearly the kids are not putting in the work required to be successful for chem 20. Needless to say, I am quite frustrated and concerned with how many students are not successful on simple quizzes, in which the quiz questions are nearly identical to the examples done in class.

It was at this point that I made the decision to slow it down and force kids to work. I asked them to create "test questions" with answer keys during class on Friday. After a lot of grumbling, they got to work. I'm not sure what else I can do? The next 2 topics are potentially the most difficult concepts in all of chem 20, but the class is clearly not ready to take this on. I cannot force them to do their practice questions. I provide (minimum) 30 minutes of work time in class EVERY DAY, as well as FLT time. After speaking with other 20 level teachers, this seems to be a common factor in many of the science / math classes. Let me be clear, in order to be successful in chemistry, students need to reinforce the developed pathways in their brains that we have created... by doing practice questions. Chemistry is not the type of science that is simply common sense. It does take work. If these 20s do not step up their work ethic in chemistry, they will not be successful in this class, and will definitely not be prepared for the work required in chem 30. 

I will ask you as parents to take 3 minutes and ask your fine student to look at their chem 20 booklet. Every question and example from Topic 1-16 should be complete at this point... If not, they are not doing enough... 

This week in Chem 20 
Monday: Review of Stoich / Lab Prep
Tuesday: Perform Ideal Gas Law Law 
Wednesday: Topic 17 Limiting and Excess Reagents 
Thursday: Quiz Topic 14-16 / Precipitation Prep
Friday: Topic 18 Percent Yield 

Upcoming Due Dates
Thurs Oct 27: Quiz Topic 14-16 (2nd time) 
FLT Thurs Nov 3: REWRITE Summative 1 (optional)
Mon Nov 7: Summative 2 (Topic 1-18) 
Tues Nov 8: Ideal Gas Law Lab due