Welcome to Mr. Jamal’s Science class! I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself in preparation for this new school year 2025-2026. I hope you are as excited about taking this science course as I am. We are going to be engaged in incredible discussions, learn new skills that you apply to the real-world. One of my goals is to improve your science literacy, to appreciate and think critically like a scientist, so you can succeed not just in this science course, but beyond in college and/or any career of your choice.
First, a little background on myself. I am originally from Bangladesh. I went to Abraham Lincoln High School in Brooklyn. I have a Bachelor of Sciences in Biology from Cornell University. I also have two Masters Degrees - one from Pace University in Secondary Science Education and a second Masters from Queens College in School Leadership. I also completed a Master Teacher Fellowship with Math For America and continue to be engaged with the MfA community. At AFSE, I also strongly encourage greener practices to tackle the challenges of climate change as the Sustainability Coordinator.
My philosophy of science education is that learning is socially constructed, personal and requires deep reflections in order to make connections between science concepts and applying them to the real world. I am passionate about education, science and technology, and I am really excited to get to know you and help develop your skills and to inspire you to better appreciate and improve your science literacy skills.
1) BINDER/Pen/Pencil: You need to be organized with a 3-ring Notebook Binder for this science course so that you can store class worksheets in an organized fashion. You should bring your own pen or pencil everyday. Organization is an important part of being the scientist scholar I see you as. There will be a science dictionary of prefix and suffix in your binder for you to improve your science literacy. Stay organized with your class notes. Random notebook checks are done that affect your class participation DOJO points.
2) Electronics, Headphones, Phone, Hats, Durags: Put away any electronics you have with you BEFORE entering my classroom. They tend to be distractions and keep you from taking part in the learning process. I will let you know when it is permissible to use electronic devices for learning purposes. DOJO points will be kept to help you track your positive learning habits which will translate to Python Points and habits for success.
3) Assigned seating: Where you seat in my classroom is entirely up to my discretion. You may request a seating based on a need that I will try to accommodate. I may ask you to switch seats at any time during lesson activities, so be prepared to move around and work with different partners or groups as we often work with other classmates in our class community.
4) Plagiarism/Academic Honesty: In the world of AI, always cite your sources. Do not plagiarize. Plagiarism of any kind or degree will be handled with severe consequences. When in doubt, always cite your sources as it is considered academic theft to steal someone else’s work without proper credit. Honesty and integrity are expected.
5) Entering Class: As you enter the class, take out your binder and begin your DO NOW immediately to finish within 5 minutes to receive reward stickers. You will hear DOJO point sounds for those who start right away.
6) Leaving Class: You might be asked to fill out Exit Reflection during the last 10 minutes of the class. As you leave the class, drop off any textbooks or materials you borrowed and push in your chairs. Be neat. Leave the classroom better than you found it.
7) CU Protocol: When answering multiple choice questions or free response questions, you must always figure out two OBVIOUS wrong choices FIRST with a reason. Circle keywords and Task verbs and Underline important parts to help you focus on prompts. Always ATP (Answer The Prompt) and demonstrate your annotation and communication skills.
8) Think Thursdays: Once a week, we practice Think Thursdays that helps me to get to know you better, help you reflect more deeply and improve on your communication skills. We try to have reflections about timely and diverse celebrations from around the world to help you think globally and act locally.
9) WONDER Wednesdays Exit Reflections: Once a week, you must post a WOW WONDER post that is well thought out regarding any of the concepts we covered that week. After posting, you RESPOND to your classmate’s questions with evidence-based responses. Our goal is to improve your metacognitive and research skills through this practice.
10) Dear Mr. Jamal Monthly Letters: Once a month, you take part in a reflection journal exercise where you discuss with me privately what is working well for you, what could improve and how. This is a chance to engage in a SMART goal on a monthly basis and I am looking for an improvement in the way you reflect and communicate from month to month.
11) Fun Fridays and Daily DOJO: We try to capture our special class moments and help you feel connected through DOJO Stories with what is happening in the classroom. DOJO points are meant to help you improve your habits for success and translate to PYTHON Points that you can use to pick up items from our school store. It is secure as students use the @NYCStudents account to access DOJO. Every Friday we also play DOJO island or some kind of review games!
12) Upgrade Policy: During Upgrade Week, you may only upgrade summatives that you have a 1 or a 2 on. The highest upgrade can go up to a highest score of 3 only. Quiz upgrades must be done within a week while the topic is still relevant. Best way to ensure your upgrade counted in JumpRope is to come to Room 512 during tutoring or advisory so we can go over your misunderstandings and give you another opportunity to demonstrate your understanding of the concepts. All summative assessments must be supervised to ensure that the exam is secured with no cell phone usage during summative assessments. We want to be fair and equitable to everyone based on their individual needs. Request your needs as I don't read minds.
We must ensure that all of us are learning together as a team. It is your personal responsibility to ensure that we have a safe, fun, and learning environment in this classroom. Feel free to contact me with questions/concerns and remember "To be early is to be on time" so always be proactive!
1) BINDER/Pen/Pencil: You need to be organized with a 3-ring Notebook Binder for this science course so that you can store class worksheets in an organized fashion. You should bring your own pen or pencil everyday. Organization is an important part of being the scientist scholar I see you as. There will be a science dictionary of prefix and suffix in your binder for you to improve your science literacy. Stay organized with your class notes. Random notebook checks are done that affect your class participation DOJO points.
2) Electronics, Headphones, Phone, Hats, Durags: Put away any electronics you have with you BEFORE entering my classroom. They tend to be distractions and keep you from taking part in the learning process. I will let you know when it is permissible to use electronic devices for learning purposes. DOJO points will be kept to help you track your positive learning habits which will translate to Python Points and habits for success.
3) Assigned seating: Where you seat in my classroom is entirely up to my discretion. You may request a seating based on a need that I will try to accommodate. I may ask you to switch seats at any time during lesson activities, so be prepared to move around and work with different partners or groups as we often work with other classmates in our class community.
4) Plagiarism/Academic Honesty: In the world of AI, always cite your sources. Do not plagiarize. Plagiarism of any kind or degree will be handled with severe consequences. When in doubt, always cite your sources as it is considered academic theft to steal someone else’s work without proper credit. Honesty and integrity are expected.
5) Entering Class: As you enter the class, take out your binder and begin your DO NOW immediately to finish within 5 minutes to receive reward stickers. You will hear DOJO point sounds for those who start right away.
6) Leaving Class: You might be asked to fill out Exit Reflection during the last 10 minutes of the class. As you leave the class, drop off any textbooks or materials you borrowed and push in your chairs. Be neat. Leave the classroom better than you found it.
7) CU Protocol: When answering multiple choice questions or free response questions, you must always figure out two OBVIOUS wrong choices FIRST with a reason. Circle keywords and Task verbs and Underline important parts to help you focus on prompts. Always ATP (Answer The Prompt) and demonstrate your annotation and communication skills.
8) Think Thursdays: Once a week, we practice Think Thursdays that helps me to get to know you better, help you reflect more deeply and improve on your communication skills. We try to have reflections about timely and diverse celebrations from around the world to help you think globally and act locally.
9) WONDER Wednesdays Exit Reflections: Once a week, you must post a WOW WONDER post that is well thought out regarding any of the concepts we covered that week. After posting, you RESPOND to your classmate’s questions with evidence-based responses. Our goal is to improve your metacognitive and research skills through this practice.
10) Dear Mr. Jamal Monthly Letters: Once a month, you take part in a reflection journal exercise where you discuss with me privately what is working well for you, what could improve and how. This is a chance to engage in a SMART goal on a monthly basis and I am looking for an improvement in the way you reflect and communicate from month to month.
11) Fun Fridays and Daily DOJO: We try to capture our special class moments and help you feel connected through DOJO Stories with what is happening in the classroom. DOJO points are meant to help you improve your habits for success and translate to PYTHON Points that you can use to pick up items from our school store. It is secure as students use the @NYCStudents account to access DOJO. Every Friday we also play DOJO island or some kind of review games!
12) Upgrade Policy: During Upgrade Week, you may only upgrade summatives that you have a 1 or a 2 on. The highest upgrade can go up to a highest score of 3 only. Quiz upgrades must be done within a week while the topic is still relevant. Best way to ensure your upgrade counted in JumpRope is to come to Room 512 during tutoring or advisory so we can go over your misunderstandings and give you another opportunity to demonstrate your understanding of the concepts. All summative assessments must be supervised to ensure that the exam is secured with no cell phone usage during summative assessments. We want to be fair and equitable to everyone based on their individual needs. Request your needs as I don't read minds.
We must ensure that all of us are learning together as a team. It is your personal responsibility to ensure that we have a safe, fun, and learning environment in this classroom. Feel free to contact me with questions/concerns and remember "To be early is to be on time" so always be proactive!
Think Globally Act Locally
Which STEM-themed channels do I love?
- It's Okay to be SMART - YouTube
- Smarter Everyday - Facebook | YouTube
- ASAP Science - Facebook | YouTube
- Bozeman Science - Facebook | YouTube
- VOX Science - YouTube
- SciShow - YouTube
- Veritasium - YouTube | Facebook
- Numberphile - YouTube
- KhanAcademy - YouTube
- Minute Earth - YouTube
- Crash Course - YouTube
- Ted-Ed - YouTube
- Nerd Snacks.Io on Instagram
- Science by Guff on Instagram
Which Science News websites do I love and you should subscribe to?
STEM Role Models Worth Following?
- Brian Greene @bgreene
- Joss Fong @jossfong
- Neil DeGrasse Tyson @neiltyson
- Paul Anderson @paulanderson
- Alice Keeler @alicekeeler
- NYT Science @NYTScience
- Brian Cox @ProfBrianCox
- Ezra Klein @Ezraklein
- Atul Gawande @Atul_Gawande
- David Pogue @Pogue
EduSciTech is also trying to organize the best resources out there for Science Teachers. Bookmark this page as new useful links get added very frequently. Let EduSciTech you know of other useful resources that should be added to this page. (Growing List)
Our Class Protocols
TeamD has a Doctorate Degree (Ph.D)
4) Exit Reflections: Blackboard College Style Discussions ONLINE ONCE a Week Minimum during last eight minutes of class
EduSciTech Links
- Survey.PJamal.com First Day Survey To Get To Know You
- GOOGLE CLASSROOM - All Class Assignments
- JUPITER - Secured Assessments/Daily WoW Wonder
- JUMPROPE - School Gradebook
- GOOGLE CALENDAR - Stay organized and plan your day. Be ProActive!
- CLASSDOJO - Build Positive Classroom Habits!
- lab.pjamal.com - Gizmos Virtual Lab
- book.pjamal.com - My AP Biology Online Book with AI Tutor
- greenbook.pjamal.com - Env Sci book with AI Tutor
- khan.pjamal.com - KhanAcademy AP Mastery Review Project
- myap.collegeboard.org - AP Daily Videos & Progress Checks
- AP Unit Concepts with Videos - APBioPenguins Review
- Play AP Bio Games for Each Unit - APBioPenguins
- https://maddenscience.com/apbio/ - Video Playlist for Each Unit
- Review Statistics for AP Bio
- KHANACADEMY AP Bio | AP Env Sci- Review Science
- QUIZLET | WAYGROUND | KAHOOT - Play and learn
- Survey.PJamal.com First Day Survey To Get To Know You
- GOOGLE CLASSROOM - All Class Assignments
- JUPITER - Secured Assessments/Daily WoW Wonder
- JUMPROPE - School Gradebook
- GOOGLE CALENDAR - Stay organized and plan your day. Be ProActive!
- CLASSDOJO - Build Positive Classroom Habits!
- lab.pjamal.com - Gizmos Virtual Lab
- book.pjamal.com - My AP Biology Online Book with AI Tutor
- greenbook.pjamal.com - Env Sci book with AI Tutor
- khan.pjamal.com - KhanAcademy AP Mastery Review Project
- myap.collegeboard.org - AP Daily Videos & Progress Checks
- AP Unit Concepts with Videos - APBioPenguins Review
- Play AP Bio Games for Each Unit - APBioPenguins
- https://maddenscience.com/apbio/ - Video Playlist for Each Unit
- Review Statistics for AP Bio
- KHANACADEMY AP Bio | AP Env Sci- Review Science
- QUIZLET | WAYGROUND | KAHOOT - Play and learn