Department: English
Fall Semester 2016
COURSE TITLE: Sophomore Seminar
INSTRUCTOR: Velrastine Shaw
EMAIL: Velrastine.Shaw@cobbk12.org PHONE: 770-819-2521 ext. 1057
CLASSROOM BLOG: shawsblog08.blogspot.com
PHS SCHOOL VISION: Empowering
Students to Become Productive Members of a Global Community
PHS SCHOOL MISSION: Modeling
and Developing Intellectual, Physical and Emotional Behaviors that Lead to
Success for All
KEY ACTIONS:
·
Increase the
Graduation Rate
·
Increase rigor and
student engagement (Project-based learning environment)
·
Increase community
and parental involvement
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course is designed to
provide support for students as they transition from their Freshman year in high
school to their Sophomore year. Goal
setting, study skills, self-advocacy, technology skills, standards of
interpersonal interaction, career guidance, and Academy options establish the primary elements of this course. Emphasis will be placed on developing
organization, communication, goal setting, and essential tools for 21st
century learning. Students will work
with guidance counselors to discuss how to read a transcript, explore possible
careers, determine learning styles, and evaluate grades in Synergy.
KEY STANDARDS:
FS-1: Demonstrate high school readiness skills
required for success in The Academies of Pebblebrook High School.
FS-2: Understand the influence of a positive self-concept on
educational achievement, career planning, and interpersonal interactions.
FS-3: Use appropriate oral, written, and digital
communication skills to create, express, and interpret information and ideas.
FS-4: Apply technology as a tool to increase 21st
century skills, while maintaining respectful and responsible personal and
online behaviors.
FS-5: Master software to create, edit, and publish
appropriate high school and college level word processing, spreadsheet, and
presentation documents.
MATERIALS NEEDED:
INTERACTIVE NOTEBOOKS:
You will be
creating and keeping up with an interactive notebook this semester, which is
essentially a personalized textbook and interactive journal that allows you to
store and process all class information in one place (a spiral notebook which
you will be required to purchase). You will be required to supply your spiral
notebook and some supplies, and the notebooks will be created, maintained, and
stored in the classroom. Notebook checks will be frequent and may be announced
or unannounced.
MATERIALS NEEDED:
- Spiral Notebook for the Interactive Notebook
component. (8 ½ x 11)
- College-ruled Notebook paper for assignments to
be turned in outside of the Interactive Notebook
- Pens and pencils
- Colored pencils, markers, highlighters, or
crayons (suggested)
- Glue stick or tape (suggested)
- Index cards (suggested)
- Flash-drive (suggested)
CLASS
EXPECTATIONS:
My expectations
for all students are as follows:
- Be respectful of everyone and everything in
the classroom.
- Be present, be prepared, and be positive.
It is my
expectation that this class is a place of business and learning. You are
required to treat your teacher(s), peers, and materials with respect at all
times. You are required to comply with school rules at all times. You are
required to follow directions at all times and correct your behavior
immediately if there is an issue. Consequences for failure to comply with these
expectations may include a warning, student/teacher conference, detention,
parent contact, and referral to administration.
GRADING POLICY CONTINUED:
Speech & Professionalism………………….20%
Networking & Team Building ……………..10%
Education & Career Readiness……………..20%
Critical Thinking & Application……………20%
Usher’s New Look Modules………………..10%
Final Exam………………………………….20%
GRADING SCALE:
A - 100-90%
B - 89-80%
C - 79-74%
D – 70-73%
F - 69-Below
SYNERGY ACCESS TO
GRADES:
It is strongly encouraged that you keep your Synergy login information
in a safe place and that you have access to the information when needed. Parents should contact the Main Office
(770.819.2521).
Please note that
when you are viewing grades in Synergy that a blank grade column for your child
has no effect on their grade. If the
space is blank, then your student may not have turned in that assignment due to
absence or the teacher may not have entered grades for that assignment at that
time. An “X” means that the student is
exempt from an assignment at the discretion of the teacher.
Projects:
- Some of the learning
that takes place in this class will be student-driven and project
based. True learning takes place
when students solve problems and discover things on their own. I will not stand in front of the class and
simply tell you what you need to know.
- Some projects will
be individual, but many will require you to work in a small group. Generally groups will initially be two
people but if students prove that they are able to work well in larger
groups, I will allow it.
- While I understand
that some people prefer to work alone, working with others is an essential
skill that is needed to be successful as an adult. If you are one of these people, please
speak with me in private and I will attempt to group you with other
students in which you will be compatible.
Tests and
Quizzes:
- The majority of the
tests and quizzes I give are multiple choice and short answer. However, all tests can include a
combination of any of the following: multiple choice, true/false, matching,
fill-in-the-blank, short answer, graphs, charts, and map questions.
- Quizzes will be
scheduled in advance, but the teacher reserves the right to give pop
quizzes. If participation in class is low, students are not able to
participate in class discussions with reasonable intelligence of the
material, and/or did not complete the homework, a pop quiz may be given.
Quizzes will cover the readings that the student is to have completed,
class activities, and any notes given in class lecture (normally only a
week’s worth of material).
FINAL EXAM EXEMPTION:
Students with no more than
one excused absence may qualify to exempt one of their final exams. Students with a course average of 80 or
higher may exempt one final exam of their choice. Students with a course average of 79 or below
may request that ten percentage points be added to the final exam grade. Towards the end of the semester, students who
qualify may submit an Exam Exemption Form to the classroom teacher of their
choice. Teachers must verify that the
student qualifies for the exemption.
LATE WORK POLICY:
Late work may
not be eligible to earn full credit. All major assignments/projects will be
penalized 10% each day late.
ATTENDANCE AND MAKE-UP POLICY:
A student who
is present and actively participates is most likely to be successful; however,
if a student is absent, he/she has the number of days absent plus one day to
make up assigned work. If the student
does not make up the work, a zero will be given for the missed work. All a student has to do is ASK, and I will be
happy to designate a time for make-up work when my assistance is needed.
If a student
has an unexcused absence, all work will be assigned a zero in Synergy unless
the absence becomes excused.
Remember that
IT IS THE STUDENT’S RESPONSIBILITY TO PICK UP AND TO MAKE UP ANY MISSED WORK!
There will be a designated spot and system to pick up make-up work, which
students will be aware of. Please check the blog to view more details about the
day’s work.
Any student who
misses class for OSS or ISS must turn in his/her work the day he/she returns to
class. Students in OSS must have their
work picked up in the main office.
TARDY POLICY:
To avoid being
counted tardy, students must be seated and ready for class when the bell rings.
School policy states that students may receive detention, In-School Suspension,
and Out-of-School Suspension for repeated tardies.
EXTRA HELP:
Morning Session:
Tuesdays and Thursdays – 7:20-7:55
Afternoon Session:
By Appointment Only
CELL PHONES AND ELECTRONIC DEVICES:
As per the school’s policy,
cell phones are not to be used during class time unless directed by the teacher
for instructional purposes. Students will receive a discipline referral after
one warning to put away any electronic device (unless the device is being used
for instruction). Students are allowed to bring certain technologies to class
(iPad, laptop, Kindle, etc.), but it should NOT interfere with the teaching or other’s learning.
GRADE RECOVERY: Students
who score 69 or below on any unit assessment are allowed to retake the
assessment. The grade will not exceed a 70 for the unit assessment.
The retake must be completed with-in one week. Please view the teacher’s blog
for notification when the assessment will be administered.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:
Cheating is considered a serious
matter. Any student who is involved in cheating/plagiarism will receive a
grade of zero on the material, an unsatisfactory in conduct, and his/her
parents will be notified.
For this course,
cheating is defined as, but is not limited to, the following acts:
- Copying
anyone's answers to questions, exercises, study guides, class work or
homework assignments
- Taking
any information verbatim from any source, including the Internet, without
giving proper credit to the author, or rearranging the order of words
and/or changing some words as written by the author and claiming the work
as his or her own, i.e., plagiarism.
- Looking
onto another student's paper during a test or quiz.
- Having
available any study notes or other test aids during a test or quiz without
the teacher's permission.
- Collaborating
on assignments when independent work is expected.
