United States Government (A) Madison High School INSTRUCTOR INFO

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1 INSTRUCTOR INFO Mrs. Loosli (208) Ext Classroom 205 West, Upper-Level Office Hours M-F 8:00-8:30 AM, 3:30-4:00 PM COURSE DESCRIPTION This twelfth-grade course is a study of the American political system and how it functions. American Government examines the fundamental political institutions of our nation and the government operations of the United States, both at home and abroad. Special emphasis is given to the role of citizens at the local, state, and national levels. TEXTS AND MATERIALS Primary Textbook Magruder s American Government, Ed. William A. McClenaghan. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall, Classroom Materials Required 1 ½ Ring Binder (This is your portfolio that will be graded at the end of the trimester) Index Tabs (Label the tabs in the following order: Participation, Notes, Foundation, Political Behavior, Civil Liberties, Projects, Current Events, and Tests/Quizzes) Physical Copy of the United States Constitution and the Declaration of Independence White Lined Filler Paper Pencil/ Black or Blue Pen Recommended Print all Portfolio Projects & Current Event Forms to Keep in Binder Colored Pencils Colored Highlighters Paper Clips Index Cards COURSE RESOURCES United States Government (A) Classroom Websit e Remind 101 mrslooslisclassroomblog.weebly.com Access to class calendar and the ability to download/ print assignments Enter this number: Text this Access to reminders about due dates and class announcements COURSE OUTLINE Students will receive an outline of the trimester s assignments on the first day of the course and we will cover the following units from American Government. Foundations of American Government/ The Constitution Political/Voting Behavior, Government By the People Civil Liberties Mrs. Loosli Front of Binder 1

2 ASSESSMENTS & ASSIGNMENTS The assessments and learning activities in this course are designed to help you meet the learning objectives and demonstrate student progress. Each assessment is directly related to one or more learning objectives, so that in the end your grade will be a reflection of how much you have learned in the course and the quality of your performance. Grades are earned by students, not given by teachers. I will not be able to round grades. Grades will usually be uploaded and posted to PowerSchool every Friday by the end of the day. Grades will be aligned with the school district s grade scale. The appropriate time to discuss student grades is during office hours. Tests/Quizzes will be given approximately every 1-2 weeks and will cover one or more unit. The pretest will measure a starting point of prior knowledge on the course topic and the results will be compared with the post-test to determine student growth. Students can revise their understanding of content by retaking an exam. Students can only retake an exam during the provided time, usually one opportunity before and after school (no exceptions). Students can not retake the final test or a makeup test. If a student has an unverified absence they can not make up a test or quiz. I will provide study guides and review materials on the class website. Grade Scale What does my grade mean? A B C D F Advanced understanding of the standard The student has met the standard The student is close to meeting the standard The students is not close to meeting the standard The student has not met the standard, No attempt Grade Weight How much is my work worth towards my final grade? Test/ Quiz Projects/ Current Events Classwork/ Portfolio Evaluation X 3 PowerSchool X 2 PowerSchool X 1 PowerSchool Weekly Planners (5 Points-Friday): Weekly planners are designed to keep students organized and to assess their daily participation in our course. At the end of each week students will turn in their weekly planner for grading. I will randomly grade one day for completion. Students are responsible for making up any missed days with the Absent Binder. Students can turn in planners with a verified absence or on the following Monday with a late deduction. Current Event/ Political Cartoon Captures (10 Points-Friday): Students are required to turn in one current event each Friday or end of the week if a shortened week. The topic of the current event will depend on what we are learning that week. Students can find the current event form and directions on our classroom website. Students should only use credible news sites and articles should be current (within a week of due date). All work should be handwritten and in the student s own words. Students should attach articles to their current event form to avoid point deductions. Portfolio Projects (10-50 Points-Wednesday): Becoming an active, involved, informed citizen involves many activities and skills. Portfolio projects will develop students into active citizens and the projects are due throughout the trimester. It is expected that students plan ahead to ensure that each project receives an Mrs. Loosli Front of Binder 2

3 ontime grade. Each assigned project is due on Wednesday at the beginning of class. Students are not to work on projects during class time. Forms and directions for projects are on our classroom website. Due dates of specific forms and projects will be given on supplementary paper on the first day of the trimester. All work should be handwritten and in the student s own words. Portfolio Evaluation (200 Points-End of Trimester): In this course students will be building a portfolio physical representations of everything they have learned and done over the course. Students will need a 3-Ring Binder, filler paper, dividers (Label the tabs in the following order: Participation, Notes, Foundation, Political Behavior, Civil Liberties, Projects, Current Events and Tests/Quizzes), a physical copy of the US Constitution and Declaration of Independence, and a pen or pencil in class every day. Make sure your portfolio is organized, as neatness will be a part of the grade. Student should keep all returned work and late assignments in binder. It will be graded throughout the trimester and will be worth a significant number of points at the end of the trimester. Students that did not receive an ontime grade will have an opportunity to earn points back by keeping their work in their portfolio for the final evaluation. Late Policy & Absence Policy: Current event and portfolio projects will only be accepted on their due date at the beginning of class. If absent, assignment must be turned in the day returning to school or before you are absent ( Madison High School Policy). Students that do not meet a deadline should keep their late work organized in their portfolio so that they can receive portfolio points at the end of the trimester. Any other late assignments will be accepted on the week of their due date but the assignments will receive a 50% deduction off the earned score. For a verified absence, the student will have as many days as they were absent plus one day to make up their work for full credit (does not include assignments with pre-assigned deadlines such as current events and portfolio projects). Additional time may be granted at my discretion for extenuating circumstances. I will provide opportunities for absent students to make up missed work, but there may be times when the educational experiences lost during the absence cannot be made up (alternative assignments provided). Each student is accountable for their work and should be proactive and responsible for obtaining the work that was missed. Students can find what they missed in the Absent Binder, Notes Binder, or on the Classroom Website. A student will not be allowed to make up any work or test/quizzes missed after an unverified absence ( Madison High School Policy). Academic Honesty, Zero Tolerance Policy: Each student is expected to do his or her own work. Instances of plagiarism or cheating, however small, will not be tolerated. If a student is caught, they will fail the assignment or assessment in question and I will refer the case to administration for disciplinary action. Students will lose all bonus points and may risk possible failure of the class. Please don t hesitate to ask me any questions before you submit an assignment or take an exam. CITIZENSHIP/ BONUS POINTS Each student will receive 25 bonus points and 25 citizenship points under their citizenship/bonus category in PowerSchool. These points can be applied toward their grade in a positive manner. Students may have opportunities throughout the trimester to earn more bonus points. Students can lose their bonus points as a consequence for negative behaviors. Bonus points are at the discretion of the teacher because they are an extra, not required, part of the course grade.when a student loses all of their bonus points it will start to negatively affect their citizenship grade and their overall grade in the course. EXPECTATIONS Mrs. Loosli Front of Binder 3

4 The Golden Rule: Treat others the way you would like to be treated The 5 Ps- Classroom Rules: The 5 Ps are absolutely necessary for our success in the classroom and for strengthening our character. I will expect these rules to be followed and for each of us to recognize the positive outcomes that result from their fulfillment. I want the best for our classroom and I know each student s choices matter every day for making a positive difference in our learning. Be Prompt- Class is never stopped or disrupted for a student who is late to class. Students are tardy to class if they are not inside the classroom, in their assigned seat, when the bell rings. If a student is late they will sign in on the classroom sign in/sign out clipboard, even if they have a pass. If a student does not log their entry/exit on the clipboard they will lose double bonus points (-10). Each tardy will be documented in PowerSchool and negative consequences will be given such as losing (-5) bonus points and other penalties from the administration. Any false information provided will result in disciplinary action. Students can use the restroom/exit the classroom for (-5) bonus points (only if they have bonus points) and should always sign out/in of the classroom in case of an emergency. Be Prepared (No Excuses)- Bring all materials and necessary work to class every day. Be available to learn by following all school policies and classroom procedures. Students are responsible for completing assignments on time and should utilize the media center before or after school if they are experiencing technical difficulties at home. Students should not be working on homework in class and it will cause a (-5) point deduction to their bonus points per section of class if they do not follow instructions. Be Productive- Maximize learning time by staying on task, following directions, and remaining seated unless you ve been given permission to get up. Electronics are not acceptable in class unless you have permission from the teacher to use it. Students should park their cell phone on designated area in the back of the classroom and it should be on the silent setting (-5 if heard). If a student still has a cell phone that is seen or heard it will be confiscated and taken to the office to be returned to a parent/guardian. Students will also lose all of their bonus points (-25) for failing to follow the cellphone procedure. Be Polite-Respect yourself, your classmates, your teacher, and your classroom. All communication should be professional between students and the teacher. Keep your hands, feet and objects to yourself. No food or drinks in the classroom. Participate- Be active in your learning, make contributions that count, ask questions, be a part of a discussion and be engaged in the learning process. Extra bonus points are offered daily for above and beyond participation. Bonus points can be deducted for not participating in class (ex. head down on desk/causing distractions). Action Plan: All rules and procedures in the classroom are designed to create a productive learning environment and to allow the students to develop positive behavioral skills and habits that contribute to a productive life and successful employment. I will document each incident to implement progressive discipline. If a student chooses to break a rule, the consequences will be as follows: Incident 1:Verbal Warning, Possible Assigned Seat Change Incident 2: Teacher/ Student Conference, Possible Assigned Seat Change Incident 3: Parent Phone Call Conference Incident 4: Parent/ Teacher Conference Incident 5: In-school Disciplinary Action, Loss of All Bonus Points *Note that some behavior may be severe enough to warrant immediate implementation of disciplinary action Mrs. Loosli Front of Binder 4

5 Signature Page Please sign below to acknowledge you have read and understand the course syllabus and student expectations. Students will return this signature page as a grade and their bonus points will not be applied until it is received.. Any instance of forgery will result in a failing grade for the assignment. PRINT Student Name Student Signature Date PRINT Parent/Guardian Name Parent/Guardian Signature Date Tell me something about your child below. How do you assist your child with their education and their preparations for college? *Please be aware of our class website as a resource to support your child. Mrs. Loosli Front of Binder 5

6 Mrs. Loosli Front of Binder 6

Texts and Materials: Traditions and Encounters, AP Edition. Bentley, Ziegler. McGraw Hill, $ Replacement Cost

Texts and Materials: Traditions and Encounters, AP Edition. Bentley, Ziegler. McGraw Hill, $ Replacement Cost AP World History Course Syllabus Lithia Springs High School Fall 2017-Spring 2018 School Phone: 770.651.6828 Savanna Kellett Room B110 savanna.kellett@douglas.k12.ga.us Course Description: This course