geography+syllabus

Abigail Anders 619-938-9215 aanders@guhsd.net World GeographyCourse Expectations Welcome to Geography. This is a one-year course required to graduate from Grossmont Union High School District. This class provides an essential and rewarding experience in global discovery and will help you understand the complex issues we face in the modern world. Geography is a challenging course that will explore both physical and human geography in the context of the five major themes: location, place, human and environmental interaction, movement, and the unifying characteristics of various regions.

I Course Outline: A. Unit 1 The Geographer’s World B. Unit 2 Canada and the United States C. Unit 3 Latin America D. Unit 4 Europe and Russia E. Unit 5 Africa F. Unit 6 Southwest and Central Asia G. Unit 7 Monsoon Asia H. Unit 8 Oceana and Antarctica

II Grading Policy: A) PACKET COLLECTION- 60% Every two weeks all the student's work is turned in (in their composition book) and they receive a detailed rubric for self-assessing their performance in the following three categories*: 1) Writing reflections. (20%­) These are written responses to daily questions about the topic of the day. The documents are the "openers" to a brief time for writing before the discussion. During the discussion, students may add notes, refine their writing, or make corrections as necessary. Often these are to be polished for homework assignments as they seek to delve into the critical thinking questions (a chart glued into the back of their composition book). 2) The various writing activities performed both at home and in class (20%) These may include essays, articles, graphs, time-lines, maps, poems, drawings, homework, charts or diagrams. 3) Participation (20%) The participation portion of this grade is based on their performance according to a rubric in their binder, which categorizes their attitude, preparedness, behavior, active classroom interaction, and reflection writing.
 * Once the students have assessed their work in these three categories and made comments accordingly, the packets are collected by the teacher and evaluated for accuracy and honesty.

Other Scores assessed by the teacher alone include: B) Quizzes and Tests (20%) Every Friday, there is either a short quiz or a unit test. If a student is absent on a Friday, it is their responsibility to come in on the following Monday at lunch to make it up. At the end of each semester there will be a final exam. C) Simulations, projects, and presentations (20%) During many of the units we study, students are given a role in a geographic simulation to dramatize with a group. These may involve major or minor roles but should always be guided by a quest to understand the event from various points of view. Students will also be expected to present to the class (often in pairs) about a given topic. Active participation, effort and preparation are necessary, especially when working with group on a given project. These activities are graded according to both participation and presentation rubrics.

The grading scale: A= 90%-100% B= 80%-89% C= 70%-79% D= 60%-

III Materials needed daily in class include: 1. Pencils and pens (only keep a couple in your pack at a time- leave rest at home. 2. Colored pencils or crayons 3. 3-hole paper 4. Composition book- provided by the teacher 5. Geography workbook- provided by teacher

IV Absences/Make Up Work:
 * Many assignments are completed in class only and cannot be made up if you are absent. BE IN CLASS! Excessive absences will affect your grade.
 * If absent, you are responsible for finding out what you missed. Ask another student, the teacher, or check the assignment log to find out what you missed!
 * Make up work is for excused absences only! It is your responsibility to find out what you missed and to make it up on your time.
 * You are responsible for any large projects/assignments or tests/quizzes that you knew about before you were absent. If you are absent the day a project is due, you must have it ready on the day of your return or you will receive 50% (F) of the grade you would have received by turning it in on time. For example, if you would have received 80 points out of 100 on a project, you would receive 40 points if it was turned in late.
 * If you are absent on the day of a group presentation, you will receive 50% of the group’s project grade.

V Attendance Policy: Students who miss more than ten days of class will receive no credit for the class unless these days are made up. No attendance make-up will be allowed for truancy. If you are absent, you are responsible for missed assignments. The student may be dropped from the class if the teacher determines that the absences, in combination with lack of effort, lack of academic success, or poor attitude results in disruptive behavior. The parent and student must realize there is a direct relationship between attendance and grades/ credits earned. The only opportunity for make up of these unexcused absence hours will be the student’s participation in Saturday School. Saturday Schools will be available during the last four Saturdays of each semester; check with the attendance office for specific dates and times. (Unexcused absences include, but are not limited to, truancy, leaving campus without permission, car problems, or oversleeping.) Upon the accumulation of 10 tardies to the same class, and pursuant to a teacher request, the student will be dropped.

VI Behavior Expectations 1. DO NOT talk while the teacher or another student is speaking. Become intellectually curious! Ask questions about the topic and try to make connections to your everyday experiences. 2. No food, drinks, cell phones, iPods or GUM permitted in class. ALL TECHNOLOGICAL DEVICES MUST BE OFF (NOT ON VIBRATE) IN THE CLASSROOM. PARENTS: Please help us enforce this! Having the capacity to check text messages in class is a serious disruption. Phones are collected and sent to the office if it is used in class (to be picked up by parents only.) 3. DO NOT pack up your things before the bell rings. This is rude! 4. BATHROOM- Every student will receive three passes per semester using the bathroom. If they are not used, they count as extra credit towards any assignment at the end of the semester. Any objections must be by the parent. Please note on signature sheet. 5. Any work that is copied (homework, reflections, projects or tests) will result in a zero on the assignment and a referral for both the copier and the person who gave them the assignment to be copied. 6. I expect you to act appropriately and maturely. Know that I am not here to pick on you nor do I have time to nag you unnecessarily. If I give you a direction, I expect you to follow it without argument. Any questions or problems can be discussed privately before or after class.

 The 3 R’s: R esponsibility – each student has the ability to succeed in this class as well as life. I will teach you the skills you need to succeed at El Capitan and in college, but it is YOUR responsibility to put this information to good use (be present, attentive, and prepared.) R espect – all students will show respect towards other’s person, opinion, and property. This means LISTENING to ideas and opinions that are different from your own and accepting the right of others to voice that idea or opinion. Remember, just because something is different does not mean it is wrong. R ights – each student that enters my classroom has the right to expect my full attention to the lesson at hand in addition to working in a safe classroom atmosphere that encourages learning. If any student chooses to interfere with my teaching or another student’s learning, I reserve the right to ask that student to leave my classroom (followed by an appropriate consequence).

VII Discipline Policy: 1. Warning 2. Seat change 3. Ask to leave classroom 4. Call home and/or referral on record. *Three referrals constitutes removal from course with no credit.

LAST NAME FIRST NAME __PERIOD ___

__INFORMATION SHEET AND UNDERSTANDING FORM __

__<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">“ __<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">I have carefully read and understood the course requirements outlined in this syllabus and will do my best to fulfill them. The first step I will take is to collect all the necessary materials as soon as possible. I will come in and see Ms. Anders at lunch when I feel like I am falling behind and need help.”

__<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Student Signature: __

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">PARENTS/ GUARDIANS: “I have reviewed and understand the course requirements and syllabus for this course with my child.” Signature: __<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Print Name: ___ __Phone Number:__ <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Email: __(slash all zero numbers, please)__

__<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Students: This is the first homework assignment of the year! I hope you have read this all carefully! __

__<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">IMPORTANT DIRECTIONS ABOUT THIS PACKET: __ __<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">The first page of this syllabus packet is for the parent to keep! It contatains the grading policy, materials requirements, and absence policy. The second page is for the student to rip off (after both have signed it) and returned to Ms. Anders by 9/10/2010. Any questions or concerns? Please write below (or on reverse.) Thank- you! __

__<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">LAST NAME __ __FIRST NAME__ <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">PERIOD_

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">All home and cell phone numbers of both student and parents: Name Relationship Phone number ­­_ _ _ _ <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">­­_ _ __<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">­­ ___ _

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">All email addresses of both student and parents (used only for geography updates and study guides this year. These are not shared and are deleted after course.) Name Relationship Emails (Cross all zeros!) ­­_ ­­ ­­_

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> Hobbies Extra-curricular Activities (clubs, sports, jobs) _ _ <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> _

__<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Do you have access to internet for school purposes at home? __ __<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Circle one: Yes No __ __<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">**If you circled “No” above, you must make sure you go regularly to the library after school and make use of the computer lab (open until 3:30), or use the local Lakeside library. This is a good habit to make anyhow, so that you get in the habit of getting all your homework done immediately after school. __

__<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Is there anything you think Ms. Anders should know about you to help her understand what you are going through at home (parent just passed away, parents recently divorced, need to sit up front, etc…?) This is confidential. Feel free to use the space to convey whatever information you think would help her understand who you are. __ __