Syllabus

Civilizations and Cultures

9^th Grade Humanities 2013-2014 Syllabus

“It is in fact a part of the function of education to help us escape, not from our own time -- for we are bound by that -- but from the intellectual and emotional limitations of our time.”

T.S. Eliot

INSTRUCTOR:         Sara Price

CONTACT:                sara.price@animashighschool.com or sara.price.teacher@gmail.com

                                    School number: 970-247-2474

Website: http://smacprice.blogspot.com/

OFFICE HOURS:      Wednesday 3:30-5:00

(Please be in my room at 3:30 if you plan to come to my office hours)

I will offer additional times around major test and project deadlines.

9^th GRADE HUMANITIES:

9th grade Humanities, Civilizations and Cultures, explores questions regarding the individual's relationship with civilization, society, and government.  As a humanities course, this class focuses on integrating language arts skills, historical thinking skills, and skills and perspectives found in other humanities and social science disciplines.  Through a variety of genres, both fiction and non-fiction, students participate in thematic projects related to local and global contemporary issues.  This thematic, project based, exploration continues through coverage of crucial topics in ancient through early modern (18th century) history.  Students examine these content areas through various humanities and social science discipline perspectives including history, sociology, psychology and philosophy.  Students completing this course will interact with a variety of perspectives that help them interpret and understand the complex relationship between society and the individual.

CLASS MATERIALS:

·         3 ring binder ·         5 divider tabs ·         Lined paper	·         Pens and pencils ·         Highlighters and colored pencils ·         Physical Daily Planner (not a cell phone)
·         Flash Drive	·         1 folder with 2 pockets

WHEN ASSIGNMENTS ARE DUE:

As a teacher it is my job to ensure you have clear deadlines and due dates. All assignments are due the minute you walk into class the day they are due. I will not accept late work. If you need to print the assignment you must due this prior to the beginning of class.

LATE WORK:

If you are absent from school, it is your responsibility as a student to go on my DP and find out what you missed.  I highly suggest that you find a partner in class to exchange email and phone numbers with, who can be your contact if you are absent.  For excused absences, you will be given the same amount of time to complete the assignment as the rest of the class had.  While completed late work is welcomed, the maximum grade possible is 50%.  Late work will not be accepted more than two school days after you return to class. No Late work will be accepted more than a week after the due date! In addition, late work will be graded at my leisure.  Homework is due at the beginning of class each day.  Print before coming to class—if you print after the start of the class, the homework will be considered late.

GRADING:

The main purpose of grading is to communicate to you how you are doing in this class. If you ever have any grading concerns or questions please come talk to me.

            Process: Are you doing your work?                                                     30%

§  In class work, homework, and starters

§  Essay drafts and revisions

§  Project drafts and revisions

Content: Are you learning the content?                                             30%

§  Quizzes and tests

§  In class writing assignments

Application: Can you apply your knowledge?                                 40%

§  Essay final Drafts

§  Final products

§  Socratic Seminars

* To encourage you to take ownership of your own grades, I ask that you please contact me directly with any questions about your grades. Please do not have your parents contact me regarding your grades until you have asked the question first. If you or your parents still have questions after you have talked to me, I would be happy to address your/their concerns at that point.

Please note: I do NOT give extra credit! Don’t ask, and don’t expect to make up work at the end of the semester- the answer will be no, barring extraordinary circumstances.

Planner Policy:

All students must have a physical AHS planner, not a cell phone. You must bring your planner to school every day and use it for every class, even if you do not have homework. I will conduct planner checks once or twice a month, if you do not have your planner you will lose the 20 points offered. Additionally if you do not have your planner more than three times you will need to come after school for work crew.

Food Policy:

I will allow students to bring fruit, vegetables, and water in the classroom. We have a break in the middle of class daily, which is when you will be able to have your other snacks in the hall.

UNIVERSAL SCHOOL RULES:

The following are in place to ensure a respectful and safe learning environment. Violation of these rules will result in your helping in various school and classroom improvement activities.

1.      Swearing.

2.      Listening to music anywhere in the building without instructor permission is forbidden. Wearing headphones around your neck is considered the same as listening to music.

3.      Follow the AHS fashion guide.

4.      Chewing gum.

5.      Using technology inappropriately.

6.      Don’t threaten the sprinkler heads! No swinging sticks, leaping wildly, throwing things, etc.

7.      NO hats in school.

MY RULES:

1.      Cell phone use is forbidden at all times. Any usage of cell phones will result in the confiscation of the phone until the end of class. If there is a second offense, your parent will need to pick up the phone at my convenience. If there is a third offense, you will need to put your phone on my desk at the beginning of class for the remainder of the year. You may take it with you at the end of class.

2.      No Facebook in my class. Facebook has no place in class, wait till after school! The first time you are caught you will be given a warning. If it happens again you will lose technology privileges during that class period. If it becomes an ongoing issue we will set up a time to meet with your parents.

3.      You may eat at your desk with teacher permission. Any drink must have a lid on it. NO food or drink within 3 feet of computers. Please clean up after yourself. If wrappers and trash are left regularly in the classroom the privilege of eating in my class will be taken away.

4.      RESPECT. For yourself, for others, and for the learning process. Acknowledge that all people with whom you come into contact are in fact people who deserve to be treated as such.

5.      TOLERENCE. We will treat each student with tolerance regardless of his or her religion, race, culture, sexual orientation, or ability. Any and all discriminatory and/or harmful language is prohibited.

HABITS OF HEART AND MIND

Advocacy: When you need help, or when you don’t understand, ask questions.

Perspective: Have a point of view; respect and understand the points of views of others.

Evidence:  Use it to back up your perspective. Require it others who make claims. Make decisions based on it

Refinement:  Take pride in everything you do in class and make it beautiful, whether you are reading, writing, speaking, or creating.

Perseverance:  Don’t give up. Learn to work through difficulty.

IMPORTANT TERMS:

§  Student-led Conferences: Students will have the opportunity to communicate and share with their family their learning and growth over time. You will be taught and expected to lead this “conference” and provide evidence of your learning and personal growth. In addition, you should utilize vocabulary and concepts of our Habits of Heart and Mind in communicating throughout the student-led conference.

§  Digital Portfolios: You will create Digital Portfolio (DP) that will serve to showcase your best work and also demonstrate your growth throughout your years at Animas High. You will present your DP at your Presentation of Learning (POL) at the end on the first semester and at your Transitional Presentation of Learning (TPOL) at the end of the year. You will be taught to place developing work in your Digital Portfolio as a means of showing us your work-in-progress.

§  POL’s/TPOLS’s: Students give presentations of their learning at the end of both semesters of ninth grade. For these presentations, you are expected to dress professionally (no jeans or tennis shoes!). The PoL (which occurs mid-year) is your chance to reflect on the Habits of the Heart and Mind. You will reflect on how you have learned the habits and select two areas where you want to focus your growth for the remainder of the ninth grade year. The emphasis on the PoL is the development of your presentation skills. At the end of the year, you will have a TPoL, which focuses on the essential question, “Do I know how to be a 10th grade student at Animas High?” You will review all of your projects from 9th grade and come up with evidence to support your answer to this important question.

§  Exhibitions: One of the major values of this school is the presentation of student work for the public. You will participate in several exhibitions throughout the year. Parents will be given notice of the date of these exhibitions. Students are expected to stay at school the entire day of exhibitions to help set up, tear down, and get projects ready to present. You are also expected to dress professionally on the date of exhibitions.

* In humanities this year we are requiring all students to have a library card. We will use our account at the library to access their extensive online data base. You must have this card by September 15^th 2013. I will be checking for this. If you have any issues that arise in doing this please come and speak to me.