Skills:

1. 1. oManipulation of maps, globes, charts, graphs
      

   2. oReading:  textbooks, periodicals, primary source documents
      

   3. oResearch
      

   4. oGroup work
      

   5. oCritical thinking/ problem solving
      

   6. oUse of film and technology
      

   7. oOral communication
      

2. 
   

Assignments:

Includes weekly homework assignments, class work, and long and short-term group work.

STAR Test Review & Quizzes:

Students will be required to prepare throughout the school year for the CST exam that is held in the spring of their 10th grade year.  They should update the STAR review section of their spiral notebooks at the end of every unit.  Quizzes will be held periodically with prior notice.

Materials required in class:

Students are expected to bring pencil and pen, spiral notebook or the equivalent, folder with dividers, planner, and completed work as assigned.

Class Rules:

1. Leave objects inappropriate for the classroom at home or in backpack:  iPod/mp3, phone, food, etc.
   

2. Enter the classroom on time, calmly, and ready to work.
   

3. Respect everyone and everything in this classroom.
   

4. Obey the school rules.
   

Make Up Work or Extra Help:

It is the responsibility of the student to conference with the instructor whenever the student has been absent or needs extra help.  It is the responsibility of the student to make up all work missed.  Test and quiz make ups can be taken at advocacy, lunch, or after school and must be arranged with the instructor.

Late Assignments:

No late work will be accepted.  Students must use Puma Points to turn work in late.  Students that are absent will be given a reasonable amount of time to make up the work and must make arrangements with the instructor upon returning to school.  Projects turned in late are penalized one grade per class period.

Good Times to Conference With Instructor:

1. ♦Before tardy bell rings.
   

2. ♦Directly after class.
   

3. ♦At the beginning of lunch.
   

4. ♦Directly after school.
   

Grading Policy

1. •Tests and Projects                                        40%
   

2. •Assignments                                                30%
   

3. •Quizzes                                                        20%
   

4. •Management of class time & participation  10%
   

Consequences for Breaking the Rules

1. Formal warning.
   

2. Conference with student.
   

3. Detention at lunch or after school.
   

4. Call home and/or parent conference.
   

5. Referral.
   

Office Hours:

1. Advocacy
   

2. At the beginning of lunchtime
   

3. Directly after the last period of the day
   

If possible please notify the instructor of your planned attendance.

Puma Points

Points can be earned by receiving an A (2 pts.) or a B (1 pt.) on designated grading periods, or by improving by one grade from one designated grading periods to the next (C to B = 1 pt.).  Puma Points expire at the end of the semester and will be automatically added to your grade if there is a balance at the end of the semester.  You can earn Puma Points at the following times:

    -For 1st semester (expire at the end of December):

            -1st quarter oral grade

            -2nd quarter report card

    -For 2nd semester:

            -1st semester final grade

            -3rd quarter grade

1. o1 point gets you: 
   

1. •1 homework assignment accepted late for full credit anytime before the end of the quarter deadline established by the instructor
   

2. •Drop lowest quiz
   

3. •Turn in a project one class period late without penalty
   

4. •10% extra credit on a test
   

5. •3x5 card on chapter test
   

2. o3 points:  drop lowest unit test
   

Academic Dishonesty

Academic dishonesty is completely unacceptable in any form and will not be tolerated.  All persons involved will receive a zero on the assignment and a referral.  Violations include, but are not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, collusion, claiming work (no matter how small) that is not of your own creation, any act designed to give unfair advantage to a student or the attempt to commit such acts.  Plagiarism is failing to correctly indicate places where you are making use of the work of another.  Please discuss with the instructor if you need information on quoting and citing properly.  Absolutely no copying-and-pasting!

Great Websites:

http://htwins.net/scale2/