Global Studies Syllabus – Semester Two 2015/16Contact information:Mrs. Brahe
Room C221
Email:
Phone: (920) 779-7933 ext13221
Course Description: This course is an introductory and overview of world geography regions and culture. We will identify main characteristics and traits of each region. The goal is to understand the connection of the United States, global economy, and current events.
Connection to English 9 classes: The goal of this course is to create a connection to the curriculum of English 9 by connecting some necessary background information for the literature taught in that course.
Semester 2GLOBAL STUDIES / ENGLISH 9 / 9 Honors(subject to change)
Basic Skills, World Political and Physical Geography
World Organizations (UN, NATO, etc.)
Map and Graph Reading / Romeo & Juliet
(Close Reading, context, timeless themes)
Informational text throughout
Theme Paragraph
Culture and Language
Europe and the Former Soviet Union
Innovation, Diffusion, Acculturation
Population Geography
Former Soviet Union to Asia
Distribution, Growth, Migration, Population Density / Asia - Interviews (Story Corps)
Immigration - Pop Up Debate?
(speaking and listening)
Economic Geography
Africa
Colonization, Industrialization, Development Levels / Literature Circles (Speak, SoF, LotF, Fault in Our Stars, Nectar in a Sieve, etc.)
*similar to English 10*
Physical Geography and Land Use
North/South or Latin America
Agriculture and Urban Land Use
Religion
Middle East and North Africa - Mesopotamia
Ethnicity, Values, Conflicts, Extremism, Terrorism / Persepolis?
(Iran informational text, theme, narrative piece, creative writing)
Classroom Text:World Geography, McDougal Littell, 2003
Magruder’s American Government, Prentice Hall, 2004
World Atlas, Nystrom, 2011
Materials needed: a writing utensil, organization system to store notes, class handouts, & materials - ex. A binder or notebook & folder, flash drive or cloud storage access, student handbook, and klennex box for the classroom
Student Expectations – URA Polar Bear
●UNITED: Students are expected to maintain a positive attitude, accept differences and treat others kindly. In other words keep negative comments (and your hands) to yourself and commit to keeping a positive learning environment.
●RESPECTFUL: Students are expected to respect the learning environment and each other (including each other’s belongings, personal space, and class time). Students are expected to respect the teachers and all other adults in the classroom setting by listening attentively and behaving appropriately during class time. Cell phones, iPods and other technology devices will be turned OFF during class, unless directed otherwise by teacher.
●ACCOUNTABLE: Each student will be responsible for being in class and on time for class; completing work for class to the best of their ability by using their own brain; and actively participating in the learning opportunities provided. Please remember to use appropriate language in classroom. If you are absent, you must complete absent work found in make-up bins at the front of the room and return by the due date on the slip, or as directed. You are totally responsible for anything missed while you are gone - for any reason! Remember you are responsible for your assignments.
Grading Policies
❖Components
➢Mapping assessments per unit
➢Innovation, diffusion, and acculturation project
➢Predictive future populations project
➢Argumentation paragraph on development
➢Presentation on development levels
➢Culture in the Middle East presentation
❖Work may be assessed on a point basis, often providing you feedback on the quality of the work according to a scale of proficiency, but it may not be recorded in Skyward. Categories of work are as follows:
➢Formative Assessments: Formative assessments may include daily work and/or homework. Examples may include in-class activities, practice assignments completed outside of class, graphic organizers, short writing pieces, quizzes, etc. More often than not, these items won’t be assigned a point value in Skyward, but you will be provided feedback on your progress toward learning goals.
➢Summative Assessments: Summative assessments include tests, presentations, simulations, final papers, projects, etc., and represent the final learning goals of the unit. These assessments of your learning will carry a lot of weight in Skyward and should not be “taken lightly.”
❖Soft Skills: Employers have expectations of the skills you will have in the workplace. We often call these “soft skills” because they can’t really be defined or measured, but an employer knows when they are lacking. To help you see these soft skills in the classroom we will be talking about the expectations employers have and we will be assessing you on these skills in the classroom. This assessment will not go into the grade book, but we will ask you to reflect on these skills and where you see a need for improvement throughout the year.
Retake/Remediation Policy
Students who do not pass a formative or summative assessment, whether it be a test, quiz, writing piece, performance, or project will be called in to ELT to revisit the learning targets and redo, fix, or otherwise improve the demonstration of knowledge gained. This is the process:
- Students who earn a D or F on an assessment (test, quiz, project or performance) will be called in to ELT (Extended Learning Time) to complete a remediation activity to qualify for the retake of that assessment. All work pertaining to the content assessed must be completed and submitted (including optional study or review guides) to qualify for a retake.
- Once a student completes the remediation activity, and submits all of the work connected to the content assessed, the student will be scheduled to retake the assessment during ELT time.
- Note: Students who pass an assessment, yet wish to improve their grade, may request the remediation activity from the teacher to complete on his/her own, or be invited to join the ELT session, if there is available space.
- The grade earned and reported will reflect the students’ final understanding of the learning targets that are being assessed.
Late Work Policy
If work is important enough to be assigned and graded, it is important enough to be completed. In other words, all assigned work must be completed and handed in. While the general expectation is that all students strive to be accountable, to meet deadlines, and to be prepared and punctual, we also understand that issues may arise for even the most conscientious students. Therefore, late assignments will be addressed with following protocol:
●1st Missed Due Date: If you do not have an assignment completed on the day that it is due, fill out and hand in the “Incomplete/Missing Assignment Report” in place of that assignment. Use this sheet to explain why you missed the due date, request an extended due date, and indicate whether or not you need extra support from your teacher. This report will stay in your file for the duration of the school year. Take the “Assignment Completion Report” with you and staple it to your assignment when it is finished and ready to hand in. Your assignment and term grades will be incomplete until that assignment is completed.
●2nd Missed Due Date: If you miss the extended due date that was agreed upon above, you will be required to conference with your teacher and set up a time to meet for extra help. You and your teacher will agree on a second extended due date.
●3rd Missed Due Date: If you miss the second extended due date, you will again conference with your teacher, meet for extra help, and set up a third extended due date. Your teacher will also contact your parent(s).
●4th Missed Due Date: If the third extended due date is missed, your parents will be contacted again and you will be required to attend a meeting with an administrator.