JHS Dance I Syllabus 2015-2016
Welcome to the JHS Dance Department and the 2015-2016 new school year. I hope that through Dance I, you will learn to appreciate the art of dance, explore dance as art and become acquainted with yourself as a dancer and artist. So now it’s time to DANCE ON!!
Instructor Information
Mrs. Christa Crawford
304-725-8491 Ext. 6017
304-279-2730
Conference Period 7:45-8:39
About Mrs. Crawford: I am entering my 6th year of teaching dance at Jefferson High School. I have a BA in Elementary Education K-8 with an endorsement in Social Studies 5-8 and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Shepherd University. I started dancing in high school and took dance courses in college at WVU and Shepherd, as well as, performing with the WVU Cultural Dance Ensemble. I have continued taking dance classes locally, at festivals and through dance education workshops at WVU and through the NDEO (National Dance Education Organization). I’m involved in dance on the state level as a founding board member of the WVDEO and have served for the past year on the WVDE Arts Alive Planning Team. I am currently researching to find a Masters program in dance education or arts integration. I hope to start working on my Masters the summer of 2017.
My favorite dance genre is modern and I love improvisation. However, I will try just about any style of dance or movement. I am married and have five sons ranging in age from nine to twenty five. On my down time, I like to read, journal, choreograph, listen to music, boat, jetski and bike. This summer I hiked Maryland Heights for the first time and spent a week in Sebastian Florida with my family
Philosophy: All students have the capability to dance and learn given an environment that is safe, creative, open and addresses the student as a unique and valuable individual.
Mission: The mission of the JHS Dance Department is to create an environment in which students can experience, create and perform dance as art. These experiences and processes will give them the tools to appreciate dance become creative thinkers, problem solvers, innovators and responsible citizens in their classes and school which translates to students who can be successful outside the classroom wherever their future takes them.
Vision: It is my intention to build a quality dance program founded in the richness of the art of dance, creativity and the individuality of each student which will be the pride of Jefferson High School and the surrounding community.
Goals: JHS Dance classes be a place where students who have no experience and background in dance can discover the richness of the art of dance and develop basic technical skills and those students who have a background in dance can be encouraged to go deeper into the art of dance, challenge their technical skills and develop choreography and composition competency. It is my hope that dance students will work to perfect skills and performance levels which may enable them to take what they learn into future endeavors (i.e., members of professional dance groups, scholarship recipients, instructors, coaches, and future dance educators etc.) . I hope to give each student an opportunity to discover multiple styles of dance, become familiar with famous choreographers, and discover themselves as a mover, dancer and artist.
Course Overview
Dance I class is an introduction to dance class which explores dance forms, dance genres, dance history, basic technique in many genres such as ballet, modern, jazz, tap, hip hop and cultural dance, elements of dance, choreographic principles/structures and the creative process in dance. Students are expected to participate in daily movement in class, as well as, performances. Students who take complete this course may with permission of instructor continue on to Dance II.
A large part of your success in this class will depend on your ability to work in groups, complete tasks, and put forth effort to learn.
There will be one (1) technology based project for this class.
Course Objectives
1. To learn self discipline, self confidence, and dedication through dance using the body as an expressive instrument.
2. To explore different dance genres and techniques through various exercises in movement.
3. To develop knowledge of factors that influence dance, including history, culture and media.
4. To develop a dance vocabulary, various choreographic skills, and a kinesthetic awareness.
5. To respond to essential questions in dance using critical thinking skills
6. To solve dance study and real world problems creatively and innovatively
7. To collaborate, compromise and come to a consensus with others in a group setting
WV Content Standard Objectives
1. Students will use dance as a way to create and communicate meaning.
2. Students will develop and practice movement elements in performing dance.
3. Students will relate dance to physical health.
4. Students will examine and demonstrate dance from various cultures and historical periods
5. Students will employ critical and creative thinking skills in dance
6. Students will understand and apply choreographic principles, processes and structures.
Class Guidelines
RESPECT
Authority
Others
Property
Yourself
All rules hinge on RESPECT. Together with the students, we will discuss and create specific guidelines during the first week of class. We will also follow all school and county established rules, regulations and policies.
JHS Dance Department Discipline Plan
When a student fails to follow class rules, guidelines or policies the following discipline plan will be used:
1st offense Warning-Documented on individual student’s class discipline information card or attendance roster (Drop A Bracelet)
2nd offense Conference with student- Documented on individual student’s class discipline information card or attendance roster (Drop A Bracelet)
3rd offense Parent Contact-Call, written note, Livegrades communication, e-mail or combination of these-Documented on individual student class discipline information card or attendance roster
4th offense Referral to administration/guidance Documented on individual student class discipline information card or attendance roster
Severe Interruption Immediate removal from class/referral to administration
JHS Dance Department Incentive Plan
· Recognition from Teacher (Drop A Bracelet)
· Goals and Rewards such as Zumba Days, So You Think You Can Dance Days and Line Dance Days, as well as, Pick a Genre Day
· Dance Student of the Nine Weeks
· Students will brainstorm other incentives/rewards for individual classes at the beginning of the year.
JHS Dance Grading Policy and Procedures
Class Grade Categories
3rd Nine Weeks
80% Daily Grade- Daily Dress, Participation and Completion of Warm Up and Class Activities
10% Written Assignments and Projects
10% Tests (Written and Performance Based), Portfolios and Performances
4th Nine Weeks
70% Daily Grade- Daily Dress, Participation and Completion of Warm Up and Class Activities
10% Written Assignments and Projects
10% Tests (Written and Performance Based), Portfolios and Performances
10% Cumulative Summative Assessment *Per JCBOE Policy-These cumulative summative assessments shall constitute no more than 20% of the student's totalnineweek grade.
Cumulative Summative Assessment will come from the following:
80% Participation in Fall Informance and Showcase (November)/Spring Dance Concert (April)
10% Performance Critique Essay
10% Performance Skills Test Rubric on Above Performance
Grades will be updated weekly and can be viewed through the Livegrades.
Daily Grade (80% 3rd Nine Weeks/70% 4th Nine Weeks )
Students will receive 20 points per day towards a weekly grade of 100. Students receive 10 points per day for dressing for class and 10 points per day for full participation in daily warm up and activities. Students must dress because of safety and movement issues with inappropriate clothing
Daily Dress Points
Each person starts out with 10 Daily Dress Points.
Points can be deducted for the following reasons:
Did not dress at all. Did not change any item of clothing. -10
Did not change pants -5
Did not change shirt -4
Did not change into plain black pants -3
Did not change into shirt -3
Did not wear JHS Dance Department shirt -2
Did not bring or wear appropriate shoes/shoes or remove socks -2
Did not remove oversized jewelry -2
Did not secure hair -2
If a student does not dress for dance class, the student will not receive any dress points for that day and parents will be contacted after this occurs three times then guidance and administration will become involved and the student will not be given permission of instructor to sign up for future dance classes.
Daily Participation Points
Each person starts out with 10 Daily Participation Points.
Non-participation in class is NEVER an option (Exception: Students may not participate in socks due to slipping hazard. Students may dance barefoot or wear dance shoes. Students who refuse to remove socks will not be allowed to participate and will lose participation points for the day. Students will not be allowed to participate in clothing that is not appropriate due to modesty and will lose participation points for the day.)
Engaging in these actions detracts from full participation and will be reflected in your grade.
Points can be deducted for the following reasons:
Not fully participating in warm up
Not fully participating in class activity
Distracting classmates by talking
Disrupting instruction
Not listening to directions
Taking too long for transitions
Points for each instance or those not covered above will be up to teacher’s discretion per infraction.
If a student does not participate in class, the student’s will not receive any participation points for that day and parents will be contacted after this occurs three times then guidance and administration will become involved and the student will not be given permission of instructor to sign up for future dance classes.
Written Assignments and Projects Grade (10%):
Students will have written assignments such as journals and critique essays, as well as, projects. These assignments are due on the specified due dates and will not be accepted after that time without a deduction in grade. Any work more than a week late will not be accepted and be given a 0.
Tests, Portfolio and Performances (10%):
Students will be given written test, as well as, performance skills test. Students are expected to keep a portfolio of all work, writings and grades which will be graded at least once a nine weeks. This portfolio will demonstrate the progress students have made throughout this class and will be kept for those students continuing in Dance II-IV to document progress throughout the four years. Students will also be required to perform in class for classmates, as well as, for the public for JHS Dance Department events such as the Fall Informance and Showcase and the Spring Dance Concert.
Cumulative Summative Assessment (10 % 4th Nine Weeks Only)
All dance students are expected to participate in two performances a year (Fall Informance and Showcase in November and Spring Dance Concert in April). Each of these performances with a skills test and written critique of the performance will count as 10% of the 4th nine weeks grade as a cumulative assessment required by the JCBOE grading policy.
Re-Test after Failure *Per JCBOE Policy
Any student who earns an “F” on a test can remediate with the teacher and opt to be reassessed provided the request is made within 1 week of the receipt of test grade. The reassessment can be done in a multitude of ways which is determined by the teacher. Reassessment methods may include, but are not limited to, taking a different test, submitting a project/alternative assignment or a writing sample, conducting formalized test correction procedure, etc. This re-test procedure does not apply to the cumulative summative assessment. Students are restricted to a single retest of each assessment unless a student IEP or 504 plan contains contradictory accommodation.
· The student has the responsibility to initiate and follow through on any reassessment opportunities within 1 week of receipt of test grade.
· Jefferson County Schools has the responsibility to provide an annual notice to students/parents regarding this policy and their ability to access which may be removed by the administration upon substantiation of abuse.
· The reassessment is graded for student feedback; however, the student will receive the higher of the two (original or retest) scores. Regardless of the actual score on the retest, it will be capped at 65 for grade book purposes.
· Teachers still have the freedom to work with students in other ways to assess and help students to be successful. This is simply the one common practice that all teachers must follow
Late Work
Late work will be accepted up to 5 school days past due date with a 10% deduction in grade per day. After 5 school days, missing assignments will receive a “0”. This does not include make up activity logs or written make up work for days missed which cannot be accepted after deadline due to constraints in time for interims and report cards.
JCBOE and JHS Dance Make-up Work and Missed Assignments Policy*Per JCBOE Policy
· In accordance with Jefferson County School policy, students will be granted one school day for each day of absence to complete assignments given during their absence. It is the student’s responsibility to initiate the request for the missed assignments and to complete the make-up work in the time allotted.
· Work assigned prior to an absence that comes due during the absence must be turned in upon return from the absence.
· Students may contact their Guidance Counselor to request assignments in the event of extended and/or planned absences. Upon receipt of the request, the Guidance Counselor will contact teachers and assignments will be forwarded to the office for pick up following the request. Please allow at least 24 hours for such requests to be honored, and note that not all assignments may be available in advance. Additionally, students are encouraged to utilize LiveGrades as a means to communicate with their teachers and stay abreast of assignments and class activities.
· If a student misses work due to being sent out or called out of class, the student will be allowed to make up the work in accordance with the above-referenced policies and procedures, even if the reason for being sent or called out is related to disruptive behavior or other matter related to behavior discipline.