Psychology CP Syllabus

Course Overview

Psychology focuses on individual behavior and why an individual thinks, feels, and reacts to certain stimuli. Major emphasis will be placed on research methods, stages in childhood and adolescence, how the brain works, consciousness, psychological testing, psychological disorders, and social psychology. The course will provide an overview of psychology, through the use of primary documents, factual knowledge, and analytical skills.

Course Objectives

• Students will use critical thinking skills (i.e. application, analysis, synthesis, etc.) to analyze significant issues and concepts in psychology.

• Students will develop appropriate note-taking and outlining skills.

• Students will develop communication and research skills through oral reports, essay writing, and cooperative group work.

Learning Goals

• Students will demonstrate an understanding of the history and research methods of psychology.

• Students will demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the body and behavior.

• Students will demonstrate an understanding of how individuals learn and process memory.

• Students will demonstrate an understanding of how individuals develop through different stages of life.

• Students will demonstrate an understanding of development of personality.

• Students will demonstrate an understanding of psychological disorders.

• Students will demonstrate an understanding of how social cognition and interaction are influenced by behavior.

Unit Topics

Unit 1: Introduction to Psychology

Unit 2: Body and Mind

Unit 3: Learning and Cognition

Unit 4: Development

Unit 5: Personality

Unit 6: Health and Adjustment

Unit 7: Social Psychology

Classroom Expectations

1. Be on time and prepared to work.

2. Respect yourself, your teacher, your classmates, and all property.

3. Actively listen during instruction and follow instructions the first time.

4. Do not interfere with the teacher's ability to teach or another student's right to learn.

5. Adhere to school rules and procedures.

6. No food or drinks other than water.

Classroom Procedures

• Entering the room: Put your phone in the phone holder and charge it (if you so desire), pick up your calculator, and go IMMEDIATELY to your desk. You should begin working on the warm-up and have your homework ready to be checked. You should be seated and ready before the bell rings or you are tardy.

• Cell Phone Policy: All students are expected to place their cell phones in the pouch at the beginning of class or keep their cell phones in their backpacks. Students are dismissed by rows near the end of class to collect their cell phones if they placed them in the pouch. If a cell phone is heard or seen, it will result in an immediate referral. This same rule applies to Apple Watches, which also serve as a distraction to the learning environment.

• Taking notes: I do not expect you to write down every word I say, but you need to write down the main concepts.

• Sharpening pencils and throwing away trash: You may sharpen your pencils or throw away trash before or after class. Do not interrupt class to do these things.

• Turning in assignments (classwork, quizzes, tests, etc.): All assignments should be placed in the tray at the front of the room for your block upon completion unless you are told otherwise.

• Bathroom Policy: Students should only ask to go to the bathroom in the case of an emergency. **Do not ask during instruction or the first and last 15 minutes of class.**

• If your Chromebook is not charged: Inform me as you walk into the classroom that your Chromebook needs to be charged, and I will make arrangements for you. However, being unprepared for class results in an immediate referral.

• Going to the office, nurse, or guidance office: You must ask permission during a non-instructional moment to go to one of these places. You are never allowed to go to another teacher's class during my class time.

• Exiting the room (at the end of class): I will tell you when you may pack up your materials, and I will dismiss you from class. If you pack up prior to me saying, you will receive detention for the minutes equaling how early you packed up your belongings. Never line up at the door.

• Tardy Policy: You must be inside my classroom with your materials in your seat when the bell rings in order to be marked present. If you are not in your seat by the bell, then you are tardy and will have to receive a tardy pass from the front office in order to enter the classroom.

Make-Up Work

• Students must make plans with Mrs. DiCicco to make up missing assessments.

• All daily work and notes will be posted on Google Classroom daily.

• You should never ask, "What did I miss?" ALL items will be located on both Google Classroom and Google Calendar for this class to answer that question.

• All assignments are due within 5 school days of the absence.

• Zeros are recorded for missing work; that does not mean you cannot make it up.

Materials Needed

• Pencils (NO PEN!)

• Index cards (a lot)

• Colored pencils and highlighters

• Chromebook (charged)

• Notebook paper

• Binder with 4 tabs: Warm-Ups, Notes, Homework, Exit Slips

Grading Scale

A 90-100

B 80-89

C 70-79

D 60-69

F 0-59

Grading Percentages

Semester Grade

40% Quarter 1

40% Quarter 2

20% Final Exam

Quarter Average

60% Major Grades (Tests)

20% Minor Grades (Quizzes/Projects)

20% Daily Grades (Classwork/Homework)

Sleeping policy

Students are expected to be attentive and complete assignments given during class. Sleeping will not be allowed during class. Students who sleep or put their heads down during class are in violation of this policy. If there are any problems that the teacher should be made aware of pertaining to this matter, the student or parent/guardian should discuss this with the teacher and medical documentation should be provided if necessary. Disciplinary action will be taken after one warning.

Retake Policy

You may only retake unit tests a maximum of one time each. You may not retake any other major or minor grades.

Your retake will be based on the standards you missed on the initial test. The points earned on the retake will then be factored back into your original test score. (This is not an average, nor is it implying I will simply take the higher score.)

You must retake your test within 7 school days of the initial test.

Requirements for Retake Eligibility:

1. You must attend an extra-help tutoring session with Mrs. DiCicco.

2. You must complete corrections on the questions you missed on the initial test.

Academic Integrity

A BHP diploma is highly esteemed and rigorous. Any type of cheating on tests/quizzes/projects/assignments or plagiarism on essays/papers is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. If cheating/plagiarism is suspected, then a grade of zero will be recorded and a disciplinary referral will be written.

Do not use quotes or ideas from any course without citing them as a source. If you use a source's exact language, use quotes and cite the source. When you paraphrase (which means using your own words, not just changing a few words in their writing), cite the source. If you use language and/or ideas without giving credit, that means you plagiarized.

Students are not to copy and paste information or phrases taken directly from Internet sources without giving credit to the sources.

Homework Policy

Homework is graded upon completion and not accuracy. A student may earn between 0 and 5 points for homework each day, totaling a 25 point homework grade for each week.

No work = No credit!!!

Homework is assigned each night and reviewed each day.

Students are encouraged to ask questions and correct problems as we review.

Progress Reports

Students and parents are encouraged and expected to check PowerSchool for a student's most updated grade. Grades are inserted as students complete assignments. I can assure you that my gradebook is ALWAYS accurate and up-to-date because it is updated daily.

Daily Agenda and Calendar

The course calendar is accessible through Google Calendar, which is linked in each class's Google Classroom as well as on the course page within this website.

Within the course calendar is a daily agenda describing the lesson and assignments for each day. Absent students are expected to check Google Calendar each day they are absent to keep up with coursework.

Final Note

I reserve the right to make any necessary changes to this syllabus during the course of the school year.