COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is aligned with the 2020 South Carolina Social Studies College and
Career Ready Standards for Human Geography for ninth graders. It is designed to
be conceptual in nature rather than place specific. Instruction should provide
opportunities for students to think like geographers and utilize geographic thinking
skills identified and explained in the 2020 South Carolina Social Studies College and
Career Ready Standards. These standards are aligned with the Profile of the South
Carolina Graduate and promote geographic literacy and critical thinking. Students
will use inquiry and project-based learning to make connections between people
and places across the globe so that they can understand past and present Earth
conditions and better prepare for the future.
PHILOSOPHY
A general goal for all classes is for all students to gain confidence in their abilities, develop problem-solving skills; make historical and geographical connections, and learn to correctly communicate (both in writing and verbally) within a social science context. The following skills and competencies will be reinforced weekly and daily: Reading, Speaking, Decision Making, Reasoning, Acquiring Information, Organizing Information, Writing, Listening, Evaluating Information, Interpreting Information, Individual Responsibility, Teamwork, and Visualizing.
Students should come to class every day expecting meaningful, bell-to-bell instruction. Students must be active learners, and each student is expected to participate in class discussions and other activities.
Students need to be prepared to work both independently and in groups.
Instructional strategies will vary based on the teacher’s assessment of their students’ strengths; but will provide the students the opportunity to learn course content verbally, visually, and with hands-on activities.
Instructional activities will vary based on the teacher’s assessment of their student's strengths and as the content changes throughout the year. Students should expect to participate in a variety of instructional activities. These will include but are not limited to lecture/discussion, various debate formats, cooperative learning, technology-based instruction, use of primary source documents, current events, and student-driven activities such as projects.
MATERIALS
1. Binder (to be used only for Human Geography).
2. Paper
3. Pen or pencil
4. Charged Chromebook/Chromebook Charger
5. 5 dividers
Scope & Sequence
Unit 1: Thinking Like a Geographer
Unit 2: Population
Unit 3: Migration
Unit 4: Culture
Unit 5: Language & Religion
Unit 6: Political Geography
Unit 7: Economic Development
GRADING
1. Major grades (tests, projects, papers, binder checks): 60%
2. Minor grades (group activities, individual classwork,
quizzes, bell ringers, participation): 40%
***quizzes will be given double weight in the gradebook
3. Exams count 10% of the final grade and are cumulative of
what is learned throughout the semester.
LATE WORK POLICY
LATE WORK POLICY FOR MINOR GRADES:
SCHOOL DAY LATE 75%
OR MORE SCHOOL DAYS LATE 50%
ONCE THE UNIT WE’RE COVERING IS OVER 0%
LATE WORK POLICY FOR MAJOR GRADES (PROJECTS):
EVERY SCHOOL DAY IT IS LATE IS10 POINTS OFF
***This policy does not apply to students who are absent for instruction. If you are absent, you have 5 school days to turn in missing work until it becomes a zero. It is your responsibility to keep up with this, not the teacher’s.
***If you are in class actively and not doing your work and spending time off task, you will receive a zero in the grade book and will not be allowed to make up the work or turn it in late.
MAKEUP WORK
It is the responsibility of the student to see me regarding assignments given and class work (including quizzes and tests) that was administered during any absence. All make up assignments are due within FIVE (5) class days of your return to school for excused absences. Any work not completed and/or turned in within the 5 day period will be assigned a grade of zero. Do NOT hesitate to contact me via email about what was missed in class. I will respond promptly.
EXTRA CREDIT
No extra credit assignments will be given at the end of this course. Students will have multiple opportunities during the semester to gain extra credit on individual assignments.
GRADING SCALE
A = 100% - 90%
B = 89% - 80%
C = 79% - 70%
D = 69% - 60%
F = 59% - below
ATTENDANCE
To receive credit in 90-day semester courses, students must be in attendance at least 85 days of each 90-day semester course. This means each student is only allowed five (5) unexcused absences for the semester.
TARDIES
Being on time means that the student is in their seat and working on the Bell ringer assignment when the Tardy Bell rings.
First Tardy – Warning
Second Tardy – Warning and Parent Contact
Third Tardy – Lunch Detention and Parent Contact
Fourth Tardy – Referral, Administrator Assigned Detention
Fifth Tardy – Referral, Administrator Assigned ISS
Sixth Tardy – Referral, Administrator Assigned ISS
Seventh and Subsequent Tardis – Referral, Administrator Assigned OSS
STUDENT EXPECTATIONS/CLASS PROCEDURES
A classroom is an environment in which learning should take place. Therefore I want to create a learning environment which is open, engaging and structured. Each student should be responsible for their own learning.
Students are to be respectful towards myself and other students in the classroom at all times.
Students are to be prepared and ready for class when the tardy bell rings.
Distractions will not be tolerated.
All other school and district wide rules apply.
CHROMEBOOKS & GOOGLE CLASSROOM
It is very important that each student arrives at school with their Chromebook charged AND their Chromebook charger in the event that the student’s Chromebook dies. Students are not allowed to visit inappropriate or off-topic sites during class time.
CELL PHONES
Greer High policy: students will NOT be able to use their phones or headphones in class. When students enter class, they are asked to silence their phones and to have them put away in a purse or bookbag so that they are not a distraction to themselves or to others sitting around them. Students will be given one warning and after that, refusal to put your cell phone away will result in a referral and parent contact. If the student still refuses, the student will receive another referral and be sent to ISS.