Syllabus 

2025-2026 Academic Seminar Syllabus

Special Educator: Sarah McNally
Phone: 864-355-7690
Email: smcnally@greenville.k12.sc.us
Planning: 4th block

Required Text and Materials:
• Journal-stays in the room
• Other materials for daily assignments vary according to individual needs

Course Description:
• The academic seminar room is for students who qualify for Special Education services under the federal law IDEA. Students are offered remediation for academic deficits according to their own IEP (Individualized Education Program).

• Units of instruction are provided on several necessary skills in addition to the individualized instruction. These skills include study skills, test preparation, learning styles, listening skills/following directions, career exploration, character education, and life skills units.
• Another major area of the program is teaching organizational skills. Many students new to the high school experience need to learn the skill of organizing both: notebooks and time, to obtain success in earning high school credits.
• Students will receive an elective unit for the academic seminar class, which contributes towards the elective quota for graduation.
• The academic seminar teacher will stay in contact with general education teachers on a regular basis and communicate with parents regarding any concerns.

Course Objectives:
• To provide tutorial instruction and organizational support
• To communicate regularly with each student’s teachers and parents
• To support each individual student’s IEP goals
• To assist students in becoming independent, self-confident graduates

Course Requirements:
Attendance
- It is important to attend school every day!
- When you are absent from any class, it is your responsibility to ask your teachers for make-up work (they will not remind you!)
- Students missing excessive days in any class may not receive credit

Class Rules and Expectations
- Come to class on time, READY TO LEARN, and with everything you need.

- When you need help, ASK QUESTIONS!

- BE KIND, show respect, and encourage each other - everyone learns differently; don’t be distracting or disruptive

- You are RESPONSIBLE for your own learning - follow school rules; don’t cheat; no personal electronics during class

- Work hard, dream big, and DON’T GIVE UP!
- All school-wide rules apply

Discipline: Students in Academic Seminar are expected to be engaged in learning activities. If students have difficulty following class expectations, the following strategies will be employed to maintain a positive, productive classroom decorum: Class expectations are stated and reviewed as a whole group. 

• 1st Infraction: Warning (Individually and privately discuss the problem behavior.)

• 2nd Infraction: Phone call home

• 3rd Infraction: Referral to the student’s administrator.

Classroom Routine
- Be in your seat when the bell rings with all materials (sharpened pencils, folders/notebooks, Chromebook)

- Complete Homework Planner and begin Bell Ringer Activity

- Complete the Academic Seminar Activity for the day

- Decide how to spend the remainder of your Academic Seminar time and begin working

- Update your Time Manager

- If you need help, move to the round table or raise your hand

Grading Expectations
Major Grades will count 60% of the average.  Minor Grades will count 40% of the average and will include weekly Time Manager grades and other daily assignments.

Late Work Policy
- School late work policy will apply – each assignment will lose 10 points per school day that it is late; after 5 school days the grade is a zero

Grading Scale:
A 90-100
B 80-89
C 70-79
D 60-69
F below 59