Syllabus

BECK ACADEMY 2023-2024 Syllabus    

BECK VISION STATEMENT:  To meet the academic needs of our culturally diverse student body in a safe environment that nurtures, accepts and encourages all students to be productive citizens of the global community, life-long learners and future leaders.

Instructor:  Darryn Norton

Room:  #708

Planning Times:  10:57-12:43

Available Conference Times:  Call or Email to request a conference

E-Mail:  rnorton@greenville.k12.sc.us

Web Address: www.greenville.k12.sc/us/websites/beck/rnorton/index.html

School Telephone:  (864) 355-1467

Text Book Title:  National Geographic World Cultures and Geography

COURSE TITLE:   Social Studies 7th Grade World Geography

COURSE DESCRIPTION (Focus and Purpose): 

This year we will be studying the Earth from a regional perspective, focusing on the continents.  Students will study contemporary places and regions to identify how the experience of people are rooted in place and organized into geographic regions.  Students will learn about Earth’s physical conditions and how these features interact with the Earth’s other living features.  This course also focuses on human systems and the sum of human activities across the Earth’s surface.  These systems also include the spatial distribution of population and the movement settlement patterns, economic systems, and political systems.  Students will explore the interactions between environment and society to learn how human activities modify Earth, how resources are used, and how physical systems, such as climate, present risks to humans.  These regional conditions, both physical and cultural, create unique landscapes, an understanding of which lays the foundation for learning about connections to other peoples and places on Earth.

LEARNING LEVELS: 

   In Seventh Grade Social Studies the classes are not grouped based on ability level.  Unlike Math and ELA where classes are based on Gifted and Talented and High School Credit Classes we function with a heterogeneous concept.  All students learning the same curriculum at the same time but having the class instruction differentiated. 

Learning Objectives for the Course:

  My mission is to motivate my students to become life-long, enthusiastic learners. I want them to become proficient in the Social Studies Curriculum, to be able to apply that knowledge to real world events and to know the cause and effects of historical moments on the world today and in the future. 

Instruction will be based on the Greenville County Schools curriculum guide and the South Carolina Social Studies Curriculum Standards. These standards can be accessed on the SC Department of Education web site:  www.state.sc.us/sde/educators/standards.

COURSE OUTLINE/ INSTRUCTIONAL UNITS for the Year:  

Throughout the year, our grade level teams will complete cross-curricular units of instruction.

COURSE OUTLINE/ INSTRUCTIONAL UNITS for the Year: 

1. Quarter 1:  

   1. August- Class Procedures, Rules, Expectations, Base Line Data, The Essentials of Geography

   2. September- Essentials of Geography, North America, 

   3. October- Central America and the Caribbean and the 1st Nine Weeks Benchmark

2. Quarter 2:  

   1. October- South America

   2. November- South America, Europe

   3. December- Europe, Russia and Eurasia

   4. January- Russia and Eurasia

3. Quarter 3

   1. January- Sub-Saharan Africa, and the 2nd Nine Weeks Benchmark

   2. February- Sub-Saharan Africa, Southwest Asia/North Africa

   3. March- South Asia, East Asia, Third Nine Weeks Benchmark

4. Quarter 4

1. March- East Asia

2. April-Southeast Asia

3. May-Australia/South Pacific/Antarctica, Final Year  Project

• Additional Instructional Tools:   

  • Maps and Atlases

  • Other content reading books

  • BrianPop

  • United Streaming Videos

  • Chrome Books for class Use

  • Kahoot

TEACHING METHODS and STRATEGIES:

    We use a balanced approach to teaching reading map skills, analyzing history, comparing and contrasting geographical regions to our own and the writing process. A typical week includes a variety of instructional formats: from note taking and lecture, class discussion, small group instruction, to guided and shared reading. Student instructional reading levels are used to group them for differentiated activities and assignments.  Using a Learning Focused format for instruction, acquisition lessons present major concepts with graphic organizers to maximize learning and retention. Students extend and refine their learning with activities designed to promote higher levels of thinking such as analysis and evaluation.  Discussions and hands-on group activities build and extend skills. Authentic projects are assigned throughout the year to assess learning.  Instructional activities are designed based on our district curriculum guide and state standards.

www.state.sc.us/sde/educators/standards.

ASSESSMENTS and GRADING

PROCEDURES for RECORDING STUDENT PROGRESS:

Students are assessed using both formative and summative assessments. Daily class assignments, homework grades, tests, projects, and quizzes will be included in these assessments. Students are also asked to complete quarterly projects. These are assessed with rubrics. Benchmark test given at the end of each grading period and one at the start of the year. These tests provide data on each student to show growth over the quarter. 

The district-wide grading scale is as follows:

100-90 A
89-80 B
79-70 C
69-60 D
59-50 F

Grading Policy for Social Studies:
Major Assignments (which include Tests/Projects): 50%
Minor Assignments (which include Quizzes, Class Work and ,Homework)

School Wide Late Work Policy:

Schools will accept late work with no penalty to the student up to 7 days after the original due date or the end of the grading period, whichever comes first.  A teacher may extend the late work policy acceptance deadline, but may not reduce the time.  The work, although submitted late, WILL NOT RECEIVE A POINT REDUCTION. Assessments must be about mastery of content and if graded, the goal is to assess mastery, no behaviors.  Work can be accepted late across grading periods by special exception and approval of the teacher and/or the administrator.

1st Quarter late work end date-  10/14/22

2nd Quarter late work end date- 1/12/23

3rd Quarter late work end date-   3/16/23

4th Quarter late work end date-   5/26/23

SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS & SUPPLIES:

Students will need:  

Color Pencils

#2 pencils

Blue or black ink pens

Red Ink pen

2 Journal Notebooks

HOMEWORK POLICY:

There is one standing Homework assignment.  That is for the student to come home every night and discuss what they have learned today or the class discussion that took place.  History is so important to understand the world today and that idea is based on perception.  So it helps students to talk about and discuss this new information with others that might have a different point of view than that of the teacher or other students. Homework is assigned as needed to reinforce concepts and skills.  Each student should have one to two night of homework each week (this does not include studying for tests and quizzes or working on projects). 

MAKEUP WORK/ ABSENCE POLICY:

Students must make up missed work within 5 days of returning to school.  Students are responsible for making arrangements with teachers to make up work. Teachers should be contacted before or immediately after the excused absence. Students must complete and turn in the work on time to receive credit. Parents may also request assignments through Guidance for an extended absence. (As discussed and stated in the Student Handbook)

CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS AND PROCEDURES: 

 Students are expected to be respectful of each other at all times. There are several required expectations:
ALL students must wear an ID badge.
ALL students must carry their planners.
ALL students must abide by the dress code.
ALL students must practice the 3 R's: Rights of others, Respect for others, Responsibility for learning

SCHOOL-WIDE DISCIPLINE PLAN: 

Specific rules and policies regarding discipline can be found on the school district website and in our student planner. Our school wide discipline plan with regards to minor rule violations consists of a step plan designed to give parents the opportunity to assist with discipline whenever possible. The steps are:

1. Warning:  Given after a behavior violates the classes Social Contract

   1. Given after a timeout/check your friends has been given

   2. Ask the four questions

      1. If questions are answered correctly and respectfully no parent contact necessary unless the behavior continues

2. Parent phone call

   1. If four questions are not answered correctly or respectfully parent contact must be made

3. After-school detention

   1. If the student continues to violate the Social Contract and cannot successfully answers the 4 questions, an after school detention can be assigned

4. After-school detention

   1. Repeat (a) from number Step 3

5. Office referral

   1. If a behavior that violates the Social Contract continues after 2 detentions, a referral may be written

Additional student behavior guidelines may be found in the student handbook.

PROCEDURES for NON-INSTRUCTIONAL ROUTINES:

Students are expected to be on time and to have all assignments and materials needed for the class. Attendance is taken at the beginning of the class period.  

As students enter the room, they should get their materials needed for the day, sharpen their pencils, be seated, and begin completing the assigned bell work. Roll is taken at the beginning of the day and tardies are noted. Students are asked not to go to the restroom unless it is an emergency. Instructional time is very important. 

HONOR CODE POLICY AND PLAGIARISM:   

    I adhere to our school honor code and plagiarism policy. 

Cheating or the copying of work belonging to another person is a violation of school rules as well as personal ethics. Both the lender and borrower will receive zeros on the work, and parents will be notified.

 Plagiarism is cheating. Examples of plagiarism include:

• Copying and pasting from the Internet or copying directly from books or magazines without properly citing the source. 

• Copying another student’s work, turning in another student’s work, or having another student do the work. 

• Buying papers on the Internet.   

PARENT COMMUNICATION:  

Parents, teachers, and students work together to promote learning. It is important to me to communicate with you on a regular basis concerning your child’s progress in learning required concepts and standards. Please feel free to call me at any time. Calls during the instructional day are directed directly to my voicemail. I will always respond within 12 hours. You can also reach me by email. Specific numbers and addresses are listed in the contact section of my syllabus.

 I am always available for a conference. Our team tries to schedule a common time for conferences.   Please contact me with conference requests at rnorton.greenville.k12.sc.us or at 355-1468.