Dutch Fork High School 

              Special Education Department

       Learning Strategies

       2025-26 Course Syllabus 

Teacher Name, Room Number:Kirsten Smith Room #211          Planning Periods: 3A & 6B

Department Head: Sarah Park                     Academic Assistance:  during class  

Asst. Principal for Instruction: Lori Grant Website: https://www.lexrich5.org/dfhs

                            Phone: 803-476-3390

                                                                          E-mail: kosmith@lexrich5.org 

I. Course Catalog Description 

Learning Strategies is designed as a means to strengthen academic weaknesses of IEP students through reinforcement of skills & strategies. The main purpose is to work on IEP goals. This is a semester class for ½ credit as an elective (this is NOT a study hall). 

II. Course Standards and Success Criteria

This course does not have specific standards but supports those of the general education curriculum.  Objectives are determined by each student’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP) goals.

III. Instructional Goals 

Our goal is to increase the overall academic skills of the students through the following:

A. Students will set meaningful and attainable goals for their future.

B. Students will be prepared for overall success in the real world.

C. Students will gain important communication and conflict resolution skills to increase their success in the classroom, workplace and future relationships. 

D. Students will learn strategies for improving their classroom responsibility and performance.

IV. Course Sequence/Pacing Overview

Topics, sequence, and pacing are determined on an individual basis through student progress on their IEP goals. Lessons will be differentiated to increase the opportunity for individual success.

V. Textbooks and Additional Resources 

Students should have paper, pencils, agendas & assignments/materials necessary for assistance with core classes. They should bring a charged Chromebook (not a cell phone) so they can access classwork. Other resources may be utilized or consulted as appropriate by the teacher.

VI. Course Grading Policies and Assessments

Grades in this course will be taken in the following categories and weights. Grading is subject to change throughout the year as the need arises due to individual opportunities and work.  Students and parents will be notified in advance of any such change.

Daily Grades:  60% Classwork

           20% Quizzes/Tests

           20% Projects

            Semester Exam: 10% of Final Grade

1. Specific grades may be low because we are working on improving a skill in which the student may show a weakness. This may be offset with individual assignments.

2. Homework is only necessary if quality/quantity of classwork is unacceptable.

3. Tests are used as an assessment of progress and will be counted as a classwork grade.

4. An EXAM, which counts 10% of the final grade, will be given at the end of each semester on the basic skills that were taught and reinforced in class.

5. Uniform Grading Scale and Make-up Work Policy are in sections XII and XIII.

VII. Grading Procedures

Continuing in the 2025-26 school year, grades for minor assignments must be posted within 5 school days, and major or extended assignment grades must be posted within 10 school days.

• Major Grades - Assignments that students are given 2 or more classes (more than 48 hours) to produce or prepare. The following will be major grades in all content areas:

  • Test

  • Essay

  • Research paper

  • Speech/Presentation

  • Project

  • Cumulative Assignments

  • Summative Assignments

  • Lab Reports

• Minor Grades - Assignments that students are given 1 class (48 hours) to produce or on-the-spot work. The following will be minor assignments in all content areas:

  • Homework

  • Quiz

  • Vocabulary

  • Classwork

  • Formative Assessments 

  • Journal Entries

  • Other department specific assignments

VIII. Exam Exemptions 

Seniors on track for graduation can exempt final exams in semester classes and year long classes if they meet the following conditions:

1. Grade of 80 or higher in the course.

2. Has not had an Out of School Suspension.

3. Has no seat time.

IX. Honor Code

In order to foster an environment of mutual trust and respect, we believe, within the community of School District Five of Lexington and Richland Counties, each individual should accept the personal responsibility to exhibit and promote academic and social integrity. Students will not cheat or plagiarize. 

X. Suggestions for Success in Course  

Students need to come to class each day prepared to put their best foot forward. Students are expected to have the appropriate materials, follow school rules, and be prepared to learn. Do NOT plan on using Learning Strategies for completion of homework from other classes. There is often some time available to receive extra help on difficult problems/projects (30 minutes), but students should not leave homework to be completed the day it is due. Students are expected to keep an open line of communication with me and keep me abreast of their individual needs.

XI. Classroom Management Plan 

1. Students are expected to: Come prepared & ready to learn, Listen to instruction, Begin in a timely manner, Be respectful of others and allow them to learn, Ask for assistance when needed. There will be no sleeping, singing, listening to music during instruction, playing on phones, watching movies/playing games on the Chromebook, or eating meals in the classroom (light snacks that are not messy are allowed). Consequences: (1) warning, (2) student conference, (3) parent contact and referral. Offenses will be written up per the DFHS discipline code.

2. Students are expected to follow all rules and guidelines listed in the Student Handbook on the school’s website.

3. Students are expected to use school and personal technology responsibly and follow rules included in the 23-24 District 5 Mobile Device Guide and Acceptable Use Agreement.  This includes:

   1. Having a charged mobile device (district-issued Chromebook or comparable personal device) at school EVERYDAY.

   2. Not using devices assigned to other students. 

   3. Being responsible for their own devices and should keep them secured at school and off campus.  

   4. Following all teacher directions regarding appropriate times for use of the device.

XII. Uniform Grading Scale

See State Department of Education website for complete details.

All report cards and transcripts will use numerical grades.

A=90-100; B=80-89; C=70-79; D=60-69; F=Below 60

Each final grade (numerical) will have different weighting for the basis of computing GPR. The chart included gives the weighting for each numerical value.

Extra weight is given to honors (.5) and AP (1.0) courses. This policy also establishes that courses may not be dropped after the fifth (5th) day in a semester class or after the tenth (10th) day in a yearly class without penalty.

Students may only retake a class at the same difficulty under the following conditions: Only a course in which a D or F was earned may be retaken.

The course must be retaken at the first opportunity within the next year. The student’s record will reflect all courses taken and the grade earned, except for courses taken prior to the ninth grade. 

XIII. Student/Teacher and Parent/Teacher Communication 

1. All students should use district issued email accounts for communicating with teachers (studentnumber@stu.lexrich5.org). 

2. All students should check school email, Google Classroom and Google Calendar every school day.

3. Parents and students should check the teachers’ websites for classroom calendars/assignment sheets.

4. Parents may contact teachers via email in order to receive invitations to Google Classroom parent/guardian signup. Parents will receive an email from Google and then need to register to receive emails from Google Classroom. Once a parent is registered to receive emails from one class, he/she will receive emails from all Google Classroom groups. It is not necessary to contact all teachers to register.

5. Emails and phone calls to teachers will be returned within two business days.

6. Parents and students who would like access to the parent/student PowerSchool portals should visit the DFHS attendance office for login information.

XIV. School Attendance and Make-up Work Policy

Students are encouraged to attend school regularly. If, however, a student must be absent from school for any reason, it is his/her responsibility to make-up all missed work. 

Students who miss more than one half of an instructional block will be marked absent for that block of instruction. See the Student Handbook on the school website for full attendance and absence policy.

Since it is in the student’s best interest to make up all missed work as quickly as possible, the following guidelines have been established for make-up work: 

1. When a student misses a class meeting, all previously assigned work that was due the day of the absence is due no later than the beginning of the next class meeting in which the student is present. All work missed as a result of the absence is to be completed by the beginning of the second class meeting from the absence. 

2. When a student misses two consecutive class meetings, all previously assigned work due while the student was absent and all work missed as a result of the absence should be completed by the beginning of the second class meeting from the absence. 

3. When a student misses three or more consecutive class meetings, he/she must make specific arrangements for make-up work with each teacher the day he/she returns to class. The amount of time given for completion of work will be up to the teacher’s discretion based on the amount of work missed and the level of difficulty of the material. 

4. Long term projects and papers are due when the teacher says they are due. In the event of an absence, the student or the student’s parent should notify the teacher in advance or upon immediate return to school. 

5. Students are responsible for the work they miss while on a field trip or attending any other school event. Students should contact each of the teachers whose classes they will be missing to make specific arrangements with them regarding all make-up work. Teachers may choose for work to be submitted in advance. If the student does not follow the teacher’s guidelines, the student will receive the academic penalty as assigned by the teacher. 

6. Students must make every effort to complete all make-up work according to these established guidelines. If the student has not submitted his/her make-up work within the specified timeframes outlined above or as directed by the teacher, the teacher has the option of not accepting the work. As with anything, regular communication with the teacher is encouraged.

XV. Syllabus Acknowledgement and Information Form

Upon reading the syllabus, please sign the Syllabus Acknowledge form and complete the student/parent information sheet and have your student return both items to Ms. Smith