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Course Syllabus
Name of Course: Contemporary Culture in the US
Course #: 000051
Course Length: 1 Quarter
Credits: 0.5
Prerequisite: None
Graduation Requirement Met: General Elective
Instructor Information
Name: Jack H. Achs, Rm215
E-mail address: achsja@davenportschools.org Hm: jackachs@yahoo.com
School phone number: 563-723-5600
Best times to be reached: 7:45-8:30 daily.
Course Description:
This is an interdisciplinary course that will focus on current events which impact students, their communities and the nation. By using theories, frameworks and a process for critical thinking, students will develop a critical analysis to comprehend how these events impact the community and world in which we live. This will be an elective course.
Standards
Course is aligned to the Iowa Social Studies Standards. The Iowa Social Studies standards can be found at https://iowacore.gov
Text/Materials/Resources
There is no textbook. However, students are required to obtain the following supplies within three days of course start: A 2-inch 3-ring binder, 2 college-type spiral notebooks, 3x5 note cards, pen &pencil, tri-fold poster board, Chrome Book, WHS ID.
Instructional Practices & Support
Instructional practices will be aligned to the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET) Framework.
Teachers will maximize classroom time to provide instructional opportunities that are targeted and tailored to student needs. Students will experience high-quality instruction which includes:
A classroom culture that adheres to productive classroom norms and relationships
High quality tasks that lend to authentic engagement
Productive discussions where students make sense, justify and generalize
Classroom Management Procedures
Classroom management procedures will be aligned to the multi-tiered system of support framework, Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS) to build an emotionally safe, positive and engaging environment. Teachers will understand, support and implement orchestration of the elements in the classroom:
Establish positive ongoing teacher-student relationships
Establish, post, and teach rules and procedures regularly
Implement proactive strategies and interventions
Use of acknowledgment system with specific immediate praise, and feedback
Manage student behavior with a continuum of corrective strategies
Assessment Plan
Students will be given multiple opportunities to demonstrate proficiency following additional instruction and ongoing assessment,
Multiple data points will be used to determine the reported grade (formative and/or summative)
Ongoing assessments may be given in a format different than the original and re-assessment will be given when students demonstrate new learning
The time frame of ongoing assessments will be determined by the team and individual teachers based on student progress.
Late work will be accepted without penalty within the unit of study.
Extra credit will not be factored into grading.
Plagiarism: Plagiarism is copying another person’s work. In this class you may work together on many assignments. However, the work you turn in must be in your own words. You need to paraphrase the idea being shared. When grading work and I see the same answer, with the same sentence structure, with the same grammar and syntax then it is plagiarism. See student planner.
Classroom Management Procedures
See MS Word document below for Syllabus Part2 for Classroom Management Procedures.
Assessment Plan (also see Syllabus Part 2 for more details)
A. Projects will be completed.
B. Assessments might incl quizzes, chap or unit tests, end of term tests.
D. Completed homework/classwork.
Note: Late work is reduced by 40% (“D”)and must be turned in three days before the start of finals.
Grading System
Grading scale*: A+ = 100% C = 70-79%
*Students must do more A = 90-99% D = 60-69%
work for higher grade. B = 80-89% F = 0-59%
Syllabus Part 2
See file below for Syllabus Part 2 containing the following: Classroom Management Procedures, Assessment Plan, Instructional Methods, Parent Assistant, and Course Requirements (detailed). Note: Students must read and review Syllabus Part 2.
Mr.Achs’ Bully Free Pledge: “I agree to be identified as a caring adult who pledges to help bullied students. I will listen carefully to all students who seek my help and act on their behalf to put an immediate stop to the bullying. I will work with other caring adults to create a safe learning environment for all students in my school.”
Course Requirements: See current syllabus below (MS Word Document)
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