Syllabus
Civilizations and Cultures
9th Grade Humanities 2016-2017 Syllabus
“It is in fact a part of the function of education to help us escape, not from our own time -- for we are bound by that -- but from the intellectual and emotional limitations of our time.”
T.S. Eliot
INSTRUCTOR: Sara Price
CONTACT: [email protected]
School number: 970-247-2474
Website: http://saraprice.weebly.com/
OFFICE HOURS: Thursday 3:30-5:00 and Tuesday and Thursday at lunch by appointment
(Please be in my room at 3:30 if you plan to come to my office hours)
I will offer additional times around major test and project deadlines.
9th GRADE HUMANITIES:
9th grade Humanities, Civilizations and Cultures, explores questions regarding the individual's relationship with civilization, society, and government. As a humanities course, this class focuses on integrating language arts skills, historical thinking skills, and skills and perspectives found in other humanities and social science disciplines. Through a variety of genres, both fiction and non-fiction, students participate in thematic projects related to local and global contemporary issues. This thematic, project based, exploration continues through coverage of crucial topics in ancient through early modern (18th century) history. Students examine these content areas through various humanities and social science discipline perspectives including history, sociology, psychology and philosophy. Students completing this course will interact with a variety of perspectives that help them interpret and understand the complex relationship between society and the individual.
“Through the humanities we reflect on the fundamental question: What does it mean to be human? The humanities offer clues but never a complete answer. They reveal how people have tried to make moral, spiritual, and intellectual sense of a world in which irrationality, despair, loneliness, and death are as conspicuous as birth, friendship, hope, and reason”.
~The Humanities in American Life, a 1980 report from the United States
Rockefeller Commission on the Humanities
Why I Teach
The reason I teach is to create a society that values all individuals, empowering them to use critical thinking skills, to work toward a healthy society, which incorporates their understanding of social justice and critical consciousness and pushes them to think outside of the intellectual limitations of our time.
CLASS MATERIALS:
WHEN ASSIGNMENTS ARE DUE:
As a teacher it is my job to ensure you have clear deadlines and due dates. All assignments are due the minute you walk into class the day they are due. If you need to print the assignment you must due this prior to the beginning of class.
HOW TO TURN IN ASSIGNMENTS:
Almost all of your homework and assignments must be turn in as a hard copy! I will not accept electronic assignments, unless I ask for them!
If I ask you to turn in an assignment electronically you must title your google doc the following way:
Section_LastName_FirstName_Assignment
Example: Section1_Price_Sara_SocializationEssay
LATE WORK:
If you are absent from school, it is your responsibility as a student to go on my DP and find out what you missed. I highly suggest that you find a partner in class to exchange email and phone numbers with, who can be your contact if you are absent. For excused absences, you will be given the same amount of time to complete the assignment as the rest of the class had. While completed late work is welcomed, the maximum grade possible is a B, and will only be accepted 2 weeks after the due date. In addition, late work will be graded at my leisure. Homework is due at the beginning of class each day. Print before coming to class—if you print after the start of the class, the homework will be considered late.
GRADING:
Process: Are you doing your work?
* To encourage you to take ownership of your own grades, I ask that you please contact me directly with any questions about your grades. Please do not have your parents contact me regarding your grades until you have asked the question first. If you or your parents still have questions after you have talked to me, I would be happy to address your/their concerns at that point.
Please note: I do NOT give extra credit! Don’t ask, and don’t expect to make up work at the end of the semester- the answer will be no, barring extraordinary circumstances.
Planner Policy:
All students must have a physical planner, not a cell phone. You must bring your planner to school every day and use it for every class, even if you do not have homework.
Food Policy:
I will allow students to bring fruit, vegetables, and water in the classroom. You will not be allowed to have energy drinks in my classroom, ever. We have a break in the middle of class daily, which is when you will be able to have your other snacks in the hall.
Cell Phone Policy:
Your cell phone must be off and in your backpack during class. If for any reason you need to use your cell phone you must get permission from me. You may use your phone on breaks and between classes. If you need to listen to music you can play music on your computer. If you need to use your phone for academic purposes during class you must ask me first and then put way your phone once you have completed the task.
Computer Policy:
At Animas High School you will need to have a computer daily. We have loaners through the school system it you do not own one. If you forget your computer it will be up to you to figure out how to accomplish the day’s tasks. Given that computers are such a big part of our school it is important that you use the technology appropriately. If you are not using technology appropriately you will first be offered a warning, and if the issue persists we will meet as a team, to discuss your relationship with technology going forward at our school.
UNIVERSAL SCHOOL RULES:
The following are in place to ensure a respectful and safe learning environment. Violation of these rules will result in your helping in various school and classroom improvement activities.
MY RULES:
HABITS OF HEART AND MIND
Advocacy: When you need help, or when you don’t understand, ask questions.
Perspective: Have a point of view; respect and understand the points of views of others.
Evidence: Use it to back up your perspective. Require it others who make claims. Make decisions based on it
Refinement: Take pride in everything you do in class and make it beautiful, whether you are reading, writing, speaking, or creating.
Perseverance: Don’t give up. Learn to work through difficulty.
IMPORTANT TERMS:
9th Grade Humanities 2016-2017 Syllabus
“It is in fact a part of the function of education to help us escape, not from our own time -- for we are bound by that -- but from the intellectual and emotional limitations of our time.”
T.S. Eliot
INSTRUCTOR: Sara Price
CONTACT: [email protected]
School number: 970-247-2474
Website: http://saraprice.weebly.com/
OFFICE HOURS: Thursday 3:30-5:00 and Tuesday and Thursday at lunch by appointment
(Please be in my room at 3:30 if you plan to come to my office hours)
I will offer additional times around major test and project deadlines.
9th GRADE HUMANITIES:
9th grade Humanities, Civilizations and Cultures, explores questions regarding the individual's relationship with civilization, society, and government. As a humanities course, this class focuses on integrating language arts skills, historical thinking skills, and skills and perspectives found in other humanities and social science disciplines. Through a variety of genres, both fiction and non-fiction, students participate in thematic projects related to local and global contemporary issues. This thematic, project based, exploration continues through coverage of crucial topics in ancient through early modern (18th century) history. Students examine these content areas through various humanities and social science discipline perspectives including history, sociology, psychology and philosophy. Students completing this course will interact with a variety of perspectives that help them interpret and understand the complex relationship between society and the individual.
“Through the humanities we reflect on the fundamental question: What does it mean to be human? The humanities offer clues but never a complete answer. They reveal how people have tried to make moral, spiritual, and intellectual sense of a world in which irrationality, despair, loneliness, and death are as conspicuous as birth, friendship, hope, and reason”.
~The Humanities in American Life, a 1980 report from the United States
Rockefeller Commission on the Humanities
Why I Teach
The reason I teach is to create a society that values all individuals, empowering them to use critical thinking skills, to work toward a healthy society, which incorporates their understanding of social justice and critical consciousness and pushes them to think outside of the intellectual limitations of our time.
CLASS MATERIALS:
- 3 ring binder
- 5 divider tabs
- Lined paper
- Pens and pencils
- Highlighters and colored pencils
- Daily Planner (for all classes)
- Flash Drive (for all classes)
- 1 folder with 2 pockets
WHEN ASSIGNMENTS ARE DUE:
As a teacher it is my job to ensure you have clear deadlines and due dates. All assignments are due the minute you walk into class the day they are due. If you need to print the assignment you must due this prior to the beginning of class.
HOW TO TURN IN ASSIGNMENTS:
Almost all of your homework and assignments must be turn in as a hard copy! I will not accept electronic assignments, unless I ask for them!
If I ask you to turn in an assignment electronically you must title your google doc the following way:
Section_LastName_FirstName_Assignment
Example: Section1_Price_Sara_SocializationEssay
LATE WORK:
If you are absent from school, it is your responsibility as a student to go on my DP and find out what you missed. I highly suggest that you find a partner in class to exchange email and phone numbers with, who can be your contact if you are absent. For excused absences, you will be given the same amount of time to complete the assignment as the rest of the class had. While completed late work is welcomed, the maximum grade possible is a B, and will only be accepted 2 weeks after the due date. In addition, late work will be graded at my leisure. Homework is due at the beginning of class each day. Print before coming to class—if you print after the start of the class, the homework will be considered late.
GRADING:
Process: Are you doing your work?
- In class work, homework, and starters
- Essay drafts and revisions
- Project drafts and revisions
- Quizzes and tests
- In class writing assignments
- Socratic Seminars
- Projects
- Reflections
- Individual Goals
* To encourage you to take ownership of your own grades, I ask that you please contact me directly with any questions about your grades. Please do not have your parents contact me regarding your grades until you have asked the question first. If you or your parents still have questions after you have talked to me, I would be happy to address your/their concerns at that point.
Please note: I do NOT give extra credit! Don’t ask, and don’t expect to make up work at the end of the semester- the answer will be no, barring extraordinary circumstances.
Planner Policy:
All students must have a physical planner, not a cell phone. You must bring your planner to school every day and use it for every class, even if you do not have homework.
Food Policy:
I will allow students to bring fruit, vegetables, and water in the classroom. You will not be allowed to have energy drinks in my classroom, ever. We have a break in the middle of class daily, which is when you will be able to have your other snacks in the hall.
Cell Phone Policy:
Your cell phone must be off and in your backpack during class. If for any reason you need to use your cell phone you must get permission from me. You may use your phone on breaks and between classes. If you need to listen to music you can play music on your computer. If you need to use your phone for academic purposes during class you must ask me first and then put way your phone once you have completed the task.
Computer Policy:
At Animas High School you will need to have a computer daily. We have loaners through the school system it you do not own one. If you forget your computer it will be up to you to figure out how to accomplish the day’s tasks. Given that computers are such a big part of our school it is important that you use the technology appropriately. If you are not using technology appropriately you will first be offered a warning, and if the issue persists we will meet as a team, to discuss your relationship with technology going forward at our school.
UNIVERSAL SCHOOL RULES:
The following are in place to ensure a respectful and safe learning environment. Violation of these rules will result in your helping in various school and classroom improvement activities.
- NO swearing.
- Listening to music anywhere in the building without instructor permission is forbidden. Wearing headphones around your neck is considered the same as listening to music.
- Follow the AHS fashion guide.
- NO chewing gum.
- Use technology appropriately.
- NO hats in school.
MY RULES:
- Cell phones can be great tools for research. If you have an academic reason to use yours during class, ask permission from your teacher to take it out. However, if you have a cell phone out without permission, it will be taken away for the rest of the day.
- No Facebook in my class. Facebook has no place in class, wait till after school! The first time you are caught you will be given a warning. If it happens again you will lose technology privileges during that class period. If it becomes an ongoing issue we will set up a time to meet with your parents.
- You may eat at your desk with teacher permission. Any drink must have a lid on it. NO food or drink within 3 feet of computers. Please clean up after yourself. If wrappers and trash are left regularly in the classroom the privilege of eating in my class will be taken away.
- RESPECT. For yourself, for others, and for the learning process. Acknowledge that all people with whom you come into contact are in fact people who deserve to be treated as such.
- TOLERENCE. We will treat each student with tolerance regardless of his or her religion, race, culture, sexual orientation, or ability. Any and all discriminatory and/or harmful language is prohibited.
HABITS OF HEART AND MIND
Advocacy: When you need help, or when you don’t understand, ask questions.
Perspective: Have a point of view; respect and understand the points of views of others.
Evidence: Use it to back up your perspective. Require it others who make claims. Make decisions based on it
Refinement: Take pride in everything you do in class and make it beautiful, whether you are reading, writing, speaking, or creating.
Perseverance: Don’t give up. Learn to work through difficulty.
IMPORTANT TERMS:
- Student-led Conferences: Students will have the opportunity to communicate and share with their family their learning and growth over time. You will be taught and expected to lead this “conference” and provide evidence of your learning and personal growth. In addition, you should utilize vocabulary and concepts of our Habits of Heart and Mind in communicating throughout the student-led conference.
- Digital Portfolios: You will create Digital Portfolio (DP) that will serve to showcase your best work and also demonstrate your growth throughout your years at Animas High. You will present your DP at your Presentation of Learning (POL) at the end on the first semester and at your Transitional Presentation of Learning (TPOL) at the end of the year. You will be taught to place developing work in your Digital Portfolio as a means of showing us your work-in-progress.
- POL’s/TPOLS’s: Students give presentations of their learning at the end of both semesters of ninth grade. For these presentations, you are expected to dress professionally (no jeans or tennis shoes!). The PoL (which occurs mid-year) is your chance to reflect on the Habits of the Heart and Mind. You will reflect on how you have learned the habits and select two areas where you want to focus your growth for the remainder of the ninth grade year. The emphasis on the PoL is the development of your presentation skills. At the end of the year, you will have a TPoL, which focuses on the essential question, “Do I know how to be a 10th grade student at Animas High?” You will review all of your projects from 9th grade and come up with evidence to support your answer to this important question.
- Exhibitions: One of the major values of this school is the presentation of student work for the public. You will participate in several exhibitions throughout the year. Parents will be given notice of the date of these exhibitions. Students are expected to stay at school the entire day of exhibitions to help set up, tear down, and get projects ready to present. You are also expected to dress professionally on the date of exhibitions.