World Geography Syllabus
Mr. P. Rodriguez
Room: E230
Conference Periods: 3rd period
Course Description: World Geography is a course designed to prepare students for future social studies courses. It will introduce the student to the scope of geography and serves as a foundation for all social studies courses at the high school level. Elements include the study and analysis of the earth’s physical and human characteristics with topics that range from basic map skills to types of governments and economic systems. Special emphasis is placed on the study of the world’s countries including their landforms and topography, resources, cultures, ethnic groupings, demographic patterns, and historical backgrounds.
Course Goals:
Materials
Standard for written work:
Exams and projects:
Daily Work: Class time will be used for note-taking, lectures and discussions, and various individual and group assignments. A lot of material is covered during each class period, so students must use their time very wisely. I expect all students to turn in their work on time. When a student misses a class, he/she will be expected to have the homework that was due that period, the very next time they come to class.
All missed work due to absence is the responsibility of the student, not the teacher. (The teacher will not hunt you down and give you your missed assignment! You are responsible for getting the notes from your peers or the teacher.)
All work is to be turned in on assigned due date!
Late work: Fifteen percent penalty for the first day an assignment is late.
Acceptance of any assignment that is more than one day late will be based on teacher discretion.
Grading Policy:
Major grades—tests & projects 66.33%
Daily work—quizzes and homework assignments 33.66%
- Semester and Final exams will constitute to 25% of final average grade.
Progress reports will be issued out every three weeks to all students regardless of grades.
Grading: Notebooks will be collected every 3 weeks for either two daily grades or one test grade. They will be graded on thoroughness, quality, organization, & visual appeal.
How can the student get an A on the notebook: A student who expects to get a 90 or higher will be one who has taken the time to consistently study for reviews for exams for homework, copies daily notes and keeps their notebooks well organized.
What happens if I am ABSENT: It is your responsibility to obtain notebook assignments from either a peer or the teacher.
Retesting requirements:
2. Shall complete remedial homework assignment on time.
3. Shall attend tutoring with subject area teacher before retesting.
Restroom Passes: Students will be allowed 1 restroom passes per 2 weeks. Students will be required to sign out to go to the Restroom. Student must also surrender his or her restroom pass upon returning from the restroom. (If passes are abused, a medical personnel note or parent conference will follow). Students will not be allowed to go to the restroom 15 minutes after or before the bell.
Absentees and Tardy:
Daily attendance is very important because a lot of material is covered during each 45 minute class. Students will get behind rapidly if they miss school, and often they find it frustrating to make up all the work.
Discipline in this class:
Teacher expectations are high in this class. Students are considered to be mature and responsible with their work. Therefore, any silliness, talking out of turn or inappropriately, or behavior unbecoming of a mature high school student will not be tolerated. Students and parents need to realize at the beginning that there is nightly work to be done in order to achieve the high grades he/she has been used to earning prior to high school.
Important things to know and rules to follow:
Discipline Procedures:
Mr. P. Rodriguez
Room: E230
Conference Periods: 3rd period
Course Description: World Geography is a course designed to prepare students for future social studies courses. It will introduce the student to the scope of geography and serves as a foundation for all social studies courses at the high school level. Elements include the study and analysis of the earth’s physical and human characteristics with topics that range from basic map skills to types of governments and economic systems. Special emphasis is placed on the study of the world’s countries including their landforms and topography, resources, cultures, ethnic groupings, demographic patterns, and historical backgrounds.
Course Goals:
- Students will not only investigate where something is but also what it is,
- Why it is there, and how it got there.
- Students will be using problems solving skills to gain a geographic perspective of their world and the issues and concerns that affect their lives.
- Students will use practical applications of geography that pertain to everyday life.
- Knowledge of geography will enable students to make better sense of the world and become more responsible citizens.
- Students will become geographically literate, as it is essential to ensure the future quality of the earth’s environment as well as for diverse peoples to be able to share our planet.
- Students are expected to gain knowledge on several countries’ culture, government and economy.
Materials
- 2 –1 subject spiral notebooks
- Blue or black pen & #2 pencil
- 1 box of tissues
Standard for written work:
- Use 8 ½ x 11’’ ruled white paper.
- Handwriting should be neat and legible (preferably print).
- All writing should be in blue or black ink. The only exception is notes.
- Essay, reports, and projects must observe the appropriate instructions and deadlines.
- No plagiarism/copying.
Exams and projects:
- Nine exams will be given in a semester.
- Each exam will consist of at least 25% short answer/essay questions and the rest will be objective (matching and multiple choices).
- Each twelve weeks the students will be assigned one independent project that requires their own out-of-class research.
- Projects will have the same value as exams.
- Notebook will count as an accumulative Test grade and will be graded on how organized it is kept and completion of assignments or notes.
Daily Work: Class time will be used for note-taking, lectures and discussions, and various individual and group assignments. A lot of material is covered during each class period, so students must use their time very wisely. I expect all students to turn in their work on time. When a student misses a class, he/she will be expected to have the homework that was due that period, the very next time they come to class.
All missed work due to absence is the responsibility of the student, not the teacher. (The teacher will not hunt you down and give you your missed assignment! You are responsible for getting the notes from your peers or the teacher.)
All work is to be turned in on assigned due date!
Late work: Fifteen percent penalty for the first day an assignment is late.
Acceptance of any assignment that is more than one day late will be based on teacher discretion.
Grading Policy:
Major grades—tests & projects 66.33%
Daily work—quizzes and homework assignments 33.66%
- Semester and Final exams will constitute to 25% of final average grade.
Progress reports will be issued out every three weeks to all students regardless of grades.
Grading: Notebooks will be collected every 3 weeks for either two daily grades or one test grade. They will be graded on thoroughness, quality, organization, & visual appeal.
How can the student get an A on the notebook: A student who expects to get a 90 or higher will be one who has taken the time to consistently study for reviews for exams for homework, copies daily notes and keeps their notebooks well organized.
What happens if I am ABSENT: It is your responsibility to obtain notebook assignments from either a peer or the teacher.
Retesting requirements:
- The highest grade a student can make in a retest shall be a 70.
- Students must meet three of the following before retesting:
2. Shall complete remedial homework assignment on time.
3. Shall attend tutoring with subject area teacher before retesting.
Restroom Passes: Students will be allowed 1 restroom passes per 2 weeks. Students will be required to sign out to go to the Restroom. Student must also surrender his or her restroom pass upon returning from the restroom. (If passes are abused, a medical personnel note or parent conference will follow). Students will not be allowed to go to the restroom 15 minutes after or before the bell.
Absentees and Tardy:
Daily attendance is very important because a lot of material is covered during each 45 minute class. Students will get behind rapidly if they miss school, and often they find it frustrating to make up all the work.
- Students will follow BISD policy on tardy.
- Attendance/Tardy Referrals will be given to the student as needed.
Discipline in this class:
Teacher expectations are high in this class. Students are considered to be mature and responsible with their work. Therefore, any silliness, talking out of turn or inappropriately, or behavior unbecoming of a mature high school student will not be tolerated. Students and parents need to realize at the beginning that there is nightly work to be done in order to achieve the high grades he/she has been used to earning prior to high school.
Important things to know and rules to follow:
- Be on time and seated by the time the tardy bell rings.
- Be prepared to learn.
- Bring all needed materials such as notebook, pen/pencil, highlighters, etc.
- CD players, MP3 players, I-Pods, and other electronic devices will be left at home.
- Only kind words are allowed in Mr. Rodriguez’ World Geography course.
- Be courteous, tolerant, and honest.
- Talking without permission will be considered a discipline problem and will be dealt with accordingly.
- Cellphones will be allowed to be used upon teachers discretion.
- School property is school property! Do not write on, tag, or deface in any way ANY B.I.S.D. school property.
- Students are not permitted to leave the classroom 15 minutes into the period or 15 minutes before the next class bell rings.
Discipline Procedures:
- Verbal Warning (documented)
- Conference with student (documented)
- Contact parent (whether or not contact is not made it will be documented) and 20 minutes detention on the following day (morning, lunch, or after school). If student does not show up for detention he/she will be given an extra 20 minutes. If student still refuses to serve detention he/she will be refer to the office the following day.)
- Referral to Assistant Principal.