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Syllabus

Transfiguration Elementary School Syllabus

2016-2017

Courses: Middle School Science, Social Studies and Spanish

Teacher: Freddy Polio                                    

                                                         Bachelors of Arts from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

                                                         Major – Anthropology

                                                         Masters of Arts from the University of Southern California (USC)

                                                         Major – Teaching

 

Class Website: http://fpolio.wixsite.com/myclassroom

Contact: fpolio@transfigurationla.org

 

Course Curriculum

Science

6th Grade Earth Science – teaches students about plate tectonics, topography, thermal energy, radiation and convention, ecology, resources. In addition, students will conduct investigation and experimentation.

7th Grade Life Science – teaches students about cell biology, genetics, evolution, earth and life history, the anatomy and physiology of plants and animals, the physical principles underlying biological structures and functions, and investigation and experimentation.

8th Grade Physical Science – teaches students about motion, forces, structure of matter, earth in the solar system, reactions, chemistry of living systems, the organization of the periodic table and investigation and experimentation.

Social Studies

6th Grade Ancient World History – teaches students about the Paleolithic era to the agricultural revolution, Mesopotamia, Egypt and Kush, the geographic, political, economic, religious, and social structures of the early civilizations of India and China, Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome!

7th Grade Medieval and Early Modern Times – teaches students about the vast expansion and ultimate disintegration of the Roman Empire, the civilization of Islam in the Middle Ages, the civilizations of China and Japan in the Middle Ages, the sub-Saharan civilizations of Ghana and Mali, the civilizations of Medieval Europe, the Age of Explorations and the Meso-American and Andean civilizations, the Renaissance, the Reformation, the historical development of the Scientific Revolution, and the Enlightenment.

8th Grade U.S. History – teaches students about the major events preceding the founding of the nation and relate their significance to the development of American constitutional democracy, the political principles underlying the U.S. Constitution, the aspirations and ideals of the people of the new nation, U.S. foreign policy in the early Republic, the divergent paths of the American people in the South and in the West, the Civil War and Reconstruction, and the Industrial Revolution.

6th and 8th Spanish – Students will develop skills in reading, writing, listening and speaking in order to communicate effectively in Spanish. Students will also learn about the Hispanic culture and its traditions.

 

Classroom Expectations of Behavior

Be Respectful

  • Follow directions of all adults the first time.

  • Be respectful of yourself, others and all property.

  • Follow classroom expectations.

  • Treat others as you would want to be treated.

  • Wait patiently for your turn.

  • Work quietly and allow others to work.

  • Follow directions.  

  • Keep our hands to ourselves.

  • Use school and personal property appropriately.

  • Listen while someone else is talking.

  • Leave work area clean and neat.

  • Be kind to others.

  • Give your peers their personal space.

  • Use inside voices.

Be Responsible

  • Stay on task and allow others to stay on task.

  • Be on time.

  • Bring all materials/assignments to class daily.

  • Listen and follow directions.

  • Take care of classroom materials.

  • Complete classwork on time.

  • Return completed homework on time.

  • Wear your school uniform.

  • Dress appropriately.

  • Make sure your appearance is neat and orderly; shoes tied, shirts tucked in; belts fastened tightly.

  • Be a good listener.

  • Clean your work area before you leave class.

  • Raise your hand to speak.

  • Use your time wisely.

  • Tidy up your work area.

  • Eyes and ears on the teacher during instructional time.

  • Stay in your seat during instructional times.

Be Safe

  • Be in assigned seat/assigned areas.

  • Keep hands and body to yourself at all times.

  • Work safely.

  • Walk in the classroom.

  • Keep personal property to yourself.

 

Discipline Policy

The discipline policy is intended to maximize the classroom productivity for each individual student. The system gives the student the opportunity to adjust his/her conduct behavior before disciplinary action is taken.

Conduct Behavior is monitored on the basis of:

  • Attitude

  • Rudeness

  • Excessive talking during instruction time

  • Disrespect

  • Breaking any classroom or school rules

  • Inappropriate behavior

  • Inappropriate language 


 

Disciplinary Action

  • Verbal Warning

  • Loss of play time during recess and/or lunch

  • Call home

  • Removal from class, sent to Principal’s office

  • Behavior notification letter sent home

  • Parent-Teacher conference

 

Grading Policy:

A 100% – 93%

B 92% – 85%

C 84% – 70%

D 69% – 65%

F 64% and Below

Students who score below 65% MUST re-do quiz/test/project until concepts are understood at least to 65%.

Assignment Types

Science

Homework – 10%

Lab Reports or Projects – 35%

Participation – 10%

Quizzes – 20%

Test – 25%

Social Studies

Homework – 10%

Participation – 10%

Projects – 35%

Quizzes – 20%

Test – 25%

Homework Policy

Homework will be given every night – Monday through Friday. The purpose of homework is to reinforce material already taught and to foster habits of independent study and organization. Students are expected to return completed homework on time.

Testing Schedule

Students in all subject courses will receive formative assessments (i.e., exits slips, quizzes, etc.) and summative assessments (unit tests and projects). Study guides will be provided for students. All tests must be completed on the day assigned unless otherwise noted. Students will also be handed projects with rubrics. All projects must be turned in on assigned date.

Classroom Procedures

To ensure we have a wonderful school year together, students must follow the following classroom procedures at all times.

Entering the room

  • Before entering the classroom, students will line up along the wall quietly and will enter the class together.

  • When you enter the classroom please be seated at your assigned seat and prepare yourself for class.

  • Students are expected to follow the appropriate procedure for each time of day (i.e., morning, after recess, afternoon lunch, etc.).

Class dismissal

  • Clean off your desk.

  • Pick up any trash or books from around your desk.

  • Be in your seats and wait quietly.

  • I dismiss you, not the bell.

Taking out/putting away/caring for supplies

  • Recap markers and glue.

  • Clean up all supplies and put them in its assigned places.

Participating in group-work

  • Move to your assigned groups quietly and quickly.

  • Take all the materials you will need.

  • Greet each other.

  • Complete the task doing your personal best.

  • Make sure each person signs the project.

  • Thank the others in your group before you separate.

  • There will be designated areas depending on the group you are in.

  • Keep your voice level low as not to disturb the group beside you.

Obtaining help with assignments

  • Quietly ask the nearest person for help with directions if you need it.

  • If this is an independent project do not ask your neighbor for the answers (that is a form of cheating, raise your hand to get help from me; if you are working with a group, ask them for help in understanding how you do the assignment before asking me).

Handing in finished work/homework

  • Make sure your name and date is on your paper in the right-hand corner; place your paper upside down in the “finished work” basket. I will take the papers up at the beginning of class.

What to do with unfinished work

  • If I ask for work to be turned in, let me know if it isn’t finished.

  • If I ask you to keep an unfinished project, put it in your class work folder.

  • Do not put in the finished slot on my desk if not complete.

Throwing away trash

  • You may throw away trash if I am not teaching the whole group.

  • Do not play basketball with your trash.

  • Make sure all trash lands in the can.

  • Pick up trash even if it isn’t yours.

Helping other students

  • In a cooperative classroom, it is good to help one another.

  • If someone needs help with directions or reading an assignment, help him or her if you are able.

  • If someone needs help with understanding the problem, tell him or her to ask me for help.

  • Never put down another student who asks for help.

Staying organized

  • Bring all books and materials to class and take what you should with you when you leave.

  • Please be respectful; there are other students who come to this class besides you.

Following directions

  • Please follow directions the first time they are given.

Computers and other media equipment

  • You are not allowed on the computers without my permission.

  • You need to be on task and if a computer assignment is given, ample time will be given for you to do your work.

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