World Geography: Course Expectations 2004-2005

World Regional Studies: Course Expectations 2017-18 Shawnee Mission East High School Steve Klein [email protected]

The Importance of World Regional Studies Although the physical size of the earth has been the same for millions of years, the earth is getting smaller and smaller. We now have the ability to travel long distances in short amounts of time, communicate with people around the world simultaneously on the internet, and watch live media productions from around the globe. New global realities require us more than ever to understand and interact with people and their cultures, values, languages, family systems, and religious beliefs. We live in a world that more urgently than ever requires us to be geographically literate due to our undeniable connection with cultures, places, and ideas. In the past, geography was thought of as an endless memorization of places, but today’s World Regional Studies curriculum is a thematic approach that includes having students understand the interconnectedness of the world by examining various global issues.

Grades Approximately 50% of grade will be based on tests and quizzes, 35% on daily points, participation, and current events, and 15% on projects.

The following scale will be used (I will round up the 0.5%): 100-90 = A 89-80 = B 79-70 = C 69-60 = D 59-0 = F

It is important for you to remember that to graduate in Shawnee Mission it is required that you pass two semesters of world geography.

Extra Credit Extra credit can be earned periodically during the year. I will assign at least one extra credit opportunity per semester.

Late Work All daily work is due at the beginning of class. Unexcused late work is not accepted. An exception will be made for one daily assignment per quarter. This only will be accepted with a coupon handed out at the beginning of the quarter.

Projects will be accepted until the end of the day they are due (unless an in-class presentation is required). Unexcused late projects are subject to a letter grade deduction (10%) each day they are late.

Make-Up Work District policy states that you have two days for every day missed to make up work missed when absent. I expect that you will follow this policy. Check the website (http://www4.smsd.org/steveklein/) and/or contact me as soon as possible so that you do not get behind. If you are absent on the day of a test, you need to make arrangements with me to make it up after school or during seminar. Class time will not be used for making up work; DO NOT ask me about make up work once the bell rings! If you miss class time, you must use your own time to obtain make-up work and not the class time of your classmates.

You will lose a minimum of 2% of your semester grade for each unexcused absence (it could be more if you have an unexcused absence on a test day or a day a project is due, which will not be eligible for credit).

Long-term assignments, as per the District Policy Handbook, are to be turned on the date scheduled. Therefore, if you happen to be absent on a day when a long-term assignment is due, YOUR ASSIGNMENT IS STILL DUE!! Simply have someone put your long- term assignment in my mailbox by the end of the school day.

Exams Exams will be multiple choice, matching, short answer, and/or essay. You will always be given at least one week’s notice before an exam. Given this is a class that has a geography focus, map quizzes will be given frequently; material on map quizzes builds on itself so it is important to keep all maps and continuously refer to them. Pop quizzes should be expected over assigned readings.

Daily Work All work turned in should be written neatly using standard-lined white paper. Please include your first and last name, the date, along with your class hour in the top right hand portion. Take pride in your work. Assignments that are sloppy or not in the proper format will be returned without a grade.

Behavior Students should refer to the syllabus for classroom rules and expectations, the main one being “Always do what is right.” Behavior in the classroom should always reflect an attitude of respect for your teacher and classmates. If you are engaging in a behavior that negatively affects the teacher’s ability to teach or a student’s ability to learn, then what you are doing is wrong. On the occasion when a substitute is in the room, regular classroom expectations obviously apply. If a substitute writes your name down as being a problem, there will be a minimum consequence of three detentions. No discussion. Other specific important rules to note are:

No food or drink is allowed in class. You may have a water bottle, however.

No electronic devices. Leave all cell phones, calculators, iPods, headphones, etc. at home or in your locker. There will be NO further warnings on this. Jackets may be worn in class or draped over the back of your chair, but if they are on your lap, it will be assumed that they covering an electronic device and consequences will ensue. Violations of this policy will result in office referrals, as per school policy. Further, if any electronic device is out during an exam, I will have to assume that cheating is occurring and the student will receive a zero. This policy remains until ALL students have completed the test

No writing on desks.

Do homework for other classes on your own time.

Failure to abide by these rules will result in losing daily points for that week and a call home.

Be on time to class. Tardies will be handled as described in the school policy.

Suggestions/Materials Students should retain all returned work until the end of the quarter; students assume the burden of proof for missing work.

Colored pencils will be required on frequent occasions

Purchasing an atlas is not mandatory, but it may be helpful to have one (the internet can a reasonable alternative).

Procedures Bring a writing utensil and paper to class every day.

Turn in any work that is due to the appropriate tray upon entering the classroom. See above for late-work policy.

Welcome to a brand new year full of opportunities for friendships and successes! I am available to help you during my planning period (5th Hour) as well as before or after school, and seminar, or as arranged between the two of us. Please do not hesitate to ask for help! I am looking forward to getting to know each of you.