Economics
Academic Year 2014-2015
Mrs. Stephanie Foy
Room 321
School Telephone Number: (770) 684-5432
Voice Mail Extension: 7321
Email Address:
Course Description
Economics is a very practical and analytical course that teaches students about the fundamentals of economic theory, market interaction, the role of government in the economy, the role of the United States in the international economy, and personal finance. This course will immerse students in new vocabulary and concepts, and will challenge them to analyze and think critically. Students will study this subject through direct teacher instruction, student-led simulations and investigations, performance tasks, and outside readings. Each student will be required to take an End of Course Test (EOCT) which will be considered their final exam. The EOCT will be 20% of their final grade.
Course Requirements
•Class assignments and homework
•Concept Quizzes – 2-4 quizzes per unit
•Daily participation in classroom discussion and simulations
•3 Projects – Personal Finance, Supply and Demand, Monetary and Fiscal Policy
•Unit Tests
•Nine-Week Benchmark Tests
•End of Course Exams – Georgia Milestones Exam
Materials Needed
The primary tool students will need each day is their iPad. Students should be certain to charge it each night so they will be ready to use it.
In case of technical failures during the school day, students should always be prepared with additional paper and pens/pencils. As we transition to a digital format, we may occasionally have paper handouts. Students may want a folder or small binder for those handouts.
Apps to Download
Our goal is to use our technology to enhance our classroom as much as possible. Students will want to have the following apps downloaded in order to be prepared for class. We may add additional apps as the year progresses.
-iBooks-Flipboard
-Showbie-Quizlet
-Edmodo-Class Flow Student
-Aurasma-QR Code Reader
-Dropbox-Tiny Scan
-Evernote
-Popplet Lite
Grading Policy
60% - Tests (includes all unit tests and major projects)
20% - Classwork/Homework – includes problem sets, concept quizzes, and homework
20% - End of Course Exam
Electronic Resources
1.Remind text alerts will be used periodically for important reminders. Please sign up for this system by texting @e53 to (646)374-0400.
2.An Edmodo web page will be used for online economic topic posts. In addition, students will be able to access class resources from this site. An additional sheet will be provided for student access instructions.
3.Mrs. Foy's PSD web site will be used to provide a calendar and information on topics and assignments throughout the year. Please go to Select Rockmart High School in the top right-hand corner. Choose “Teacher Websites” from the menu on the left-hand side. Choose Stephanie Foy.
Topics Covered
The Georgia Performance Standards, found at will be adhered to in this course. The Economics Georgia Performance Standards are broken down into the following seven units that include each of theindicated subtopics. Time allotted for each unit may be changed due to rate of student mastery.
1.Fundamentals of Economics – Scarcity, Factors of Production, Trade-offs, Opportunity Cost, Production Possibilities Curves, Gain from Trade (Comparative Advantage), Productivity (4 weeks)
2.Economic Systems – Market, Command, and Mixed Economic Systems, Public Goods, Externalities, Property Rights (4 weeks)
3.Market Structures and Business Organizations – Sole Proprietorships, Partnerships, Corporations, Pure Competition, Monopolistic Competition, Oligopoly, Monopoly (2 weeks)
4.Microeconomics – Circular Flow, Supply and Demand, Pricing through Market Interaction (5 weeks)
5.Macroeconomics: Measuring Economic Performance- Economic Indicators; Business Cycle, GDP, inflation, unemployment (5 weeks)
6.Macroeconomics:Stabilization Policies- Monetary and Fiscal Policy (4 weeks)
7.International Economics – Comparative Advantage, Balance of Trade, Balance of Payments, Foreign Exchange Rates, Trade Barriers, Free Trade (3 weeks)
8.Personal Finance – Budgeting and Decision-Making, Consumer Credit, Saving and Investing, Financial Institutions, Insurance (3 weeks)
Extra Credit: Students may have the opportunity to earn bonus points in test reviews. All students will have the opportunity to earn five points on each unit test via test corrections. Otherwise extra credit assignments will not be given unless it is an assignment offered to all students in the class.
Extra Help: Students will be able to come for extra assistance on Thursday afternoons right after school. This day may be subject to change and will be announced. Students may also schedule and appointment before school to come for extra assistance.
Late Assignment Policy: Students are expected to turn in all completed assignments at the time scheduled by the teacher. Any project turned in late will result in a ten-point per day late in the grade.
Make-up Work Policy: For each grading period, makeup work must be completed no later than two weeks after progress reports are issued. Students may not make up work outside of the grading period window once the time has passed.
Absences: If you are absent, please check Mrs. Foy’s PSD website to find work missed and key concepts for that day. If you missed a quiz or test, you must make arrangements to make up any work missed.
Re-Test Policy: Any student can retest any unit test regardless of the grade on the test provided that the student attends tutoring as directed by the teacher. The student must retest within two weeks of the grade being returned. The higher of the two grades will be recorded. This excludes benchmark assessments, final exams, standardized tests (such as EOCT, Milestones, EOPA, AP Exams, etc.), and major projects and research that required an exorbitant amount of time in and outside the classroom (ie: research paper).
Exam Exemption: Exam exemption policies must be approved by the superintendent each school year. Any and all exemption policies do not apply to EOCTs, AP exams, or any other PSD mandated examinations.
All policies of the Polk School District Board of Education and student handbook will be enforced in this classroom.
Tardies and Leaving Class
I will close the door when the bell rings and students are tardy if they are not in the room. Students are expected to go to the restroom and get water during class change. Students will only be permitted to leave class in the case of an emergency.
General Rules
1.Do not talk when your teacher is talking.
2.Be on time… time is a scarce resource and we need to maximize its use.
3.Be respectful of your teacher and classmates (it is a two-way street).
4.Bring materials to class each day (i.e. a charged iPad)
5.Come to class prepared to discuss all assignments.
6.Keep your cell phone turned off and put away, You have an iPad for your digital learning needs.
______
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