Freshman Seminar

2013-2014 Syllabus

"Desire is the key to motivation, but it's the determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal - a commitment to excellence - that will enable you to attain the success you seek." Mario Andretti

Ms. Meghan Henry

Phone: 615-262-6770 ext 2217

Email: or

Class website: mshenryatmhs.wikispaces.com

Overview:

Freshman Seminar is a classroom-based, comprehensive guidance and career exploration course for 9th grade students. Freshman Seminar is designed to support students, encourage student success, improve personal and academic skills, decrease drop out rates, increase graduation rates, and support and improve post-secondary plans and participation.

Course Goals:

·  Reduce dropout rates for both high school and post-secondary educations and training

·  Increase enrollment rate for college and post-secondary programs

·  Help students acquire the skills necessary to successfully navigate their life/work transitions

Text:

·  Guest Speakers are part of the Freshman Seminar curriculum

·  www.collegefortn.org

·  Teacher created materials

·  Novels: Gifted Hands and Speak

We will be using the computers and accessing the Internet. It is IMPERATIVE that the student returns the Internet user form. Students will not have access to the computers until it is returned.

Class Requirements:

·  A three-ring binder for class work

o  Students will have final exams in high school. It is important for students to keep ALL work in Freshman Seminar in order to prepare for the exam. Reviewing these papers from time to time will also aid your students in preparation for the test.

·  Paper and pencils/pens

·  The book(s)/textbook(s) that we are using at any given time

Classroom Expectations:

1.  You will arrive on time ALL class supplies.

2.  You will have respect for yourself, others, and your environment.

3.  You will put ALL cellphones and music players away for the duration of class.

4.  You will refrain from eating and drinking in class.

5.  Be prepared to remain in class for the entire 90 minutes.

Grade Level Expectations:

Appropriate classroom decorum is essential to the learning process and will be respected by all persons in this building. Teaching and Learning will take place at Maplewood High School.
No:
·  Horseplaying
·  Disrupting the learning environment
o  In class on time with all materials
o  No cell phones or music players
·  Disrespecting your classroom instructor and/or other students
o  No profanity / If your educator cannot educate because you are interfering with the learning process, you will be immediately referred to an administrator for disciplinary action, which can vary from ISS to expulsion.

Tardiness, Absences, and Missing Work:

Tardiness: Be in your seat with all materials when the bell rings. If you are late, sign in, sit down, and work quietly.

School Wide Tardy Policy

Tardy / 5 tardies
=
2 days TLS / 6-9 tardies
=
3 days TLS / 10 or more
=
2 days OSS

Absences/Missing Work: If you are absent, check the absent work basket or check Gradespeed.

Classroom Passes:

Each student is given 2 hall passes each semester. Please handle your business (bathroom, getting books, money from siblings, clothes from friends) BEFORE class. Per Maplewood policy, NO STUDENT will leave the room during the first OR last 20 minutes of class.

Field Trips: Students will be taking a field trip for Freshman Seminar. Students will attend a career fair on October 30, 2013 in downtown Nashville.

Grading:
I use the points grading system to figure grades.

This class will follow Maplewood’s grading scale, which is as follows.

A ~ 93-100

B ~ 85-92

C ~ 75-84

D ~ 70-74

Dear Parents:
The class is based upon collaborative efforts, so students will complete a lot of work in groups. Additionally, please note that movies are part of this class. The movies that we will be viewing this year are:


Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story: The story of the first black neurosurgeon and his struggles to reach his dream.

The Rookie: The story of a teacher, in his 40s, who decides to go after his dream of playing major league baseball.

The Blind Side: The story of Michael Oher, the Ravens player, and the story of the things he overcame to graduate high school and college.

Speak: After a blurred trauma over the summer, Melinda enters high school a selective mute. Struggling with school, friends, and family, she tells the dark tale of her experiences, and why she has chosen not to speak.

Cyberbully: Teen girl Taylor Hillridge gets a a laptop for her birthday and signs up on a social networking site. She starts to feel alone as her friends ostracize her and she falls victim to cyberbullying.

Please understand that this list may be supplemented at any point in the year. If you have concerns about these movies, please contact me. By signing the receipt of this syllabus, you are giving your student permission to view the movies.

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Student Name Date

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Parent Name Date

Return to Ms. Henry before August 12th. This is for a grade.