Environmental Systems Syllabus
Teacher: Amy Taylor
Email:
Tutoring: Tuesday – after school
Friday- West Hour B block
Website:
Course Description and Learning Outcome
This environmental systems course is designed to give the student an overview of the environmental issues that the citizenry of the world faces today. Students will not only delve into the issues but will also work on their critical thinking and problem solving skills in an effort to address these issues. The goal is that the student will become a productive and informed citizen that is able to be an active participant in the stewardship of this planet.
Teaching Philosophy
Teaching provides an opportunity to expand my horizons as well as the horizons of those around me. It is also my desire that students learn tolerance, understanding, and acceptance along with the acquisition of content. It is my goal to set high expectations for my students and then give them the support and positive reinforcement to help them meet those expectations. All students should feel that they have value, worth, and that they are part of the fabric of society.
Instructional Methods and Policies
Instructional Methods
Some of the strategies that I plan to use to accomplish these instructional goals are cooperative learning, distributed practice, time management instruction, and mastery learning. I feel that there are three main reasons to use cooperative learning strategies. These strategies are effective for promoting unification in diverse classrooms, promoting appropriate social behavior and self-confidence, and promoting real world problem solving. I feel that they are particularly appropriate for the multi-cultural classroom and the diverse learner classroom. Cooperative groups allow students interaction with peers that they might never have contact with in other school or social settings. Homework and practice, or distributed practice, provides an opportunity for students to master skills. Homework also helps students develop good study habits and time management skills. I plan to incorporate time management and self-regulation into my instruction.
Student Responsibilities
Your child should study 15-20 minutes every school night. This means working on assignments, reviewing previous work, or studying and reviewing information for their current lesson. I want your child to succeed, to have fun, and to be safe.
Student responsibilities include the following:
Attend Class
Be Prepared
Do his/her own work
Behave responsibly in the lab or field
Respect others
Food and Drink
Due the close proximity of dangerous chemicals and biological agents, no food or drink will be allowed in the classroom and lab.
Grading Policy
Nine Weeks Grades
40% - Formative (Daily Work, Quizzes, Labs)
60% - Summative (Tests, Lab Practicals, Projects)
All assignments will have due dates. Late work and retests will follow the Magnolia ISD policy.