World Geography Class Overview

About World Geography NOAA’s GOES-16 Satellite Sends First Images to Earth

OBJECTIVES:

Ninth-grade geography is the study of physical and human characteristics of the Earth’s peo­ple, places, and environments. Students will develop geographic thinking skills by studying the “why of where” as they examine the interactions, interconnections, and implications of forces shaping our world today. They will apply geographic knowl­edge and geo-literacy skills to identify, locate, interpret, analyze, and evaluate geo­graphic patterns and processes.  Geographically informed students can better participate in their communities and the world in a responsible, informed and civi­cally minded way. The skills and habits of mind that students develop as they study the world through geography will nurture their sense of citizenry, as well as civic and global awareness.

First semester will cover Geography Basics, U.S. and Canada, Latin America, Europe, and Russia and the Republics.  Second semester will cover the Middle East, South Asia, East Asia, Africa, and Australia and the Pacific.  Students will also have the opportunity to complete critical learning activities while viewing films and documentaries including CRY FREEDOM, GANDHI, GOD GREW TIRED OF US, and GUNS, GERMS, AND STEEL.

 

SUPPLIES NEEDED:  

  • Three-Ring Binder (Can Be Shared with Other Classes)
  • Notebook Paper
  • Pencils
  • Blue or Black Ink Pens
  • Colored Pencils (Optional)
  • Independent Reading Book
  • A Positive Attitude

 

GRADING SCALE:

Proficiency Scale

Rubric Score

Percentage

Letter Grade

Mastery

4

90-100%

A

Proficient

3.7

85-89%

A-

 

3.3

80-84%

B+

 

3

75-79%

B

Approaching Proficiency

2.7

68-74%

B-

 

2.3

61-67%

C+

 

2

55-60%

C

Beginning Proficiency

1.7

51-54%

C-

 

1.3

47-50%

D+

 

1

43-46%

D

 

0.7

40-42%

D-

Insufficient Evidence

0

0-39%

F

 

We will be implementing standards-based teaching and grading practices at Fairfield this year. These practices will ensure that your child’s grades are meaningful and supportive of learning. The grading scale we will be using will help you translate your child’s mastery grade into more familiar grading formats including percentages and letter grades.  Standards-based teaching and grading will move the focus from “chasing points” to the benefits of learning.  Students will know exactly what it is they should be learning as well as how they will show that learning.

 

COURSE WORK BREAKDOWN:

Notebook Assessments                                                                      20%

Formative Assessments                                                                      20%

Summative Assessments                                                                    60%

 

CLASS POLICIES:

  1. Late Work = Assigned work needs to be brought to class the day it is due. There will be a hard deadline at midterm for work assigned prior to that deadline.  Absolutely no late work will be accepted, or test retakes allowed during last week of each term.
  2. Absent (Make-up) Work = Students are responsible for all class work completed during an absence. Students who are absent have the responsibility to find out what they missed from another student and then check with the teacher.  Students who are absent have three school days to complete all missed work or it will be considered late.  Special homework arrangements may be made for extenuating circumstances.  Students who miss a test or quiz must make arrangements to make it up after school within one week of returning to school.
  3. Extra credit = There are NO extra credit assignments. There will be extra points for exceptional work on some assignments, but those points will be added to the assignment score.
  4. Honesty = Academic dishonesty or the appearance of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. Academic dishonesty may include, but is not limited to, using someone else's work as your own, incorrect scoring of papers, and assisting others to complete assignments without doing the work.  Students are expected to do their own work on assignments and tests without getting answers from others.  Academic dishonesty will result in a "0" on the assignment or test and an "N" in citizenship.  The second incidence of cheating will result in a "U" in citizenship as well as a “0" on the work.
  5. Hall Pass = A student may use the hall pass only two times per term if the student has a hall pass coupon.  Students will receive a red mark (see classroom management section) each time they use the hall pass without giving the teacher a hall pass coupon.  The hall pass coupons must have a student signature on them in order to be valid.  Students may not share hall pass coupons with other students.

 

CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT:

It is vital to successful education that the classroom be an orderly and a supportive environment.  The teacher has the right to teach, and students have the right to learn.  Students will be responsible for their own work, behavior, and interactions with others.  Students may earn green and red marks for behavior.  Green marks are given for positive behavior such as class participation, helping others, original thoughts, etc.  Red marks are given for negative classroom behavior.

 

CLASSROOM RULES:

 

Mutual Respect

 

This applies to self and others.  No put downs, mocking, or inappropriate comments will be allowed.

 

Attentive Listening

 

This means not just being quiet, but actually listening and following along with the speaker.

 

Honesty

 

This is all inclusive:  tests, quizzes, and assignments should be the work of the individual.

 

Be on Time and Prepared

 

Students need to be in their desk when the tardy bell rings.  Come with paper, pencil, and books each day.

Students will document their red and green marks by writing them on a form in the classroom.  Students may work off red marks with green marks according to the following exchange rate:  1 red mark = 4 green marks.

Citizenship credit will be based on the number of red and green marks a student has accumulated, as well as attendance (3 tardies=N, 4 tardies=U, truancy=U).  A student may make up one tardy per term.

All students start out with an “S” (Satisfactory) citizenship grade.  To earn an “H” (Honors) or a “G” (Good) citizenship grade, a student must not have any red marks or truancies and demonstrate exceptional behavior (works well in groups, helps others, contributes in a positive way to lessons and discussions, volunteers often, etc.)

H in citizenship = 8 green marks; no tardies; no red marks

G in citizenship = 5 green marks; no more than 1 tardy; no red marks

S in citizenship = 0-3 red marks; no more than 2 tardies

N in citizenship = 0-4 red marks; no more than 3 tardies

U in citizenship = 5+  red marks; more than 3 tardies

High green mark recipients may be rewarded with classroom bonuses at the end of each term.