Syllabus
Course: Learning for Life
Instructor: Shelia S. Purser
I. Course Description
Learning for Life is a course designed to increase a student’s success in high school by assisting the student in obtaining skills necessary to reach his/her educational objectives. A primary goal of this course is to develop and hone critical thinking skills. The topics to be covered to achieve this goal will include time management, goal setting, learning styles, study skills, test-taking tips, reading strategies, communication techniques as well as personal issues that many high school students confront.
II. Course Requirements
Students are required to read six books from the SRC ( Scholastic Reading Counts) book list each nine weeks of the semester. Each student will be given a test at the beginning of the semester to determine his/her reading level. Three of these required readings will be covered in the classroom; therefore, students must read 30 minutes daily to successfully achieve this goal. The tests that students must take after they complete these books will reflect 1/3 of their course grade.
Students are also required to do all classwork and homework assigned throughout the semester. An assignment sheet will be issued every Monday, and students are responsible for completing these assignments for a grade. However, since this is an elective course designed to remediate or hone study skills, students will be given ample time in class to complete the majority of their class assignments. Classwork, homework, and quizzes will also count as 1/3 of their course grade.
Students will be given a test every week over the ten SAT words covered in class.Other methods of evaluation will consist of creating portfolios, taking notebook tests, and writing response papers. Portfolios will reflect a unit of study over several weeks and will count as two test grades. Notebook tests will also count as two test grades as they will reflect study skills gained during the course. These methods of assessment will also count as 1/3 of the course grade.
Parents/guardians may receive a weekly progress report if an e-mail address is included with signature at the end of this syllabus or letter.
III. Texts
The texts that will be covered in this course are Ten Skills You Really Need To Succeed In School by John Langan, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey, Vocabulary Cartoons by Sam Burchers, and Teenagers Preparing for the Real World by Chad Foster.
IV. Supplies
Students will need a one inch three-ring binder with five dividers and loose-leaf notebook paper for taking notes and organizing material covered in class as well as four portfolio folders. Students will also need a black pen, as no assignments will be accepted in any other color. Pencils may be used except when writing response papers. Students are expected to come to class prepared with notebook, pen, and pencil every day: Failure to do so will result in a disciplinary action.
V. Discipline Policy
Students are expected to adhere to all rules in the Student Handbook; however, there are three rules posted in the classroom that must be followed at all times:
1. Comply with all rules in the handbook.
2. Demonstrate a respectful and courteous attitude at all times.
3. Remain on task throughout the class period.
Students will receive one verbal warning the first time they break any of the above classroom rules; thereafter, they will be assigned a thirty minute detention as well as parent notification of the disruptive behavior. However, all students will receive a disciplinary referral to the assistant principal on their third infraction of these rules.
VI. Attendance Policy
Attendance is essential to success. This is especially important on a block schedule when one day’s absence is equivalent to two days of class time. Students have three days to make up work missed while absent from class. Keep in mind that students can lose credit for their courses when absent more than six days per semester.
My weekly assignments will be posted on the following web site:
http://www.schoolnotes.com/31907/purser.html, or you may reach me through
e-mail spurser@mcsdga.net
To: Students and Parents
From: Shelia S. Purser, Instructor
Re: Course Syllabus, Class Procedures and Policies
Learning for Life is a course I am especially excited about teaching this year, and I fully expect it to be a great opportunity for students to acquire the skills necessary to not only be successful in their academic pursuits but also in life. However, it is important that each student be responsible for his or her own education; therefore, I am asking that all students taking this course sign this form acknowledging that they have read the course syllabus and agree to follow the rules and procedures as outlined in the student handbook and posted in the classroom.
I also want all parents and / or guardians to read and sign the syllabus and be aware of the following policies in the classroom: Students have three days to make up any work missed while absent from class, including all homework, classwork, and tests missed; Students will be assigned a thirty minute detention the first time they break any classroom rule after receiving one verbal warning; Students will be
assigned a one hour Centralized Detention for the second infraction after being
given a 24 hour notice; students will receive a disciplinary referral to the assistant
principal on their third infraction of classroom rules.
My weekly assignments will be posted on the following web site:
http://www.schoolnotes.com/31907/spurser.html, or you may reach me through email
spurser@mcsdga.net. My twenty-eight years of teaching have been filled with fond
memories of mutual respect and joy with all my students, and I am looking forward to another year filled with many memorable moments
Portfolio Assignments for 8/14/08-9/08/08
Learning for Life/ Purser
This week you will begin creating a portfolio from John Langan’s Ten Skills You Really Need to Succeed in School. This portfolio will include all activities assigned
from Langan’s text. Your portfolio assignment sheet begins today and will end on
September 08, 2008. These assignments can be completed in class and should be placed in the Portfolio section of your notebook; however, you may finish them for homework if you don’t have time to complete in class. Number and date each assignment as you will be given twenty assignments to complete your portfolio. Follow the directions carefully as you will be graded on how well you follow instructions. All portfolios will be due on
September 08, 2008 and will be counted as two test grades. You may earn a grade of 120 for a perfect portfolio that has been typed and presented in an attractive and
creative folder. Work diligently on these daily assignments, for they can significantly affect your first progress report.
Assignments
#1 (8/14/08) Write Only the statements that apply to you on p.9 of Ten Skills....Title this assignment page “ My Attitude Towards School”.
#2 (8/14/08) Read “Escape Habits” on pp.10-11. Copy each habit on your paper from pp. 12-13 and then write the word that best describes how it applies to you. Choose from the following choices: Never, Sometimes, or Often. Title this assignment page “Escape Habits”.
#3 (8/15/08) Re-read pp.5-17 in Ten Skills...and complete the exercise entitled “Check Your Understanding” on p.18. Write the questions and correct answers only.
#4 (8/15/08)- Read pp. 19-20 and answer all “Questions on the Reading”. Answer in complete statements: your answers must reflect the question.
#5 (8/18/08)- Write a paragraph on one of the three points on p. 21. (Minimum 150 words).
#6 (8/19/08) Read pages 24-28 and work activities one, two, three, and four on pages 28-33: write point and support in Activities 2, 3, and 4.
#7 (8/20/08) Read pp. 34-35 and answer the ?s on p.36 under “Check Your Understanding “: Write ?s and correct answers only.
#8 (8/21/08) Choose one of the points in Activity 3 on p. 37 and write a 150 word
paragraph over the point of your choice.
#9 (8/22/08)-Work activities one, two, three, and four on pages 38-42 in Ten Skills...:write points and support in paragraph form.
#10 (8/25/08)- Read pp.49-54 in Ten Skills...and answer all ?s on page 54 under
“Comprehension Check” on p.55. Write ?s and correct answers only.
#11 (8/26/08)- Read pages 56-62 and answer all questions on pages 62-63
under Comprehension Check. Write the questions and the correct answers only. Make sure to also write the letter of the correct answer to the left of your margin next to each question.
#12 (8/27/08)- Read pages 64-70 and answer all questions on pages 70-71
under Comprehension Check. Write the questions and the correct answers only. Make sure to also write the letter of the correct answer to the
left of your margin next to each question.
#13 (8/28/08)- Answer all questions on page 72 under Check your Understanding. Write the questions and the correct answers only. Make sure to also write the letter of the correct answer to the left of your margin next to each question.
#14 8/28/08)-Write 1/2 page of advice to someone you love. Use Marie’s story of overcoming obstacles as the basis of your advice. ( Hint: Everyone has obstacles they must overcome! )
#15 (8/29/08)- Read pages 75-81 and answer all questions on page 82 under Check your Understanding. Write the questions and the correct answers only. Make sure to also write the letter of the correct answer to the left of your margin next to each question.
#16 ( 9/02/08)- Read pages 89-102 and answer all questions on page 102 under Check your Understanding. Write the questions and the correct answers only. Make sure to also write the letter of the correct answer to the left of your margin next to each question.
Portfolio Assignments for 8/14/08-9/08/08
Learning for Life/ Purser
#17 (9/03/08)- Read pages 105-109 and work the activity on page 109.
Title this assignment “ First Letter Words”. Write your responses only.
Read the top of page 109. Work the activity on pages 110-111: title this
assignment “ First Letter Sentences”. There is no need to write the questions in these two activities.
#18 (9/04/08)- Read pages 119-128 and answer all questions on page 128 under Check your Understanding. Write the questions and the correct answers. Make sure to also write the letter of the correct answer to the left of your margin next to each question.
#19 (9/05/07)-Read pages 133-143 and answer all questions on page 144 under Check your Understanding. Write the questions and the correct answers only. Make sure to also write the letter of the correct answer to the left of your margin next to each question.
#20 (9/06/07)-Read pages 147-154 and work Activities 1 and 2. Write the questions and then write the answers in paragraph form. ( Don’t forget to use point and support statements! )
All portfolios are due on September 08, 2008 and will be counted as two test grades.
RC Test Schedule
RC test #1-8/29/08 RC test #2-8/29/08 RC test #3-9/08/08
RC test #4-9/15/08 RC test #5- 9/29/08 RC test #6-10/06/08
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