Course Syllabus

Honors Civics and Economics
Mr. Dietz - 919-406-3975 x292; johndietz@fcschools.net (preferred)
Room 118

COVID-19 SYLLABUS CHANGES:

Students are expected to attend class every day at the designated time for both Synchronous and Asynchronous Instruction.

Students will be counted absent if they do not come to the Google Meet via internet OR via phone, OR turn-in work, OR log-in to Canvas at least once during the day (12 AM - 11:59 PM). Students that miss more than 3 days or 3 assignments will get a call home and their counselors and administrators will be notified.

Grades will be calculated as follows:

• Homework/Classwork - 40%
• Quizzes - 40%
• Tests - 20%

Late Work will be assessed as follows:

• Up to 2 days late - 10%
• 3-5 days late - 20%
• 5 or more days late - 30%

The state of North Carolina has designed the Civics and Economics curriculum to help students develop the necessary thinking skills to detect trends, analyze movements, and comprehend the function of our national government and history. THIS COURSE IS REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION. Class time is limited and every moment must be used for learning. Student disruptions WILL NOT be tolerated. Students are expected to observe and abide by the rules in this syllabus.

Course Description: American History: The Founding Principles, Civics and Economics has been developed as a course that provides a framework for understanding the basic tenets of American democracy, practices of American government as established by the United States Constitution, basic concepts of American politics and citizenship and concepts in macro and micro economics and personal finance. The essential standards of this course are organized under three strands – Civics and Government, Personal Financial Literacy and Economics. The Civics and Government strand is framed to develop students’ increased understanding of the institutions of constitutional democracy and the fundamental principles and values upon which they are founded, the skills necessary to participate as effective and responsible citizens and the knowledge of how to use democratic procedures for making decisions and managing conflict. The Economic and Personal Financial Literacy strands are framed to provide students with an understanding of the role economic factors play in making economic decisions, the ability to reason logically about key economic issues and the knowledge and skills needed to manage personal financial resources effectively for lifetime financial security. Taken together, these three strands should help to prepare students to become responsible and effective citizens in an interdependent world. 

Class Rules

1. Respect yourself and those around you
Students are expected to follow all rules in the Student Code of Conduct manual, and are also expected to behave as adults. There will be no toleration for behavior, speech, activity or conduct that is disrespectful. Be civil and courteous to your teacher and classmates. TAUNTING, BULLYING, HORSEPLAY, and FIGHTING WILL NOT BE TOLERATED AND WILL RESULT IN IMMEDIATE REFERRAL TO THE OFFICE.

2. Be prepared for class
Come to class everyday with all required materials (Chromebook, paper, pencil, etc.) for this class. You must bring your charged Chromebook to class each day. We will be working with digital copies of your textbook and primary sources and your chromebook is essential for learning. Not bringing your chromebook to class is not an excuse to not work that day. 

3. Follow all instructions in an orderly manner
Students are expected listen to their teacher and follow all directions given in class. If you have a question or need an instruction clarified, please raise your hand and wait to be called on.

4. Do not distract or interfere with your classmates’ learning
The classroom is place for learning, NOT for socializing, texting, grooming, sleeping, playing, eating, or any other sort of behavior that disrupts the learning process. THERE IS TO BE ABSOLUTELY NO UNAUTHORIZED CELL- PHONE USE OF ANY SORT IN CLASS. Any cell phones seen in by the teacher can and will be confiscated. When students engage in these (or other) distracting activities, they are not only hindering their own learning, but also the learning of their fellow students. Students are expected to remain focused on the task at hand.

5. Be HONEST
Cheating WILL NOT be tolerated. Forms of cheating may include, but are not limited to: using another student’s work as one‘s own, sneaking answers or using “cheat sheets,” using a cell phone or chromebook to look up answers, communicating answers to other students, or any other dishonest attempt to obtain information or answers to an assignment.  Anyone caught cheating will receive a grade of “0” on that assignment and will be subject to the appropriate disciplinary action, as outlined in the Code of Conduct.

Consequences
See your BHS student handbook for appropriate consequences for violation of class and/or school rules.

Class Procedures
Enter the classroom quietly and sit in your assigned seats
Review the Daily Announcement in Canvas
Raise your hand and wait to be recognized to speak.
Remain in your seat unless told otherwise.
Remain focused on the task assigned.

Materials Needed for Class
Charged Chromebook - Bring this everyday
Headphones
A Folder in your Google Drive with the following subfolders (I will show you how to set this up.):
Classwork / Homework
Notes
Quizzes 
Tests and Test Corrections
Projects
Pencils or pens (BLUE OR BLACK INK ONLY)
Binder and/or loof leaf paper - We will be as paperless as possible in this classroom but you may take notes or submit homework  on paper if necessary.

Grades and Grading
Quarter Grades will be calculated as follows:
Tests: 45%
Quizzes: 30%
Homework/Classwork: 20%
Semester Long Project: 5%
Your overall grade will be calculated as follows:
Quarter 1 - 40%
Quarter 2 - 40%
Final Exam - 20%

A: 100-90  B: 89-80  C: 79-70  D: 69-60  F: 59 and below

There is no special approach or formula to doing well in this class. Coming to class, completing in-class work, taking notes, and studying each night are the keys to success in this class. It is YOUR responsibility to pass this course. I put forth 100% effort each day, I expect the same in return. 

Attendance Policy
The Attendance Policy requires all students to miss no more than 5 class meetings per course.

Tardy Policy
The following is our new SCHOOL WIDE POLICY: Students are expected to be in the classroom (passed the door frame) when the bell begins to ring. There are ZERO EXCEPTIONS to this. Consequences for being tardy are outlined in the BHS Student Code of Conduct.

Bathroom Policy
Students may use the restroom and water fountains on the New 100 Hall only. Permission to use the restroom is not permission to travel across the school. Students MUST SIGN OUT AND BACK IN on the digital sign out sheet when they leave and return. If you do not sign out and back in, you will be counted as skipping class and referred to administration for the appropriate consequence.

Make-Up Work / Late Work
It is the student’s responsibility to turn in all work that was missed due to an absence, as well as to schedule a time to make up any missed quizzes or tests during remediation. Absent work is placed at the front of the room in the tray labeled for your class. It is a school rule that students have two (2) days to make-up any missed work per one (1) day of absence. Work completed after two (2) days will be penalized for being late. Late work is not accepted without an excused and legal absence document. A list of legal absences can be found in your Student Handbook. Late work penalties: 1 Day - 10%, 2 Days - 30%, 3 Days - 40%, More than 3 days late - no higher than 50%.

Instructional Technology
This class utilises Canvas and Google Chromebooks to provide resources for students (digital copy of the book, notes, projects, rubrics, reminders, etc).  Be sure to check your email and the Canvas course daily.   

Questions
Any student should feel free to ask me for help. If there are questions about a topic discussed in class, an assignment, or any other topic,  please ask. Also, check Canvas for information and updates about our class. If you wish to contact me directly, my e-mail address is johndietz@fcschools.net.