The Van Geons Experience

Achieve Academic Success

• Students will continue to develop their abilities in critical thinking, writing, reading.
• Students will strengthen learning skills, including note taking and test taking.
• Students will understand their own learning styles.
• Students will understand the purpose of general education and how it will help them succeed in high school and beyond.
• Students will develop effective introductory academic computing skills.
• Students will understand how to effectively utilize the library and how to locate and evaluate electronic information.
• Students will understand the value of integrity as it relates to academic work and will be knowledgeable about the rules, regulations, and processes related to academic integrity.

Build Community

• Students will develop connections with students and faculty that support and enrich a successful high school experience.

Explore and Manage Life Beyond the Classroom

• Students will develop and practice effective time and stress management strategies.
• Students will be exposed to cultural studies.
• Students will be provided an opportunity to understand themselves and others better.

Connect with High School

• Students will learn about school resources that could enrich and support their educational experience.
• Students will learn about policies & regulations, including the Code of Conduct, registration information, and general education requirements.
• Students will understand the importance of getting involved in co-curricular activities and how to pursue these opportunities.

Freshman Seminar Units

 Standards and Student Work

Welcome to Freshman Seminar - Mrs. Van Geons
South Stanly High School

Teacher:   Mrs. Van Geons (Mrs. V)

Teacher Email:            Tara_VanGeons@yahoo.com

Classroom website  

School website: SSHS

Student Supplies Required: For this class, please bring to school every day: AN ASSIGNMENT BOOK—due dates are revised frequently, so update this daily! Pens, in black or blue, Highlighters,     Daybook Journal (9 ½ by 6 inches) (MEAD Composition Book), and a Two pocket folder.

Assignments
Each assignment has a point value based on the standards achieved. You are required to save all assignments for the entire semester. If you fall behind on assignments, please make an appointment to see me for extra help. Please don’t wait until the end of the term to get extra help!  Your success in this class is directly related to your attendance and class participation. Appropriate classroom conduct is expected. Late assignments will not be accepted.  Printer problems, computer issues, etc will not be used as excuses.

Grading Scale

A 93-100    B-  85-92     C 77-84      

D- 70-76      F-  69-lower

Make up work:
In the event of student absences, student may request make up work for grammar and vocabulary handouts. Free writes are not eligible for make up. Quizzes and tests must be scheduled with the teacher within two days of returning to school. These will be completed after school not during class time. Essays and projects that are not handed in due to absence must be handed in the day your return to class since essays and projects are assigned in advance. There will be a make up folder in the classroom and it is your responsibility to make up this work and hand it in a timely manner.

Plagiarism
Any work I determine to be plagiarized will receive an automatic 0%. Plagiarized means written and electronic work copied from text or from another student’s work without giving proper credit to the writer. This regulation is non-negotiable. If you have a question regarding what is and is not plagiarism, please speak to me ahead of time.

Writing:   
You will research and write several papers. Several journal entries, free writing activities, and writing assignments will be integrated into daily lessons.  (You will receive specific instructions on each of these papers.) MLA  REQUIRED FOR ALL PAPERS.

Classroom Activities & Testing:
You will improve your language skills through a variety of daily assignments (vocabulary, grammar, spelling, writing, reading, analysis, & reflection). You will be tested periodically. At the end of each term, you will have a final exam encompassing the major literary works, history, cumulative vocabulary and writing  techniques. Remember you will earn additional points from your daily work!

Technology Requirements
Students will be required to use the PC computers in the Plato and computer labs. Students will be required to have an email address and will learn how to fluently use this address. Students will submit several assignments via email and will be working a great deal on the World Wide Web for research topics. Students need not have a computer or email account already.

• Computer use is a privilege, not a right.  Misuse of computers—including accessing inappropriate websites, Instant Messaging for any reason, or any other uses that might distract from class—is a violation of class rules.

 • I will revoke the computer privileges of anyone who breaks class rules on computer use: first-time offenders may receive a one-week suspension; repeated offenses will result in a permanent loss of privileges.

 • Though many assignments do make considerable use of the computer, there will always be a low-tech alternative available.

My Expectations of you as a Student:

1. Respect- Students will demonstrate respect for other students and the teacher by using appropriate language, being prepared for class, following directions, adhering to all school policies, and by keeping an open mind when learning about different  cultures, traditions, beliefs and life styles. Hate speech or language will not be tolerated at any time and you will be subject to suspension.

2. Be Prepared- Always come to class prepared.  This means coming into class and being seated when the bell rings, bringing your class materials each day, completing homework on time, and reviewing your notes between 15-20 minutes each night.  In addition, your presence in the classroom is essential to your success.  Tardiness and unexcused absences will have an adverse effect on your grade. If you are unprepared for class, you will be given detention. If you are tardy, refer to the school policy on tardiness.

3. Expect great things from yourself and your peers - Your attitude plays an important role in your education.  If you believe you can succeed – you can!  Encourage your classmates to succeed too.

4. Take ownership of your education- Take personal responsibility for your learning: set goals, evaluate progress towards those goals, adhere to high standards and revise your performance when needed.  You can also take responsibility for your learning by asking questions when something is unclear, participating in classroom discussions and asking for extra help if you need it.  Take ownership of your classroom.  This is your space and your area to learn; help keep it clean and organized.  This is your education – get everything you can out of it!

Class Expectations

Class Participation Grade

 Beginning on the first day of class, your class participation will count toward your grade. Over the course of the quarter, your participation will be worth approximately one full test grade—an automatic A in participation if you follow these rules:

1. You must be in your seat when the bell rings.

2. You must have the proper materials and any assignments due with you at the start of class.

3.  Listen attentively and politely to all speakers— especially other students!

4.  Participate positively in all classroom work.

5.  Language and manners should be “classroom appropriate” at all times.

6.            No food or drink other than water in my classroom.

7.            Classroom dismissal is by me.

The bell is a reminder.

Students must be in class to earn points.  Extra pages of journaling may be accepted for makeup points due to absences—see me for details.

Pass Policy

It is inappropriate for you to interrupt a lecture or a class activity to request bathroom use, etc.   Be reminded that you have plenty of time before class, between classes, during lunch, and multiple breaks.

Class Handouts

Check the table for handouts as you enter the classroom. Please pick up one copy of each handout intended for your class before you sit down.  Copies of most handouts will also available online, at my teacher website for this class or in the plastic boxes labeled for this course, to help you replace any you might lose. 

Tardiness Policy

If you should come into class late, regardless of the reason, you must have a pass to enter this room late.

For unexcused tardies (ie you were not with a teacher), the consequences are as follows: 

1^st Tardy:   Written warning and you will stay 2 minutes after

2^nd Tardy:   Fifth period

3^rd Tardy:    ISS

4^th Tardy:    Two Days ISS

5^th Tardy:    One day OSS

6^th Tardy:     Three Days OSS

You get the point. Pretend my class is your job. Do not be late.

Final Exam

Students with good academic standing (93 or above) may exempt the final exam with the stipulation that attendance issues are in order.  The final exam will be a cumulative test.

Body Biography Requirements

Each student is to choose the best way to represent the following aspects of the character symbolically:

• The Heart: Where should it be placed to best represent what this character loves most? What should it look like and what shape, color, pictures, or symbols should be included in it? If the character's love changes, students should find a way to represent this visually.
• The Backbone: This should be represented in a way that visually conveys what motivates the character most. For example, students have represented Antigone's backbone as a chain connecting the word 'gods' at the top and 'people' at the bottom.
• The Hands: What does the character hold in her or his hands? Items that are associated with the character either literally or figuratively should be included. Students have represented Ophelia as holding a handful of flowers, for example, and Creon holding a scroll with the words "MAN'S LAW" clutched in his fist.
• The Feet: On what is the character standing? This should a symbolic representation of the character's most fundamental beliefs about life. King Lear, for example, has been portrayed standing on a crumbling rock labeled "respect for the elderly."
• The Background: Students should draw some elements that suggest the character's environment, background, or predicament.
• Quotations: Near the character's head, students should place two or three direct quotations from the story that sum up the character and add to an understanding of the character.