Mr. Scot Gillis

1
Course SyllabusWorld Cultures 1,2

• Mr. Scot Gillis
• Email sgillis_at_sjusd.org
• Class blog - http//lelandfreshwc.blogspot.com/
• Class website - http//www.sjusd.org/leland/teache
  rs/sgillis/index.html

2
Classroom Content

• Course is based around the 5 themes of Geography
• Place, Location, Region, Movement, Human
  Environmental Interaction
• Look at how these areas effect the political and
  physical geography of various locations around
  the world, AND the cultures that were developed
  in those areas.

3
Contextual Inferences
4
Projects/Group work

• You will work independently, as well as in pairs,
  and groups of 3, 4, and 5
• Various projects are scheduled throughout the
  year
• One key component is to understand the difference
  between collaboration and cheating (using or
  sharing answers that are not intended to be used
  or shared)

5
Grades

• Normal grading scale
• 100-90 A (89.5 is rounded up and the same
  applies to all grades)
• 89-80 B
• 79-70 C
• 69-60 D
• 59-below F
• any student achieving a 96 or above (with less
  than 5 late HW assignments and no more than 1
  test re-take) will be exempt from taking the
  normal final for that semester.

6
Tests and Make-ups

• If you receive less than 75, you MUST re-take
  the exam.
• Tests need to be retaken within 1 week from the
  day it is returned
• Re-takes must achieve at least a 75, or need to
  be taken until 75 is achieved.
• Re-takes are also available if you score above a
  75 the first time, and can go up to 100 of the
  curve, but it cannot exceed the curve.
• If you choose to take a re-take your score must
  exceed your previous score or the lower of the
  two will be entered as your final score.
• Make-up tests ( due to absence) need to be taken
  with the same number of days you missed. (if you
  miss three days, you have three days to make-up
  the test, But, if the assignment was due the day
  you missed it is due the day you return.

7
Late work

• Most homework assignments are worth 3 points.
• 1 day late 2.5 pts
• After 1 day but still within the Unit of Study
  2 pts
• Work from a previous unit within the 6 week
  grading period 1 pt
• Each 6 week grading period will close the
  gradebook for that portion of the semester, and
  NO LATE WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED FROM A PREVIOUS 6
  WEEK SECTION.
• (I always reserve the right to hear special
  circumstances)
• All papers must have the proper heading (Name and
  period) if not you will receive a 2.5 once
  identified.

8
Classroom Rules

• You can drink water in class (flavored water is
  ok)
• You can eat fruit
• No eating of other food items, gum chewing,
  candy, etc.
• No swearing swear jar/20 push-ups/referral

9
Classroom Rules

• I need to keep things moving forward without
  student distractions
• Initial Steps- If you are distracting the
  lesson, I will ask you to be quiet, or may ask
  you to do a re-set outside of class. (this is
  an opportunity for you to get re-set and ready
  to behave correctly in class. You will be outside
  for no more than 1 minute).
• Second Step- move. If you cannot be quiet, I
  will move your seat in the class OR send you
  outside for a re-set, or assign you to lunch
  clean-up, detention, etc
• Final Step or if actions are severe referral

10
Teacher pet-peeves

• No backpacks on the desks. Please leave
  backpacks on the ground
• Doing other classes homework in my class will
  result in me taking away the work for three days.
  If you are finished with my work, ask if you can
  work on another class, and I will let you know.
• Trying to use your cell phone for non-school
  related stuff. You can use your cell phone in my
  class as long as its on the table face up. Cell
  phones will be taken if they are in your lap or
  are being used for personal communication while
  in class.
• Bathroom passes. Should be used appropriately.

11
Being a Charger

• Make sure you become a member of the campus
  community. Get involved, participate, be active,
  join something.
• Make school more than a series of classes with
  people you dont know and only interact with
  during class if you have to.
• Get to know your classmates (individual classes
  as well as the entire freshmen class)
• Show-up to games, go to plays, go to the dances,
  join a club or team, join music or choir or drama
  or speech-n-debate or robotics or something!
• Participate in spirit days, wear school attire,
  be proud to attend Leland, dont be too cool for
  school
• I will be going to my 30th reunion for Leland,
  and I loved attending this school.