01.+Disclosure+Document

= **__Debate__** = Disclosure Document Ms. Forbush Room 218 Can be reached by email at christiana.forbush@canyonsdistrict.org Website: ** historyforbush.wikispaces.com **

**Course Description:** ** This class is designed to teach students how to be a competitive debater from research to styles. It is about being able to form intelligent arguments. This is not just a class where you get argue but where you will learn how to support you arguments. **  **This is a Classroom of Excellence, described on the next page.** **A.** **Pencil, Pen, and Dry Erase Marker** **B.** **Folder** – This will be used to hold work and assignments
 * Materials that are brought to class EVERYDAY:**

**Assignments: Participation**: In class participation is MANDATORY. Students will be graded on the presentation and research of their debates. **Notes, Quizzes, and Learning Activities** will all be graded objectively. They will be corrected and returned within one week of the due date. **Homework** will be assigned and are activities that help us delve further into our debates. There is no late work but students can use two “oops” passes per quarter. Students excused from school will be given adequate time to make up missed work. **Please note:** Other students may see your child’s work and may even see a score but will not know their grade.

**Attendance Policy:** Students need to attend class so they will be academically successful. Students who miss class for legitimate reasons will be allowed to make up work. Students who are Truant will lose their 5 citizenship points per day; as well as the points for the assignments they miss that day and will not be allowed to make up the assignments. Students who are tardy will automatically lose 3 citizenship points out of their 5 daily points.

**Classroom Rules:** 1. Give respect to get respect. 2. Your behavior should contribute to the learning of all students in the class. 3. Honesty is expected. 4. School rules are honored in this class. 5. No food or drink in class. ** Failure to follow the rules will result in student/teacher consultation, and I will also contact the student’s parents. **

**Videos:** ** To bring topics of interest to life I will utilize educational videos and video clips (PG and below). Please be aware that is a part of our curriculum but are very purposefully and carefully shown. If you have any concerns feel free to contact me. I will also send home permission slips for movies (PG) when we watch it in its entirety. **

Classroom of Excellence Disclosure Statement

We view this class as a three-way partnership consisting of teachers, students, and parents. A student cannot complete the requirements alone, a parent cannot support a child alone, and a teacher cannot facilitate learning alone. Student success takes all parties working together to provide a quality education and to monitor the earning of grades and credit. It is our hope that all students will take advantage of the opportunities available to them throughout this school year. **// Our greatest hope is that every student will take advantage of all opportunities made available to them this year. //**

** To strive towards success, we have certain expectations of ourselves, our students and their parents. **

Grade Scale: A 100-94 B+ 89-87 C+ 79-77 **//__F 69 and below__//** (Notice there are no Ds… that is not a mistake) A- 93-90 B 86-83 C 76-73 A student in the F range should set up an appointment with teacher B- 82-80 C- 72-70 to write an academic contract to improve the grade.
 * ** TEACHERS will be effective learning facilitators by: ** || ** STUDENTS will be successful learners by: ** || ** PARENTS will ** **make educational requirements a priority in the home by:** ||
 * 1. PROVIDING meaningful and challenging lessons that honor individualistic styles of learning. || 1. DOING assignments, KNOWING expectations, LEARNING concepts, and THINKING critically. || 1. ASSISTING your student TO BALANCE school, home and personal responsibilities. (Examples: setting study times and bed times, establishing good dietary habits, etc.) ||
 * 2. BEING PREPARED for and ON TIME to class each day. || 2. BEING ON TIME to class. || 2. CHECKING your student’s planner daily to see if they have work due for this class. ||
 * 3. HELPING students understand concepts, requirements and due dates. || 3. BRINGING the necessary materials each day: blue/black pen, pencil, paper, personal reading materials, and any assignments due. || 3. RECHECKING to see if assignments have been completed. ||
 * 4. ASSESSING and DISCUSSING completed assignments. || 4. LeavING all electronics (MP3 players, cell phones, games, etc.) turned off and out of sight. || 4. ATTENDING parent/teacher conferences, or call/email if a problem or question arises. ||
 * 5. UPDATING Skyward each week (some assignments may take up to 2 weeks to correct). || 5. OBTAINING the required ASSIGNMENTS, and UNDERSTANDING how to complete them. || 5. KNOWING your student’s current grade in this class. ||
 * 6. REMAINING OPEN to student, parent and administrative input. || 6. LISTENING to and FOLLOWING directions as given. ||  ||
 * 7. ATTENDING parent teacher conferences and RETURNING parent calls/emails. || 7. TURNING IN completed assignments **__at the time they are DUE.__** ||  ||
 * 8. CREATING and INSURING a safe, productive learning environment. || 8. MONITORING and MANAGING your grade so you get the results you want. ||  ||
 * || 9. BEING A RESPONSIBLE COURIER between teacher and parent. ||  ||
 * || 10. CONTRIBUTING positively to the classroom atmosphere. ||  ||

Student grades can be checked on Skyward 24 hours a day. You should have received log in information through the mail. ** Classroom of Excellence Common Requirements ** Just as everyone learns differently, all teachers teach differently and have different definitions of what “Excellence” looks like. The following is a list of requirements that we, as teachers, consider “Excellence.” 1. No retakes on tests – there may be “Reflective Make-ups” (teacher discretion) 2. Tardies will be minus participation points (amount determined by teacher). 3. All papers will be labeled with the following heading in the upper right hand corner of the paper: First and Last Name, Date, Class Period, and Name of Assignment. Point deductions will be determined by teacher. 4. Planners will be checked randomly twice a month for the following: no mutilation and daily usage. Points will be determined by teacher. 5. Hall Passes will not be given unless the student presents his or her planner to the teacher with the hall pass portion completely filled out. 6. Quality work must be turned in. Quality work means that assignments are neatly written on standard sized paper, clean and free of stray marks or doodles, no spiral edges, and no dirty or wrinkled papers. Point deductions will be determined by teacher. 7. Electronic devices are NOT to be used or seen during class time. This is your first warning. Devices will be taken away and given to the administration as a second warning. 8. Cheating results in an automatic 0 and NO makeup opportunities will be given. Plagiarism is cheating. Individual teachers will add personal definitions of cheating. **The best way to reach me is by email. I encourage parental involvement and contact. I look forward to knowing you! My only desire is for each student to be success. I am available by appointment.**

**Please also make yourself familiar with my website, it is a wonderful resource for parents to know what is going on as well as a place where students can get the work they missed in class or need to make up.**