Syllabus

Mr. Smith’s Geography Class ’07-‘08


Welcome, students! I am very excited to be your teacher and guide as we study the vastness and diversity of our planet. It is my prayer that you come to a fuller understanding of the world and the human cultures that inhabit it during the coming year. To ensure that class is as smooth (and as fun) as possible, please read this syllabus so we can all be on the same page (no pun intended) with policies and expectations.

Grading Policies:
- Daily Work (Notebook) and Class Participation 15%
- Projects / Papers 20%
- Tests 50%
- Quizzes 15%

Notes on Assignments:
- Because of the cultural emphasis in geography, many projects may include the need for at-home preparation, such as making food or costumes.
- Quizzes may be given without notice.
- A key component for this class will be a cumulative end-of-year exam covering all the countries of the world and their capitals.

Required Items:
Geography Binder – (ringed binder, loose-leaf notebook paper, dividers)
Colored Pencils – (no markers; crayons are tolerable, but not preferred)

Classroom Procedures:
- Textbook – Unless previously told otherwise, please bring your text to class everyday.
- Bathroom Policy – Breaks may only be taken during transition times between instructions, and may not be taken within the first 15 minutes of a period.
- For all other necessary information on procedures, please refer to the Student Handbook and your own common sense.

Teacher Contact:
- Conference – I would be happy to meet with any parents. Simply email me to arrange a visit during my planning period.
- Email – You may reach me via email through my school email address: zsmith@ics.edu.sg
- Blog – To keep up on what is going on in our class, you may occasionally visit: http://mrsmithgeography.blogspot.com/