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Page Content Bonita Vista High School U.S. Government
Mr. Schneemann |
This semester I have decided to experiment with my two U.S. Government classes. My
goal is to meet the needs of individual students by allowing them to progress at their own
pace while utilizing some of the new technologies in order to enhance instruction. We are
going to try some new techniques, some of which may work and some of which may fail. In
the end I hope to come up with an instructional model that utilizes technology and takes
us into the 20th century.
We are going to use many of the traditional instructional techniques, lectures, class discussions, quizzes, essays, group projects, and videos yet each student will be able to progress at their own pace by choosing when to complete assignments
As a parent, you can log onto the internet and know which assignments we are working on at any time and which assignments should be completed for a student to be keeping pace. Presently, students are given a hard copy of their grades on a weekly basis. By next year parents will, hopefully, be able to get student grades by e-mail. Of course you may e-mail me at any time or call me at school or home.
Below you will find the instruction schedule for the semester. Note that there is a weekly assignment that utilizes research on the internet. Computers are available at the school for student use.
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All twelfth grade students are required to complete this course or Honors or AP U.S. Government with a passing grade to qualify for a high school diploma. This course also satisfies the American Institutions requirement for admission into the University of California and State University System. This one semester course is designed to help students understand the workings of the American Political system on the federal, state and local level and to enable the student to function as a participating individual within our nation. this course addresses the background and development of American Government; the structure and operation of political institutions; the role of the individual in government; the acquisition and expansion of civil liberties and rights; federal, state and local government; and the role of the United States in a global political context.
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Recent studies have shown that many students benefit from a cooperative approach to leaning. In my class students may elect to work with a partner, in teams of two, on many of the assignments. This is a modification of the traditional Cooperative Learning model in which students work in teams of four. Working with another student entails responsibility and cooperation. If a student chooses to team-up with another student on an assignment, that is his or her choice. If one of the partners fail to complete their part of the assignment, both students suffer the consequences.. Students are not required to work with a partner but they are required to make choices and live with the consequences of those decisions.
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It is very important that students attend class regularly because much of the course content is based on lectures, class discussions and class activities. Students who are absent a great deal of the time may find it difficult to pass the class. On the other hand, students who attend class regularly and do the assignments should have little trouble passing. Some of the assignments are based on class participation and students who are absent for these activities, for whatever reason, may not be able to make them up because there is no way to make-up a class activity. I try very hard to instill in the students the kind of attitude toward attendance that they will have to acquire to succeed in college and/or work. To me, it is not important why a student is absent and being absent is not an excuse for failing to turn in work.
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Students are given a percentage grade for each of the class assignments. These percentage grades are compiled through the entire semester and the average of these grades is used to determine the letter grade. 90% = A 80% = B 70% = C 60% = D Less than 60% is failing. Over the entire semester there may be 50 of more assignments that are averaged, therefore it becomes more difficult to change an over-all grade toward the end of the semester. Students who are in the 40% range toward the end of the semester may fail the class because there are not enough remaining assignments or points to pull-up the over-all average. Likewise, students who have a high grade toward the end of the semester will more than likely retain that high grade. Grades are based on attendance and student performance over the entire semester. Each assignment grade is entered into a computer program that computes the over-all grade. I do not determine grades. The student determines his or her own grade and the computer calculates the average. Parents or students can request a computer generated report of their current grade at any time. The report shows grades for each assignment, missing work, current overall grade and attendance. If necessary, parents can have a grade printed every day.
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Students can get my home phone number from me in class. Parents and students are free to call me any time of the day or night for help on their assignments. I have degrees in Social Science, Political Science, English and a Masters Degree in Computers. I am more than happy to help the students with assignments and reports from any of their classes. Likewise, parents are free to call me at any time to check on the progress of a student. Parents can arrange for weekly reports on student progress if they feel that it is necessary. Of course, I can be contacted via E-Mail. I read my mail each day and try to respond quickly. Click the icon below to send mail.
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| Course Outline As much as possible, current events are integrated with the course content. I. HISTORICAL FOUNDATIONS OF AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
II. RIGHTS & RESPONSIBILITIES
III. PARTICIPATING IN GOVERNMENT
IV. LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
V. EXECUTIVE BRANCH
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VI. AMERICAN SYSTEM OF JUSTICE
VII. GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS
VIII. STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
IX. COMPARATIVE POLITICAL SYSTEMS & FOREIGN POLICY
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