Life Skills of the 21st
Century
El Camino Real High School
Mr. Beckerman
Life Skills is a required course for graduation from El Camino Real High and is intended to provide students with a sound understanding of basic high school survival skills. In this course a wide range of subject matter and a variety of topics will be covered with the intent of improving study skills and in preparing the students for success, both during and after the high school years. Life Skills has the potential to be one of the most rewarding classes taken during a student’s high school tenure. With such a wide range of potentially relevant topics, the student’s willingness to learn and discover about themselves at this very exciting time in their life will shape the experience in a large part. With that understanding, it is essential that all students come to class prepared to participate and work. All students are expected to know the El Camino Real Student Code of Conduct and abide by it at all times in the classroom. They must also be aware of the Attendance policy that will be enforced at all times.
The course will employ a variety of methods in exploring the subject matter including lectures, videos, guest speakers and group activities. It is imperative that all students come to class daily with the textbook and a spiral single subject notebook purchased for the course. The majority of homework and class work assignments will be completed in the student’s spiral notebook.
GRADING AND REQUIREMENTS
Students are expected to be responsible for all work assigned in the class. Students who are absent can find out the work they may have missed by consulting the class Master notebook, which will contain all assigned work. Any student who misses a test is responsible for arranging a make up test with the instructor. The course will use a grading system based on points for all assignments and tests, based on the scale below.
A 89-100% of the points possible
B 79-88%
C 68-78%
D 58-67%
F 0-57%
In addition to the written work and tests given in class, students are expected to come to class prepared to participate in class discussions. During these discussions students will be expected to demonstrate knowledge of the subject matter and the ability to communicate successfully with the class and the instructor. An approximate breakdown of the course grading requirements is as follows.
Homework, Unit Assignments, Daily Lessons 40%
Major unit assignments, Essay 40%
Attendance 10%
Behavior 10%
The tentative outline for the course subject matter is as follows
Unit 1 Student Life—5 Paragraph
essay, identity box, What If
Unit 2 Identity/Self—Dream life scrapbook
Unit 3 School to Career—College search,
Unit 4 Relationships—Comic strip, Your message
Unit 5 Community— Choices, Autobiography
The order and or content of this list is subject to change due to a variety of factors including but not limited to the availability of materials, the extent of class participation and student’s understanding of the topic.
Student discipline plan---Also known as “Beck’s Checks”
Teacher will explain the following plan during first week.
Your behavior is a crucial part of this class.
It is my job to teach so that all 9th graders have a clear understanding of what “appropriate classroom behavior” is.
You can earn 200 points that is directly tied into your grade by behaving appropriately.
100 points will be given at the 10 and 20-week report card.
Many assignments can be retrieved at “Beckerman Online website”
Attendance:
100 points is given at the end of the semester as a attendance grade.
All Unclear and unexcused absences will be a 20-point deduction from behavior grade.
Tardiness will be a 3-point deduction.
Most common discipline problems listed
1.
Aggression-----------------physical
and verbal attacks by students on the teacher or student
2.
Immorality-----------------acts
such as cheating, lying and stealing
3.
Defiance
of authority-----refusal of teacher request
4.
Class
disruptions----------talking loudly, calling out, walking about room, clowning,
tossing objects
5.
Goofing
off. ---------------Fooling around, not doing the assigned task, daydreaming
Each discipline disruption will cost you a “dot”. Each dot will be a 5-point deduction from your behavior grade. Once a student receives 20 dots there behavior grade is a zero.
Consistent breaking of rule will be handled with progressive discipline that will be explained by the teacher.
Life Skills Late work
Mr. Beckerman does accept late work. The cost of late work is as followed
Same Day Late -5 points
One Day -15 points Two Days -30 points
Three Days or more -45 points
Major Assignments worth 100 Points
Same Day Late -5
One Day -15
Two Days -25
Three Days or more -35
Other
Reminders:
1. Pay attention to work due dates.
2. Turn work in on time—Work due at beginning of period
when I request for it. Technology
problems are not excused.
3. The day you return from absence is
the day you can request missed work
4. No make up for Videos missed
5. Understand that behavior will
affect your overall grade
I have read and understand the description of the course, including the requirements and classroom policies.
Student Signature Date
________________________________________________________________________
Parent Signature Date