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Fresno Adventist Academy |  |
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 Religion IV Fresno Adventist Academy
Religion 4
Course Syllabus
Teacher: Pastor Courtney Ray
Period: 5th
Office Hours: Periods 1, 7 and by appointment
Email: cray@faa.org
Ext: 135
TEXTBOOKS: NKJV Study Bible; World View; Marriage & Family; Hebrews; John
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course examines the biblical guidelines for the Christian life given to the early church as well as to the modern day believer. This course will compare and contrast the Christian worldview with secular perspectives and provide the student with critical thinking skills to make positive life decisions.
OBJECTIVES:
Students will study the biblical perspectives on relationships, sexuality, and lifestyle.
Students will study the writings of early church leaders.
Students will examine the perspectives of secular theorists.
Students will understand why any of these things are important in their personal lives.
Students will understand why the MOST important thing in their personal lives is making a decision for Christ.
God is the focus of this class. This class is designed to be a place where we will meet with God. Each class will begin with worship and reflection. Students will be given a chance to share praise reports and/or prayer requests. During this time, students should be quiet, attentive, and participating in worship. No one should be working on any assignments or projects at this time.
CLASS RULES:
To make sure our instructional time is as effective as possible, every student is required to learn and abide by all school and class rules. A full list and description of Fresno Adventist Academy policies, regulations, and consequences are available in the school handbook. The rules for this class include all school rules as well as all additional teacher instructions (verbal and written) given including but not limited to the ones below. All students must exercise respect for the school, the teacher, their fellow students, and themselves at all times. To show respect, please remember to:
-Never speak while the teacher is speaking
-Speak after you have raised your hand and your hand has been recognized by the teacher or…
-Talk in an orderly fashion according to the activity or discussion that the teacher authorizes
-Remain in your seat during class unless otherwise authorized by the teacher
-Never use inappropriate touch or language towards ANYONE in this class
-Do not chew gum or eat anything inside the classroom
-Be neat in the classroom and clean up after yourself if you drop or scatter anything
-Do not deface, mark, put gum on, or carve into any surface in the classroom
-Do not cause disturbances during class
-Do not place or receive calls, text messages, or any other information transfer utilizing cell phones or any other device during class
-Do not cheat. Turn in only your original work done by you. Do not copy anyone else’s work. Do not exchange information about any work unless you have been given authorization by the teacher to do so. Do not allow anyone else to copy your work.
-Do practice timeliness. Arrive at class and be in your seat at or before the 2nd bell. Turn in work on time. NO LATE WORK WILL BE EXCEPTED
-Do bring your Bibles EVERY DAY.
If anyone needs to be reminded of the rules due to their behavior they will receive one warning. Past that you will receive a strike.
STRIKES (the bad news):
Strikes can be issued either to an individual or to the class as a whole.
Class strikes: The class may earn a strike for disruptive behavior due to students that causes the teacher to interrupt valuable classtime to address. At the first sign of any such behavior, the class receives a warning. If the class must be addressed a second time, they receive one strike which loses reward. Two strikes earns the class extra homework. Three strikes earns the class either additional classwork, homework or quizzes.
Individual strikes: Each individual may earn a strike for disruptive behavior due to students that causes the teacher to interrupt valuable classtime to address. At the first sign of any such behavior, the individual receives a warning. If the individual must be addressed a second time that person loses class participation points. If someone gets two strikes, they earn a strike for the entire class (your classmates will love you for that!). Three strikes earns detention with the teacher during lunch or afterschool and/or it earns the individual’s parents a personal call and/or meeting with the teacher (your parents will love you for that too!) Depending on the severity or nature of the infraction, a student may receive immediate disciplinary action (example: cheating, defacing property, being physically or verbally inappropriate towards a fellow student, etc.) Continued or repeated disruptive students will be removed from class and sent to the principal for disciplinary action and/or they will not be able to return to class until their parents meet with the teacher.
REWARD (the good news!):
Class reward: Class strikes are reset every 4 days. If the class goes 3 consecutive days without any strikes, the class earns reward! Reward may be an edible treat, a class discussion, a movie, a field trip, a class game, an academic reward, or any other reward deemed appropriate by the teacher.
Individual reward: Individual strikes are reset each day. Students displaying exceptionally positive behavior in class and/or toward fellow students on a consistent basis are eligible for reward. Individual rewards may be an edible treat, a gift certificate, a commendation to the vice-principal, an academic reward, or any other reward deemed appropriate by the teacher.
EVALUATION:
Students will earn points through class participation (10%), homework (10%), quizzes (10%), reaction papers (10%), projects (15%), a midterm exam (15%), a final exam (15%), and a class notebook (15%).
-Class participation (10%): Each student is required to bring their Bible to every class. This counts toward your class participation points. Students will be excused for borrowing a Bible for class use 3 times during the year. Beyond that, anyone borrowing a Bible will lose class participation points.
Students will also be grouped together to conduct worship. Each student in the group will earn points for a well thought out and well done worship.
Periodically, the teacher will call upon students to answer or comment on course materials during the class. Paying attention and being able to give a thoughtful response when called upon will earn class participation points.
-Homework (10%): Periodically students will be given handouts and/or assignments from the textbook(s) to be completed at home. Homework assignments will be collected in the work bin at the beginning of class. Once the bin has been taken away, work will no longer be accepted because it is late. Homework may only be handwritten in blue or black ink pen—no pencil OR homework may be typewritten. All work should have your name, the name of the teacher, the class name and class period, as well as the date of the assignment on the top of the front page of the assignment.
-Quizzes (10%): Quizzes may be take home or in class. They may be pre-announced or surprise. It is to your benefit to study all assigned reading, pay attention in class, and take good notes. Quizzes can be over ANY MATERIAL THAT HAS BEEN GONE OVER IN CLASS OR ASSIGNED FOR READING. Quizzes may only be completed in blue or black ink pen—no pencil.
-Reaction Papers (10%): The class will have the opportunity to read material, watch videos, hear special presentations, and/or participate in various activities throughout the year. Students will be required to write and turn in a 1-2 page paper after each of these experiences. Instructions on how to write a reaction paper will be given later in class. All papers should be typewritten in 12pt font with no larger than 1 inch margins on the top, bottom, left, and right of the page. All work should have your name, the name of the teacher, the class name and class period, as well as the date of the assignment on the top of the front page of the assignment.
-Projects (15%): The teacher will assign both individual and group projects throughout the year. Students are expected to make regular progress towards completing these projects and checking in with the teacher at specified times. Please complete these assignments on time. NO LATE WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED. Instructions on how to complete each project will be given later in class.
-Midterm (15%): At the middle of the term the class will be tested on ALL THE MATERIAL given during the first half of the year. The midterm exam may only be completed in blue or black ink pen—no pencil.
-Final (15%): At the end of the term the class will be tested on ALL THE MATERIAL given during the entire year. The final exam may only be completed in blue or black ink pen—no pencil.
-Notebook (15%): At the end of the year, each student will be required to turn in a notebook that contains all of the information from the class. Notebooks should be arranged in the following order:
Front page: Your name, the teacher’s name, the class name and period, as well as the date on the top.
Section 1: Notes from class and handouts, beginning [obviously] with what you’re reading right now.
Section 2: Graded work including quizzes, examinations, homework, and reaction papers.
Section 3: Final reaction paper reflecting on the students experience in the class throughout the year.
Keep all handouts and work that is graded and returned to you. You will have to have EVERYTHING in your notebook that you turn in. Missing work will cause you to lose points! Notebooks will be graded on completeness, creativity, and neatness.
Remember NO LATE WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED. The ONLY exception to this rule is for those who have DOCUMENTED excused tardies or absences. A student has 3 days to clear an absence. If a student come to class tardy, but with an excused slip, due work will be accepted AS SOON AS THE STUDENT ARRIVES. If a student returns to school after an excused absence, it is the student’s responsibility to get the assignments and make arrangements with the teacher to make up missed work. Under no circumstances will a student be given more time to make up work than they have gotten excused for being absent (for example, if a student has an excused absence for 3 days, no more than 3 days will be given to make up the work). The teacher reserves the right to increase the difficulty of the test or quiz when a student has had an excused absence.
GRADING SCALE:
A= 94-100% / A- = 90-93% / B+ = 88-89% / B= 83-87% / B- = 80-82% / C+= 78-79% / C= 73-77% /
C-= 70-72% / D+= 68-69% / D= 63-67% / D-= 60-62% / F= 0-59%
This class is designed for your spiritual growth. It is not designed to help you fail, but instead, to help you succeed—not just in this class, but for eternity! Although the effects will be everlasting, this class will come to an end. And at the end, there will be a grade reported on your behalf. Your teacher doesn’t give grades, students EARN grades. Please be attentive and responsible and you will do well in this class!
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5397 E Olive Ave 559-251-5548 | |
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