Peter Knowles

Phone: (509) 493-1970, ext. 229
Email: peter.knowles@esd112.wednet.edu

Pd
 First Trimester Second Trimester
1
 Learning Coordinator Learning Coordinator
2
 World History World History
3
 World History World History
4
 American Gov't American Gov't
5
 World History World History
6
 Planning American Gov't
7
 American Gov't Planning

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The 2007-2008 school year marks my 19th year of teaching, and my 16th year at CHS. My educational background includes bachelor's degrees in both English and History from the University of Washington, a master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Portland State University, and National Board Certification in the Social Studies. I work hard to integrate technology into the daily activities of my classes, and believe that students must be active learners in order to succeed in school, and in today's world. In addition to my teaching responsibilities above, I also coach the boys soccer team, serve as district Learning Coordinator, and try to keep the district website up-to-date. Please feel free to email me at any time with questions, comments, or concerns about the curriculum, requirements, or any other aspects of my classes.

Class Rules and Policies

Class Rules / Consequences /Required Materials / Written Work / Retakes and Rewrites / Notes / Appearance / Homework / Grading / Late Work / Attendance / Hall Passes / Computer Use

Rules, activities and assignments in this class are based on the belief that we should all enjoy a few basic rights during our time together:

Student Rights

You have the right to:

  • a learning environment that is well-ordered, peaceful, safe, non-threatening, and conducive to learning.
  • choose how to conduct yourself, with a full understanding of the consequences of your choices
  • a caring, thoughtful, well-prepared teacher.

Teacher Rights

I have the right to

  • teach in ways that meet the learning and behavioral needs of all students in the class
  • expect behavior from students that contributes to their growth as individuals and as part of a larger community
  • teach in a climate that is free from disruptions

The rules, policies, and procedures of this class are intended to help each of us make the best possible choices, so we can all enjoy these rights.

Class Rules

While in this class you are expected to follow these basic rules:

1. Be in your seat, ready to work, when the class bell rings.

2. Bring all required materials to class each day.

3. Follow instructions the first time they are given.

4. Participate responsibly in classroom activities and discussions.

5. Remember a few simple no's: No food or drink, no hats, no grooming activities, and no cell-phones. Please put all these things away for the duration of class. NOTE: Mp3 / CD players are allowed at some times, but ask first.

Basically, if you treat others with respect and make productive use of your class time you'll be living in the spirit of these rules.
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Consequences

Students who choose to violate these rules will receive one of the following consequences. The nature of the violation will determine which consequence is applied:
  • Warning/reminder (May include confiscation of item for rule #5)
  • Detention after class
  • Afterschool/Lunch detention; parent/guardian conference
  • Behavioral contract
  • Office referral; possible removal from class  

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Required Materials

Plan to bring the following materials to class daily:
  1. A blue or black pen, a pencil, AND a highlighter
  2. 3-Ring binder, with 5 labeled dividers and at least 5 sheets of lined paper
  3. Assigned covered textbook, if any
  4. Student planner / personal calendar
  5. Any assignments due that period

From time to time you'll also need
Thumb Drive or 3.5" floppy disk for backing up your work
3 x 5 index cards for research activities
Colored pencils
If you keep these items in a zippered pouch in your binder, you'll have them whenever you need them.

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Written Work

Class assignments often involve answering questions from texts, videos, group discussions, or from other study materials. When completing written work, you should show that you understand your answers by completely rephrasing ideas in your own words. Even if the answers are a result of group discussion, you need to put your own spin on the material to make it your own. Answers copied from the text, another student, or another source are not acceptable. A first offense may result in loss of credit for the assignment. A second offense may result in loss of credit for the course. (See the CHS Plagiarism Policy)
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Retakes & Rewrites

With the exception of pop quizzes and the course final, you are always welcome (and encouraged) to retake tests or to rewrite other assignments to improve your grade. When resubmitting work, always attach the new work to the old copy, along with the original scoring guide (if any). Retakes, rewrites and other resubmitted work can earn up to 90% of the original assignment grade if resubmitted within a week of receiving the graded assignment from the teacher. Be sure you understand HOW to improve on the original before undertaking a new version. If you have questions, please ask.
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Notes

Classroom instruction and discussion will provide a great deal of the information you will be expected to apply and on which you will be tested. Daily notes should be kept in a running format, and should show the date and topic as a heading for each new entry. Instructions in effective note-taking strategies will be provided.
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Appearance

Assignments should be neat and legible. All papers turned in should have a complete heading, following class guidelines. Papers without complete headings will be marked down 10%. Don't tear paper from your binder as you'll be expected to keep any assignments, quizzes, and notes in your 3-Ring binder. Word processed assignments are acceptable, but should follow all the other guidelines for proper assignments.

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Homework Policy

Homework in this class is intended to practice skills already introduced in class, to prepare students for the next day's class, to elaborate on ideas introduced in class, or to review material so students have information at hand for tests, quizzes or other activities. A detailed homework policy explains many of the details of my homework philosophy; however, a few details here should be noted:

  1. Homework assigned in this class is usually intended to take around 15-20 minutes for the average student to complete .
  2. To help you make use of your work as the course progresses, students are expected to keep all assignments until the end of the course . Students who do so will be rewarded. .
  3. Students should make every effort to complete homework on time. However, late assignments are accepted at up to 70% of their original value during the unit in which they are assigned.
  4. No late assignments are accepted during the final week of the trimester.
  5. Keep in mind that the better prepared you are for class every day, the more likely you are to succeed every day.

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Grading

Work in this course is graded according to criteria that students have access to before the actual completion of their assignments (See Homework Rubric, for example). Class time and discussion is devoted to determining elements of successful as well as unsuccessful assignments, so all students have the opportunity to understand what constitutes excellent work, good work, passing work, and work that is not yet acceptable. Assignment scores are added as raw numbers, and grades are determined using the following percentages:

Grades 89-87% = B+ 79-77% = C+ 69-67% = D+
100-93% = A 86-83% = B 76-73% = C 66-60% = D
92-90% = A- 82-80% = B- 72-70% = C- 59 - 0% = F

Students' course grades are based on a straight percentage of points earned / points possible for the grading period.

Extra Credit Students have numerous opportunities to earn extra points as a regular part of daily and unit assignments. In special circumstances, students will have an opportunity to complete extra projects, but only if they have completed all regular projects for the current grading period.

Late Work

Students should make every effort to complete work on time. Timely completion of work allows all students to be prepared for the day's activities, and it instills a valuable work habit. However, unforeseen circumstances can get in the way of even the best intentions. For this reason, late work will be accepted according to the following guidelines:

  1. All late work is marked down 30%.
  2. Late work is only accepted for scoring within 5 school days of its original due date.
  3. No late work is accepted in the final week of the semester.
Exceptions to these late work guidelines are made only for students with excused or prearranged absences (see the section on excused vs. unexcused absences) and who follow the procedures below:
  1. Turn in all assignments due during your absence on the day you return to class;
  2. Make up any tests missed outside of class time within one school day of your return;
  3. Make up any in-class assignment within 3 days of your return.

PLEASE NOTE that an absence due to a school-sponsored event is considered excused BUT if you are at school even part of the day an assignment is due, you are still responsible for turning that assignment in on time, or it will be considered late.

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Attendance

Timeliness and consistent attendance are important elements of success in any class, job, or other endeavor. Students who miss class, arrive late, or leave early may not earn all the possible points available for class activities on those days. In addition to the natural consequences of missed class time and opportunities to learn, students who accumulate more than 4 unexcused tardies or absences will receive additional disciplinary consequences in the form of office referrals.

Although students are not graded strictly on "participation" in class, many graded activities are based on group activities which cannot be recreated for students who are absent at the time they take place in class. Students with excused absences may need to complete alternate assignments to make up for missed classroom activities.

Please make every effort to attend class on time each day.

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Hall Passes

Students are expected to bring all required materials to class and to take care of bathroom needs before class starts. However, students may choose to use up to four (4) hall passes per semester without penalty. After the four, students may use a hall pass in exchange for 15 minutes of lunch detention. Hall passes may ONLY be used to visit the C-Court bathroom, C-Court water fountain, or the student's own locker. If you feel a need to visit any other destinations or use a pass for any other purposes, ask for specific permission to do so.

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Computer Use

This is a technology-rich classroom, and students have access to computers almost daily to complete required assignments. Students must have an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) on file before using computers in class . Students without an AUP, or who lose access privileges due to behavior in this class or elsewhere, may find it difficult to complete class assignments during assigned class time and may need to complete them on their own, outside of school. Students are expected to follow class procedures for maintaining the computer resources of the class.

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Efforts are made to ensure the information on this page is complete, current, and accurate. However, changes in programs and policies do occur. Questions about specific information on this site should be directed to the Columbia High School office at (509) 493-1970. Original materials on this page copyright White Salmon Valley School District, and may not be duplicated without permission. Please contact the webmaster for pemissions, or with questions, problems, or suggestions regarding this page or site.