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Learning Strategies                                                                     September 8, 2004

Course Description

The Lab provides support to students with academic and emotional needs. It offers students the opportunity to improve their study skills and successfully complete class assignments, homework, and tests. Students are encouraged to manage their own time, to take responsibility for their work, and to advocate for their own learning.

The class is structured to help implement classroom adaptations and curriculum modifications as outlined in the most recent Individualized Education Plan (IEP) in the regular education classes.

• Students will participate in a 20 – 30 minute period of sustained silent reading.
• When a student is unable or unwilling to be responsible for himself or herself, assignments will be provided that address the needs identified in the most recent Individualized Education Plan (I.E.P.).

It offers specially designed instruction that is directed at students who are eligible to receive instructional, environmental, and transition special education services and have difficulties succeeding and receiving reasonable educational benefit in the general education classroom.

• Students will become familiar with the concepts of the self-directed IEP process and learn how to facilitate an IEP meeting.
• Students will advocate for their own learning and assume responsibility for their education by
  • identifying factors that determine how they interact with their environment and areas that they need to improve in by consulting with their teachers, using appropriate strategies to ask for their help, and negotiate needed accommodations with them,
  • design and implement strategies to improve their skills in the identified areas of need by consulting with adults, and
  • evaluate the appropriateness of the adopted learning strategies by comparing the goals set with the results achieved and make appropriate modifications if there is a significant discrepancy.

Professional Conduct Rules

All rules and regulations mentioned in the Skyline Student Planner are in effect.

• No food or drink
• No cell phones
• No swearing
• No put downs
• No horsing around
• Respect for others’ beliefs, ideas, and boundaries
• Be on time!
• Be prepared!
• Do your work!

Rubrics

Professional conduct and participation in class contribute to students' overall grades:

• Professional conduct includes:
  • Punctuality
  • Language
  • Behavior
  • Follow school and class rules
• Participation includes:
  • On task
  • Discussions
  • Good use of class time
• Academic Assignments: These will consists primarily of Monday's sampling of the news, the Skyline Gazette.

Grading

Students are graded in respect to their attendance and punctuality, their interactions with peers and adults, their independence from adult supervision, their responsibility for their assignments, and their willingness to ask for and accept feedback.

• Assignments and homework                  20%
• Classroom participation                        40%
• Professional conduct                             40%

Grading scale

A             93-100                     B             83-86                       C             73-76                       D             63-66

A-            90-92                       B-            80-82                      C-            70-72                       D-            60-62

B+           87-89                       C+           77-79                       D+           67-69                       F              below 60

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