W a c h e c o n

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COURSE DESCRIPTION:

CPA Economics is arguably the most useful and valuable course you will take in high school.  No....you do not have to be a Math genius, but you cannot be afraid of mathematics concepts.  Understanding economics will help you in all aspects of everyday life moreso than most courses you take in high school.  Economics provides the student an opportunity to understand the concepts of choice making, scarcity and efficiency that dominates every aspect of their world.  Students study the mechanics how the financial world operates by examining the individual, industrial and global marketplaces.

 In the Fall Semester, students will devote their attention to the field of Macroeconomics, studying national boom and bust cycles, unemployment and job markets, and theories to fix the economy.  In the Spring, the course switches to concentrate on Consumer Economic.  

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This course will be guided by the WRHS Common Core Values and Learning Expectations.  

 WRHS Core Values

• Citizenship and Responsibility

• Collaboration

• Communication

• Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

• Creativity and Innovation

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   WRHS Learning Expectations:

• exercise responsible citizenship

• communicate effectively in written forms

• communicate effectively in spoken forms

• think critically and solve problems

• think creatively

• collaborate and learn actively

• use technology effectively

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MATERIALS NEEDED:

1.  School internet account and Google access

2.  Textbook:  Mankiw. Principles of Economics (3rd edition) 2004 

3.  Notebook (3 ring binder preferred for handouts)

4.  basic calculator

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 CLASS STRUCTURE - A COLLABORATIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT requiring TRADE-OFFS!

Students might find the structure of this class to be slightly different from others they are taking this year.  The class structure asks students to make an attempt each day to strive outside their comfort zones and work together to discover real world lessons grounded in economics.  The course is taught with a give-and-take ideal by the teacher, where it is expected that the Senior will place a sincere effort and attitude toward learning in class, while the teacher understands the importance of Senior year electives and graduation requirements.  Hence, efforts at the CPA level to motivate learning are shown in this course through classroom simulations, Google media center modules,  peer collaboration, economic films, and co-teaching units with the Intro to Business classes.   Designing a high interest course comes with the responsibility that students give back in effort, attitude and behavior.

**** Anyone who puts their head down, sleeps, or disrupts the class in any manner (phones, eating, talking, doing other course homework, etc.) during a class lesson will receive a zero for the day in class participation and will require a conference with the instructor.  Continued actions will result in administrative action and possible removal from course.****

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ONLINE LEARNING - WWW.WACHECON.COM and GOOGLE CLASSROOM

This course utilizes online leaning and resources extensively.  Students are very fortunate to have available a regionally-recognized resource in our class website:  www.wachecon.com . This website hosts a vast collection of economic resources, extra help links, video instruction, and your yearly units of study.  The website is available as an smartphone or tablet app as well.  Students are strongly encouraged to embrace this technology during the year.  Those without internet access can still be successful in this class, but will need to be very proactive in planning their studies when it comes to accessing internet the internet in school.  Hard copies of website materials can be made available for those without internet access at student's request.  

The class will also have a Google Classroom account to which the class website www.wachecon.com is linked.  This will make accessing and submitting assignments easier and seamless for students with smartphone and other devices.  Technology in class or at Media center follows the WRHS Technology Policy.

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COURSE POLICIES

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1.  TEXTBOOKS :    Every student will have the opportunity to sign out a textbook.  In the effort of differentiating instruction, the class will offer various modes of instruction for acquiring each unit's lessons and content - the textbook being one of them.  Students most comfortable with traditional class structures are encouraged to refer primarily to the textbook.  Those that are more computer-friendly may opt to instead utilize the online text power points are expected to be properly signed-out and covered at all times.  Class handouts, online resources and teacher lectures / activities will be the primary guide for evaluations, with the majority offered in online Google Docs and hard copy versions.  Textbooks must remained covered at all times and can be stored neatly in the classroom.  

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2. WRHS SOCIAL STUDIES DEPT. HOMEWORK POLICY:     HOMEWORK in all Social Studies classes will: 

• Reinforce critical reading and writing skills. 

• Support and expand on information presented in class.

• Involve studying material central to the understanding of social studies concepts.

•  Homework will be assigned regularly in all social studies classes.

• Although the amount of homework will be differentiated between the different levels of social studies classes, students in all levels will receive meaningful and purposeful homework assignments.

• Social studies teachers make efforts to assure that an average student in the class will be able to complete homework assignments in a reasonable amount of time.

• Homework in social studies will be assessed in a variety of ways including correction, class discussion, reading quizzes and other assessments.

• All social studies courses will require students to regularly study and review content knowledge.

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    In CPA Economics, most homework begins as classwork.  Because the course concepts are very new and sometimes complex for students, the homework becomes very crucial for student success and understanding,  Homework will either be collected , checked in class, or gone over together.  Students whom are consistent in completing homework usually find that it compensates positively for their final grade for any poor test performances during the marking quarter.

3  ASSESSMENTS- This class utilizes the "total points" system of grading.  That means you can be evaluated on any task.  The values of each assessment are weighed based on their complexity and importance within each unit.  Assessments include:

  Summative Tests – in class written exams based mainly on class notes and chapter readings (text, handouts). Tests will be count 75-100 pts. each and students should expect two-three a quarter.

  Quizzes – Quizzes focus on specific topics or review..   These quizzes can take any form - group problem sets,, formative activities, written evaluation, or media center lab modules.  Quizzes count approx. 20-50 pts. each depending on topic.
  Class/Homework – We will be off-setting lecture notes with interactive experiment activities and group problem sets.  These will be done in class and students may be asked to follow up at home.  All activities will be credited toward classwork or class participation using total points,  
 Class Activities / Simulations - In order to demonstrate economic concepts, students will be asked to perform in classroom simulation activities.  These are evaluated based on effort, attitude, participation, and execution on your class participation grade.
   Midterm / Final Exam  - Students midterm will be in the area of Macroeconomics and their final exam will be an Q4 Senior Project.  ALL seniors must take the midterm exam without exception.  Seniors with a SEMESTER TWO average of 90+ will be exempt from completing the final stage of the Senior Project.  

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4.   CHEATING - All class work and homework must be authentic to the student.  There will be opportunity to work in groups to share ideas, but this does not give license for copying of work, and will result in an automatic zero on the assignment for all parties involved. Any student whom gives or receives aid on any assignment or exam will be disciplined according the school’s academic integrity policy, which includes a zero on the said assignment and an administrative hearing.  This will include but not limited to: copying answers on exams, copying homework, giving answers or allowing copying, use of online chats / cell phones or other media, plagiarizing, cheat sheets, and/or good old fashion wandering eyes during an exam.

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WRHS Academic Integrity Policy 

All students’ academic work must reflect their own honest efforts. Cheating and plagiarism in any form will not be tolerated. This includes, but is not limited to copying homework, papers, lab reports, or quiz or test answers; acquiring or disseminating quizzes or tests before they are administered; or using information from the Internet or other outside sources without proper attribution. Any student known to have cheated will be subjected to penalties, up to receiving “0” for the work. Possible penalties will be made known to each class by the teacher and will be included in the course syllabus. Students who collaborate with others in cheating by allowing their papers to be copied or by other means will be subjected to penalties commensurate with their involvement, which may include the student receiving “0” for the work or suffering significant grade reduction. In all cases, the principal or the class administrator along with the department head and teacher will be informed about both the incident and the penalty imposed, and the parent(s) or guardian(s) will be notified. The administration reserves the right to impose other penalties up to and including removal from the course, removal from honor societies, and loss of eligibility for scholarships with “honor” as criteria. 

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5.   EXTRA HELP -  Any student requiring extra help must see the teacher personally and set up times by appointment with at least a day's notice.

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6.   MAKE-UPS - Any student making up work due to absence will receive full credit so long as it is submitted within three days of return.  All tests and quizzes needing to me made up during absences must be scheduled within 3 days of return and it up to the student to initiate. 

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7. PHONES / MUSIC in class:    NO cell phone or music in class, unless with teacher permission - NEVER when there is a substitute.  Students in violation of the policy will forfeit future technology privileges, receive a failing class participation grade for that day and run the risk of disciplinary action by administration.  

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8.   EXTRA CREDIT is only given at teacher discretion.    Extra credit is individualized based on situation and required a 1-on-1 teacher conference prior..

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9.  BEHAVIOR:  Consistent patterns of disrespect and disruption to the class learning environment after prior warnings will result in procedures to remove you from the class, with loss of credit.  As a senior, that is a very bad consequence!  This course offers a fun, active place for students to learn, but only works if student attitudes and behavior is healthy and supportive.  The inappropriate actions of a few individuals should never take the opportunity of learning away from the rest of the class.  Please remember when making behavioral decisions that education is a “public good” – the sanctity of the classroom as a whole always comes before the individual.

Anyone who puts their head down, sleeps, or disrpupts the class in any manner (phones, eating, talking, doing other course homework, etc.) during a class lesson will recieve a zero for the day in class participation and will require a conference with the instructor.

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 10.  CONTACT:   To contact Mr. Magnani regarding course concerns, please use my WRHS email account :  Kevin_Magnani@wrsd.net

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