World Geography/ Honors World Geography

Victoria West High School

2023-2024

Instructional Goals

By the end of this course, you will:

This course is designed to provide an opportunity for students to study the interaction of man and his environment. The study includes
current developments around the world, which affect physical and cultural settings. Emphasis is placed on geographical processes,
which affect decisions concerning interrelationships among nations, production and distribution of goods, uses and abuses of resources
and political and economic conditions.

Required Materials

To successfully complete this course, you will need to….

 Pens/Pencils/Highlighter  Map Pencils

 80 Sheet Spiral Notebook (1 Each Semester, 2 total)  One Box of Kleenex
 One 3 Inch Binder/Notebook Paper  Post-It Notes
 Two 8.5 Inches X 11 Inches Manila Folders

Course Schedule

First 9 Weeks: Third 9 Weeks:

Unit One: Physical Geography Unit Eight: North Africa and Southwest Asia

Unit Two: Celebrate Freedom Week Unit Nine: Sub Saharan Africa

Unit Three: Human Geography Unit 10: South Asia

Unit Four: US and Canada 4th Nine Weeks: March 19 – May 24

Second 9 Weeks: Unit 11: East Asia

Unit Five: Latin America Unit 12: Southeast Asia

Unit Six: Europe Unit 13: Australia and Oceania

Unit Seven: Russia and the Republics Review for Finals

Review for Midterms and Finals

 Victoria West Student Guidelines for Success

Warriors are….

Polite, Proud, Prepared, and Positive

Classroom Expectations:

1. Be on time and be prepared.

a. Make sure you have the right materials you need for the day.
b. Pencils, Pen, Notebook, etc.
c. Your assignments that need to be turned in.
2. Follow the Directions.
a. When directions are given, do your best to follow them the first time.
b. If you are confused or have questions, ask.
c. I would rather have you stop class to clarify than be off task while everyone else is working.
3. Raise your hand!
a. To speak or volunteer.
b. If you need to leave your seat, please raise your hand and ask before getting up.
4. Keep your language and gestures appropriate.
a. Please refrain from using offensive, derogatory, and profane terms. They will not be tolerated. In order to have a
safe classroom environment where all students feel comfortable, no put downs, swear words, or slang words with
demeaning connotations will be accepted. Remember, if you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say it at all!
b. This is includes sign language and hand gestures.
5. Be open minded.
a. This goes hand in hand with respect, we will be learning about different cultures and regions and it is important to
know that not everyone will have the same beliefs, mannerisms, and ideology. Even those in your class.
b. It’s ok to disagree but it is NOT Ok to be rude or disrespectful.
Classroom Rules:
1. Respect yourself, the teacher and others.
 Show respect for the teacher, yourself and others at all times. This includes personal property and school property.
 Pushing, shoving, hitting, bullying, etc. will not be tolerated.
 Students must be in dress code at all times. ID’s must be attached via a lanyard around the neck.
 The use of foul and vulgar language, shouting, yelling is not permitted. 
2. Preserve a positive learning environment.
 It is my responsibility to provide a safe and learner-centered environment. Student actions that interfere with
teaching or learning in the classroom will NOT be tolerated.
 Use class time to learn World Geography. I will not allow students to do work from other classes.
3. Take responsibility for your actions.
 If you are confronted about a rule infraction, own up to it. Don’t deny it, lie about it, or blame
someone else.
 Take responsibility for missed assignments.
 All handbook rules will be enforced. Please read your handbook. Students that choose to break these rules lose
valuable learning time for themselves/classmates and face the possibility of additional consequences. Actions have
consequences. 
4. Turn off cell phones and electronic devices.
 Electronic devices of any kind are NOT permitted in my classroom.
 Cell Phones should be turned off and invisible during the class period UNLESS we are using them for class
activities.
 If I see or hear your phone you will be asked to put it in the phone bank until the end of class.
o If you repeat this more than 2 consecutive times in a week it will be turned into an administrator, according
to the cell phone policy outlined in the Victoria West High School handbook.
 Refusal to turn over a cell phone will be treated as insubordinate behavior.
5. No food or drink, except water.
 You may drink bottled of water in the classroom. If a spill occurs, please clean it up immediately and inform the
teacher.
 No other food or beverage is permitted without a doctor’s note.
6. Arrive to class on time and ready to learn.
 When the bell rings, you need to be sitting in your assigned seat.
 You should immediately begin on the warm up/ “DO NOW” activity
 Be “physically” and “mentally” present in the classroom
7. Never line up at the door before dismissal.
  Please remain in your seat until I have dismissed you. Never line up at the door before dismissal. The front door will
NOT become Walmart on Black Friday. I will dismiss you when the bell rings.
8. Do not cheat, plagiarize, or copy work.
 Cheating is completely unacceptable. If I see you cheating on any assignment even for another class… I will give
you a zero and report the incident to the other teacher as well as your assistant principal and parents.
 Plagiarism (copying work from another source without giving proper credit) is completely unacceptable. If you
plagiarize on any assignment, you will earn a “0” on that assignment with no opportunity to re-do the work for
credit. If you share your work with another to copy, you will also receive a zero. 
9. Do your best work & turn it in on time.
 Remember that the work that you turn-in is a reflection of your effort on the assignment. Think about the following
expectations when you are preparing an assignment that I will review:
 Write your full name and class period on all assignments.
 All work must be neatly done and legible in order to receive credit. If you print, capitalize properly (do not
write using all capital letters).
 ALL MAJOR ASSIGNMENTS, ESSAYS & PROJECTS MUST BE TYPED. If you don't have a computer at
home, the Homework Center or Public Library is a great place to work on essays! Final draft format for
typewritten work is as follows: 12-point font, double-spaced, 1” margins, and use a Times New Roman Font.

Classroom Procedures:
 
1.     Turn in homework to the proper bin.
 Homework is due at the beginning of class. Turn in your homework to your class bin. I will not accept work once
class begins. Failure to turn in homework/assignments on time will result in a ZERO. However, as per District
Grading Policy, you have the opportunity to redo failed assignment ONCE, within 3 school days of due date.
 
2. Sign OUT/IN when going to the restroom.
 If you need to use the bathroom, raise your hand to ask for permission. You are not allowed to leave the classroom
during the first 10 minutes and last 10 minutes of class. Also, while I am instructing the class (speaking to the class)
you will not be allowed to go to the bathroom unless it is an absolute emergency.
 If given permission, I will need to initial and date your bathroom pass on the back of Student ID and you will sign
the Sign OUT/IN Sheet located near the door.
  
3.      Pick up after yourself before you leave.
 Take all of your belongings, pick up any scrap papers around you, place the textbooks back on the shelf in order,
and put your desk back in line before you leave each day. No pencils on the floor.
 
4.     Get missed work from absent bin, if not there then ask the teacher.
 Attendance is essential for optimal learning. Being on time and present and class physically and mentally will be
part of your overall grade. You may not be excused from class by another teacher without first seeking my
permission.
 If you are absent, it is your responsibility to obtain any missed class work. Begin by looking for missed handouts in
the ABSENT bin pertaining to your class. Follow-up with the teacher if necessary at the end of class.
 Make arrangements to take quizzes and tests immediately. It is your responsibility to make these arrangements; I
will not and cannot track you down.
  

Department Grading Categories:

The following Grading Guidelines will apply to all Social Studies Courses at Victoria West High School.
Course averages will be computed according to the following weights and categories:
 50% Summative: Tests, Projects, and Final Drafts.
 50% Formative: Daily, Quizzes, Journals, and Homework.
 Please note that there will also be one research paper due near the end of each semester (details to follow).

A minimum of two to three grade will be recorded each of the weeks of the 9 weeks – at least 3 of these grades will be summative
grades. Teachers have been given the responsibility of recording all grades into the Parent Grade book within one week of the
assignment’s due date. Summative assessments may be given administrative approval to allow a few more days for grading reasons.
Information about course work and grades is available online through the VISD home page by accessing the Parent Grade book.

Failure Is Not an Option!

Our goal is for all students to be successful. In order to take advantage of every learning opportunity, students should actively
participate in all class activities and discussions and complete all assignments in the time prescribed. In the event students are not
successful the first time they complete an assessment or assignment, opportunities exist for them to demonstrate mastery of essential
knowledge and skills.

District Wide Re-teaching and Reassessing Policy:

Students who meet the criteria detailed in these guidelines will be provided a reasonable opportunity to retake a test for which the
student earns a failing grade.
The guidelines are as follows:
1. Each student will be allowed to retake a failed test (below 70%) one time.
2. In order for a student to retake a test, the student must have all the assignments related to that test completed and turned in to
the teacher and attend the required tutorial session(s). The amount of required tutorial time will be based on the individual
student’s understanding of the objectives not mastered.
3. The teacher will provide a different test or format for the student based on the course objectives and essential knowledge and
skills which were assessed on the original test. The retest must have the same level of rigor as the original test.
4. A student must utilize the retest opportunity within two weeks of the initial test.
5. The student will receive the higher of the two grades; the original test or retake test.
6. A student will not be able to retake a mid-term exam, benchmark or a final exam.

Teachers may assign a late penalty to any project, final draft or assignment turned in after the due date if the guidelines have been
previously established in a rubric and approved by administration. The rubric will be disseminated to students when the assignment is
introduced.

Late Work Policy

1. If an assignment is turned in 1 day late – 90% is the maximum grade that I will give.
2. If an assignment is turned in 2 days late – 80% is the maximum grade that I will give.
3. If an assignment is turned in 3 days late – 70% is the maximum grade that I will give
4. If an assignment is over 3 days late – 50% is the maximum grade that I will give.

We will, of course, follow the district absence policy giving students one extra day for each class period missed.

Instructor Information:
Name: Noelle Elkins

Room #: B310

Email: noelle.elkins@visd.net

School Website: https://vwhs.visd.net

Important: In my class I will send messages, files, and links to students via,
REMIND. It is the student’s responsibility to sign up.
REMIND:

I utilize “Remind” in all of my classes to send information to students. Usually this includes reminders of missing
assignments, quizzes, examinations, projects, study sessions, study guides, etc. There is a sheet in this packet that shows
students how to register for Remind. Remind does not give me their phone number or texting information, nor does it
give them mine. It only pushes short messages, web links and files to the students. Students are required to sign up,
parents are welcome to if they wish.

How do I create a free Remind account?

 Go to www.remind.com and click Sign up.

 Enter your phone number or email address, and then click Continue.
 Enter the four-digit verification code we sent to your device and click Continue.
 Enter your name and a password for your account.
 Enter the following link: Class code will be on the board in class.

The Victoria Independent School District and its career and technology education program do not discriminate on the basis of
gender, disability, race, color, age or national origin in its education programs, activities, or employment as required by Title IX,
Section 504 and Title VI.

El distrito escolar independiente de Victoria y su programa educacional de carrera y tecnología no discriminan a base de genero,
incapacidad, raza, color, edad u origen nacional en sus programas educativos, actividades, o empleo como lo requiere el Titulo IX,
Sección 504 Titulo VI.

Name: ______________________________________________ Period: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

 Circle the class period in which you are enrolled!

Parent and Student Signature Form

We have read the syllabus and understood what is expected to successfully complete this course. Please sign and return to the
Miss Elkins by Friday, August 18, 2023. This will count as your first grade for the First Nine Weeks.

Student Name (Print): _______________________________________________________

Student Name (Signature): _______________________________________________________ Date: ____________________

Student School Email: _______________________________________________________________

Parent Name (Print): _____________________________________________________

Parent(s) Signature: ______________________________________________________ Date: ____________________

______________________________________________________

Parent Email: ____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

Parent(s) Phone Number: _________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

PLEASE NOTE: EMAILS ARE VERY IMPORTANT SINCE THIS IS FREQUENTLY THE EASIEST
WAY TO CONTACT ME AND FOR ME TO CONTACT YOU. PLEASE MAKE SURE TO INCLUDE AN
EMAIL ADDRESS THAT IS READABLE.