K-12 Blended and Online Learning

Syllabus Outline for an Online Unit of Instruction

Template Self-Check

Course Welcome to Ms. Joness 6th grade reading online class! This class will be taught Did you include course title,
Information entirely online. The Cherokee County School District uses the learning instructor information, grade
management system known as Canvas. All of the course work for this class level, subject area, office hours
can be found at https://www.canvaslms.com/. and required textbooks or
resources?
Each student enrolled in the course will be given access to the online textbook
needed for some assignments during this course. If you need a hard copy of the Yes; I have included the course
textbook please let me know as soon as possible. Please click the link below to title, instructor information,
access the online textbook. grade level, subject area, office
hours, and required textbook.
Textbook: Literature (6th), Prentice Hall
Username: creeklandmiddleschool
Password: grizzly6

I am here to help you in any way. If a student or parent has a question, I can be
reached between the hours of 8:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
You may contact me using the information under Teacher Communication.

Expected My students reside in the Creekview School Zone within Cherokee County, Is the expected student
Student Georgia, in the USA. All students have completed the 5th grade Georgia audience described? (Are your
Audience Standards of Excellence curriculum and have been assessed through the students in the USA?)
Georgia Milestones assessment.
Yes; My students will reside
within Cherokee County. Since
Cherokee County is divided
into zones, I have listed the
specific zone in which my
students will reside.

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Teacher You can email me any time of day at kayla.jones@cherokee.k12.ga.us. I will Did you provide at least two
Communication respond to your email within 24 hours on Monday through Friday except for forms of communication are
school holidays. included in the syllabus?
I am happy to meet with you by appointment via skype. You may also text
questions to 123-456-7890. In your text, please include your first and last name Yes; I have provided at least
so that I know who I am speaking with. Unless I am otherwise occupied, I will two forms of communication.
respond to your text within an hour of receiving it.

Course Sixth grade reading is intended to extend the reading level of our students Does this clearly identify the
Description through the study of literature. We will explore vocabulary, nonfiction, fiction, broad goals or topics to be
poetry, and traditional literature to encourage and enhance higher order thinking covered? Does it outline the
skills. In addition to the various literature, you will record reader responses in general topics, concepts and
an online journal. Additionally, an author study, and a novel study will be skills to be covered?
incorporated.
The course will be taught in alignment with the 6th grade Georgia Standards of Yes; the course description
Excellence which can be found at https://www.georgiastandards.org/Georgia- clearly identifies and outlines
Standards/Frameworks/ELA-Grade-6-Standards.pdf. the goals and topics to be
covered throughout the course.

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Learning At the end of this course, students will be able to: Are these measurable and/or
Outcomes 1. Summarize a text without including personal opinions. observable? Do they describe
2. Use evidence from the text to support inferences and analysis of what the what students must know and
text says. be able to do? Do they involve
3. Describe how a storys plot unfolds some cognitive challenge and
4. Correctly label a plot mountain active learning?
5. Determine the figurative and literal meanings of words based on how they are
used in the text. Yes; these outcomes are
6. Determine the main idea of a text and point out key details which support it measurable. They describe
7. Compare and contrast two authors presentation of the same event or topic. what students must know and
8. Identify the characteristics of a work of non-fiction. be able to do. Some of the
9. Identify the characteristics of a work of fiction. outcomes will require students
10. Identify and describe the various forms of poetry. to think on a critical level in
order to understand and show
mastery.

Topics by Week Weeks 1-4: Non-Fiction texts Did you list the topics to be
Weeks 5-8: Fiction and elements of a plot covered each week?
Weeks 9-12: Summarizing and Making Inferences, poetry
Weeks 13-16: Finding the main idea/theme of a text/story, figurative language, Yes; I listed the major topics to
poetry be covered throughout the
Weeks 17-20: Using text evidence to respond to prompts school year.
Weeks 21-24: Novel StudyA Wrinkle in Time, Review for GA Milestones
Weeks 25-28:Author Study (Project grade), poetry
Weeks 29-32: Book Report (Project grade), review for final exam

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Expectations of 1. Students will write a one page reader response post and post to their blog Did you outline class
Student each week. This post needs to answer the question I post, and it must be about participation with descriptions
Participation the current book you are reading independently. of how it is measured
2. Students will write an original post in the weekly discussion forum and (expectations for discussion
respond to at least 3 peers postings. forums, number and frequency
3. Complete course work independently unless told otherwise by Ms. Jones. of logins, amount of time in
4. Upload all assignments to the dropbox on time. Please refer to the course online class, group project
calendar for due dates. participation, synchronous
5. Actively participate in synchronous class discussions. Dates for this sessions sessions, etc.)?
will be available soon.
6. Work hard and ask questions if you do not understand something. Yes; I have outlined the
expected class participation for
students and expectations for
discussion forums.

Student 1. Always be kind and polite to Ms. Jones and your classmates. Did you describe the
Communication 2. Respond to emails from Ms. Jones in a timely manner. This is usually within expectations for student
Expectations 24 of receiving a message unless its a weekend or school holiday. behavior when communicating
3. Proofread your posts and comments very carefully. online?

Yes; I have described the

expectations for student
behavior when communicating
online.

Late Work Policy As a general rule, late work will not be accepted. Did you explain the
As I understanding extenuating circumstances, late work will only be accepted if consequences for not
the student has previously discussed the need to turn in an assignment late submitting assignments on
before it is due. Please contact Ms. Jones to discuss the need to turn in a late time?
assignment.
Yes; I have listed my policy for
late work.

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Grading Policy Assignments include: weekly blog post, weekly discussion post, quizzes, tests, Is a grading policy defined with
and projects. These assignments will be weighted as follows: point distribution or weighting
scheme? Is the grading scale is
Tests/ Projects: 40% included?
Quiz: 30%
Weekly Blog Postings:15% Yes; I have listed the
Weekly Discussion Posts and Replies: 15% assignment weights and
grading scale.
Grades:
90-100%=A
80-89%= B
71-79%= C
70% = D
60-69%= F

Note: Failure to turn in 3 assignments will automatically result in a zero for the
course.

Assessments Students will post an original posting about the book they are independently Are a variety of assessment
reading to their blog each week. This posting should be no less than 500 words. types included? Is at least one
Also each week, students will post an original discussion response to questions assessment requiring either
I have posted about the weeks topic. This discussion post should be no less applying, analyzing, evaluating,
than 250 words, and students will thoughtfully respond to at least 3 peers. or creating?
Students will take weekly quizzes to monitor progress. At the end of a unit,
students will take a unit test. Yes; I have included a variety
Students will create a presentation on an author of their choosing. This will be of assessment types. The
for a project grade. projects I have built in require
Students will participate in a novel study which will include periodic quizzes and students to create original
a culminating test. presentations.
Students will create a book report over a book of their choosing. This will be for
a project grade.

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Academic All course work should be independently completed by the student. If the Do conduct and academic
Honesty student needs a parent/learning coach to help him/her, a note should be turned honesty requirements clearly
in with the assignment stating what kind of help the student received and on explain the policy on cheating
what part of the assignment. This will help Ms. Jones identify areas to and plagiarism. Are
strengthen instruction. consequences for inappropriate
Inappropriate behavior of any kind will not be tolerated. behavior included?
If a learning coach suspects that a student is being dishonest, he/she should
contact Ms. Jones immediately. Yes; I clearly state the policy on
cheating and plagiarism. The
Consequences for academic dishonesty (cheating, plagiarism, and any other consequences for inappropriate
inappropriate behavior) include: behavior are also included.
1. Warningand student must re-do the assignment.
2. For a second offense, the student will receive a grade of 0 for the
assignment and parent contact will be made.
3. For a third offense, the student will be removed from the course and be
required to either 1. Restart the course from the beginning, or 2. Transfer back
to a brick and mortar school.

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Acceptable Use The Cherokee County School Districts network should be used for educational Is the Acceptable Use Policy
Policy purposes only. The complete acceptable use policy can be found by clicking on (AUP) described or linked? Are
the following link: consequences for
noncompliance described?
http://portal.cherokee.k12.ga.us/board/Online%20Policy%20Manual/IFBG%20-
%20Internet%20Acceptable%20Use.pdf Yes; I have linked the actual
Acceptable Use Policy
Key Points: document. I have also typed
1. The use of the network must be kept in line with CCSDs educational out some of the key points.
objectives.
2. Each user will participate in an Internet safety/acceptable use policy training
session.
3. Do not share your passwordskeep them confidential!
4. Misuse of the network will result in the user losing his/her network privileges.

I also encourage you to read CCSDs Internet Safety Guide:

http://portal.cherokee.k12.ga.us/board/Online%20Policy%20Manual/IFABB%20-
%20Internet%20Safety.pdf

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Student Right to The Cherokee County School District takes student privacy very seriously. Did you include the conditions
Privacy CCSD follows the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) for for sharing or not sharing
students. Please follow the link to read the document in its entirety: student information?
http://www.cherokee.k12.ga.us/parentinfo/Documents/Student-Parent-
Handbook.pdf. Scroll to page 18. Yes; I included the conditions
for sharing or not sharing
1. Parents or eligible students have the right to inspect and review the student's student information. I also
education records maintained by the school. included a direct link to our
2. Parents or eligible students have the right to request that a school correct county handbook for reference.
records, which they believe to be inaccurate or misleading. Since the model syllabus had
3. Generally, schools must have written permission from the parent or eligible the key points already broken
student in order to release any information from a student's education record. down, I used it in my own
4. Schools may disclose, without consent, "directory" information such as a syllabus.
student's name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, honors
and awards, and dates of attendance.

If you have questions about a students right to privacy, please contact Ms.
Jones, the course instructor, or Dr. Wiseman, the school principal.

Technology All students should have access to: Do the technology

Requirements A computer (laptop or desktop) requirements outline technical
A reliable Wi-Fi connection specifications for student
A student Canvas accountprovided by CCSD (Cherokee County School computers? Did you describe
District) the procedures to follow when
A webcam technical problems occur?
A headset with microphone capabilities
Yes; I have clearly outlined the
If you have any technical issues please call the CCSD Technology Help Desk at technical specifications for
770-721-6200. student computers. I have also
listed the help desk number if
students have technical
problems.

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Copyright This course is managed by Ms. Jones; however, the Cherokee County School Did you provide a copyright
Statement District owns all content with the exception of the Prentice Hall textbook and statement and disclaimer that
digital resources, which are owned by Prentice Hall. Course and course identifies the owner of the
materials are not to be copied, edited, or redistributed for any purpose. If you course?
have questions regarding materials created by Ms. Jones, you may request Yes; I provided a copyright
details at kayla.jones@cherokee.k12.ga.us. statement and disclaimer that
identifies the Cherokee County
School District as owner of the
course. The model syllabus
provided me with the wording
that I used to complete this
section.

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Students with Per the Cherokee County School Districts Student/Parent Handbook: Did you indicate your
Disabilities Students with disabilities who are found eligible for special education services willingness to provide
have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) to provide specialized reasonable accommodations to
instruction in the area(s) as determined by the student(s) IEP Team. Students a student with a disability?
can receive support from Special Education Teachers and/or Paraprofessionals
in the least restrictive environment per their IEP. Yes; I believe I have clearly
indicated my willingness to
Federal law prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color or national origin provide accommodations to
(Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964); sex (Title IX of the Educational students with disabilities.
Amendments of 1972 and the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education I have also included some
Act of 2006); disability (Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the information from the school
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990); or age (Age Discrimination in districts handbook, and
Employment Act of 1967-ADEA) in educational programs or activities receiving provided a link for more
federal financial assistance. Students, parents, employees and the general information.
public are hereby notified that it is the policy of the Cherokee County Board of
Education to ensure non-discriminatory practices in educational programs or
activities and in employment. Cherokee County School District does not
discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age or
disability in its programs, activities or employment practices.
The following individuals have been designated to coordinate the School
Districts efforts to implement this nondiscriminatory policy:

Title IX Mark Kissel, Police Chief

ADEA Mark Kissel, Police Chief
Title VI Charlette Green, Director, Special Education
Section 504 Charlette Green, Director, Special Education
ADA Julie Little, Director Risk Management/Safety/Benefits
Perkins Act Dr. Paul Weir, Director of Curriculum and Academic Standards

Please follow this link and scroll to page 21 for more information.

All students who have IEPs or 504s will be given the appropriate
accommodations. If there is a question regarding a students services, please
contact Ms. Jones as soon as possible.

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*This document pairs with Designing a Syllabus for an Online Unit of Instruction (Peer Evaluation Checklist) by Lokey-Vega
(2014).

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