Course Syllabus

Basic Skills/ Resource Syllabus

Ms. Finch – 2017/2018

kfinch@mccsc.edu extension 53562

Prep period: M4 and G7

Course Description:

• This course is a direct special education service provided to students who need additional support to participate and make progress in the general education setting. Students will work in large groups, small groups, or individually to review, reinforce, and apply content material from their academic classes. Students may also engage in activities necessary to support post- secondary goals.

Course Objectives:

• To meet the academic, behavioral, social, and emotional needs of students through an individualized program as outlined in their IEP.
• To facilitate student independence and responsibility in completing academic class assignments and expectations.
• To develop appropriate study and organizational skills that promotes achievement.

Daily Procedures:

• Students in Basic Skills/ Resource are expected to engage in the following activities, descending from one tier of tasks to the next each day as appropriate and the discretion of the Resource teacher:

Tier 1 

• Completing/ preparing work for other classes—this may include receiving testing/ classroom accommodations when the time and/ or setting of the general education classroom is not appropriate.
• Organization (managing materials, checking grades, managing agenda)
• Monitoring and managing behavior/ emotions and crisis management

Tier 2 

• Working on transition and post- secondary goals (Career Cruising, transition surveys, interest inventories, college exploration, etc…)
• Discussing/ working on individual annual goals that are written in the IEP
• Learning, practicing, and learning how to advocate for classroom/ testing accommodations

Tier 3 

• Problem solving
• Practicing social skills

Grading Criteria:

Each student can earn a total of 10 points per class period. Students will be excused from the day’s points in instances where absences are excused. Students will earn ZERO points for days in which absences are not excused. The grading criteria are as follows:

Preparation for Learning = 2 points

• Bring materials needed for the day
• Know what assignments need to be completed

Productive Use of Time = 4 points

• Follow the above tiers in a manner appropriate for each student

Appropriate Attitude/ Behavior = 4 points

• Willingness to work
• Asks for help when needed
• Accepts help from various sources
• Respectful to others

Classroom Norms:

1. Respect yourself, others, and the property in the classroom.
2. Cell phones should not be a distraction. If they are, they will be taken away!
3. Any music devices must have headphones and are low enough that you can still hear me.
4. Clean up your area before you leave the room.