During one of my weekly chats with Mr. Max Cole, I
just urgently got the thought to ask him if he had a syllabus for his Freshman
Seminar course. His reply was “No!” So I asked him to meet later that day to
design a syllabus for his course. The school culture has a motto: Be
consistently responsible, respectful, and reflective. Once I arrived at his
school to go over the design of the syllabus I immediately told Max some
reasons I believe a syllabus is important especially for a Freshman Seminar
course. I wanted the students to sign it, the parents to sign it, as well as
Mr. Cole. That way this syllabus is a contract. It is student’s responsibility and
parent’s responsibility to read and understand the material on it. This syllabus would be the blueprint
for the course expectations, requirements, ground rules, readings, assignments,
exams, and final projects. It would contain all the information you need to
navigate the course over the term. The syllabus would be a key reference tool
for students, and it's imperative that they use it to plan their course work.
So after
three hours…this is what we came up with.
Freshman Seminar
Manley
Career Academy
Mr.
Cole
“To be a freshman is to be in possession of a wonderful thing:
time.”
What
is Freshman Seminar and what do we do in this class?
In
this class, we will work together to make your transition to MANLEY successful.
We will focus on topics ranging from adjusting to high school life to planning
for your future. You will participate in a variety of activities including:
hands-on activities, classroom discussions, class readings, projects, group
work, etc. Freshman Seminar is designed to help you grow and develop new skills
that will make you a successful individual at MANLEY and in the future.
We
believe that one you take personal responsibility for your choices, both academically
and socially, all of the goals and objectives for this course will naturally
follow.
“At Manley, we are proud
to be consistently respectful, responsible, and reflective”
What
are the goals of Freshman Seminar?
This
class aims to focus on the holistic development of every student. We will cover
many topics under each of the following areas:
·
Personal
(Identity, Habit Forming, Self-Improvement)
·
Intellectual
(Learning HOW to learn, Study Skills)
·
Social
and Interpersonal (Building Relationships, Team Work, Leadership)
·
Emotional
(Stress Management, Self- Esteem)
·
Physical
(Wellness)
·
Self-Reflection
(How can I improve?)
·
Your
Future (Goal Setting)
It’s MANLEY time!
How
are we graded in Freshman Seminar?
20%
Participation: There
are many ways to participate in Freshman Seminar. You are expected to arrive to
class on time, be prepared, and positively participate in large and small group
activities inside and outside the classroom.
20%
Class Assignment/Homework: Throughout the year, you will be given assignment to
advance your knowledge of content.
20%
Journal: You
will be doing some form of writing every time we meet. All of these writing
will be kept in a journal.
20%Projects/Assessments
Each
quarter, you will be completing a project for Freshman Seminar. The projects
will include written pieces, oral presentations, power point presentations, visual
presentations, etc. Late projects must be handed in the next time we meet as a
class for late credit or it will be counted as a zero.
“There is no failure
except in no longer trying-Elbert Hubbard
Is
there a book for Freshman Seminar?
We
do not use a traditional text book in this class but we will be reading from a
variety of novels, handouts, etc.
What
are the classroom rules/expectations?
We
expect you to come to Freshman Seminar every day with a positive attitude and
willingness to participate and work hard during class. RESPECT is a huge theme
in our classroom. We will discuss specific rules during the first few days of
class.
What
do I need to bring to class?
1.
A
pen
2.
Your
planner
3.
A
composition journal
4.
A
folder
5.
A
positive attitude
“As a teenager I was so
insecure. I was the type of guy that never fit in because he never dared to
choose. I was convinced I had absolutely no talent at all. For nothing. And
that thought took away all my ambition too.”- Johnny Depp
You
will notice themes in our class that will come up over and over again. To be a
leader or someone who sets and meets goals, it takes practice. We will work on
starting off your high school career successfully, building relationships, and
self-improvement in a variety of ways throughout your freshman year. We have
high expectation for all of you not only as students but as members of the
MANLEY community. Remember, be respectful, be responsible, and be reflective.
“I will not be labeled
as average.”-Rachel Scott
Student
Signature: ___________________________________________________
Parent
Signature: _____________________________________________________
Teacher
Signature: _____________________________________________________
DESIGNED BY MR. DANIEL
PATTERSON AND MAX COLE
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