AP© Human Geography

Parent/Guardian & Student Overview 

Dr. Charlotte Haney

Charlotte.Haney@houstonisd.org

Mrs. Sandra Buso

Sandra.Buso@houstonisd.org

Course description: AP© Human Geography is the equivalent of a one-semester college-level course and is designed to provide the student with an in-depth understanding of the earth’s regions, religions, languages, recent regional histories, governments, economic systems, and physical features. Assignments and assessments will prepare the student for the AP Exam on May 6th as well as deepen the students’ understanding of the world we live in.

This year, we continue to pilot Project Based Learning for College Board. Along with seven other classrooms across the world, our classroom was selected by The Advanced Placement* (AP) to expand the AP Project Based Learning Series to AP Human Geography. In Project Based Learning (PBL), students build knowledge and skills through sustained investigation of complex, real-world problems. It’s often a shift from traditional methods of teaching and PBL resources include curriculum, instructional materials, and professional learning focused on enabling students to engage with required AP course content and skills through robust projects that drive the student-centered curricular and pedagogical approach within these AP classrooms.

Powerful research shows that this approach can significantly improve student performance on AP Exams. A randomized controlled trial that compared AP Exam performance of students whose teachers used PBL curriculum and professional learning to a control group showed that PBL students achieved higher results on AP Exams. Read the detailed summary of these findings (Project Based Learning Boosts Student Achievement in AP Courses; High-Quality Professional Learning for Project-Based Learning) from Lucas Education Research, a division of the George Lucas Educational Foundation. Last year, in our very first pilot year, student passage rate was almost 30% higher than Texas’s passage rate.

The AP Human Geography content can be found on the College Board website in the course and exam description (CED). Course content is determined by College Board and all areas of content will be covered in class. Each student must register with College Board. https://apstudent.collegeboard.org/apcourse/ap-human-geography. The student will only be registered for the AP Exam through their registration with the College Board website, so it is essential that the student complete this registration immediately.  Through this website, the student will have access to additional resources and practice published by College Board.

Expectations:

This is an AP course, which simply means it is not like a college class, it IS a college class.  There is an expectation that all students act accordingly.  During this academic year, we will be dealing with important world issues and each student is expected to handle this material, including video clips, with the maturity commensurate with the level of the course. It should go without saying that each person, the teacher included, should treat others with dignity and respect. 

F2F Expectations:

Examples of respect include punctuality, actively listening, waiting for your turn to speak, not getting up and walking around, and engaging in conversations based on course materials. It will be essential that students complete the assigned readings so that their project deliverables are rigorous and aligned with the curriculum. Students who are missing work must attend mandatory tutorials on Tuesday at lunch. Other expectations include not using your cell phone, laptops, smartwatches, or headphones during class without express instructions from your instructor (if your cell phone/smart watch is PRESENT during ANY assessment—quiz or exam--it is an automatic zero). 

Grading Policies:

Grading scale for AP Human Geography                                                                       

Grades:

Formative Category:                                                                                           40%

Includes Vocab, Project Tasks, Free Response Practice and Quizzes                                  40%

Summative Category:                                                                                          60%

Includes Multiple Choice Tests, Free Response Exams and Final Projects

Course Schedule:

In Houston, it is always important to be adaptable as such we reserve the right to adjust schedule, as needed, based on class needs.  Students will be informed well in advance of any changes. It is the students’ responsibility to check into Canvas each class day.

Students are provided with a Project calendar at the beginning of every project which contains all readings, assignments and due dates for the Project.

ALL FRESHMAN STUDENTS SIT FOR AP TEST TUESDAY, MAY 6^th  

Class Procedures:

In this class we have a limited amount of time to pursue a subject rich and in-depth content area.  In an effort to create and maintain the best possible learning environment, the teacher has established certain classroom procedures.  These guidelines are in direct conformity with the philosophy of Carnegie Vanguard.

Electronic Submissions: You are responsible for ensuring all uploads are what you intend to submit. Files that are partially complete, corrupt, or the “wrong” file are an automatic zero.

Late Policy:

Late Work: Work is considered on time when turned in as instructed by the teacher (by beginning of class, by 11:59 on Canvas, etc.).  From that point forward, students have 24 hours to turn the late work in for a maximum of 70.  After 24 hours, students may turn late work in for the next 3 class days for a maximum of 50. Late Work will not be accepted after this window has ended.

            Examples:

Assignment is due Monday at the start of the class period, student turns in assignment same class day but after the beginning of the period—maximum grade is a 70% on the assignment. 

Assignment was due 2^nd period on Monday, student turns it in 2^nd period Tuesday--maximum grade is a 70%. Students have until Friday at 2^nd period to get it in for a 50.

Absences:

You are expected to attend class every day. If you are absent, it is your responsibility to promptly gather the assignments that you missed. I will not remind you of missed assignments; you must take the initiative to find out what you missed.  If you miss a test, YOU must schedule a make-up on the day you return to campus. Please keep in mind that the format of the re-test is at the teacher’s discretion. It is your responsibility to reschedule your missed test in a timely manner. Any assignments not made up from an absence will result in a zero. Tests and projects are scheduled far enough in advance that being absent the day before a test will not allow for a postponement of your test. 

Growth Mindset and Retakes:

Success in this course only comes from becoming an excellent student and developing these skills will make you successful in your future AP courses and enable you to flourish at college.  Very few students show up at CVHS with those skills already perfected.  You may struggle at the beginning of this course.  That just means that you need to strengthen your skills, take advantage of the opportunities that I have embedded in the course to improve your grades and reach out for help.  Low quiz grades can be improved by demonstrating mastery of those topics on the Project MCT.  Retakes on the MCT and FRQ are available under the CVHS retake policy.  Retakes are a normal and expected way that CVHS students perform successfully in the class.  It takes practice to be successful AP EXAM questions. The class expects that students who do not score a 70 should use their retakes as an opportunity to master missing content and improve their averages. Each student is allotted two re-takes per 6 weeks. You may retake any assessment for a grade no higher than 70. All MCT and FRQ Exam retakes require test corrections completed and submitted prior to the retake date and time.

Academic Integrity: All students are held accountable to the CVHS Academic Honor Code as well as HISD policies regarding academic integrity/cheating.  The CVHS Academic Honor Code may be found in full in the CVHS Student Handbook/Planner and CVHS Website.   To supplement these policies, we would like to remind students that cheating, copying, talking during assessments, and plagiarizing will not be tolerated in this course.  All assignments, handouts, notecards, homework, etc. are expected to be completed INDIVDUALLY by the student unless EXPLICITLY stated in the assignment instructions.  It should be noted that academic dishonesty extends to any student aiding another student by providing test answers, quiz answers, assignment answers, or any disclosure of in-class activities prior to the other student having received the activity/information directly from the teacher.  Having unauthorized materials (papers, phones, smart watches, etc.) in sight – or with the potential to be viewed--during an assessment is considered an act of academic dishonesty. Any student displaying academic dishonesty will face the full consequences of their actions. In like manner, the student will receive a “P” in conduct and a zero on the assignment/assessment.  There will not be an opportunity to make up the assignment.  Academic Integrity applies to ALL parties involved, not simply the individual receiving assistance.  All Academic dishonesty will be reported to the administration immediately and students may be exited from Carnegie after their third infraction.

Extra Help:

Please note this course is fast paced and requires a significant amount of college level reading.  The first question that will always be asked of students seeking help is: “Have you read?”  “Are you doing your flashcards?” The Friday quizzes are typically good indicators of whether a student has read.  In addition, we have found that reading on a college level is different than reading at the middle school level and often requires the additional steps of re-reading and outlining.

If you are reading the assigned readings and completing your flashcards and daily work and are STILL experiencing difficulty in the assignments, either in general or consistently in a specific area, this is a signal to seek extra help.  Page 31 of your agenda/handbook has excellent types to help you develop the skills you will need to be successful here at Carnegie. I am ALWAYS available and willing to help, but sometimes the student needs to take the initiative to communicate this issue.   Communicate with your instructor about when you would like to seek help and we will set it up or attend the weekly tutorials.  E-mail is checked daily.