Core Academy Syllabus

Welcome New and Returning Students to the Core Academy!   The Core Academy is a course devoted to individual and class growth in the core academic areas.  The class covers Reading, Math, Writing, ACT/ State Testing Prep and Organization.  These subjects are broken down and taught to you based on your individual needs.  You could say that the Core Academy is a class uniquely designed for you!

Philosophy———————————————————————————————-

We believe that everyone has their own unique sets of strengths and weaknesses.  Success in life depends on, not just developing our strengths, but improving in our weaknesses.  Weaknesses do not define us, but they do challenge us. Our weaknesses, whatever they are, are best faced head on, with honesty and determination.  Our weaknesses are not easy to overcome, but the rewards that come from improving are more than worth it.  We are very excited to help you discover your strengths and improve in your weaknesses.

Class Rules———————————————————————————————-

Respect yourself

Respect others

Respect property

*In addition, students are expected to follow all code of conduct rules as outlined in your agenda planner at all times

Course Expectations ———————————————————————————

Lessons

You are expected to participate in all assigned class activities and give everything you do your best effort.  You will be assigned to certain intervention days based on your unique academic needs.  The schedule of interventions is as follows:

Monday – Reading

Tuesday – Reading with Writing Emphasis

Wednesday – Math

Thursday – Math

Friday – Individual Goal Day/ Testing Prep/Organization/Transition

When assigned to one or more of the intervention days, you should expect to participate in lessons based on that subject for the entire classroom period.  It is not unusual to participate in all five days of lessons.

Kickoff’s

Most days there will be a daily writing prompt or question on the board for you to respond to in on your weekly kickoff sheet.  Please do this upon arriving to the class.  You will be given a couple of additional minutes after the bell rings to respond.  Kickoffs will be collected weekly for participation points.

Testing

Some of you may be allowed to participate in small -group testing with extended time.  If so, this is a place where that can be provided.  When you arrive with your test, please sign in and then take your test in the silent testing room.  When finished, turn your completed test in to a Lab teacher.  The teacher will collect the finished test in the green folder and return it to the indicated classroom teacher.  Tests can also be read aloud here if that has been arranged for you.

Hierarchy of Tasks

If you are ever confused as to what you should be doing in this class, take a look at our hierarchy of tasks:

                1st Priority – Academic Interventions

                2nd Priority – Independent Reading & Math Interventions

                3rd Priority – Homework/Classwork for other classes

Grading ————————————————————————————————-

You will receive credit for the work you do and your participation in this class.  You will receive points based on Intervention Assignments, Participation and Assessments.

Intervention Points

You will receive points based on your performance on academic interventions.  These points will be based on the correctness of their answers as well as their improvement and growth over time.  Intervention based points will vary depending on the length and difficulty of the assignment.  You have an opportunity to correct all interventions after receiving feedback from the instructor for full points!

Participation Points

Participation points will be taken daily and awarded as follows:

5 – Student participated in necessary interventions related to their individualized goals for the entire expected time, when finished with the intervention, student appropriately followed the hierarchy of tasks.  Student was on task for the entirety of the 48 minute period.

4 – Student participated in necessary interventions related to their individualized goals for the expected time.  Student may have appropriately followed the hierarchy of tasks following the necessary intervention.  Student was on task for approximately 40 minutes of the period.

3 – Student participated in necessary interventions related to their individualized goals for the expected time.  Student may not have appropriately followed the hierarchy of tasks following the necessary intervention.  Student was on task for approximately 30 minutes of the period.

2 – Student participated in necessary interventions for related to their individualized goals the expected time.  Student may not have appropriately followed the hierarchy of tasks following the necessary intervention.  Student was on task for approximately 20 minutes of the period.

1 – Student participated in necessary interventions for related to their individualized goals the expected time.  Student may not have appropriately followed the hierarchy of tasks following the necessary intervention.  Student was on task for approximately 10 minutes of the period.

0 – Student did not participate in the necessary interventions related to their individualized education plan goals, and/or student did not appropriately follow the hierarchy of tasks following the necessary intervention.  Student was not on task for the entirety of the class period.  Failure to participate in necessary interventions will automatically result in a zero for the class period.

Assessments

Assessments are a very important part of the class as they show whether you are making growth over time.  To ensure you are giving your best effort on assessments, they will be graded based on your individual growth.  As always, we will require you to retake an assessment if we feel you have not given it your full effort.

Contact ————————————————————————————————-

Intervention Lab office – 330-676-8803

Mark Brewer – mbrewer@kentschools.net

Audrey Coyne – acoyne@kentschools.net 

Eunicy Dolan – edolan@kentschools.net

Catherine DuBois – cdubois@kentschools.net

Ray Gontkovsky – rgontkovsky@kentschools.net 

Elizabeth Hearns – ehearns@kentschools.net

Christian Hunter- chunter@kentschools.net       

Crystal Roberts – croberts@kentschools.net

Paul Wilson – pawilson@kentschools.net