ECONOMICS

Mr. Waller & Mr. Hardin Room #223 Email Address: wallers@wwcsd.net hardint@wwcsd.net WINTER/SPRING 2013 Semester Course Description: Economics is a required class for all 9th grade students. YOU MUST PASS THIS CLASS IN ORDER TO GRADUATE!!! In this course students will look at how nations, businesses, and individuals attempt to solve the dilemma of limited resources and unlimited desires. Some of the topics students will examine in this course are prices, supply and demand, choices, and the role of government. Students will also learn about international trade and alternative economic systems. Finally, students will be asked to apply this new knowledge to their personal financial decisions. Topics to Be Covered: Unit 1: Economic Fundamentals - Scarcity, Factors of Production, Opportunity Cost, Production Possibilities Unit 2: Microeconomics - Demand, Supply, Equilibrium, Business Structures Unit 3: Macroeconomics - GDP, Aggregate Demand/Supply, Business Cycles Unit 4: Government Interventions - Federal Reserve, Taxes, Fiscal Policy, Monetary Policy

Classroom Rules:

1) DO NOT talk when a teacher or another student is talking 2) Respect others and their belongings. 3) All school rules will be followedno head coverings, jackets, etc (teachers have been instructed to confiscate these items and take them to the office. So dont complain when we do.) 4) Clean up after yourselfdo not leave a mess and dont write on the desks. 5) You can eat/drinkbut if a mess is left you will lose this privilege. 1) 2) 3) 3) 4) Textbookbring it everyday. Pen or pencilhave one everyday. Lined paper (notebook) Civics folder (You can purchase one from me for $1) Student planner (need it for passes out of class)

Required Materials:

Grading Policy: The class, which is a semester long, is divided into 3 marking periods. Each marking period is approximately 6 weeks long. At the end of the marking period, you will receive your grade. Grades are earned in this class and not given. Your grade will be determined based upon the following weights: Homework/Class work 20% Bell Work/Participation 10% Tests/Quizzes 70% At the end of the semester, your final grade for the class will be determined. The semester grade will be a combination of all 3 marking periods along with the final exam. The semester grade will be determined as follows. Marking Period #1 25% Marking Period #2 25% Marking Period #3 Final Exam 25% 25%

Homework Policy: Work is almost always started in the classroom and usually time will be given in class to complete the work. However, it is the students responsibility to make sure the work is completed and turned in on time. Work not finished in class must be completed at home as homework. Late work will be accepted, but the points will be reduced depending upon when it is completed. Ready Points: There will be 5 points possible for each day you are in class. These points will be deducted if you do one of the following things: 1) 2) 3) Arrive late to class Do not bring required materials to class Do not follow any of the classroom rules from above.

Absent Policy: It is understood that occasionally you may need to miss school for various reasons. However, it is your responsibility to make sure that you make up all work missed while out and turn it in on time. I will not hunt you down to remind you that you were absent and need to make up work. If you are absent you need to do the following: 1) 2) 3) Copy down the missed work/assignments from the assignment sheet in the front of the classroom or another student. Get the needed worksheet, maps, etc.. from the folder from the day your were absent. Turn your work in on time. One day missed = work is due next day. tests/quizzes when you are absent. Student Planner: The student planner is an important organizational tool. It is the students responsibility to write down daily assignments and keep track of work. Your planner will be checked periodically to make sure you have been writing your assignments in it. Points will be given for this as mentioned above. The planner is also necessary for hall passes. Passes will only be given out on an emergency basis. School administration has determined that there will not be passes during instruction time. Extra Help: If you need extra help, I am available before school or after school on any day except Tuesday (staff meetings). Please let me know in advance so I can be sure to be there. There is also tutoring on Thursday nights in the library, take advantage of this opportunity. Tests/Quizzes may re-taken if the student receives below a B. In order to retake the test/quiz, you must show one thing you have done differently to improve your score on the test/quiz (made study flash cards, a signed note from your parent stating that you studied longer than for the previous test/quiz, new study method, etc) Electronics Rule: It is up to each individual teacher as to whether they allow electronics in their classrooms. The system devised by the school district is to have different colored zones a Red zone is where no electronics may be used (bathrooms, locker rooms, etc). Green Zones are places where electronics may be used all of the time (hallways, cafeteria, outside school, etc). My classroom may be a Green Zone or a Red Zone, depending upon the day and what we are doing in the classroom.

4) It is your responsibility to make up missed tests. You have 3 days to make up