Division of Arts and Humanities

Spring Quarter 2005

 

GED CLASS SYLLABUS

 

 

INSTRUCTOR
CLASS
Anne Dolan

Title: GED Preparation: Fast Track “Boot Camp”

Office: R130 Office W

Phone:  425-564-2067

Time:  12:30 – 2:40 p.m. Tues & Thurs

Location:  Room R109

Email:  adolan@bcc.ctc.edu

Office Hours:  By appointment only.

Dates:  April 5th  – June 16th   

Materials:  Writing: A booklet of handouts and class notes is available for purchase in the bookstore; Math: Contemporary’s GED Math is available in the bookstore.  

 

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES

1.      To review and strengthen reading and writing skills and general knowledge of five areas in the GED Exam:  writing, social studies, science, literature, and mathematics.

2.      To write paragraphs and essays clearly.

3.      To review basic arithmetic, study concepts in algebra and geometry, and develop skills to solve mathematical story problems.

4.      To learn test-taking strategies for multiple-choice tests.

5.      Register to take the official GED test.

6.      To take and pass at least one of the five GED tests, with the ultimate goal of earning the GED within the next six months.

7.      To learn attitudes and behaviors for successful test taking and a successful college career.

CLASS REQUIREMENTS

1.   Promptly attend and actively participate in each class.  Attend all classes except in cases of illness or emergency.  Call me if you need to miss class at 425-564-2067. 

2.      Complete all class work and homework activities.

3.      Attend the Reading Lab and/or the Basic Skills Learning Lab weekly to supplement your studies.

3.   Share ideas in class and be respectful of yourself and others when doing so.

4.   Ask questions or request clarification about topics, class activities and/or assignments.

 

AVAILABLE SERVICES

         Students with disabilities who have accommodation needs are required to contact Disability Support Services (DSS) and complete the DSS intake process in order to establish eligibility for accommodation in college courses at BCC.  (DSS is located in B132.  Telephone:  425-564-2498 or TTY 425-564-4110.)  Students with documented disabilities who would like to apply for accommodations when taking the official GED test must complete forms to apply for this accommodation.  Sandy Walkenhorst, the administer of the GED, will address your specific questions regarding this process. 

EVALUATION

Assessment will be given throughout the quarter at individual levels.  Assessment tools include GED practice tests and a CASAS pre and post-test. 

 

STANDARDS FOR CONTINUED ENROLLMENT IN GED CLASSES:

Students attending GED classes at Bellevue Community College are expected to make significant and sustained academic progress for their program and level.  If academic progress, as defined in program policy, is not met, students may not continue in the program.  Academic progress is determined by the teachers based on classroom work, tests, demonstration of competence on performance tasks, and attendance.  Students will be informed near the end of the current quarter that they need to improve their performance or they may not be offered enrollment in future classes.  If you have missed more than three classes without your instructor’s permission, you may not be able to reenroll in the program. 

 

Students in this program are expected to make progress each quarter and finish a level in 3 quarters or less of instruction.  You cannot take a class at the same level for a 4th quarter.  This is a rule of the college.  If you want to take a class for the 4th quarter, you must write a letter of appeal which states clearly why you need one more quarter. You need to give this letter to the Program Chair of Developmental Education for consideration.

 

Students with verified and documented educational disabilities must demonstrate the same progress as other students with reasonable accommodations, such as additional time.  Students with disabilities who have accommodation needs are required to meet with the Director of Disability Support Services, room B132 (telephone 425.564.2498 or TTY 425.564.4110), to establish their eligibility for accommodation. 

 

CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT:

The college's "Affirmation of Inclusion” is posted in each classroom and sets forth the expectation that we will all treat one another with respect and dignity regardless of whether or not we agree philosophically.  This expectation is in line with the principle of free speech in a free society:  we have the right to express unpopular ideas as long as we don't show disrespect for reasonable people who might believe otherwise.

 

Part of this respect involves professional behavior toward the instructor, colleagues, and the class itself.  Disruptive behavior is disrespectful behavior.  The Arts and Humanities Division honors the right of its faculty to define "disruptive behavior," which often involves such things as arriving late, leaving early, leaving class and then returning, talking while others are trying to hear the instructor or their group members, doing other homework in class, wearing earphones in class, bringing activated cellular phones into class (receiving or making a phone call, receiving or writing text messages, etc.,) inappropriate comments or gestures, cheating during quizzes or tests, etc.  Such behavior interrupts the educational process.  When you are in doubt about any behavior, consult your instructor during office hours:  the Division of Arts and Humanities recognizes the judgment of the instructor as the final authority in these matters.

 

Students in the GED program are expected to arrive to each class on time and stay for the duration of the class.  Students are also expected to take breaks only when the instructor dismisses the class for a break, and return from breaks on time. 

 

When disruptive behavior occurs, instructors will speak to the students concerned.  Those students are then responsible for ending the disruptions at once.  Failure to do so may result in removal of the students from class for that class period.  Instructors can also refer students to the Dean of Student Services for possible disciplinary action, which can include probation, suspension or expulsion from Bellevue Community College.

 

Calendar of Lessons and Assignments:

Week

Date

Lesson Topic

Assignment

Test

One

Tues., 4/5

Syllabus review, CASAS pre-test (reading).

Math book: take pre-test and score your own test (pp. 3-15.)  Due: 4/12.

 

 

 

Thurs., 4/7

Reading: practice reading a play, practice reading and interpreting a poem.

Math: mean, median, powers, square roots.

 

Math book:  pp. 30-36 (exercises 9-11.)

3:00 p.m.

6:00 p.m.

Two

Tues., 4/12

GED registration and orientation with Sandy.  (Prepare to pay the $75 testing fee.)

Continue lesson on poetry. 

Math: 4 operations with decimals.

In your journal, record your score on your math test and the topics for your math review. 

Math book: pp. 83-92

(exercises 7-11.)

 

 

 

Thurs., 4/14

Math: review decimals-cover difficulties from homework problems.

 

8:15 a.m.

1:00 p.m.

Reading

Three

Tues., 4/19

Writing: editing a paragraph

Math: working with fractions.

Writing booklet:

 

Math book: pp. 103-114 (exercises 1-7.)

 

 

 

Thurs., 4/21

Anne not here.  4 operations with fractions taught by Barbara.

Writing booklet:

 

Math book: pp.115-124

(exercises 9-15.)

 

3:00 p.m.

6:00 p.m.

Reading

Four

Tues., 4/26

Writing: the essay

Math: converting decimals/fractions/percents

Writing booklet:

 

Math book: p. 155 (exercise 6.)

 

 

 

Thurs., 4/28

Writing: write an essay in class.

Math: review of decimals & fractions.

 

8:15 a.m.

1:00 p.m.

Writing

Five

Tues. 5/3

Writing: editing skills and reviewing examples of essays

Writing booklet:

 

Math book: pp. 137-144 (exercises 1-4.)

 

 

 

Thurs. 5/5

Social Studies: maps, American history timeline

Math: percents

 

Math book: pp. 156-157 (exercise 7, questions 1-4, 9-10) pp. 159-160 (exercise 9) pp. 160-161 (exercise 10.)

 

3:00 p.m.

6:00 p.m.

Writing

Week

Date

Lesson Topic

Assignment

Test

Six

Tues., 5/10

No class: Campus Issues Day

Math book: pp. 168-169 (exercise 14, questions 7-9), pp. 169-171 (exercise 15, questions 6-10.)

 

 

 

Thurs., 5/12

Social Studies: interpreting political cartoons, answering multiple choice questions.

Math: continue with percents

 

8:15 a.m.

1:00 p.m.

Social Studies

 

Seven

Tues., 5/17

Math: percents- rate of change and simple interest

Math book: pp. 172-178 (exercises 16-18.)

 

 

 

Thurs., 5/19

Science: scientific method, understanding charts and graphs

 

3:00 p.m.

6:00 p.m.

Social Studies

Eight

Tues., 5/24

Science: answering multiple choice questions

Math: charts, graphs, and tables

Math book: pp. 197-211 (exercises 1-4.)

 

 

Thurs. 5/26

More on charts, graphs, and tables

 

8:15 a.m.

1:00 p.m.

Science

Nine

Tues., 5/31

Math: probability, basic geometry

Math book: pp. 212-216 (exercise 5,6) pp. 223-275 (exercises 4-8,     11-15.)

 

 

 

Thurs., 6/2

More on geometry

 

3:00 p.m.

6:00 p.m.

Science

Ten

Tues., 6/7

Algebra- working with signed numbers, simple equations

Math book: pages 281-290 (exercises 1-5) pp. 294-296 (exercise 9.)

 

 

 

Thurs. 6/9

Math review

 

8:15 a.m.

1:00 p.m.

Math

Eleven

Tues., 6/14

CASAS post-testing and GED practice testing

 

 

 

 

Thurs., 6/16

Conferences and make up post-testing

 

3:00 p.m.

Math

 

Graduation at 7:00 p.m.