Rainshadow Independent Studies

Rainshadow Community Charter High School – Spring 2011 Course Syllabus

Joe Ferguson *** joe@rainshadowcchs.org *** www.joerainshadow.weebly.com
Course Description: This course is designed to give students an opportunity to make up a ½ high school credit for a
variety of core subject or elective classes that they are missing or otherwise need in order to graduate. Students will work
independently or in small groups to complete work assigned to them by core class instructors in a study-hall fashion. A
course facilitator will be available for course implementation and student assistance.
Course Aims and Objectives for this Semester:
Upon completion of this semester course of study, students will be able to…
- Demonstrate their completion of a high school course implemented in a study-hall fashion for credit recovery.
- Complete coursework for a core-subject or elective class for credit.
Requirements:
- Participation in assigned classroom activities every day.
- Completed classroom projects & assignments.
- Completed portfolio of projects and assignments (see requirements below).

Week / Dates Monday - Thursday

1) Jan 24 – 27 New semester! Intro to class rules & class expectations. TERMS & goal setting. Intro to
Independent Studies. No School Thursday (Professional Development)
2) Jan 31 - Feb 3 Independent Study Coursework.
3) Feb 8 – 11 Independent Study Coursework.
4) Feb 14 – 17 Independent Study Coursework.
5) Feb 21 – 24 Independent Study Coursework. No School Monday (President’s Day)
6) Feb 28 - Mar 3 Independent Study Coursework.
7) Mar 7 – 10 Independent Study Coursework.
8) Mar 14 - 17 Independent Study Coursework.
9) Mar 21 – 24 Independent Study Coursework.
No School Thursday (Professional Development)
10) Mar 28 - Mar 31 Independent Study Coursework.
11) Apr 4 – 7 Independent Study Coursework.
12) Apr 11 – 14 Independent Study Coursework.
13) Apr 18 - 21 Independent Study Coursework.
14) May 2 - 5 Independent Study Coursework.
15) May 9 - 12 Independent Study Coursework.
16) May 16 - 19 Independent Study Coursework.
No School Thursday (Professional Development)
17) May 23 - 26 Independent Study Coursework.
18) May 30 - Jun 2 Independent Study Coursework. No School Monday (Memorial Day)
19) Jun 6 - 9 Last week of school. Course reflection. Updating your Rainshadow Portfolio.

Grading Policy and Assessment: This independent studies course of study is worth approximately 3000 points.
Point Breakdown:
Attendance & Participation – 1000 points
Completed Coursework – 1900 points
Completed Rainshadow Portfolio – 100 points
Portfolio Contents: You will submit components from this course into your Rainshadow portfolio that will
showcase your work for the full semester course of study. Your portfolio will contain your best work from this class
and will be a demonstration of your skills and growth as a Rainshadow CCHS student. It will be expected that your
major projects and several other pieces of work from this class will be components of your portfolio.
Independent Studies Grading Policy
Attendance
Each day’s attendance will be worth 20 points. Here’s how your attendance will be graded…
Showing up on time each day ready to work and are on task = 20 points
Showing up late (1 to 20 minutes), but still doing your work = 15 points
Absent (or showing up more than 20 minutes late) or nonparticipation = 0 points
Total attendance points per day = 20 points
Participation
Each day’s participation will be worth 20 points. Here’s how your attendance will be graded…
Consistently working, are on task, and are completing coursework for 60 minutes = 20 points
Not on task or otherwise engaged in coursework = - 5 points per instance
Absent or nonparticipation = 0 points
Total attendance points per day = 20 points
Coursework
Each week’s coursework will be worth 200 points. Here’s how your coursework will be graded…
Since this is an independent studies course, each student will have different assignments to complete
during any given week. You will each receive a weekly assignment at the beginning of the first day of the
week that will be due at the end of the last day of the week. Each weekly assignment will be graded over
the weekend and returned to you the following Monday. Late work can be turned in for a maximum of
half-credit (100 points) for one week. After one week the assignment will not be accepted for credit.
Total coursework points per week = 200 points
A Point Tracker for you!
Attendance Points Participation Coursework Points Current percentage
Points
W1
W2
W3
W4
W5
W6
W7
W8
W9
W10
W11
W12
W13
W14
W15
W16
W17
W18
W19