Course Syllabus

6th Grade Music Appreciation

Teacher: Ms. Cassandra

Contact Info: CassanBN@pwcs.edu

Office Hours: Mondays from 8am-9:30am

Scheduled Office Hours Meeting Link (THE PASSWORD IS "MUSIC"): Office Hours Zoom Link (Links to an external site.)

Class Overview:

General music classes are offered for every grade level and are on a 9 week rotation. The class goal is for students learn the basic fundamentals of music in order to gain an appreciation of music. Students achieve this goal by completing lessons and assignments that include multiple learning styles, allowing students with any amount of musical experience to succeed in the classroom. Students will learn how to read and write music, basic aural skills, different genres/styles of music, and different music career paths. 

Class Materials:

For our online course, you will only need to bring your enthusiasm to learn :)

Class Schedule:

Attendance Policies:

***Students who are not able to attend a zoom class meeting can find the recording of the session under the FILES tab located on the left column of the Canvas Course.***

Grading Policies:

There are two different types of grades in the gradebook; Formative and Summative Grades. Formative grades include classwork, homework, warm-ups, surveys, follow-along notes, or participation activities. Summative grades include quizzes, tests, and projects that evaluate the students understanding. Formative grades make up 20% of a students total grade, while Summative grades make up 80% of a students total grade. 

Students may retake anything during this course to improve upon their grade. Because every assignment is done in-class and students have until Sunday at midnight every week to turn in those week's assignments, any assignment that is turned in after the due date will be deducted by 5% for each day that it is late. I will make exceptions to this on a case by case basis when the student/parent informs me of why the assignment could not be completed.

If by chance school is cancelled for one or more days; I will revise the calendar and due dates for all of the lessons and assignments and inform the students/parents on a timely basis.

Classroom Behavior Policies/Expectations:

IN ADDITION to the Prince William County Code of Behavior (Links to an external site.), students are expected to follow these policies when participating in my classroom:

1. Be respectful of the teacher and student(s) who are presenting to the class. The teacher has the right to mute the students during live instruction. Any student who wishes to speak audibly may use the *raise hand* emoji in the chat box that can be found when you click on the participants button in a zoom meeting. 
2. Students who have questions or comments may use the chat box during the live instruction. Be mindful that the teacher will be monitoring the chat, and may no longer allow a student to use the chat function if a student is making inappropriate comments in the learning environment. Because all live instruction will be recorded to post on the course Canvas page, and therefore any comments in the chat section will be documented as well. Think before you post!
   
   
3. Avoid commenting on students who have their videos turned on or off. Students are not required to be visible during the live instruction. Students who feel uncomfortable with their faces being recorded on zoom do not have to have their camera turned on.
   
   
4. Do not take pictures or recordings of the live instruction and post them online; This is in direct violation of the PWCS Code of Behavior and will result in disciplinary action. 
   
   
5. Do not use electronic devices for non-school work. If the teacher can see a student using their phone during live instruction, the student is unlikely to be using it for school since they are using another device to connect to the live instruction.
   
   
6. Check the background of your video to make sure you are in an appropriate learning setting  and do not have any inappropriate items laying around. Inappropriate learning settings may include but are not limited to: Bathrooms, rooms with loud background noise, and rooms that other family members frequent and cause distraction to the student.
   
   
7. Food is allowed to be eaten during class, but please turn off your video when doing so to avoid distracting the other students.
   
   
8. In person only: Students must ask the teacher for permission before taking or using any instrument.
   
   
9. The teacher may document any misconduct of a student in the classroom and discuss it with their parent/guardian and/or school administrators.