Jefferson Middle School

27900 Rockwood
St. Clair Shores, MI 48081
mwoods@scslakeview-k12.com
(586)445-4130 ext.2655

Inventions and Marketing Syllabus

September - June, 2015-16
Dear Parents, Guardians and Students,
Welcome to our Inventions and Marketing class where students study the wonderful world of
historical and modern day inventions while discovering how great inventors think. We will also
be taking a look at the different strategies and techniques used in advertising and marketing
products. This process will happen with a variety of assignments which will require students to
interact with the internet, processing software, printed text, visual media, their peers and me.
Each class assignment's due date will be posted on Power School when the assignment is given in
class. Prior to the end of the quarter, students will use their new knowledge to create their
own original invention. This project will include a sketch and a model or a life size of their
invention, a patent search, a patent application and a marketing plan.
In this class, students do not have assigned homework. However, students are responsible for
making up assignments they missed while absent from school. The make-up time is equal to the
number of days absent. Also, students may turn in classroom assignments late, but ten percent
will be deducted every day the assignment is late.
The grading scale for this class is consistent with our Lakeview Public Schools standards.
Students' grades will be regularly posted on Power School.
A
A-

100-93%
92%-90%

B+
B
B-

89%-87%
86%-83%
82%-80%

C+
C
C-

79%-77%
76%-73%
72%-70%

D+
D
D-

69%-67%
66%-63%
62%-60%

59%-0%

Each student will need to bring to class every day, three sharpened pencils with good erasers
and a folder just for our Inventions and Marketing class. Students will also be responsible for
collecting and bringing recyclable materials for their end of the quarter invention project. The
recyclable materials due date will be determined later in the quarter.
Students must also be able and willing to follow our classroom expectations.
Inventions and Marketing Classroom STARR Expectations
Safety

 Remain seated; when you get up push in your chair.

Walk carefully.
Give people their personal space.
Keep your hands and feet to yourself.
Pay attention to your own equipment and leave other peoples equipment alone.
Use classroom tools with care and caution; as if they are your own.
Eating and drinking is not allowed in this classroom.
Tolerance
Be patient with others and their abilities.
Accept who you are sitting by.
Ignore people who are bothering you or tell the teacher if the person next to you will not
leave you alone.
Wait your turn.
Achievement
Get to class on time.
Work to the best of your ability.
Stay on task and complete your work on time.
Respect

Listen well to everyone who is speaking to you.

Speak in a quiet, positive voice when talking.

Responsibility

Bring three sharpened pencils with good erasers and your folder to class.

Correctly log off your computer and push in your chair before you leave.

Correctly put equipment away when you are done with it.

Keep track of your possessions and your work.

Follow your computer user agreement.

Most of my students follow all of our STARR expectations, but once in a while a few need a
reminder. Therefore, in our classroom a "Change of Behavior" form is used to help those who
need to change their behavior so a great learning environment is always maintained in our
classroom. Following is the "Change of Behavior" form procedure which is used when needed.
First, a verbal warning is given to a student who forgets any of our STARR classroom
expectations. The warning is also noted in the first section of the "Change of Behavior" form
by me. If a STARR expectation isn't followed for a second time, the same "Change of Behavior"
form will be completed by the student and me, under the second section of the form. If a
STARR classroom expectation isn't followed a third time then the "Change of Behavior" form
will be completed by the student and me, under the third section of the form. As soon as
possible I will also call home to inform the student's parent of the situation. A copy of the
student's "Change of Behavior" form will be sent home with the student so the student's parent
or guardian may sign it and the student may return it to me at the beginning of the next class.

Finally, if another STARR expectation isn't followed for a fourth time a referral will be
submitted to Mr. Townsend, our Vice Principal.
Maintaining an excellent learning environment for my students is a top priority for me. That is
why I diligently work hard to help my students feel welcome and confident that with effort and
determination all students can learn the course curriculum. Our classroom is a busy room and
sometimes a student may need to leave the room with an unanswered question, so please know
that I am available to meet, in my room, right after school or before school starts, from 7:30
to 8:00 am. Also, I respond quickly to my email messages at mwoods@scslakeview-k12.com.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me either by phone or by email. Also, I
am currently revising my weebly site, welcometothewoods.weebly.com, to include classroom
information you may find helpful.
Yours truly,
Mrs. Woods
Inventions and Marketing Teacher
Following are the Michigan Standards and Benchmarks we will be working with in our class.
6-8.CI.2. create an original project using a variety of media (e.g., animations, graphs, charts,
audio, graphics, video) to present content information to an audience.
6-8.RI.1. use a variety of digital resources to locate information
6-8.RI.2. evaluate information from online information resources for accuracy and bias
6-8.RI.3. understand that using information from a single Internet source might result in the
reporting of erroneous facts and that multiple sources should always be researched
6-8.DC.1. provide accurate citations when referencing information sources
6-8.TC.1. identify file formats for a variety of applications (e.g., doc, xls, pdf, txt, jpg, mp3)
6-8.TC.2. use a variety of technology tools (e.g., dictionary, thesaurus, grammar-checker,
calculator) to maximize the accuracy of technology-produced materials
6-8.TC.7. use technology to identify and explore various occupations or careers, especially those
related to technology, engineering, and mathematics
R.CM.06.01 connect personal knowledge, experiences, and understanding of the world to themes
and perspectives in text through oral and written responses.
R.MT.06.01 self-monitor comprehension when reading or listening to text by automatically
applying and discussing the strategies used by mature readers to increase comprehension
including: predicting, constructing mental images, visually representing ideas in text,
questioning, rereading or listening again if uncertain about meaning, inferring, summarizing, and
engaging in interpretive discussions.
R.MT.06.02 plan, monitor, regulate, and evaluate skills, strategies, and processes for their own
reading comprehension by applying appropriate metacognitive skills.
W.PR.06.01 set a purpose, consider audience, and replicate authors styles and patterns

when writing a narrative or informational piece.

W.PR.06.02 apply a variety of pre-writing strategies for both narrative (e.g., graphic
organizers designed to develop a plot that includes major and minor characters, builds
climax, and uses dialogue to enhance a theme) and informational writing (e.g., problem/
solution or sequence).
W.PR.06.03 revise drafts for clarity, coherence, and consistency in content, voice, and
genre characteristics with audience and purpose in mind.
W.PR.06.04 draft focused ideas for a specific purpose using multiple paragraphs, sentence
variety, and voice to meet the needs of an audience (e.g., word choice, level of formality, and
use of example) when writing compositions.
W.PR.06.05 proofread and edit writing using grade-level checklists and other appropriate
resources both individually and in groups.