In an effort to increase communication with this class, I continue work on this website where you will be able to find information which should assist you to be successful in this class. This is an ongoing project, so if you have any suggestions, feel free to let me know what you would like to see.

The first things I felt you would want are the documents we received in our first class meeting. Most teachers now have your grades online. Letters will be sent to your home with the log in information you need to access the site. This information is confidential. DO NOT share them it other students.

A word about homework.

If you do all your homework, you will do well in the class. Be sure to keep up to date. If you get too far behind this semester, you will have difficulty catching up; especially if you are taking CC classes, participating in clubs & sports, or working. Do feel free to email me your written work at gbisson@cusd.net if you prefer not to print it out, BUT be certain that you get it in on time! All work is due at the beginning of class any day you are on campus. Also, be sure to add your work as a WORD attachment and put a message in your subject line so I know to open the message. If you come to school and leave early for any reason and don't come to class, you must get your work to me. You may email it, bring it by before school, after school, at nutrition, or at lunch. You may leave it in my box in the office (this is the least secure as there is no record of it and if I don't get it, you don't get credit - no argument.) You may NOT interrupt a class to give it to me.

Note About Grades for American Democracy

Before you check grades there are a few things you should know. I recently announced to all of my regular college prep class a three option homework schedule and they all look different in the gradebook. All options require the students to follow the daily reading schedule, attend class regularly and be on time, complete current events on schedule and do assigned projects and in-class activities.

Option 1: This option is recommended for students planning to go to college, especially a four year university, directly after high school. If done as instructed, it will help them develop valuable skills which will increase retention of material and cut down study time before tests. Students will take Cornell Notes as they do their reading. Instructions for how to take Cornell Notes are on the class website. It is recommended that these are done neatly in a spiral notebook dedicated solely to this class. Notebooks are turned in regularly on the days of the Unit tests.

Option 2: Students complete the Section Assessments as they do the day’s reading. Some days this will require the student to do assessments for multiple sections. These assessments are due daily. This option is recommended for chronic procrastinators who will save up other work until the night before a test and then do a poor job on both the homework and the test.

Option 3: Study Guides for each unit are posted on the class website. Student will download the Study Guide and, in a handwritten form on separate paper, per the guidelines in the Assignment Submissions section, define each of the vocabulary words and terms in their own words and completely answer all the questions (per the guidelines in the Writing Expectations section). This option is turned on the days of the Unit tests.

Communicate, communicate, communicate

If you need help, ask for it. I am here for you, you are not here for me. It is my goal to see that you all are exposed to the highest quality education available and are able to succeed in your academic goals. If you don't talk to me all I can do is guess what's going on with you. Are you not turning in your homework because you're lazy? Or are you working 40 hours a week? Did you just get in a car accident? If you don't talk, I don't know. The best I may have is rumor and how often are those accurate? If you can't talk to me at an appropriate time (instruction time is NEVER appropriate), I have email. (Be sure you identify yourself. I don't know who moonwalker91@ gmail.com is.)

I am generally in the classroom an hour before school, an hour after school, during lunch, and at nutrition. You can make an appointment or drop by. If I'm not here and my door is open or my lights are on, I'll be right back so you should wait.

Thousands From Terror-Sponsoring Nations Entering U.S. on 'Diversity Visas'

By Joseph Abrams

FOXNews.com

January 07, 2010

In the wake of the botched Christmas Day terror attack, members of Congress are worried that extremists could use the State Department's diversity visa lottery as a means of getting to the U.S.

The State Department is planning to welcome thousands of immigrants from terror-watch list countries into the United States this year through a "diversity visa" lottery -- a giant legal loophole some lawmakers say is a "serious national security threat" that has gone unchecked for years.

Ostensibly designed to increase ethnic diversity among immigrants, the program invites in thousands of poorly educated laborers with few job skills -- and that's only the beginning of its problems, according to lawmakers and government investigations.

"There are a lot of holes in this program in terms of security and in terms of fraud," said Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., who has written legislation aimed at killing the lottery.

Now, in the wake of the botched Christmas Day terror attack that emerged from Nigeria and Yemen, members of Congress are worried the system could be vulnerable to radicals looking to "play" the visa lottery as a means of reaching the U.S.

Here's how it works:

For complete story click link:

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/01/07/thousands-terror-sponsoring-nations-entering-diversity-visas/