Ag 410: Personal Skill Development

Coarse Description

Students will be involved in developing leadership skills. This course is designed to prepare students to become good leaders in FFA, other leadership roles, and the job place.

Students will demonstrate an understanding of:

            • FFA

            • Personal Development

            • Leadership Skills

            • Parliamentary Procedures

            • Public Speaking

            • Extemporaneous Speaking

            • Community service

            • Peer and Youth Education

·  Presentations and Computer Aided/Material Aided Presentations

 

Personal Skills Development is a semester long course structured around activities of the National FFA Organization.

Instructional Philosophy

Students will be expected to meet all course goals and be able to demonstrate the underlying concepts of leadership. They will develop a good work ethic in a variety of individual and group settings. Students will be given the opportunity to think critically, work independently and in groups, and develop interpersonal and team abilities. They will accomplish tasks by using a combination of academic and vocational skills. Students will learn through experiments, research projects, problem solving and computer applications. They will be evaluated based on performance, completion of tasks, examinations, and demonstration of skills. Community resources will be utilized including guest lecture, field trips, and career shadowing.

Coarse Goals

            • Identify basic components of being a good leader

            • Demonstrate an understanding of the National FFA Organization

            • Develop speaking and leadership skills

            • Demonstrate the ability to work in groups to complete tasks

            • Demonstrate the ability to speak and present ideas to a group

            • Plan, Prepare, and Facilitate group activities


Classroom Rules and Values

The general value for this class is RESPECT.

This means use clean language, listen to others when the speak, speak in turn, and don’t do anything to anyone or anything that you wouldn’t want to have happen to you or your property.

 

1. No talking when teacher is talking or when others have the floor

2. Cheating of any kind will NOT be tolerated. Zeros will be given if you choose to use other people’s work.

3. Take care of the classroom and shop and all items in them.  More labs and hands-on activities will be available to classes/students that show they can handle working with items without destroying them.

4. The tardy bell (end of break time) means be in your seat ready to go, or you WILL be tardy.

 

ALL school rules will be followed and enforced as outlined in your student handbooks.

 

Classroom Procedures

1. Students that listen, read and follow directions when they are given the FIRST time will have the opportunity for help later

2. Students that work diligently and stay on task will be allowed to visit quietly and move around the classroom as situations allow.

3. Enter the building through the main doors so you can wipe your feet and keep weather and debris from coming into the classroom.

4. The teachers’ offices are off-limits to students unless direct permission is given.  If you respect our space, we will respect yours.

5.Most bookwork will be done in the classroom if you use your time efficiently and keep from wasting it. However, if it is necessary to take a book home, the class is not staying on task, or problems arise, books will be checked it out through the teacher and homework will be done.

5. All assignments and papers are due at the due dates—late turn-ins will be subject to point deductions and/or not accepted.  Students can make up 3 “0’s” each grading term, but for only 75% of the points allowed.

6. Redo’s for all work will be permitted with all redo work being done within 1 week of the assignment being returned from the teacher and the redo grade and original grade being averaged.

7. If you are absent, it is YOUR responsibility to talk to the teacher to get make-up work. If you are absent on assignment turn in date, it will be due at the next class period that you are present. School policy on make-up or missed work is you have 2 calendar days per day missed to complete and hand-in work.  Advanced makeup must be done in advance.

8.  Extra credit will be available for all classes.  Extra credit assignments and opportunities must be pre-approved and arranged with the teacher.  Extra credit will not be given if the student has zeros.  Extra credit can also be earned by participating in FFA activities above the chapter level.

Grading Criteria

Grading will be based on a combination of scores from tests, quizzes, tasks, presentations, and assorted homework. There will be a minimum of two grades a week with a unit test or project approximately every three weeks.

 

All students are encouraged to have a 3-ring notebook or folder to keep handouts, papers, tests, quizzes, notes, etc. A couple pens and pencils and notebook paper should be stored in the notebook.  Students are encouraged to leave these notebooks/folders in the storage spaces in the agricultural classroom.

 

Each student needs access to there own computer date storage device. I recommend a PC compatible ZIP disk or Flash Drive, but 2-3, 3 ˝ disks will usually work. You will not be  able to save on the computers this year and the teacher will NOT provide any storage devices. You are not able to access your storage space on the server from this building.  If you don’t save it to your device, you won’t have it!

 

Each student in an agriculture class will be required to keep a Supervised Agricultural Experience project record book. Students will be expected to have a project of some sort to keep records on. Record books will be graded at regularly throughout the semester.

 

Points will be distributed as follows:

Tests, Quizzes, Projects 45%

Tasks, Presentations, Homework 45%

FFA Record Book 10%