World Geography

Ronald E. McNair Highschool

Department of Social Studies
Fall 2025

Instructor: Samuel Anthony1

Email: [email protected] | Phone: 470-682-3020
Communication Hours: M-F— 8-5pm2

Course Description: This course will be a foundational overview and entry into World Geography. You will
be exploring the contexts and rationales of how geographical factors influence human behavior in Africa, North
and South America, Asia, and Antarctica. While the benchmark of the course will be to demonstrate proficient
mastery of World Geography subject matter and the subsequent skills that are needed to achieve that mastery
we will and must go beyond the conventional orchestrations or “make up” that informs our understanding of
“World Geography." What this means is that you will leave this course with a keen critical interrogation of the
nature and limitations of the material world around you as we will explore and emphasize culturally diverse
topics pertaining to language, culture, politics, social relations and economics. The thematic topics students will
be assessed on will be Physical Geo, Cultural Geo, Political Geo, Population Geo, and Economic Geo. The
overall course objective and aim shall constantly reference a non-linear approach to history regarding
contemporary issues surrounding the notion of World Geography underpinned by a course compelling
question: In what ways are the developments of human livelihood dependent upon geography? In
what manners to civilizations differ based upon geographical relations?

Norms: If any norms are violated a reaffirmation academic/social assignment will be required in order for
students to be allowed back into the academic community. This could look like writing a short form reflection
about their actions, how they affected the community, and how they will hold themselves accountable going
forward. These affirmation assignments are expected to reframe their understanding of growth, responsibility,
and maturity as young scholars. These assignments will be expected to be signed by parents and students before
being submitted.
● A positive person of color language is the only language to be used.
● Cellphones while in my class are to be put away or in a secured cellphone locker until the end of class.
● Participation is non-negotiable.
● Communicate about where you are, and how you are doing.
● No bathroom breaks during the first and last 10 minutes of class.
● Respect others and myself the way they want to be respected!

1 I am an Alumni of Howard University where I earned my B.A. in Afro-American studies. Currently, I am a graduating
Master’s Student in Africana Studies at Georgia State University. I am a published scholar, and community organizer
predominantly serving Black youth and people of color in the advancement and advocacy of their self-determining efforts.
2 If needed you may contact me on sundays, as this day is a critical prep and grading day.
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Cellphone policy: If you are caught on your cellphone during class you will be warned ONCE. After that your
phone will be confiscated until the end of class. If you do not cooperate your parents will be notified and you
will possibly lose future privileges regarding class-work flexibility and academic achievement celebrations.

Learning Responsibilities: Students are responsible for turning in assignments, participating, and showing
great characters. As long as they show up and show out they will without a doubt pass, and learn a tremendous
amount of information in this course.

(Un)Grading: Grading in the American public school systems has contributed to repressive disciplining
measures and traumatization of predominantly people of color. My teaching practice will resist this as best as
possible. Grades will be primarily measured on a satisfactory or unsatisfactory scale. From there based on the
level of mastery a percentage will be assigned. Students will be expected to submit all missing work by the final
grading date of the first term for the Fall semester. This course is an academic safe-space so I will offer a
multiplicity of revisions to ensure the level of mastery of skill and subject-matter is achieved.

DISTRICT EXPECTATIONS FOR SUCCESS

STUDENT Semester progress reports shall be issued four and a half, nine and thirteen and a half weeks into each
PROGRESS semester. The progress of students shall be evaluated frequently and plans shall be generated to remediate
deficiencies as they are discovered. Plans shall include appropriate interventions designed to meet the needs
of the students. See Board Policy IH.
ACADEMIC Students will not engage in an act of academic dishonesty including, but not limited to, cheating, providing
INTEGRITY false information, falsifying school records, forging signatures, or using an unauthorized computer user ID
or password. ANY WORK SUBMITTED THROUGH CHAT GPT OR ANY ARTIFICIAL
INTELLIGENCE FRAME WORK WILL BE PENIALIZED WITH AN IMMEDIATE ZERO. See
the Code of Student Conduct - Student Rights and Responsibilities and Character Development
Handbook.
HOMEWORK Homework assignments should be meaningful and should be an application or adaptation of a classroom
experience. Homework is at all times an extension of the teaching/learning experience. It should be
considered the possession of the student and should be collected, evaluated and returned to the students. See
Board Policy IHB.
MAKE-UP When a student is absent because of a legal reason as defined by Georgia law or when the absence is
WORK apparently beyond the control of the student, the student shall be given an opportunity to earn grade(s) for
DUE TOthose days absent. Make-up work must be completed within the designated time allotted. See Board Policy
ABSENCES IHEA.

(Expectation) Grading Scale:

GRADING CATEGORIES *GRADE PROTOCOL
 World Geography
Formative and Diagnostic Assessments – 0% A 90 – 100 ~P (pass)
Assessment Tasks (Skills & Homework) – 25% B 80 – 89 ~F (fail)
Classwork (Guided, Independent, and Group Practice) – 45% C 71 – 79
Quizzes, Tests, and Projects – 30% D 70
F Below 70

Infinite Campus:
Your student’s grades and attendance are posted weekly in Infinite Campus. I encourage you to log in on a
computer or download the app to your smart phone. This will allow you to be up to date with their current
averages, missing assignments, and any attendance issues. *If you are unfamiliar with this program or need help
accessing the data, please contact school administration.*

Canvas:
Your student’s assignments for the week will be posted to Canvas every Friday morning/evening. This allows
for students to be aware of the week’s expectations prior to the coming week as well as assist if they are absent at
any point in the week. I am able to pair you as an observer so you can see all assignments.

Submission: Any work submitted after a due-date will only lose one letter grade. So, the max late assignments
can achieve are 89/B+. Class-work that is missing will receive an “M” in the grade book which holds the place of
a zero to alert you. You will have until the end of the term to turn in any missing work. There is no way for you
to fail if you try. But if you do not try you will fail. However, I will do everything in my power to prevent that,
so good luck!

Incompletions: Incomplete work will always be able to be revised. If the unfinished work is not resolved then
that assignment will be marked as a “M” and will be weighted as a zero until it is finalized as a grade.

Socio-Emotional Wellbeing/Covid 19 Protocol: If students are absent because of covid related illness
proper support will be provided given medical documentation is submitted to the school. If students are
experiencing adverse challenges they will be referred to the SAFE center and proper academic support and
resources will be given to ensure the master skills and subject matter regarding potential supplemental academic
work.

Academic Uncertainty/Dissatisfaction:
Extracredit: There will be several ongoing extracredit assignments and tasks offered regarding the
intersections between geographic relations and Black life to classroom sustainability/decorum.

EXTRA HELP Tutorial/ office hours will be offered after school on Fridays until 4:30PM. However this
is tentative and is subject to change!
PARENTS AS Parents are the best partners for student success. Please feel free to reach out to me for
 World Geography
PARTNERS any way I can help your child succeed in World Geography this semester.

Parent Contact Information

Student name: ____Kaniyah Robinson___________________________________________________

Parent name: _____ Mylandria Ponder___________________________________________________
Parent email address:
[email protected]_____________________________________________________________
_
Parent contact number: _470-426-5737______________________________________________
Communication availability (time) ____anytime_____________

I prefer to be contacted via:

___x___ text message
___x___phone call

Are you familiar with Infinite Campus?

___x___I know how to access my student’s grades via Infinite Campus.
______I do NOT know how to use Infinite Campus. Please provide additional instructions.

Would you like to connect as a parent observer to our online Canvas classroom? This allows you to observe
your child's progress in their courses, including assignments, grades, and announcements. I will email the code
and instructions.
___x___ Yes
______No

Parent Signature: _mylandriaponder__________________________________________________