Bible as Literature

Course Description

Bible as Literature is a one-year Bible course that gives you a great overview of the key themes and great stories of the Bible. During the first semester, we will be studying themes, stories and important people from the Old Testament. We will touch on the Ten Commandments, patterns from Psalms, lessons from Proverbs, man’s sin and consequences of sin. This course will also look at the Tabernacle’s construction, animal sacrifices, the nature of repentance, our responsibility to witness and how to stay pure. We will also learn about some of the prophets including, but not limited to Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and Malachi. The second semester we will be learning about key themes, great stories and important key people of the New Testament. Some of the things that we will learn about include Jesus birth, His ministry on earth, His death and resurrection, selection of the Disciples, and the Last Supper.

Please allow me to start off by saying that I consider it an honor and a privilege to be teaching this Bible class. After much prayer, I believe that this is what the Lord wants me to be doing, at this time. I am here to help “train up my students in the way they should go”, to encourage them in their relationship with Jesus and at times to challenge them.

Required Supplies Needed Every Day

Bible, “The Essential Bible Companion” Textbook, pens, binder for this particular class, lined paper and a class syllabus. (The students that seem to do real well in my classes are the ones that keep an organized binder of daily work!)

Bible Class Mantle Verse:

2 Timothy 3:16-17 – “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righ-teousness, so that the man of God ma be equipped for every good work.”

Goals

My goals are for each student to learn more about God’s Word, more about key themes from the Bible, and to be able to apply God’s Word to their lives as well as to see them grow in their relationship with Jesus.

Classroom Etiquette

My expectations are:

High. I expect my students to act appropriately – bearing in mind that they are in a Bible class, at a Christian high school.
That every student in my class diligently seeks excellence in all assignments given and will strive to do all of their work to God’s glory.
That students will be in their seats and ready to work when the tardy bell rings. Ready to work means having textbooks open and desks cleared of everything – backpacks, purses…(I do give tardy slips for those who are tardy!)
That students will raise their hands if and when they have a question for the teacher or information that they want to share with others.
That students will answer homework questions using complete sentences.
That each student treats others as Christ would wish for you to treat them. This includes respecting the rights and property of others.
That students will not eat or drink in the classroom. Bottled water is the only exception. (This means no gum!)
That water breaks, bathroom breaks and phone breaks will be taken at “break” time only! I hand out two bathroom passes per semester for the student to use, in case of emergency. If the passes aren’t used during the semester, student can turn them in with their semester final. Each pass is worth 20 points and will be added to their overall grade, if not used.
That student is responsible for knowing what assignments are missing. (It is your responsibility to keep up with your completed assignments. A well-organized notebook, along with a semester syllabus will reveal completed work and any work that has been omitted. Keeping all of your work will enable you to study for quizzes, tests and semester finals!)
That Foothills Christian High School’s Code of Conduct and Dress Code is strictly followed. (Nothing that goes against God and everything must be modest. Also, no hats are allowed on in the classroom.)
That cell phones will remain off and out of sight during class time. This means that you are not allowed to check them, text with them or use them in any way during Bible class. We will do our best to be good stewards with time. Bible class is for learning about God and His Word – let’s give our Creator what is due Him. In case of emergency, parents can get urgent messages to students by calling the school directly and going through the proper channels.
That notes being passed between students become mine. This is unacceptable and know ahead of time that if a note is found, it then becomes mine to either keep, and/or share with student’s parents or FCHS administration.
No unwholesome talk! Remember: with our tongues we either bless or curse. Our words and actions should always be edifying to others (Ephesians 4:29). Rude gestures, gossip, teasing, threatening, intimidating others, graffiti, and inappropriate language will not be permitted. (James 3:9-11; James 1:26; Psalm 19:14)
No defiant or rebellious attitudes.
That each student strives to be an example to the world – set apart!

Classroom Rules

Students must be in their seats and ready to work when the tardy bell rings. If a student is not in their seat when the tardy bell rings, he or she will be sent to the office for a tardy slip. Tardy slips will affect a student’s citizenship grade.
There will be absolutely no eating or drinking in the classroom, at any time. (This means NO gum!) The only exception is bottled water!
Cell phones will remain off and out of sight at all times during class! In case of an emergency, parents can get urgent messages to students by calling the school directly and going through the proper channels. If a student has something to say during class, either to ask a question or share information with others, they will always raise their hands and wait to be called on by the teacher.
Bathroom and water breaks will be taken at “break” time only! (During passing periods!) In case of emergency, student will use their bathroom pass that is given out at the beginning of the semester.

Discipline Policy

Proverbs 10:17 tells us that “He is on the path of life who heeds instruction, but he who ignores reproof goes astray.”

Hebrews 12:11 says, “All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.”

1st Infraction – Name goes on the board. Warning
2nd Infraction – Check mark after your name. Parental Notification
3rd Infraction – Check mark after your name. Office Referral

Grading Plan

“Bible as Literature” students earn their grades based upon a points system. Points are accumulated throughout the semester and their grade is based upon the total points that they have accumulated. The computer calculates their grade as I enter assignments. Your son or daughter will be available for you to view on our school’s website on a weekly basis. If, at any time, your son or daughter’s grade goes below a “C”, I will be notifying you through a parent communication form, which I will need to have returned the next day with your signature. I am in partnership with you and I want you to be informed as to how you child is doing in Bible class.

Points Breakdown:

Homework – 20 points
Quizzes – 50 points
Tests – 100 points
Projects – 100-200 points
Semester Finals 200 points

It is important for my students to do their homework daily – 2 missing homework assignments would be a loss of 40 points. Studying for quizzes / tests is also important. It’s not hard to fall behind fast!

Conduct:

Grades for conduct will be awarded as follows:

E – Excellent 0-2 minor infractions
S – Satisfactory 3-4 minor infractions
N – Needs improvement 1 major infraction; 5-6 minor infractions
U – Unsatisfactory 2 or more major infractions; 7 or more minor infractions

Grading Scale:

A+ 98-100% 4.0
A 93-97 4.0
A- 90-92 3.8
B+ 88-89 3.5
B 83-87 3.0
B- 80-82 2.8
C+ 78-79 2.5
C 73-77 2.0
C- 70-72 1.8
D+ 68-69 1.5
D 63-67 1.0
D- 60-62 0.8
F 0-59 0.0

Daily Class Work:

Daily Class work will consist of prayer, PTA’s (Prime Time Assignment), reviewing homework assignments and previous day’s lessons and new lesson (which includes reading textbook assignment, Bible passage and completing lesson worksheet).

Homework Policy:

Homework will be turned in at the beginning of class on the day that it is due. If it is turned in after the beginning of class, it will be considered “Late” and you will only receive half credit for the assignment. It will no longer be accepted after Thursday of the same week it is due and you will receive a “0” for that assignment if it hasn’t been turned in.

Monday/Friday Homework:

School work will be assigned on Mondays and Fridays. For specifics, watch the bulletin board in class, check your class sylla-bus, and check on “Moodle”. Monday work will generally be on Moodle. Some exceptions may happen on occasion.

Extra Credit:

Extra Credit is not a “bail out” program for those who have not kept up with the class workload. Extra credit may be assigned to students who have completed all of their assignments and are still not satisfied with their grade. Extra credit assignments will not be awarded/accepted during the last 2 weeks of the semester. Students may receive only one extra credit assignment per semester for a maximum of 50 extra credit points.