U.S. History Classroom Procedures
Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past. - George Orwell
Grading
A student’s grade for the semester will be determined by the grades made in the following areas:
- Tests – 25%
- Classwork – 20%
- Projects – 25%
- Quizzes – 20%
- Homework – 10 %
Prepared for Class
- Coming to class prepared and ready to learn is important to academic success.
- Make sure that you have a pen or pencil, and your notebook and folders with any papers I have given out previously.
- If you are unprepared for class it will count against classwork
- Once the bell has rung you should be sitting in your assigned seat; there should be no talking.
- If there is homework due it should be out on your desk.
- The general rule is you do not leave your seat unless the lesson requires it.
- If you need to use the lavatory or leave the room for any other purpose, raise your hand and wait until you are acknowledged.
- There will be times when I ask you to wait a few minutes before using the lavatory.
- Return to class promptly.
- If you need to leave your seat for another reason, such as to use a tissue, let me know and I’ll get you the box.
- If you need to put something in the trash do it before the bell rings or on your way out of class.
Participating in Class
- When you want to participate in class, raise your hand and wait for me to call on you.
- Try to keep your comments relevant to what we are discussing.
- One way to connect what we study in class to the larger world is through reading and understanding current events.
- The summary sheets require you to summarize the article and to connect to the world and your own life.
- Each current event and summary sheet should take 30 to 60 minutes to complete and are a fun and interesting way to raise your grade.
Homework, Project & Papers
- If you are late with an assignment you will lose points, however, you should do the work anyhow as a lower grade is better than receiving a zero on the assignment.
- There will be a major project every marking period. Projects are worth 20% of your grade. Not handing in a project will significantly impact your grade – it is the number one reason that students will fail this class.
- If you miss class see me before class begins when you return. I will give you any handouts or assignments that you’ve missed.
- If you are out the day an assignment is due, hand it in on the day that you return. Place it in the late basket on my desk and mark absent on it – MAKE SURE YOUR NAME IS ON THE PAPER.
- If you need an explanation on what you have missed, see me during study hall. I will pre-sign your personal pass so you may leave your study hall room.
- If you have missed class notes, get them from a classmate, or you can usually get them under the chapter on the website - they are almost always a PowerPoint slide show.
- Missed assignments, quizzes and tests should be made as quickly as possible.
- Late assignments may be handed in for reduced credit until we complete that unit.
- It is your job to know what work you have missed; you should check with me periodically to make sure that you have completed all assignments.
- Missing assignments will be recorded as a zero in my grade book.
- When there are approximately 30 seconds to one minute left, I will announce that you should start clearing your desks and putting away your pens, pencils and papers.
- If we are working with classroom materials such as books, pencils, or calculators, I will make this announcement sooner so they can be returned orderly and properly.
- DO NOT leave your seat before the bell rings, when the bell rings, wait for me to dismiss the class.
- Spiral bound notebook – this notebook should be exclusively for History – do not mix information from other subjects in it. This may also be a section in a larger 3 ring binder. You should bring it to class everyday.
- Two pocket portfolios or folders (only for history!). One is for the current unit, the other for past work.
- Other supplies: Set of colored pencils (you may share with other subjects such as Science), highlighters and a ruler.