8th Grade American History Syllabus

 

WHAT IS THIS COURSE ABOUT?
We will investigate the development of the United States from the original colonies through the American Civil War.

GENERAL OBJECTIVES OF THE COURSE
To recognize and understand the major crossroads which our country has endured.
To gain an understanding of how and why our country has developed the way that it has.
To help the student acquire a sense of the United States from the original colonies through the American Revolution.

OUTLINE OF THE COURSE
Textbook: The American Republic to 1877
Unit 1: Different Worlds Meet- how the New World was settled
Unit 2: Colonial Settlement- the establishment of the original colonies
Unit 3: Creating a Nation- the War for Independence and the drafting of our Constitution
Unit 4: The New Republic- the struggles of our nation in its infancy
Unit 5: The Growing Nation-Westward Expansion
Unit 6: The Civil War and Reconstruction- the war that threatened to end our nation and our rebuilding the nation from the rubble

HOW I DETERMINE GRADES

Assessments- Unit Tests/ Quizes/ Major Projects= 60%

Assignments/ Daily Work= 25%

Comprehensive Semester Final= 15%

 

I break this down below:

60% of the grade comes from summative assessments given through unit tests/ projects and chapter quizzes.

25% of the grade comes from daily work, notes, and informal assessments. Any work not turned in on the due date will receive a 30% of the graded work; grade will not be below a 60%. Any work that is not turned in within two days of the due date will receive a 0% for the grade. I will accept school work within the unit that it was given. Once we take the test for a given unit, I will not accept work. If you are absent from school, any work that was assigned before your absence will be due when you return. This does include tests. Test retakes will be given only if a student scores below a 70% on the test and only one retake will be allowed. All homework must be complete before retake is given. This retake maybe the same test or a test written at a harder level. The harder level test is used to motivate the student to study the first time. For example, the first test maybe a multiple choice test and the second test a fill-in-the-blank without a word bank given or a short constructed response test.

SEMESTER FINAL
A comprehensive final is given at the end of each semester. This means that all information that is covered within the semester will be covered on the final. This final is 15% of the semester grade.

MAJOR CLASSROOM PROCEDURES
Classroom Conduct
- Be ready, in your seat, and working on the Bell Work for the day when the bell rings.
- Be in your assigned seat.
- The bell does not dismiss class, the teacher does.
- Be respectful, be responsible, be on time, and be a learner.

After an excused absence, you have 3 school days to turn in missing work for full credit. After an excused absence, students will have 3 school days to complete a missing quiz/test. Few situations may require for some work to be completed before the third day has expired, example: End of quarter.

Tardies
A tardy = not being in the room and prepared for class when the bell begins to ring.
School policy will be used concerning consequences for tardies.

Cheating and Inappropriate Behavior
Anyone caught cheating will receive a zero for the assignment.

For minor classroom disruptions, the student will be given a student reflective form. This form focuses on helping students make a plan for improving behavior in the classroom. An alternative consequence may be applied, rather than being given a referral to the office.

All major or chronic misbehavior will be referred to and dealt with by the building administration.

Textbooks:
Books will be kept in the classroom. If a student needs to check a book out, they will go through the proper process and be allowed to check a textbook out for up to five school days at a time. At the end of five school days, the student must bring the textbook back to school and check it out again if needed. Each book has a replacement cost of $98.44. If the student loses or damages the book, they will be held liable for replacing the book.

PARENT/GUARDIAN
Please review this syllabus with your student. If you have any questions, email me at (isouthwick@lebanon.K12.mo.us). Email is my primary method of contact. Thank you.