Us History 8 Policies

8th Grade U.S.
History 2013-2014 Class

Policies
Mrs. Kwiatkowski Room 5
To Students and Parents/Guardians: Welcome! These guidelines are intended
to promote cooperation, understanding, and to encourage student learning and
responsibility. Both student and parent(s) need to read and sign the attached
agreement form. Students should return the signed form to school by the date
indicated on the form. Please keep this document in your binder at all times! Please
also keep in mind that I reserve the right to alter any rules or policies throughout the
year as necessary.
Course Description
This course covers the major topics of early American history, including the
settlement of North America, the forming of the colonies, the American Revolution,
the origins of our Constitution, the growth of the United States, the events leading to
the Civil War and the war itself, and Reconstruction. Students will use both primary
and secondary sources to examine key themes and topics throughout these eras.
Coursework will include projects, written compositions, tests and quizzes, as well as
daily homework.
Grading
Your grade for this class is calculated out of total points. Tests, quizzes, and projects
are worth more points than everyday homework and class work. Some assignments
will be checked and graded based on completion and others will be turned in and
scored on a more thorough basis.
The grading scale can be found in the Student Handbook and is also posted in the
classroom.
Expectations and Guidelines for Success

1. Be prompt
You need to be in your seat when the bell rings, otherwise you will be
marked tardy. Being prompt also means meeting deadlines for assignments
and projects.
2. Be prepared
Students are responsible for bringing all needed materials to class each
day:
completed homework
binder (at least one inch)
textbook
something to write with (dark ink pens only)
3. Be positive
You are expected to have a positive attitude in this class. Positive behavior
includes participating in class, paying attention/listening, not being
disruptive, encouraging and helping your classmates, etc.
4. Be productive
You are responsible for using time in class productively. There should never
be a time when you are sitting at your desk doing nothing! Class ends when
I dismiss you, not at the bell. Furthermore, please do not pack up your
materials more than a minute before the bell is to ring.
5. Be polite
All comments made in class should be respectful in nature. Also, students
should listen courteously when someone else is speaking; this also means
that your head should not be down on your desk at any time! This also
includes treating the classroom environment, including school property,
respectfully.
If you choose to not follow the given rules, you will receive the following
consequences:
1. Warning
2. Separated from others or asked to leave the classroom; meeting with me
3. Sent to the principals office receive a zero on participation points, work done
in class AND homework for that day. You will also be written up and may
receive discipline points.
Late Work
Students are expected to complete assignments on time. This includes in-class work
and homework. Late is considered any time after homework is collected by me. On
the occasion that homework is late, it can still be turned in for partial credit. You can
turn homework in ONE day late for half of the earned credit. Homework will NOT be
accepted more than one day late. Major projects can be turned in late with a 20%
reduction in earned credit for each day the project is late. No late work will be
accepted the last two weeks of the marking period.
Late Homework Pass

Each marking period, you will receive one late homework pass. You can use this on
any homework assignment, but NOT on a project. If you forget your homework, you
can use your homework pass to turn the assignment in ONE DAY late without
penalty. If you dont use your Late Homework Pass, you will receive 1% extra credit
on your final marking period grade.
Absence Policies
1. Students who are absent from school are still responsible for completing any
work missed. Always check the Absent Folder for worksheets missed. It is
YOUR responsibility to come and see me for missing work. See me
before or after school, at lunch, during seminar or zero hour, or during work
time at the end of class, if it is given that day.
2. For excused absences, students have equivalent time to make up the work
that they missed. For example, if you are out sick for two days, you have two
days to hand in the assignments you missed while you were gone.
3. Any assignments students know about in advance are due the day
they return. Likewise, quizzes and tests that students knew about in
advance will be taken the day they return to school. Failure to make
up the assessment in a timely manner will result in a ZERO.
4. Pre-arranged absences: If you have a pre-arranged absence form and are
going to be gone more than three days and would like your work ahead of
time, you must notify me IN WRITING at least one week before you leave. All
assignments given for pre-arranged absences are due on the day you return to
school. Failure to turn in assignments on the day you return to school will
result in a failing grade for ALL assignments. It is YOUR responsibility to turn
the assignments in to me I will not hunt you down for them.
5. Extended Vacations Please keep in mind that when you take an extended
vacation, you are missing invaluable instructional time. It is difficult to
maintain a high grade when missing large chunks of school.
Passes
Each quarter, you are allowed two (2) passes to be used for bathroom, drinking
fountain, or locker. Once your two passes are used, you will have to wait for the next
marking period for your next set of passes. Therefore, use your passes wisely! Are
you really that thirsty? Any unused passes will count for 1% extra credit each on
your final marking period grade. No extra credit for passes will be granted for
students with 3 or more missing assignments OR 4 or more absences per marking
period.
Extra Credit
Extra credit is not offered on an individual basis; when it is given, every student has
an equal opportunity to earn it. Always be ready for an extra credit opportunity!
They can appear on tests, when essays are due, and at random times. Be careful!
Dont expect extra credit to make up for required work you didnt do. Extra credit
opportunities, when they arise, are typically worth only a small amount of points. At
the end of each semester, students can earn 1% extra credit to be applied to their
semester exam by showing that they have kept this policy sheet in their binder (will
be checked on day of exam).
Participation
Each week, you will start out with 20 participation points. Violations of class
expectations or school rules will result in points being deducted off your weekly
grade. If you are on time to class and participate in the discussion/activity, you will
keep your full credit. Behaviors that will result in the loss of participation points
include being tardy, not using your time wisely, not participating during class,
sleeping, being disruptive, etc. An unexcused absence will automatically result in a
maximum of half credit for that weeks participation grade.
Plagiarism and Cheating

Plagiarism and cheating will not be tolerated. Students caught cheating or
plagiarizing on any assignment (homework, quiz, test, essay, etc.) will receive a
zero for that grade. Cheating and plagiarizing includes, but is not limited to, the
following:
1. Copying another students work or allowing other students to copy yours.
2. Having a parent complete an assignment.
3. Using cheat sheets of any kind during a quiz or test, or looking at another
students quiz or test.
4. Using electronic devices of any kind during a quiz or test.
5. Copying material from any resource, including the Internet, without properly
citing the source where the information was gathered.

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8th Grade U.S.

History 2013-2014 Class

Expectations and Guidelines for Success

Late Homework Pass

Plagiarism and Cheating

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