8th Grade United States History

Mrs. Hayes

Contact Information:

lhayes@greensburg.k12.in.us

School Phone:  812-663-7523

Prep period is 1st Period Each Day

Cell Phone: 812-371-6572

(Call before 8 p.m. please)

Classroom Rules:

• Be in your seat and ready to work when the bell STARTS to ring.  Otherwise you will be counted tardy. My first rule of thumb is that my class starts as soon as the bell rings each day and we continue to work until the end of the period when we are dismissed by the bell.   Being on time and working for the entire period is essential.
• Do your own work.  Giving or receiving information with the intent of using it as your own is cheating.  Do not let others copy your work and use it as their own.  Doing so allows you to participate in the cheating process as well.
• Be here EVERY day.  Attendance is VERY IMPORTANT.  Every effort should be made to be here EVERY DAY! 
• Respect others and expect others to respect you.

Requirements For the Class: (History Survival Kit) EVERY DAY…bring five (5) things to my class:  Book, Purple Spiral, Purple Folder, Pen/Pencil, Agenda.  Closed lunch will be assigned each time you forget one of these items.  It is essential you bring necessary materials to class EVERY day.

Expectations: My expectations for you are that you learn U.S. History, Civics and Citizenship and grow as individuals.  Physical growth will come with the passing of the year but we will be working on intellectual and emotional growth.   The possibilities are endless!

Extra Credit: AR reading is required for every 8th grader.  I will give you the opportunity to “double dip” on points if you choose.  Read an AR book that has to do with U.S. History, pass the test with at least an 80% and I will give you 5 extra credit points for each book   You may receive up to 25 points per 9 weeks for extra credit from AR.  You must bring to me a PRINTED copy of your results.  Your teachers and Mrs. Knight know you will need a copy of the results.  So…Read, Read, Read!  When in doubt about the book, check with me, Mrs. Knight, Mrs. Smith, Mrs.Owens or Mr Slaven. Remember, it must contain information about United States History. It also may be either fiction or non fiction.  If it is a biography the individual must be deceased.

Grading Scale:

A+…..100                              

A……93-99

A-…..90-92

B+….87-89

B…...83-86

B-…..80-82

C+….77-79

C……73-76

C-…..70-72

D+….67-69

D…..63-66

D-….60-62

F…...0-59

Classroom Assistants:  If you are interested in being a classroom assistant please see me.  You must be able to complete the daily bell work QUICKLY each day.  Your responsibilities will include but not be limited to passing out graded papers from the class period basket, keeping  track of homework assignments and worksheets for absent students, paper clipping and putting them in “absent basket” and running errands for Mrs. Hayes.  Remember, you must be a quick starter, self motivator, and goal oriented.  Your work will be in addition to what everyone else does in class. 

 Homework Rule:

If you forget to do or bring your homework to class you will have the following options:

1. First time you will be able to attend Lunch Detention and turn the work in at the end of the detention.  You must serve the entire LUNCH DETENTION, eating in the room with the teacher.  Lunch detention is located in room 234.  You will be given ½ credit for the assignment. 

 OR

       2. You may attend a Homework Club on Monday or Thursday from 3:05 to 3:45 to receive full credit.  The homework must be made up within a week of 

           the due date.  The assignment must be turned into the Homework Club teacher and you must attend the entire period and be in good standing while you

           are there. 

         The second time you forget the homework we will take the previous steps but you will also call your parents and let them know this is the second time it has

         happened.  The third time you will take the previous steps of Detention or Homework Club, calling parents plus sitting down with Mrs. Hayes and

        developing a plan of action for not repeating this behavior.

I understand that people forget.  We all do.  This policy is intended for you as a student to be able to make up work and it not have a devastating impact on your grade.  It is not intended to replace work being completed and turned in to me on time.  If you have questions, please feel free to contact me or see me before school, at lunch, my prep during 6th period, or after school.  My goal is for you to grow and learn history.  If you forget, take responsibility for your actions; get the situation taken care of in a timely fashion. 

Student Name____________________________________________________________

Parent Signature __________________________________________________________

Date  ___________________________________________________________________

Quiz Retake:

If you score less than a 70% on any quiz given in 8th grade U.S. History Class you have the opportunity to retake it to raise your grade.  The highest you may score on a retake test is a 70%.  You will be able to take the test as many times as you see fit in four days following the given date of the test.    However, the quiz must be made up on your time and again the highest score you may receive is a 70%. You must show intent to retake by contacting me the day of return or the next day at the latest. 

If you have any questions please contact me before school, during homeroom, at lunch, during my prep 1st period or after school. 

Thanks!

Mrs. Hayes

Student Name____________________________________________________________

Parent Signature __________________________________________________________

Date  ___________________________________________________________________

8th Grade U. S. History Course Syllabus

Course Concepts and Generalizations

1. Students will examine the relationship and significance of themes, concepts, and

movements in the development of United States history, including review of key ideas related to the discovery, exploration, and colonization of America, the revolution and founding era. This will be followed by emphasis on social reform, national development and westward expansion, the Civil War and Reconstruction period.

2. Students will explain the major principles, values and institutions of constitutional

government and citizenship, which are based in the founding documents of the United States.

3. Students will explain how earth/sun relationships affect the atmospheric and oceanic

circulation system the seasons, climate, and use latitude and longitude to find exact locations of places. They will identify and categorize the major geographic characteristics of the United States and other regions. They will also name and locate the major physical features of the United States, each of the states, and all major cities, and use geographic skills and technology to examine the influence of geographic factors on national development, both in the past and today.

4. Students will identify, describe, and evaluate the influence of economic factors on

national development from the founding of the nation to the end of Reconstruction.

5. Students will examine the influence of individuals, ideas, and cultural movements in the development of the United States; consider the impact of scientific and technological developments on cultural life, and analyze the importance of artistic expression in the development of the American nation.