US History US History SyllabusSyllabus

Brian StricklandBrian Strickland

TextbookTextbook The Americans,The Americans, McDougal Littell Inc., Copyright McDougal Littell Inc., Copyright

20032003

The American's is a typical high school text that The American's is a typical high school text that covers United States history from the ancient covers United States history from the ancient civilizations that inhabited North America to the civilizations that inhabited North America to the present time. The text will be used as reference present time. The text will be used as reference material along with other required reading material along with other required reading provided by the instructor. Library research, provided by the instructor. Library research, guest speakers, videos, the Internet, guest speakers, videos, the Internet, newsmagazines, newspapers, and handouts will newsmagazines, newspapers, and handouts will also be used to access information.also be used to access information.

Course DescriptionCourse DescriptionThis course is designed to inform students This course is designed to inform students about who they are as citizens of the about who they are as citizens of the United States and how past events have United States and how past events have shaped the world we live in today. We will shaped the world we live in today. We will concentrate on the following historical concentrate on the following historical periods: Constitutional period, major periods: Constitutional period, major events of the 19th century, World War I, events of the 19th century, World War I, the Depression, World War II, the the Depression, World War II, the beginning of the Cold War, the 1960's, and beginning of the Cold War, the 1960's, and the last 30 years. the last 30 years.

Daily AssignmentsDaily Assignments

All daily assignments which includes All daily assignments which includes reading of chapters, worksheets, etc. reading of chapters, worksheets, etc. are to be completed in the proper are to be completed in the proper time frame.time frame.

No Late work will be accepted.No Late work will be accepted.

The student(s) are responsible The student(s) are responsible for any assignments and class for any assignments and class notes if they are absent.notes if they are absent.

Grade PolicyGrade Policy

50% from daily work50% from daily work

50% from major test50% from major test

Chapter TestsChapter Tests

All tests will consists of multiple All tests will consists of multiple choice, true/false, essay or short choice, true/false, essay or short answer.answer.

Grading PoliciesGrading PoliciesRe-teach/re-assess shall be an option for students Re-teach/re-assess shall be an option for students at all grade levels as set forth in administrative at all grade levels as set forth in administrative regulations.regulations.Results of 6-week assessments shall be included Results of 6-week assessments shall be included as a grade in the computation of 6-week grades as a grade in the computation of 6-week grades as set forth in administrative regulations and shall as set forth in administrative regulations and shall serve as benchmarks to determine re-teach serve as benchmarks to determine re-teach activities/intervention programs, curriculum activities/intervention programs, curriculum revisions, and instructional revisions, and instructional modifications/adjustsments.modifications/adjustsments.Standards for the appropriate use of grammar, Standards for the appropriate use of grammar, spelling, and punctuation shall be established for spelling, and punctuation shall be established for all grade levels according to grade level-TEKS as all grade levels according to grade level-TEKS as set forth in administrative regulations.set forth in administrative regulations.

TardiesTardiesYou are to be in your assigned seat when You are to be in your assigned seat when the bell rings.the bell rings.If you are not in your seat when the bell If you are not in your seat when the bell rings. rings. Students who are tardy to class will be Students who are tardy to class will be subject to disciplinary action. A student is subject to disciplinary action. A student is tardy when the student is not in the tardy when the student is not in the classroom when the bell rings. classroom when the bell rings. Disciplinary action will be assigned when a Disciplinary action will be assigned when a student is tardy to class.student is tardy to class.

AttendanceAttendanceTo receive credit in the class, a student To receive credit in the class, a student must attend at least 90 percent of the must attend at least 90 percent of the days the class is offered. A student who days the class is offered. A student who attends fewer than 90 percent of the days attends fewer than 90 percent of the days the class is offered may be referred to the the class is offered may be referred to the attendance review committee to attendance review committee to determine whether there are extenuating determine whether there are extenuating circumstances for the absences and how circumstances for the absences and how the student can regain credit.the student can regain credit.

ConductConductAs required by law, the board has As required by law, the board has adopted a Student Code of Conduct adopted a Student Code of Conduct that prohibits certain behaviors and that prohibits certain behaviors and establishes standards of acceptable establishes standards of acceptable behavior-both on and off campus-and behavior-both on and off campus-and consequences for violation of the consequences for violation of the standards. Students need to be standards. Students need to be familiar with the standards set out in familiar with the standards set out in the Student Code of Conduct, as well the Student Code of Conduct, as well as campus and classroom rules.as campus and classroom rules.

Identification BadgesIdentification Badges

Students will be required to wear Students will be required to wear their photo identification badges at their photo identification badges at all times during regular school hours all times during regular school hours and while being transported to and and while being transported to and from school on the District from school on the District transportation. Failure to do so shall transportation. Failure to do so shall result in disciplinary action as result in disciplinary action as outlined in the Student Code of outlined in the Student Code of Conduct.Conduct.

Student Mode of DressStudent Mode of DressAll students All students enrolled at a school enrolled at a school with a Standard with a Standard Mode of Dress Mode of Dress Policy must follow Policy must follow the District Dress the District Dress Code as well as the Code as well as the mode of dress mode of dress regulations of the regulations of the campus they are campus they are attending.attending.

Restroom PoliciesRestroom PoliciesYou may not go to the You may not go to the restroom during the first restroom during the first 10 minutes of class and 10 minutes of class and the last 10 minutes of the last 10 minutes of class. (Exceptions can be class. (Exceptions can be made in certain made in certain circumstances (Instructor’s circumstances (Instructor’s discretion)discretion)Restroom passes are for Restroom passes are for emergency only. emergency only. Each student will be Each student will be given only two given only two opportunities during opportunities during the nine weeks to go to the nine weeks to go to the restroomthe restroom

CheatingCheating Cheating will be defined as copying Cheating will be defined as copying another students homework, daily work, another students homework, daily work, tests, and having unsanctioned notes tests, and having unsanctioned notes during a test, looking on another students during a test, looking on another students paper during a test, and/or speaking out paper during a test, and/or speaking out loud during a test in a way that would loud during a test in a way that would assist another student or themselves on a assist another student or themselves on a test. Any student caught cheating will test. Any student caught cheating will receive a zero on the class work and receive a zero on the class work and parents will be notified. If cheating parents will be notified. If cheating persists, the student will be sent to the persists, the student will be sent to the office.office.

Make up work for Absences:Make up work for Absences:It is the responsibility for the student to get all It is the responsibility for the student to get all assignments from instructor if they are absent.assignments from instructor if they are absent.Make-up tests need to be scheduled with the instructor. Make-up tests need to be scheduled with the instructor. The rule of thumb for make-up work is one day for each day The rule of thumb for make-up work is one day for each day absent.absent.**Example: The student is absent on Monday and returns on **Example: The student is absent on Monday and returns on Tuesday. The work on Monday will be due Wednesday.Tuesday. The work on Monday will be due Wednesday.**Example: the student is absent on Monday, Tuesday, and **Example: the student is absent on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, and returns Thursday. The work completed Monday in Wednesday, and returns Thursday. The work completed Monday in class is due Friday; Tuesdays work is due Monday; Wednesdays class is due Friday; Tuesdays work is due Monday; Wednesdays work is due Tuesday.work is due Tuesday.If a student is in school on the day the teacher explains an If a student is in school on the day the teacher explains an upcoming test and the date of the test, the student is expected to upcoming test and the date of the test, the student is expected to take the test even if the student was absent the day before the take the test even if the student was absent the day before the test (e.g. The test is explained on Friday and the student is told test (e.g. The test is explained on Friday and the student is told the test would be Tuesday. A student is absent on Monday who the test would be Tuesday. A student is absent on Monday who was in attendance on Friday and comes to school Tuesday. The was in attendance on Friday and comes to school Tuesday. The student would be expected to take the test).student would be expected to take the test).

Late WorkLate Work

No Late work will be accepted.No Late work will be accepted.

There will be time set aside There will be time set aside during week 3 and week 6 of during week 3 and week 6 of each 6 weeks to make up any each 6 weeks to make up any zeros or to increase a failing zeros or to increase a failing grade on a test. This time frame grade on a test. This time frame will be set between the student will be set between the student and the teacher.and the teacher.

Class ProcedureClass Procedure. All school rules will be followed and enforced.. All school rules will be followed and enforced.. Cooperation and on-task behavior is required.. Cooperation and on-task behavior is required.. Any problems with classroom decorum . Any problems with classroom decorum (cooperation and on-task behavior) will follow a (cooperation and on-task behavior) will follow a three step process:three step process:. Teacher-student talk. If this doesn't correct the . Teacher-student talk. If this doesn't correct the problem,problem,. Teacher-student talk and discussion with . Teacher-student talk and discussion with parents. If this doesn't correct the problem,parents. If this doesn't correct the problem,. Outside assistance will be requested (Principal, . Outside assistance will be requested (Principal, counselor, other).counselor, other).

General order of events each General order of events each class dayclass day

5 minutes-------------------------take role 5 minutes-------------------------take role while students begin warm-up routinewhile students begin warm-up routine

5 minutes -------------------------recent news 5 minutes -------------------------recent news relating to world events.relating to world events.25 minutes ------------------------lesson for the 25 minutes ------------------------lesson for the day.day.5 minutes -------------------------closure, 5 minutes -------------------------closure, discussion of the days lesson and discussion of the days lesson and expectations for the next day.expectations for the next day.

Miscellaneous:Miscellaneous:The student is expected to be in class, on time, everyday. The student is expected to be in class, on time, everyday. Obviously there are exceptions to this rule but there Obviously there are exceptions to this rule but there shouldn't be many.shouldn't be many.The teacher expects learning to take place for every The teacher expects learning to take place for every student. If this isn't happening, something needs to be student. If this isn't happening, something needs to be fixed so it can happen. Please communicate. fixed so it can happen. Please communicate. All living humans have perceptions of what is happening in All living humans have perceptions of what is happening in their environment, but not all humans have the same their environment, but not all humans have the same perceptions about their environment. Therefore, perceptions about their environment. Therefore, communication is essential for bringing understanding to communication is essential for bringing understanding to different perceptions. Please talk to the teacher if there different perceptions. Please talk to the teacher if there are any problems or concerns about what is taking place in are any problems or concerns about what is taking place in the classroom.the classroom. Let's have fun learning about U.S. History.Let's have fun learning about U.S. History.