Welcome to a brand new school year and World History 1! This is a high school credit course that covers the period from Early Man through the Renaissance. We will study the ancient river civilizations of the

Sumerians/Babylonians, Egyptians, Indians, Chinese, Phoenicians, and Hebrews.  Next, we cover the early empire of Persia, the Greek civilization, and the Roman Republic and Empire. We will then examine the origins of the major world religions of Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Daoism, Confucianism, Christianity, Islam, and Shintoism. We will cover polytheism as well as Greek and Roman mythology. We also study the Byzantine and Islamic civilizations and then move on to study life in the European Middle Ages, the Renaissance, Japan and Africa. To conclude the course, we will study the early American civilizations of the Aztec, Maya, and Inca.

Teaching Philosophy:1-I believe that every student can succeed and will succeed IF THEY CHOOSE to be responsible, prepared and work to the best of their ability. 

2-As Eighth Grade teachers, we work to prepare students for success in high school.  We expect students to be responsible for their learning.  For this reason, I   do not give extra credit assignments  and expect students to do their best on what is assigned. (*I am firm on this point, so please do not ask.)

Citizenship, Participation and Preparedness: All students at FMS are expected to follow school rules and maintain appropriate behavior.  Anywhere in school student citizenship, participation, and preparedness is very important.  Citizenship is appropriate classroom behavior.  Participation is showing effort and enthusiasm in all classroom activities.  Preparedness is having all required materials (notebooks, assigned work, and required materials) daily and having completed all required homework/class assignments.

***REQUIRED*** Class Materials:         (ALL items are required DAILY!)

One dedicated class binder; either a Trapper-keeper* style 3-ring binder OR four 1” 3-ring binders (one per quarter). (With either choice, label the front cover with your FULL name and “World History I”).   *(Trapper-keeper type binders are those that either zip around, or have large Velcro straps. DAILY notes are given out and corrected past exams are required to be kept in the binder.  Because of this, binders become full and fairly heavy as the school year progresses. INSIDE OF THIS BINDER ARE THE FOLLOWING:

o 2 sets of tabbed section dividers (12 tabs are needed)o *Flash drive/ Zip drive (4 GB minimum). 

This is kept in the pencil pouch and required DAILY!o One (1) packet of lined writing papero One (1) double-pocket style folders (to be labeled “WHI Homework.”)o Pencil pouch (with grommet holes so that it can go in the 3-ring binder)o Pencils (mechanical preferred)  (“ “ in pencil pouch)o Pens (blue or black) for review self-correction ( “ “ )

Discipline: Failure to follow school rules will result in disciplinary action as determined by myself or school administration.  Depending on the severity, most first offenses will normally result in a warning, second offenses will result in lunch detention, and third offenses will result in parent contact and an office referral.  Please refer to the FMS student handbook for further information.

8 th   Grade Grading Policy: For all 8th grade teachers at FMS, the following grading policy is enforced: With the exception of excused absences, students are expected to turn in all assignments by the due date.  Students who turn in work after its due date will receive a maximum of 65%.  Additionally, each teacher will establish a “zero day” for student assignments. If the work is not completed by the “zero day,” students will receive a zero in the grade book. Every effort will be made by teachers for students to complete all work before the "zero day" through Connections classes and before or after school assistance.

All student work is required to have the student’s full name (first and last) and date in the upper right hand corner of the front page.   “Billy” or “Susan R.” is not acceptable on school work.  This is true now, in high school, college and the work place.  Multiple pages are always stapled together.  Student work submitted without the proper heading will be considered incomplete.

Additional Notes on Grading:

Students must pass both the course and the WH1 SOL exam to receive high school credit. Incomplete assignments are not accepted.  Any assignment received after the due date is considered late. If a student is absent, their work

must be clearly marked “absent,” or risk being marked late. My “zero day” will be the day after the assignment is due.  After this day no late work will be

accepted (of course with specific exceptions for excused absences, etc.).  Please note that extra-curricular events (sports, drama club rehearsals, band practice, etc.) will never constitute an acceptable reason for late assignments.

There is zero tolerance for dishonesty.  This includes, but is not limited to, cheating on tests or quizzes and copying another student’s work.  In the case of shared answers, at the very least, ALL students involved will receive a zero for the assignment. 

Students are expected to participate and to give their full attention to instruction. Therefore, unless otherwise instructed, homework is never to be completed during instruction.

“Homework Passes” are not accepted.  I give an average of only 1 or 2 assignments per week and these are vital reviews for testing success.

Students are required to maintain an organized notebook with all unit study guides, “Power Notes,” and corrected tests (for review purposes). 

Students who show effort and responsibility by having no late/incomplete assignments will have their lowest exam grade dropped when the quarterly mean is calculated.

Students transferring into the course can only receive high school credit by achieving a passing class score and successfully passing the WH1 SOL exam.

ABSENCE:  Classwork, homework and tests/quizzes must be made up according to BCPS policy (one day given per day absent).  *Weekly assignments and test dates will be posted by Monday night on Google

This is World History 1!

Classroom.  All students are required to access this page every school day to check for possible updates to assignments, and/or to submit assignments, and to keep current on test dates .  

INTERNET ACCESS: Although available by request, no textbook is issued for this class. Lesson notes are provided and/or are available on Google Classroom. Because of this, Internet access is crucial. If not available at home, Internet access is available in our school library, during the 20 minutes of homebase class, and during Connections classes.  Failing this, the local public library is always available for computer and Internet access.

Whenever a student is (or knows they will be) absent, they are required to check Google Classroom to find out what instruction and/or assignment was given that day.  Upon return, students are immediately required to bring me their “labeled” flash drive, so I can upload any PowerPoint(s), handouts, and assignments that they’ve missed.  Extra copies of instruction notes (“PowerNotes”) and other handouts can be found in the extra copy box (bottom of the black shelves at the end of front counter in class). 

*It is the STUDENT’S responsibility to turn in due assignments before leaving for field trips, etc! It is recommended that make up work be completed in Connections class.  If a test is misplaced and is not found in a student’s make up folder, it is the student’s responsibility and request a duplicate.  Just as when taken in the classroom, students only receive one class period to make up a test.  If not finished, the student is not allowed to return the test to their folder or take it home, to complete.  This is considered cheating, and will result in a zero and the appropriate disciplinary actions will be taken.

Finally, if at any time during the year, you should have questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.  If you have a concern, I will be happy to address it promptly and only ask that you afford me the basic respect of sharing your concern with me first.  I am looking forward to working with you to help your child achieve success.

Partners in Education,

Lloyd Parker (lparker@bedford.k12.va.us) (434)-525-6630

YOU ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE THIS IN YOUR BINDER, DAILY!

*BOTH, PARENT AND STUDENT MUST SIGN THIS LOWER PORTION!

(Do Not Cut Off)*

World History I- Mr. Parker’s Class

*My child and I have read the syllabus and understand the course requirements to receive high school credit for World History 1: