US History Tenth Grade2012-2013

Instructor:

Miss Lisa Landers

Phone: 256-741-7048

Saks High School

E-mail: llanders.sh@ccboe.us

Social Sciences

Web ID # 1207

Room 6

Course Description:

The Alabama high school social studies content prepares students to be knowledgeable, responsible citizens capable of applying social studies knowledge and skills in their daily lives.

The study of the history of the United States in Grade 10 takes students on a journey across five

centuries of social, economic, geographic, and political development in the United States. Students

begin with the earliest discoveries on the North American continent and follow a chronological study

of the major events, issues, movements, leaders, and groups of people of the United States through

Reconstruction from a national and an Alabama perspective. The content standards build upon the

foundation students gained in the study of the United States in Grades 5 and 6, as well as the study of

world history in Grades 8 and 9, but require a more rigorous analysis. The content and level of rigor

in the tenth-grade course are developmentally appropriate. With more fully developed skills in

abstract thinking, students are now able to compare, analyze, and explain events and developments.

In order to provide a classroom environment that encourages all students to reach their potential,

I will employ various methods of instruction to facilitate students inquisitive pursuit of knowledge about the United States. Tenth grade students are developmentally capable of abstract reasoning, critical thinking, and sophisticated problem solving. This United States History course will foster the growth of productive citizens as students engage in opportunities for analyzing complex issues. This instructional environment will also provide opportunities for social science research, and authentic learning through a variety of methods and tools such as the use of primary sources, written analysis of information, debate, presentation, simulation, technology, and experimentation.

Course Objectives:

Students will identify and evaluate America's exploration, development, and divergence.

Students will recognize and comprehend the impact of the influences of intellectual and religious thought on the political systems of the United States.

Students will identify and comprehend the provisions of essential documents of the United States government.

Students will identify and evaluate the impact of the American Revolution.

Students will identify and evaluate the Era of Expansion.

Students will identify and evaluate the impact of American social and political reform and the emergence of a distinct American culture.

Students will identify and evaluate events, causes, and effects of the Civil War era.

Course Content:

Class Participation: Students are expected to participate in all class activities and discussions. Students may volutnteer participation or may be called upon by the instructor. Students will be graded on their daily participation.

Assessments: Formative and summative assessments will be given throughout the course. These assessments are graded. An assessment can range from a writing assignment, to an illustration, a quiz or other device that allows the instructor to understand whether students have grasped the concept and currliculum. Assessments will be graded and returned to students. Students are expected to keep all of their assessments in their nine-weeks notebook.

Nine-weeks Notebooks: Every nine-weeks (there are four) each student will keep a notebook that includes all notes, activities, assignments, and assessments. You will be responsible for nine-weeks of material at a time. Your notebook will have a table of contents that we will create in class and keep running for each nine-weeks. You MUST have each item on your TOC in your notebook at the end if the nine-weeks to receive a full credit grade on your notebook. Your notebook must be in order of the TOC created in class. Students are to keep up with their notebooks and bring them to class each day. There will be periodical notebook checks for grades throughout each nine-weeks.

Chapter Tests: Tests will be given following each completed chapter. All tests include matching, multiple choice, short answer and essay questions.

Homework: Homework will be assigned as needed to supplement classroom instruction. Homework assignments may include projects, class activities or other assessments. All students are expected to turn in homework on time and completed.

Course Policies:

Late-work Policy: Any student who turns in work later than the due date will receive 10% off the final grade each day that the assignment is late. If a student has an excused absence then the student will be permitted to make up the work at full credit. If an assignment was previously known to a student and the student is absent on the due date then the student is responsible for turning in the assignment on the day he/she returns to school.

Make-up Work Policy: A student must have an excused absence to be able to make up any missed assignments for grades. It is the students responsibility to obtain make-up work from the teacher. I strongly urge students to utilize their fellow classmates when making up notes.

For all students, I will allow a reasonable amount of time to turn in make-up work. Usually, depending on the amount of work or time absent from school, a student will receive at least one week to make up assignments.

Chronic late-work or inability to turn in make-up work will result in teacher contact with parents or guardians.

Regarding cheating: Cheating of any kind will not be tolerated. Do not copy another students original work, such as essay questions, illustrations or any graded assessments. Cheating may result in a failing grade for the assignment not only for the person copying but also for the person allowing their work to be copied.

Grading Procedure:

There are four grading periods throughout the year. Each grading period is nine weeks in length. Each nine-week grade is 40% and the semester test is 20% of the final grade.

Appropriate grades/points will be awarded for assignments per instruction in class.

Grades will consist of all formative and summative assessments.

Supplies:

(1) 3-Ring Binder

(2) Section dividers

Notebook paper

Pen or pencil

The American Vision textbook (provided by SHS)

Code of Conduct & Classroom Rules:

1. Be on time. All those tardy will be sent to ISD immediately.

2. Be seated when the bell rings and stay seated throughout class.

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3. Clean-up after yourself.

4. Sit-up and remain attentive at all times.

5. Raise your hand to speak.

6. Respect your teacher, your classmates, and yourself.

7. Keep your hands to yourself.

8. Bring all materials to class everyday. (Notebook, textbook, writing utensil) Failure to do so may result in immediate dismissal to ISD.

9. Wait to be dismissed by the teacher.

10. Purses and other personal items are to be stored under desks or on the floor.

11. No food or drink in the classroom at any time.

12. No use of cell phones.

13. Students are not to leave class without a pass. Students will be issued three bathroom passes each nine-weeks.

*Rules are to be followed at all times within the classroom. Failure to do so will result in a consequence. Not all rules are posted in the classroom, though each rule listed here will be enforced daily and is expected to be followed daily.

Consequences:

1st Offence- Verbal Warning

2nd Offence- Writing Assignment

3rd Offence- Break Detention/ Parent Contact

4th Offence- Discipline Referral

** Some violations may result in multiple consequences or immediate discipline referral.

Please do not hesitate to ask questions or come to me with any concerns you have for your grade or general classroom practicies. I am greatly looking forward to this school year. Please know that I am available to help you in any way I can. I hope we can make this year fun and full of learning!

Blackboard

Blackboard is a Learning Management System which we will use for our course. You can login to Blackboard at http://bb.usu.edu. Your username is your A#, and your password is your global password (the same one you use for Banner or Aggiemail).

The Begin Here section of the Blackboard site is provided to give you information on how to set up your computer in order to use Blackboard and how to use the various tools in Blackboard.

You are required to read the information provided in both the Computer Setup page and the Blackboard Support page.

Software

The Computer Setup page provides information on the software you need for Blackboard.

Documents in this course will be presented in .pdf format where possible. You will need Adobe Reader to view these files, which you can obtain for free at http://get.adobe.com/reader/.

Written assignments may be presented as a Microsoft Word document (.doc). If you do not have Microsoft Word installed on your computer, you use Open Office Writer instead, which you can obtain for free at http://www.openoffice.org/.

Textbook(s)

The text for this class will be The Course Syllabus: A Learning-Centered Approach by Obrein, Millis & Cohen, second edition, published by Jossey-Bass, ISDN#047019617. You