Course: Honors American History 9email:

Instructor: Mr. Rogers Work: 215-944-1333

Materials:

  1. Textbook:
  2. Pen and/or pencil
  3. Three-ring binder
  4. Composition book (this will be left in class all year)
  5. 1 box of tissues (labeled with your name)
  6. Access to a cloud based storage system (for instance a Google account) or USB drive (2 GB or higher—labeled with your name)

Teaching

Philosophy:

Students will be taught through a variety of methods, with the understanding that all students do not learn in the same manner. Some students learn best through interactive methods; other students are more receptive to verbal signals, and still other students learn best from visual stimulation. It is my hope that through these methods, students will continue to progress in their communication skills, knowledge and receptiveness to diversity.

Evaluation:

A variety of assessment tools will be used to grade the students. Tests may be given at the conclusion of each unit. Quizzes will be both announced and unannounced through-out the year. Students should expect at least one quiz per week. Students must complete a course project. Additional papers will be given as often as possible. Projects of both a group and individual nature will also be given throughout the year. Homework may be checked following each night in which it is given. Students need to keep a notebook in order to improve their study habits.

Students will be provided the opportunity to review assessments in the classroom. After this review, students are encouraged to share the responsibilities for their own learning by taking advantage of the following methods of preparing for future assessments: clinic, resources posted on the class web site and distributed in class, self-monitoring through academic notebooks, logs, or charting that records areas mastered and those in need of review. (Student handbook, pg 24-26)

Grading:

All grading is done on a point basis. Points accrue from participation, tests, quizzes, homework, projects, papers, notebooks, and from journals. All work is returned with the exception of the final.

Participation

In this class you will receive points for participation. Participation is defined as: completing warm-up, volunteering to answer questions, following classroom rules and group tasks, completion of homework. How do you gain points? Every time you answer a question, complete a journal entry, or do something exceptional you will receive a “Rogers’ Dollar”. Each “Dollar” is worth one point. You must accrue 70 “Rogers Dollars” or points each marking period. “Dollars” can be given and taken away. How do you know you lost points? Every time you are off task in class or in a group, arrived late to class or violated a classroom rule you will be asked to turn over a “Dollar”. If you have no “Rogers Dollars” you must fill out an IOU.

Homework:

Homework will be assigned and may be checked and quizzed at any time. The length of time for a nightly homework assignment is about 30 minutes. The point value for homework assignments will vary (5 points a night of work is the general rule of thumb). For each day late on an assignment (that are not reviewed in class) students will lose the following percentage:

Marking period 1: 10 percent of the assignment's total point value.

Marking period 2: 20 percent of the assignment’s total point value

Marking period 3: 30 percent of the assignment’s total point value

Marking period 4: 40 percent of the assignment’s total point value

If no written homework has been assigned students should study the textbook or their notebooks.

Notebook:

All students need to keep a notebook. Keeping of the notebook will help prepare students for studying.

Absence Policy/ Lateness policy:

It is the student’s responsibility to find out missing assignments after an absence. Students will be given a time span equal to the number of days absent in which to make up missed work. That time span may be extended if I so choose. (Student Handbook, p 10)

Behavioral Needs:

1. Respect the rights of others, yourself and your school.

2.Help enhance (do not detract from) the learning environment

Cell Phone Policy:

Prohibited in the classroom. Exceptions are when the student requests permission to use the cell phone and is granted permission by Mr. Rogers or it is requested to be used for classroom purposes.

Enforcement of rules:

Student discipline has not been a problem, but just in case you want to know how enforcement is carried out here is the skinny. Students will receive 1 or 2 warnings in class for any infraction. Generally speaking the attempt to solve a problem is done between the classroom teacher and student first. Most students are quite capable of self-discipline and correction without parent involvement. If the behavior does not improve a phone call will be made home at the end of the school day. If the behavior still does not improve the student will be sent to the office and a school discipline referral form will be completed.

Course Content:

Reconstruction to World War II (1865-1945)

Parent signature: ______

Question 1: ______

Question 2: ______

Revised: 8/2016