7th Grade Humanities 2015-16

Ms. Doyle, Mr. Drogos, & Mr. Nekrosius

Seventh grade humanities is a class about who we are as individuals and as a nation. We will read, write, discuss, and think about challenging ideas. You will learn about yourself, your country, and the world. You will grow as a reader, writer, and thinker. The amount you grow will be determined by how diligently you apply yourself to the work of the course.

In-class expectations:

  • Come to class on time, with all your materials, every day.
  • Treat other students with respect.

Group work expectations:

  • Remain focused on the task at hand—stay with your group physically and mentally.
  • Find ways to make positive contributions to your group and encourage your group members to do the same.

Discussion expectations:

  • Every student should push themselves to be engaged in each discussion.
  • Listen, reflect, and then respond.
  • Raise your hand and wait to be recognized—only one person talks at a time.
  • Respect other opinions, even if you don't agree—be willing to learn from others.
  • Leave space for everyone to have a chance to speak.

Journal expectations:

Your journal is for you. You should write in your journal during all of the above activities. As a rule of thumb, what goes up on the board should go into your journal. When you enter the room you will often see a prompton the board—it is up to you to copy and respond to the prompt.We will periodically collect journals and meet with you to discuss your overall participation in class, of which note taking is a key part. Always be sure to write the date on your journal entries, and make sure you have your journal with you every day in class. We suggest you choose a journal that feels personal to you—just make sure it is functional for taking frequent notes. Also, we recommend one with lined paper, so it’s easier to write in.

Grades:

Your grade in this course is a reflection of the amount of effort you put in, how much you learn, and the quality of the work you produce. You will receive points for a wide array of assignments, such as reading annotations, essays, creative projects, group projects, discussion participation, quizzes, tests, and your journal. Push yourself to produce your best work on a consistent basis.

Necessary Materials:

In order to help us all stay organized and to gain the most from our classroom experiences, we would like you to come to class with the following materials. Please share this information with your parents/guardians.

* Three blue two-pocket folders with fasteners (due 9/15)

* Journal (due as soon as possible, but no later than 9/15)

*Poster board (locate ASAP for identity collage, which is due 9/22)

*Books on reading list (we will tell you when to bring specific books)

*Daily Planner (you must bring your planner to class every day)

* Pens – blue and black, please bring one every day (all assignments must be written in pen or word processed—no pencils!)

Your folderis to keep handouts, completed work, and work in progress. Your folder will contain materials that will allow you to easily study for tests and look back over what you have learned. We will let you know periodically when you can remove older materials.

Written Work:

Papers should be typed in black ink on plain white paper. Use twelve-point Times New Roman font, double spacing, and one-inch margins. Every typed piece of work you submit should have a title in twelve point font, centered at the top of the first page. Place your name, date, subject, period and teacher at the top left side of the page (this heading should be single spaced).

Sample heading:Jane Doe

September 22, 2015

Humanities 3-4

Mr. Nekrosius