United States History I

United States History I

Ms. Fernandez, Social Studies Department

Welcome to my class! I look forward to engaging in a year filled with meaningful learning, new experiences, and fun (yes, fun!) with all of you. In order to have a great year with me, please take note of the following classroom procedures, which will be followed throughout the year.

1. Come prepared to class

Be on time, take your seat immediately, and check the front board for beginning-of-class instructions.
Have all materials needed for class—this includes homework, laptops, paper assignments, and/or notebooks.

2. Homework

Homework that is to be collected electronically should be placed in the appropriate homework folder on the IHA server before class meets.
Have a back-up strategy: have a homework CD-ROM or hardcopy that you can hand in at the beginning of class in case the server is down.
NOTE: Homework reading is sometimes checked by unannounced reading check quizzes, so always make sure reading is completed before class!

3. Participate, participate, participate!

This is a big one – active participation is expected and is especially important in group activities.
Remember, comments should be constructive, meaning that they should involve thought and energy (rather than just saying a comment for the sake of saying a comment).
Participation is a significant part of your classroom performance grade. Participation will be kept track of on a regular basis, and at the each cycle, students will receive a grade based on their participation.

4. Classroom atmosphere

This classroom is a safe zone, where a wide variety of thoughts, ideas, and opinions are to be respected at all times.
Students are to treat all members of the class with courtesy, respect, and kindness.

5. Grading policy

I use a point system, where typically tests are valued at 100 points, quizzes at 50 points, homework between 5 and 15 points.
Will be collected on a regular basis.

6. Absence from class

For an extended absence, we will work out a reasonable schedule for making up missing work.
For shorter absences, students must make up tests or quizzes within two days of return. See me the day you return or email me to make arrangements for making up missing work.
If you are absent the day a major writing assignment is due, email your paper to me.
For a planned absence, see me ahead of time for assignments.

7. Late assignments

Daily homework assignments may not be made up for credit; they are due at the time class meets.
Late major writing assignments: five points will be deducted for each day late (for example, a paper which would have been an 85 becomes an 80 after one day of being late and so on).
Only some unusual circumstances should prevent you from being prepared. Do not wait until the class period to explain why you will be late with an assignment. Send me an email or see me before or during homeroom to discuss your problem.

8. Email

The best way to contact me.
When sending me an email, include your name and class section in the subject line. I delete all unidentified emails without opening them.
I will send a return email if you include a homework assignment as an attachment. If you do not receive an acknowledgment from me, you need to re-send your assignment.
Email me by 8pm at the latest—I will probably not see emails sent later than this.

9. Academic honesty

Integrity is an important value and is expected for all students; cheating in any form will not be tolerated.
Plagiarism and other forms of cheating will be referred to Mrs. Hals, the Deans of Students, for disciplinary action.
Please refer to the “Academic Policies” section of the IHA website (http://ihahs.com/index.shtml?cat=Academic_Policies&page=Academic_Policies) for specific ramifications.