7th Grade American History

Mr. Howard

Welcome to 7th grade American History!

We are going to have a great experience this year learning about the history of our country and its diverse people.  My goal this year is to make our classroom a safe, challenging, and interesting place to learn.

The following information will give you a better picture of how the school year will be spent.

Textbook:

We will be using a textbook called Creating America.  Students will be issued a personal copy of the textbook to use at home.  Students should keep their assigned text at home. They should not bring it to school with them.  Classroom copies of the text will be available to use for in-class work.

Materials:

Spiral-bound Notebook: Students should bring a notebook every day to be used only for history class. We will be using the notebooks for daily journaling, note taking, and vocabulary word look-ups. I will collect them occasionally to ensure that work is being done correctly.

Three-ring Binder:  Pocket folders will not be necessary in the classroom until we begin the History Day project in late December. However, I encourage students to keep a 3-ring binder to collect and organize all returned homework, tests, study guides, and other past assignments.

A Pencil (w/ eraser)  Please remember to bring a pencil EVERY day.  (Mechanical pencils are acceptable.)

Hand-held Pencil Sharpener:  A small, hand-held pencil sharpener is good to have as it may be used at any time during class.  The electric sharpener may not be used while someone is speaking.

*****Glue, markers, colored pencils, scissors, or other craft materials will be provided when needed; however, if your student requires specific materials to complete their History Day project, those materials will need to be purchased or brought from home.

YOUR DONATIONS ARE WELCOME !!! J

Any parents who wish to donate colored pencils, washable markers, Kleenex tissues, printer cartridges, or other supplies can do so at any time throughout the year.

 (We tend to go through these items very quickly.)

Assignments and Expectations

Students are expected to complete all assignments and homework and to turn them in by the due dates given. Students are also expected to be on-task at all times, participate in class discussions, offer ideas or opinions in a respectful manner, and give oral presentations to other classmates when necessary.

Tests and Quizzes

Assessments of student learning will be multi-dimensional, creative, and interdisciplinary. Tests and quizzes will be given on a regular basis with ample notice.

Major Class Projects

History Day   The theme for the 2008/2009 History Day competition is:

“The Individual in History: Actions & Legacies”

Information concerning the project will be given in greater detail in September. 

Grading Procedures

Assignments and exams will be graded on a point/percentage scale.  Student grades will be updated regularly and may be monitored through the Parent Portal.  Student grades will also be posted in the classroom.

Late Work Policy

You will be assigned homework on a weekly (and sometimes a daily) basis. Completing homework assignments and handing them in on time is an important part of preparing for high school and beyond! Homework due dates will be posted clearly in the classroom. Late assignments will result in the loss of grade points.  If you are unable to turn an assignment in on-time due to absence please speak with me as soon as possible***. Only excused absences will be accepted as a valid reason to turn in late work.

***Students are responsible for requesting all missed assignments

 upon returning to school.