Mrs.

Fords US History/Geography
Classroom Rules and Expectations
Contact Information:
Email- aford@bc.k12.mi.us
School website address- http://bc.k12.mi.us
Conference Period- 1st hour: 8:15-9:03
Course Description: US History
American History is required for all 9th grade students for graduation. This class will
cover the United States from post Civil War to the present. Specific emphasis is placed
on the topics of expansion, isolationism, world affairs, major wars, social movements and
the changing role of the government in the lives of citizens.

Expectations of you
1. Be prepared with all needed materials
(a writing utensil, book, paper, and any other items necessary)
2. Be attentive during instructional time & give your best effort on all assignments.
3. A grade sheet is expected to be kept up to date with your current grades and ready to
hand in at any time.
4. Ask for assignments done when you are absent. Check the board for notes or
directions.

Participation is KEY to the learning and environment of our classroom. Each

student deserves to feel safe expressing his or her thoughts and feelings in the
context of our material and the learning process. Therefore, there will be no
taunting, put downs, or unkind teasing tolerated. Questions are important so ASK
them!

Our classroom is a place of respect. As a teacher I will treat each of you with
respect. I expect that you will treat me, as well as each of your classmates, with
the same respect. Therefore, we will not interrupt when others are speaking, we
will not take or use things that belong to other people, and we will be considerate
of one anothers feelings.

We will observe the expectations of Brown City High School as they are listed
in your student handbook.
No food, GUM or drinks allowed in the classroom, except bottled water.
Use your lockers! This classroom is not your locker; please leave WITH your
materials!

Classroom Procedures:
Seating Chart:
There will be a seating chart for this class. You are expected to sit in your assigned seat everyday,
unless otherwise instructed.
Paper Headings:
The following information should be written in the upper right-hand corner of every loose paper
assignment that you turn in to me: your full name (first and last), the date, and your hour.
Absences:
In the event that you are absent, the assignments that you missed in the Hand back boxes on the
ledge by Albert Einstein. There may also be directions or notes on the board that you may need.
You will be responsible for finding an appropriate time, preferably before or after class, to get
those assignments. Also, I will be happy to explain the assignments and any other information
that you missed at an appropriate time, i.e. before or after school, during lunch, or when the class
is working quietly on an assignment and I am free to speak with you.
Tardiness:
You are tardy if you are not in the classroom at the completion of the tardy bell. Please do not try
to split hairs over tardiness. Instead, plan ahead and be on time!
In the event that you are tardy, you will be asked to get a tardy pass from the Assistant Principals
Office. We will follow the Brown City High School tardy policy.
Dismissal:
The bell does not dismiss you at the end of class. I will dismiss you. You must be in your
assigned seats until I dismiss you.
Major Components of US History/Geography:
Study of post Civil War reconstruction, periods of isolationism and imperialism in the US, the
Great Depression, World War I, World War II, Cold War, Korean Conflict, Vietnam War,
international relations, relations with the Middle East, and major technological advances and how
they have shaped and changed our society. We will also be studying maps relating to the areas of
the world influenced and affected by the US, as well as studying our US geography.

Field Trip:
This class will take a field trip to the Holocaust Museum. It is recommended that all
students attend but an alternate assignment will be provided in the event a student cannot
attend.
Grading Policy
The grading scale for US History is as follows:
100-93 is an A
92-88 is an A87-84 is a B+
83-81 is a B
80-78 is a B77-74 is a C+

73-71 is a C
70-68 is a C67-64 is a D+
63-61 is a D
60-56 is a D55-0 is an E

Semester grades are computed by averaging the first and second marking period with the
final exam grades. Each marking period grade makes up 40% and the exam makes up
20% of the final grade. To earn credit for each semester students must pass 2 of the 3
grades used to calculate the semester grade (2 marking period grades and the exam
grade).
Students must also have an overall average grade that is passing using the following
formula: each marking period is worth 40% and the exam is worth 20% of the semester
grade.

Please make grade inquiries before or after class or through our BCHS
online grading system. There are links to this system on our school
website.

Important notes:
1. Dont forget to do your grade sheets! They are worth 25 points.
2. Bring your notebook and folder EVERYDAY for class.
3. There will be periodic projects given in this class; project sheets are always given with the
projects to clarify what is to be done.
4. There will be papers in this class. Plagiarism is a serious offense and will receive a zero as
well as disciplinary action.
5. There WILL be homework in this class
6. This class is a required class for graduation.