Eighth Grade Social Studies

Instructor: Miss. Talbot

Contact
Email: cetalbot@a.school.district.k12.co.us
Work Number: 970-123-4567
Planning Period: 2 (M-F 8:40-9:30am)

Introduction to course:
Welcome to my class! I am looking forward to meeting all of you. This year we will take an
academic look at American history from the Americas before European exploration in 1492 to
the end of in Reconstruction 1876. This class will use skills of analysis, and critical thinking in
areas of history incorporating: geography, economics, politics, and human behavior.

Course Philosophy:
The main objective this year is to prepare students at they get ready to enter high school. By
obtaining the skills that will be taught in this class, students will have the tools necessary to
achieve high levels of learning geared towards their future.

Class Expectations:

The highest expectation I will hold to for students is respect. Students must show respect
towards staff members, or volunteers, in the classroom and their peers. This means that
when I or another student is talking everyone else should be silent and paying attention.
Students should be considerate to the opinions of their peers and show reverence towards
content covered during class.

During classroom time I require that students need to be fully present. This means that
students must put aside other distractions that are not related to that days lesson and stay
focus. Students will not be allowed to work on assignments from other classes during my
class, unless with the exception of a work day and that student have already completed
the assignment. Cell phones and other personal technological devices at times will be
allowed during class times, but if they are becoming a distraction or disruption during
class I will ask the student to put the device away.

For all research and written assignments, students must have academic honesty. I do not
accept forms of plagiarism on written assignments. Nor will I grade assessments of
students caught cheating and/or copying the assignments of other classmates.

Grading:
Scale

Grade Distribution

A
90-100%
B
80-89%
C
70-79%
D
60-69%
F 59% or lower

Warm-ups: 20%
Quizzes (x6/semester): 15%
Tests (x3/semester): 25%
Assignments: 30%
Final Project: 10%

Attendance Policy:
For class attendance I will follow the attendance policy done at Notareal Middle School.
If a student is tardy, I ask that they do not disrupt class when enter the room (as it does go against
my respect policy above). More than five unexcused tardies and students will lose the
opportunity to participate in extra credit assignments/activities (see extra credit section below).

Make-up assignments:
Students who know ahead of time that they will miss one or more classes are highly
suggested to talk to me before and find out what assignments and activities they will miss before
his/her absence. Regardless of a planned or unplanned absence, all students will be given two
days two make-up any missing assignments. Contact me as soon as possible to receive the
materials and information necessary to get caught up. I will NOT compensate for unexcused
absences.

Late Work:
If a student does not turn in an assignment on time, his/her grade will be penalized.
Students will have 25% of the original grade (that is, the grade before the late penalty) after the
first day late, and then 5% taken that grade (after the 25% is taken of) for each day afterwards.
Students can simply avoid this penalty by simply turning in their assignments on time.

Extra Credit:
Assignments for extra credit will be offered during the school year, but will only be
accepted if student has completed all of the required assignments and if students have less than
five accounted tardies.

Posterity! You will never know how much

it cost the present generation to preserve your
freedom! I hope you will make
a good use of it.
~John Adams

Students,

After reading this syllabus with your parent(s)/guardian, please sign below and your
parent(s)/guardian also fill out their contact information if they wish. This will be due on
Monday, August 29 at the beginning of class.
-Miss Talbot

______________________________
Student Signature
______________________________
Student Name

_______________
Date

______________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature
______________________________
Parent/Guardian Name

_______________
Date

Parent/Guardian Contact information (optional)

Email: _________________________________
Phone: __________________

Best time(s) to call: ______________________________