Mowat Middle School

7
th
Grade Civics
Mrs. Piotrowski
piotrl@bay.k12.fl.us
http://lpiotrowski.weebly.com/



Welcome:
Welcome to Civics! I am looking forward to a great school year ahead filled with fun and learning.
This letter is to provide both the student and parent with some general information about how to
succeed in this course.

Mowat provides students with an opportunity to develop a conceptual framework in all subject
areas, emphasizing discovery learning, critical and creative thinking. Courses will meet and
extend the Common Core Standards through rigor and complexity. Students should expect a fast
class pace, in-depth classroom discussions, increased amounts of classroom and out of classroom
reading, and overall greater academic expectations on assignments and time management than
was seen in 6
th
grade.


Course Objectives:
This curriculum focuses on the civic knowledge, intellectual and participatory skills, and
dispositions useful for the 21st century middle school classroom, focusing on two forms of
student engagement: engagement with civics content (curricular) and with civic life (experiential).
It aims to involve students in critical and higher-order thinking and to teach students to be
metacognitive about their learning through a portfolio of work that allows them to self-assess
their growth over time. This Civics course is designed to prepare students for the End of Course
Exam that accounts for 30% of their final grade.

Areas of study include American Citizenship; Foundations of American Government; Overview of
the United States and its Federal Government; State and Local Government; Elections, Parties,
and Pressure Groups; The U. S. Economy; and Global Affairs and U. S. Foreign Policy


Grading Policy:
Formative Assessment 20% The use of formative assessment is to guide instruction and provide
students with feedback. This includes but is not limited to: group discussions, observation,
questioning, and quizzes.

Summative Assessment - 80% Summative assessments will be graded for accuracy and
completion. The use of summative assessments is to show proficiency of the learning target. This
includes but is not limited to: Tests, portfolios (notebooks), projects, writing assignments, and
presentations. This year, there are now quarterly assessments, much like DE testing. I will use the
cumulative assessment as a re-evaluation opportunity to replace one low summative grade per
grading period. Due to the replacement opportunity, no re-takes on summative assignments will
be offered.



Late and Make-up Work:
All make-up work must be turned in to the teacher within five days of returning to school. It is
the students responsibility to request make-up work. If summative work is not completed and
there is insufficient evidence available to assess the standard, students will receive an I grade
on their report card. Per school board policy, the student will be allowed two (2) weeks following
the receipt of the report card to complete required assignments. If assignments are not
completed as specified by the teacher, the Incomplete I grade(s) will become a failure. Any
assignment not turned in will be given a grade of zero.


Materials Needed for Class: Classroom Wish List:
1 inch binder (any color) *Clorox Wipes
Notebook paper *Hand Sanitizer
Folder dividers *Kleenex
Pencils *Paper Towels
Highlighters
Composition notebook

Classroom Expectations:
Be responsible.
Be respectful.
Be prompt.
Be prepared.

Classroom Website:
This gives you a world of information about the class and is a good resource. I will be uploading
assignments and keeping the classroom calendar up to date here.
http://lpiotrowski.weebly.com/

Remind (Formerly REMIND 101):
This is an anonymous web-based text message service. You can check the updates online or get
them texted right to your phone. This is my most used form of contact and offers reminders on
tests, assignments, and project due dates. The steps are as follows:
1. Download the app through Google Play or Apple App Store.
2. Enter the phone number (850) 396-4308.
3. Enter the class code @3bb20 (the @ needs to be included).
4. Enter your FULL NAME. This is the only way I have to identify who is who as I do not see
your number.
5. You will receive a confirmation and you are all set!

Contact Information:
Parents and guardians, I want us to have an open line of communication throughout the year, and
in order to do so, I would like to have your email addresses/ phone numbers. Please make sure
this information is up to date in focus. You can reach me at the school at (850) 767-4040, or via
email. My email address is piotrl@bay.k12.fl.us; this is the fastest and most efficient way to get
in touch with me. Again, I am looking forward to a successful and exciting year of Civics!


Sincerely,
Lindsey Piotrowski