8thGradeSocialStudiesSyllabus

Mrs.Schelt
heather.schelt@dcsdk12.org
MountainRidgeMiddleSchool
20152016

Courseinformation:
ThiscoursewillbefocusingonAmericanhistorybeginningin1750withthecausesoftheAmericanRevolutionandendingin
1877withreconstructionoftheUnitedStates.Thiscourseisdesignedtohelpstudentsunderstandhowandwhyparticular
eventsandpatternsofeventsoccurredinoursociety.Thepurposeofthiscourseistoprovidestudentswithanhistorical
backgroundofthe21stCenturyandtoteachstudentshowtoeffectivelyanalyzeprimaryandsecondarysources,identify
problemsandtocraftanargumenttojustifyaclaim.

BelowisabasiclistofColoradoGradeLevelExpectationsforeighthgraders.AcompletedocumentforGrade8Social
StudiesColoradoAcademicStandardscanbefoundhere:
Colorado8thGradeS.S.Standards
.
Furtherinformationcan
alsobefoundatthe
ColoradoDepartmentofEducationWebsite

andatthe
DCSDGuaranteed&ViableCurriculumPage
(clickonMiddleSchoolsandfollowthelinkstothesubjectofyourchoice).

CourseSequence:
CausesoftheAmericanrevolution
TheAmericanrevolution
Creatingarepublic
Government
Presidency
Westernexpansion
Sectionalism
Civilwar
Reconstruction

ClassSupplies:
Spiralnotebook
Folder
Coloredpencils
Markers
Linedpaper

Grading:
DCSDMiddleSchoolstudentswillbegradedintwocategories:contentstandardsandworkhabits.AsperDistrictPolicy,
gradeswillbebasedonworkthatismostrecent,mostimportant,andmostcomprehensive.Theprimarygoalsofgrading
andreportingaretocommunicate:
Whateachstudentknowsandisabletodoinrelationtocurriculumcontent,whichisalignedtodistrictcontent
standardsandcheckpoints.
Theinfluenceofpositiveandconsistentworkhabitsandbehavioronstudentlearning.

ContentGrades:
4=exceedsstandards/checkpointsforthisgradingperiod
3=meetsstandards/checkpointsforthisgradingperiod
2=isprogressingtowardstandards/checkpointsforthisgradingperiod
1=doesnotmeet/interventionsnecessaryforstandards/checkpointstobemet
0=insufficientevidence/interventionsnecessaryforstandards/checkpointstobemet

WorkHabitGrades:

(
completeswork,ispreparedtolearn,participates,followsclassrules)

4=Workhabitsconsistentlyexceedexpectations
3=Workhabitsconsistentlymeetexpectations
2=Workhabitsinconsistentlymeetexpectations
1=Workhabitsdonotmeetexpectations

AssessmentRetakes:
Withthecurrentgradingsystem,acontentgradeof"2"indicatesthatastudentismakingprogresstoward,buthasyetto
meet,gradelevelexpectations.Mygoalisforeverystudenttomeetorexceedoursocialstudiescurriculum/standards.
Occasionally,astudent'sassessmentmayresultinapoorgrade("2"orbelow).Forstudentswhowishtotryagain,retakes
aresometimesavailable(pleasenote,cumulativetestsmaynothavetheoptionforaretake).Iofferretakesonlyafterthe
studentcandemonstratethattheyhavemadeastrongefforttolearn/relearnthematerialcoveredbytheassessment.
Studentsmustmeetwithmeanddiscusswhatneedstobecorrected/relearnedinordertomeetproficiencyrequirements.

ClassroomRules:
Be
Respectful
toyourself
Be
Respectful
toyourclassmates
Be
Respectful
toyourteacher
Be
Respectful
toproperty
Be
Respectful
oftime

ClassroomConsequences:
1stWarning:
VerbalWarning
2ndWarning:
Conversationinthehallway
3rdWarning:
Calloremailhome
4thWarning:
Senttotheoffice

ClassroomProcedures:
BeforeClass:
Comeintotheclassroomquietly,findyourseatandbegintoworkonthewarmupassignmentonthe
frontboard.
TurninginAssignments:
Turninallassignmentsinyourclassturninbinatthebackoftheclassroom.Makesure
yournameisonyourassignment.
Bathroomandwater:
Ifyouneedtousethebathroomorneedwater,pleasetakethepassontheshelvesbythe
door.Onlypersonisallowedtoleavetheclassroomatatime.Youarenotallowedtoleaveduringthefirstandlast
10minutesofclass.
Emergencies:
Ifthereisanemergency,pleasetalktomeandletmeknowwhatisgoingon.Ifyouaregoingto
throwuporarebleedingprofusely,pleasegotothebathroomorclinic.
Supplies:
Makesureyouarepreparedforclasseachday.Youneedtohaveyourspiralnotebookandawriting
utensileverysingleday.
Technology:
Berespectfulandresponsiblewithschooltechnology.
FoodandDrink:
Youareallowedtoeatinclass,butpleasecleanupafteryourselfanddonotcauseany
distractions.Youareonlyallowedtodrinkwaterinclassinaclosedcontainer.Nofoodordrinkaroundschool
technology.
ClassroomSupplies:
Ihavemarkers,coloredpencilsandothersuppliesthatyouareallowedtouse.Pleaseclean
upafteryourselvesandtakecareofmysupplies.
MakeupWork:
Ifyoumissaday,pleasecheckmywebsitetoaccesstheagendaandassignmentsthatyoumissed
inclass.Youhave
2days
foreverydayyoumissedtoturninyourassignments.Pleaseseemeifyouneedhelpor
moretime.

ExtraHelp:
Iamavailableduringclasstimeorbyappointmentafterschoolforanyone.Needextrahelpjustask!Feelfreetoemailmeif
youhaveanyquestionsorconcerns.Iwilltryandgetbacktostudentswithintheschoolday,parentsIwilltrytogetbackto
youwithin24hours.