North Middle School

North Middle School

8th Grade Social Studies

Mrs. Cardwell

Contact Information

-  Email is by far the most efficient way to contact me. Please feel free to email me with any issues you may have. My email address is listed below:

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-  You may also leave a voicemail on my classroom phone but please be advised that I will not be able to answer outside of my planning period (2nd block)

-  Class Updates - Subscribe to my Website Class Pages and you will receive emails when Update Posts are made.

-  Remind

o  I use an online tool called Remind to give out classroom mobile updates. To sign up for these updates, visit the link for your class period.

§  Social Studies 3B- text @cardwellss to 81010

§  Social Studies 4B- text @cdgcdg to 81010

My Promise to Students

-  I Promise To:

o  Do everything in my power to make sure that you are successful

o  Treat you with the respect that you deserve as a person

o  Be consistent with discipline

o  Drop everything I’m doing to meet the needs of a student

Classroom Expectations

-  I have very simple classroom expectations. If you can follow these simple guidelines, you will be successful in this class.

o  Stay on task from bell to bell

o  Be prepared with all materials

§  3 ring binder, pen or pencil, paper

o  Be respectful to EVERYONE

o  Follow directions the FIRST TIME

o  Raise your hand to speak

-  The school ticket system will be used to address violations of the expectations

-  Severe Clause: Severe offenses (fighting, cursing, etc.) will be addressed with the main office

Classroom Routines and Procedures

-  Bell Ringer

o  Upon entering the classroom, students will immediately take their seat and begin working on the bell work designated for that class period.

Student Laptops

-  Eighth grade students will have the opportunity to use a school-assigned laptop to use during the school day. A separate contract will be sent home to students with more information.

Grading

-  Grading will be based on a total points system. Points will be in proportion to the value of the assignment or assessment. Exams and quizzes will be assigned a higher value than classwork and homework assignments. (75% or more of total grade from assessments.)

Make-Up Work

-  Absent students are responsible for all make-up work. Missed assignments must be turned in within 2 days.

Missing Classwork/Homework

-  Compared to other classes, homework is less frequent in this course. Since homework/classwork only makes up a small portion of the student’s overall average, I WILL NOT be accepting late work.

Exams

-  Since exams make up the biggest portion of the overall average, it is essential that proper study time is given to each exam. Exam dates will be given at least 7 days in advance. PLEASE DO NOT CRAM!

Study Materials

-  For each lesson, a PowerPoint will be accompanied by a guided note taking sheet that students will complete during class. This note taking sheet should be sufficient for exam preparation as each exam will be created from these study guides.

-  Kahoot!- Kahoot! is an online quizzing tool that I will use frequently throughout the course for exam preparation. Links and instructions will be posted online on how to use this tool.

-  An online textbook will be posted on the blog as a supplemental tool to help with the course. However, it should NOT be used as the only source of exam preparation.

Tentative Pacing Guide

1st 9 Weeks
Week 1 / The Colonies
Week 2
Week 3 / Colonial Life
Week 4
Week 5 / Road to Revolution/Tennessee Before the American Revolution
Week 6
Week 7 / The American Revolution
Week 8
Week 9
2nd 9 Weeks
Week 1 / Creating the Constitution
Week 2 / Launching a New Nation
Week 3
Week 4 / Growth of a Young Nation
Week 5 / The Jeffersonian Era, The Rise of Nationalism, The Rise of Sectionalism
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8 / An Age of Reform, A Changing Nation
Week 9
3rd 9 Weeks
Week 1 / Westward Expansion
Week 2
Week 3 / The Nation Divided
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7 / The Civil War
Week 8
Week 9
4th 9 Weeks
Week 1 / Reconstruction
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4 / Westward Expansion After the Civil War
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7 / Review
Week 8
Week 9

Please complete and return the form below:

______

“I have reviewed this entire syllabus and I fully support the classroom expectations for academics and behavior. I pledge to do everything in my power to ensure success in 8th grade Social Studies.”

Parent Signature: ______

Date: ______

Student Signature: ______

Date: ______