American History I Rules and Procedures

Ms. Blanchard

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Welcome to American History I! I am excited to have the opportunity to work with you over the course of the semester. In American History I, we will study the exploration of the continent, founding of the nation, division of the country, and much more. We will examine all aspects of society including politics, economics, culture, and foreign affairs to understand the history of the United States. Equally as important, we will learn to read critically, write clearly, think broadly, and speak purposefully. Acquiring and improving each of these skills is necessary to become a productive citizen, and we will tackle these tasks in ways that are challenging but also exciting!

Materials: loose leaf notebook paper, pen or pencil, highlighters

Class Rules: The classroom environment should be conducive to thinking, listening, and learning. In order to create this type of environment, you must abide by the following guidelines:

  • Be in class and seated when the bell rings.
  • Cell phones should be turned off and put away.
  • 1st offense: Student will receive a warning and must put their phone in the phone dock to be returned at the end of class.
  • 2nd offense: Ms. Blanchard takes the phone and keeps it until the end of the day.
  • 3rd offense: Ms. Blanchard takes the phone and turns it into the office for parent pickup.
  • Be attentive to your classmates and Ms. Blanchard when they are speaking.
  • No food or drinks (except for water in a clear bottle with cap).
  • Use appropriate language and discuss only topics appropriate for school.
  • Dispose of trash properly.

I adhere to school­wide policies regarding cell phones, electronic devices, and tardiness. For other behavioral infractions in the classroom, detention with me will be assigned.

Bathroom Passes: You will be given 4 passes to go to the bathroom over the course of the semester. These passes are NOT replenished each nine weeks. It is your responsibility to keep track of these passes. If you lose them, I will not replace them. Make sure you use them sparingly and only when necessary.

Detention: If you are assigned detention, we will discuss a date and time for you to serve detention. Once the date is set, you must remember it and serve it. If you have to postpone the date, five minutes will be added. If you do not show, the time will be doubled and reassigned.

Absences: Please note the following:

  • It is the STUDENT’S responsibility to make sure he/she has received the makeup assignments. Check your class folder located in the back of the classroom for missing assignments.
  • You will have 3 school days to complete any missing assignments we completed while you were absent. After 3 days, you will receive a late grade.
  • If you miss class, excused or unexcused, you will be required to attend a Learn session to catch up on missed assignments and information.

Homework: Students will only have homework when they have not completed an assignment in class. If students give 100% during our allotted class time, they should not have homework.

Tests: All tests for this class will be online and consist of multiple choice questions.

Grading: Grades will be calculated on a points system, and your final average will be determined by the total points earned by the total points possible. Tests will be worth 100 points and classwork/homework will be determined by the length of assignment, time spent, etc.

Final Exam: The final exam in this class is state­made and consists of multiple choice questions accompanied by constructed response questions. We will practice answering these types of questions in class frequently.

Current Events: As a citizen of a democracy and of the world, it is important for individuals to be familiar with current events happening in our local area, the state, the nation, and the world. Since many of you will be able to vote at 18, we will study these events to prepare you for full democratic participation. I strongly encourage you to begin exposing yourself to news by either reading the newspaper, watching news on television, or downloading news apps (Flipboard). Current events ARE issues that have political, economic, or social consequences/effects on the United States or other countries in the world. Current events ARE NOT the latest YouTube sensation, found on ESPN, or prefaced with “On Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/Snapchat, I saw...” In class, you should be able to describe and explain these events in detail. If you explain the event in great detail with complete accuracy, you will get a 5 points slip for full credit. If you are familiar with the event and can articulate some aspects of it, you will receive a 2.5 points slip for half credit. Your explanation should take the form of a “live newscast;” meaning, you should speak at an audible volume and clearly to the class. You must have a total of 15 points by the end of each grading period for current events.

Extra Credit: You will have three extra credit opportunities given over the course of the semester:

  • Current Events: The quickest and easiest way to earn extra credit is to present extra current events after you’ve reached your 15 point requirement. Any credit you get after 15 points will be extra.
  • Progress Reports: Progress reports are distributed every three weeks to students. If they are signed by a parent and returned, students will receive extra points.
  • Phone Docking: Each student will have the opportunity every day to “dock” their cell phones at the back of the classroom. Students will be able to charge their phones if they bring their own charger. If you dock your phone every day during a unit of study, you will receive 10 extra points on the unit test. Phones will be visible to all students at all times, and students will not be allowed to visit the docking station during class.

*If you at any time have questions or are having difficulty in this class, please let me know. I am available after school and many other times to work with you to ensure you will succeed!