UNITED STATES HISTORY

Mrs. Lewis

ATTENDANCE AND PUNCTUALITY:

Regular attendance is the best insurance a student can have to complete this course successfully. Most learning occurs in the classroom setting. To instill real life values I offer students the option to opt out of their semester final if they have three or less absences. An absence is defined by being out of school for any reason. School sponsored events are still considered being at school. I will follow the schools’ tardy policy. Prairie High School’s tardy policy allows for two warnings and then a 45 minute after-school detention will follow for each additional tardy. Two tardies will be counted as one absence towards opting out of the semester exam. Students who have three or less absences may choose to take the exam to bring up their class grade. It will not be counted against them if the exam lowers their overall grade.

PROFESSIONAL WORK ETHIC:

In a workplace, employees are not graded by taking tests. Instead their performance is evaluated on the basis of quantity and completion of their work, the ability to work with others and follow directions. Your employer's opinion of you and your work is very important. In an effort to prepare students for the workforce, I do not grade incomplete work. Students will be sent out of the classroom to complete the assignment for 50% credit. Work that is illegible or written in another color besides blue or black ink must be rewritten before it will be accepted. Not staying on task and/or keeping others from being on task is against Washington State law. This type of behavior may result in disciplinary action. Assignments may be turned in up to two days late for half credit. Students who anticipate trouble with an assignment or exam PRIOR to the due date may request to discuss the situation with me.

MATERIALS:

Each student should have a notebook to keep class notes and returned assignments. This will benefit the student in studying for unit and semester exams. The student is required to have a pencil for all exams, a thin correcting pen, and his/her own personal supply of paper and blue or black pens. All assignments are written in blue or black ink. Students are required to bring their own textbooks to class everyday. Students are not allowed to share textbooks in class. Experience has shown that students just copy answers and miss the process of learning how to read for content.

MAKE UP AND LATE WORK:

It is the student's responsibility to make up all material missed due to an excused or pre-arranged absence. When a student returns to school he/she must check with me to get the assignments missed. This must be taken care of before or after school. I will NOT discuss make-up work before or during class time. The student will be allowed one day for each of the first three days missed to turn in make-up work. For example if a student misses one day the work is due the day following their return to school. Any absence over three days needs to be dealt with on a personal basis with me.

Late papers or exams due to absences will be accepted only if the absence is excused by the office. All work turned in must be completed or it will be handed back to be finished.

If a video was shown on the day the student was absent they are required to turn in a one page double spaced typed report on the topic of the film. Plagiarism is not accepted. Students must remember to cite the sources.

GRADING:

Students graded work is placed into one of the following three categories.

75% daily work/projects

25% tests

This class will follow the school's grading scale. Grades can now be accessed on the internet. A password can be obtained through the main office. I do my best to keep them accurate. Projects and tests usually require more time than daily assignments. My e-mail can be access from the Skyward grade program.

CELL PHONES AND HEAD PHONES:

Head phones and cell phones are not allowed in my class and will be taken away the first time. The following occurrence becomes in subordination and disciplinary action will occur. Communication with or emergency contact of a student is to go through the main office.