Welcome to Mr. Armstrong’s 8th Grade Social Studies Class

Course Description:

This class will cover the second half of US History, as per the 8th grade curriculum. Students will learn content from Reconstruction to the present day. The following are the major topics that will be covered this year:

Westward Expansion Industrialization Immigration/urbanization Progressive Era Imperialism WWI The Roaring Twenties The Great Depression World War II Cold War Civil Rights Movement Eisenhower through Nixon Modern America

Grading Policy:

Grades will be calculated based on the following categories: Classwork Tests/Quizzes Projects Homework Quarter grades consist of a combination of chapter tests (multiple choice, fill-in, matching, short answer,

and/or essay questions), quizzes (both announced and unannounced), DBQ (document-based question) essays, and homework assignments. Additionally, class participation may count for approximately 5% of the student’s quarter grade. Your grades will reflect your performance AND your effort, so make sure that your assignments are done properly, neatly, completely, and on time. Over the quarter you will accumulate points. Your grade will be determined by dividing the number of points you earn by the total number of points possible. The number of accumulated points will vary from quarter to quarter, pending the total number of assignments.

Homework:

Homework will be assigned most weeknights, but rarely over weekends and not over vacations Homework will either reinforce work done in class that day, or it will prepare for work to be done in class

the following day (the day which it is due) Because homework relates to current class work, homework will be accepted late but will receive

minimal credit, unless you are absent or have discussed an exceptional circumstance with your teacher Homework assignments are worth 5 points each. Homework that is handed in late with an excused

absence will receive full credit. Work that is handed in late without an excused absence will receive partial credit.

Homework assignments will be posted on the day they are assigned in class to my GOOGLE CLASSROOM account

Materials:

You are expected to have the following materials with you each day: Pens/ pencils 3 ring binder

Textbook and Supplementary Materials:

8th graders use The American Journey, published by Glencoe. You will be issued a textbook to keep at home and will also be able to access the text online at taj.glencoe.com with an assigned password. Upon request, you will be issued the text on CD-ROM.

You will be assigned online review assignments prior to some chapter tests on castlelearning.com. You will be familiarized with the site at the beginning of the year at which time you will be given your user ID. In addition to the assignments created by your teacher, you have the ability to create your own assignments for practice and review purposes.

Every student will be asked to enroll in Google Classroom for my class. Students should have their account information already, which they likely used last school year. Directions for how to enroll in the class will be explained by Mr. Armstrong during the class period. Using this digital platform, students will be able to access all class materials, handouts, assignments and HW’s that are distributed in the actual classroom itself. Students will also receive announcements, reminders and other information in real time through this platform.

Classroom Behavior:

Your responsibilities in this class are: To attend class regularly, be on time, and always be prepared. To have a positive attitude and be polite to one another.  Everyone is entitled to speak his or her mind. To pay attention, listen, actively participate and use your time wisely. To do your best at all times and have pride in your work. To raise your hand when you want to participate. To always attempt to speak using appropriate language.

Academic Integrity:

As written in the annual student planner, "To help students achieve their maximum academic potential, Manhasset Secondary School promotes an environment which fosters integrity and honorable conduct.  Administrators, faculty, students and parents share the responsibility for maintaining an atmosphere in which personal accountability is valued."  With this statement in mind, students must maintain work that is theirs alone and does not violate the academic integrity policy.  Please refer to the handbook regarding the consequences and procedures used when an academic integrity violation has occurred.

Parent/Guardian:

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me at nicholas_armstrong@manhassetschools.org Please visit my class website/ Google Classroom for regularly updated material from each day’s lesson: http://www.manhassetschools.org/Page/1665

I have read and understand the policies for Mr. Armstrong’s class. I agree to follow and abide by all the policies stated above.

______________________________________________ _________________________Student’s Signature Date

___________________________________________________ ___________________________Parent’s Signature Date

STUDENT NAME: _________________________________________________________________