Rules & Procedures 2018-2019
Course Description:
The seventh grade social studies curriculum consists of the following content area strands: Civics, Geography, and Economics. The primary content for the course pertains to the principles, functions, and organization of government; the origins of the American political system; the roles, rights, responsibilities of United States citizens; and methods of active participation in our political system. The course is embedded with strong geographic and economic components to support civic education instruction. Honors/Advanced courses offer scaffolded learning opportunities for students to develop the critical skills of analysis, synthesis, and evaluation in a more rigorous and reflective academic setting. Students are empowered to perform at higher levels as they engage in the following: analyzing historical documents and supplementary readings, working in the context of thematically categorized information, becoming proficient in note-taking, participating in Socratic seminars/discussions, emphasizing free-response and document-based writing, contrasting opposing viewpoints, solving problems, etc. Students will develop and demonstrate their skills through participation in a capstone and/or extended research-based paper/project (e.g., history fair, participatory citizenship project, mock congressional hearing, projects for competitive evaluation, investment portfolio contests, or other teacher-directed projects).
Resources
There will be a classroom set of text books. This textbook can also be accessed online through the www.dadeschools.net through the student portal. Throughout the year, students will also be required to access other resources such as the public library/school media center, internet sources, pertinent television programming, other news media and periodicals. Students will always have use of the computers and internet in the classroom and the Media Center. They should make arrangements ahead of time to complete home learning assignments. Even if there is no computer at home, students will be able to complete their work if they make arrangements with the teacher.
Lack of computers and/or internet at home will not be accepted as a valid excuse not to turn in assigned work.
Expectations:
Students are responsible to complete and hand in all assignments and projects with integrity and to the best of their ability by the due date. It is also a requirement to bring the materials list below EVERY day. There will be graded material checks periodically throughout each term. Please assure that your child has all materials before leaving home.
The seventh grade social studies curriculum consists of the following content area strands: Civics, Geography, and Economics. The primary content for the course pertains to the principles, functions, and organization of government; the origins of the American political system; the roles, rights, responsibilities of United States citizens; and methods of active participation in our political system. The course is embedded with strong geographic and economic components to support civic education instruction. Honors/Advanced courses offer scaffolded learning opportunities for students to develop the critical skills of analysis, synthesis, and evaluation in a more rigorous and reflective academic setting. Students are empowered to perform at higher levels as they engage in the following: analyzing historical documents and supplementary readings, working in the context of thematically categorized information, becoming proficient in note-taking, participating in Socratic seminars/discussions, emphasizing free-response and document-based writing, contrasting opposing viewpoints, solving problems, etc. Students will develop and demonstrate their skills through participation in a capstone and/or extended research-based paper/project (e.g., history fair, participatory citizenship project, mock congressional hearing, projects for competitive evaluation, investment portfolio contests, or other teacher-directed projects).
Resources
There will be a classroom set of text books. This textbook can also be accessed online through the www.dadeschools.net through the student portal. Throughout the year, students will also be required to access other resources such as the public library/school media center, internet sources, pertinent television programming, other news media and periodicals. Students will always have use of the computers and internet in the classroom and the Media Center. They should make arrangements ahead of time to complete home learning assignments. Even if there is no computer at home, students will be able to complete their work if they make arrangements with the teacher.
Lack of computers and/or internet at home will not be accepted as a valid excuse not to turn in assigned work.
Expectations:
Students are responsible to complete and hand in all assignments and projects with integrity and to the best of their ability by the due date. It is also a requirement to bring the materials list below EVERY day. There will be graded material checks periodically throughout each term. Please assure that your child has all materials before leaving home.
Grading and Evaluation
- Your grade (70% OF THE FINAL COURSE GRADE) will be based on tests, quizzes, homework, classwork, projects and class participation. Your grade is EARNED, not given. Grades will follow the Miami-Dade County public Schools grading scale.
30% OF THE FINAL COURSE GRADE WILL BE EARNED ON THE END OF COURSE (EOC) EXAM IN CIVICS.
EACH GRADING PERIOD IS WORTH 17.5% OF YOUR FINAL GRADE. - Please note that a C is an average grade. To earn more than a C, a student must demonstrate above-average involvement, learning, and contribution to the course.
- Tests can count from two to four grades depending on the content. Oral and written quizzes may be given at any time, with or without prior notice. Quizzes count as single grades. Compositions may count as two or four grades.
- Students must come prepared for class everyday – required books, a folder with paper, and at least one pen must accompany each student daily. It is not my responsibility to provide you with materials.
- A blank assignment with only a heading or a paper with all incorrect answers will be given no credit, a “Z” in the gradebook.
- Homework is to be turned in at the assigned time in order to receive credit.
- Written work shall only be graded if written in blue or black ink, typed, or unless otherwise stated. It must be neat and readable. If your work is deemed unacceptable – poor and unreadable handwriting, scratch outs, misspelled words, torn and crumbled paper, writing on the back, etc. – it will be returned to you for you to redo it as many times as it takes for you to make your work acceptable. The assignment will be graded as a late assignment. If you want full credit, do it right the first time.
- All work must be organized in the proper format for the given assignment. The specific requirements will be given at that time. All papers must have the student’s full name, the due date, in the upper right-hand corner of the paper and the assignment’s title on the top line. If this vital information is not included on the paper, no credit will be given for the assignment.
- Devon Aire K-8’s attendance and tardy policies as well as conduct rules will be enforced.
- Attendance is important to academic success. If a student has an excused absence, make-up work will be graded and recorded. If you miss school for a school sponsored field trip/athletic event you are still responsible for the work due that day and any work due the next day. Being an athlete, in a club, or part of student government comes AFTER your schoolwork, not before.
- Parents must notify the attendance office in writing in order for absences to be excused; otherwise the absences will be unexcused. If you accumulate ten or more unexcused absences during the school year, course credit may be withheld.
- When it is necessary to give an alternative assignment, credit received may be different from the original assignment.
- If you are tardy, your tardy will be excused only by a pass from the teacher/administrator who delayed you. You must be in room 1645 when the bell rings. Dropping your bag off and going back out does not mean you are on time and in the class.
- It is the responsibility of the student to arrange make-up work within a specified limit. The amount of time available to make-up work is equal to the length of the absence.
- Cheating WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.
- At the end of the period the room must be picked up and the floor free of garbage and materials. The class is to remain seated – not lined up at the door – until dismissed.
- Gum, candy, food, and drink are not permitted in the classroom unless otherwise stated. This includes any school sponsored fund raising sales. No passes will be issued to the vending machines.
- If you need to have them, cell phones are to be turned off or put on vibrate. Do not disrupt the learning environment. If they are used in any way during the class period, they will be taken away and returned at the end of the period. If the phone becomes a problem, the administration and your parents/guardians will become involved.
- Sleeping is not permitted in class at any time. If you can not remain awake and engaged in the lesson, then you will be given a pass to the office to call your parents to come pick you up.