Syllabus for High School Social Studies

Jacy King
(hm#) 936-560-2760—not after 9 pm
e-mail address -- jking@chireno.esc7.net

Materials: pens, loose-leaf notebook paper (I won’t take tattered edges), note-taking material (notebook or binder). For Extra Credit: Low-Odor Dry Erase Marker (2) = 25 pts
Jumbo Cloth Book cover (new) = 25 pts
Box of tissue (only ONE) for a max. = 25 pts.
Grades: Counts twice: all tests (3-6 per grading period), research papers and any other projects deemed worthy
Counts once: daily work, group projects, e-mail assignments, current event projects, quizzes, etc…

Tardy policy: You will have to be INSIDE the classroom when the bell rings. DO NOT come in unless you have a tardy slip from the office. Even an excused tardy needs to go through the office. No excuses!!

Daily assignments: will be written up on the board everyday. This will also be for the week.

Online Lesson Plans: www.chirenoisd.org --Go to Teacher’s Web Pages, then find my web site and look under “Lesson Plans”. This is also great for seeing class photos and projects!

Late Work: Most work will be designed to be completed the same day and turned in by the end of class. If an assignment is homework, it is due the next day unless specified otherwise. After one day, 30 points will be taken off. After that, I will not take the paper. Be responsible!

Missed Exams or assignments: YOU are responsible for all make-up work. Come by for make-up and check the assignment book for what you missed. Make-up work should be placed in the basket on my desk and should be made up no more than three days past the due date unless due to a long absence. It should be clearly marked with the date originally due and that is late due to absence. Otherwise, I will assume it is late work and count off or not count it at all. TESTS: Make up any test within the same week that you missed it. Otherwise I will assume you are not interested in taking the test and I will give you two zeroes in the gradebook. It is YOUR responsibility.

Turning in work: Homework, late work, or make-up work should be turned in at the beginning of class before the sponge activity is over or at the very end of class unless otherwise specified. This should be done in a quiet and orderly fashion.

Absent Slips: Fill them out YOURSELF using the assignment notebook in front of the room and then give them to me to sign. The above actions should be done during a convenient time such as during independent work and NOT during my lesson.

Extra Credit: will be given periodically and with different amounts of credit. DO NOT rely on extra credit to pass you. Use the Extra Credit suggestion sheet posted in the room for ideas. The maximum amount of extra credit per six weeks is 100 points.

Academic Dishonesty: refer to the student handbook

Leaving Class: You will be given THREE passes per semester. If you do not use a pass at the end of the semester. I will allow you to turn those passes in for 25 pts. Extra credit. You must inform me if you choose this option. If you have used up all of your passes and need to leave the room, you may, but you will also have to be given a written assignment—is it really worth it?? If this becomes a problem, further action will be taken. There will be no abuse of going to the nurse’s office. Sorry, the passes cannot be transferred to the next semester and cannot be used by anyone but you. Use it wisely If you need to leave my class for another teacher, you better have a note from that teacher AHEAD of time or you will probably be refused.

Appropriate Behavior for Classroom Activities:

Lectures and discussions: I will be telling you important information during lectures that you will need for your chapter tests and TAKS. Therefore, it is imperative that you remain quiet while I am talking. I do not so much mind if you speak or ask a question without raising your hand, AS LONG AS you are NOT 1. Interrupting me during a lesson while I am speaking
2. Or interrupting someone during a discussion. Hold your thought until I pause or raise your hand so I know to call on you when it is convenient.

Independent work: you must remain in your seat and keep quiet or at most use a low conversational voice as not to disturb others.
Group work: Everyone must participate and work together. Low voices are a must as not to disturb the others. Transition to the next group area will be quick and quiet.

Sponge Activities: as soon as you get to class, get out your note taking material you have designated for daily sponge use. You will copy down the questions and answers posed on the television screen. This is very important because these questions and answers are based on TEKS and TAKS elements and are essential for your education. You will also be tested over the material and pop sponge checks will be given to ensure that everyone is taking down the sponge notes everyday.

Watching videos: stay quiet as to not disturb. If you don’t get an answer right off, don’t panic! Simply raise your hand and I will pause and discuss unless the answer will be repeated. You will need to sit in your chairs.

Tests: stay quiet and after the test, you will work on the assigned class work.

Gradebook: I keep my gradebook on the computer. Periodically, I call students up one at a time to see their progress and discuss their grades with them. This is done during independent work time. If you have a question about your grade at any time during the year, please feel free to come by and ask me. But you must ask ONLY before or after school, or when it is convenient. If you ask me during class you will be refused due to lack of time.


I expect you to be well behaved. You cannot afford to be less than your best because EVERYTHING you learn will be to help you graduate.

Classroom Rules for Chireno’s Secondary Campuses

1. Respectful and appropriate behavior is required at all times. Keep your hands,
feet, books, and objects to yourself.

2. Be attentive and ready to learn at all times.

3. Tardy: You are to be in the room when the tardy bell sounds. This is excused only by
a note or announcement from a teacher.

4. Have your paper, required writing utensils, book and all other needed supplies in class
everyday.

5. No gum, food, drinks, ice or any other objects are permitted. The only exception will
be teacher issued cough drops.

The Discipline Hierarchy

1. Verbal Warning –to be documented by the teacher.

2. Written assignment—given by the teacher and due the following day.

3. Verbal Parental Contact & After School Detention until 3:30pm

4. Written up with a copy sent home.
Parent/Student/Teacher Conference with the option of the principal being present.
Elongated Detention until 5pm .

5. The issue will be dealt with by the principal at this point.

Critical Misbehavior: To be Handled Immediately by the Principal

1. Fighting or threatening to fight.

2. Damaging or destroying student, teacher, or school property.

3. Overtly refusing to do school work when capable by throwing materials, tipping over
furniture or yelling.

4. Engaging in behavior that creates an unsafe situation, is sexually provocative or
shuts down your ability to teach or students’ ability to learn.

5. Using profanity anywhere on the school campus, transportation, or sponsored event.


___________________________________________
Parent’s signature (25 extra credit points)

*I have read over the Social Students Syllabus and understand the classroom procedures.

___________________________________________(Student)