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 don’t like tattered edges), note-taking material (notebook or binder). For Extra Credit: a bottle of Germ-X = 100 pts
Box of tissues = 50 pts each
This syllabus signed by parent = 25 pts.
*No more than 100 points will be given.

Grades: Homework/Daily Grades : Count once
Quizzes: Counts once
Tests: Count twice

Tardy policy: You will have to be INSIDE the classroom when the bell rings (feet on my carpet). No excuses!!

Daily assignments and Lesson Plans: will be written up on the board everyday. This will also be for the week. These are available to get in paper form each Monday and found online as well at classroom.chirenoisd.org/webs/jking/ (Lesson Plan Link on the left)

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 ONE week of your absence. 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: There are many opportunities for extra credit throughout the year. 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 (the Amendments)—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 yourself. 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 as well as daily 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: 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 will try to have all of the assignments put into the gradebook (from previous Friday to the next Thursday) by Friday of each week.


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. (First Offence: Warning Second Offence: Writing
assignment due the next day.)

2. Be attentive and ready to learn at all times. No napping. . (First Offence: Warning
Second Offence: Writing assignment due the next day.)

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, food, drinks, ice or any other objects are permitted. The only exception will
be teacher issued cough drops and bottled water.

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 my ability to teach or students’ ability to learn.

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


Online Textbooks!!

1. Go to www.mhln.com or link on my webpage
2. Click “Enter a Class Code”
3. Class code for World Geography is: mrsking09
World History is: mrsking10
U.S. History is : mrsking

*We will be using the Geography and U.S. History text books only
briefly. The World History book probably won’t be used at all
because we will have a different book available. All of these can
be used as a reference, however.


___________________________________________
Parent’s signature (25 extra credit points)

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

___________________________________________(Student)