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AMERICAN CULTURES I SYLLABUS |
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Course Rationale - Required Materials - Classroom Procedures / Expectations - Class Participation - Grading Policy - Grading Breakdown - Communication & Contact Information
Course Rationale: American Cultures I is a basic course designed to help students understand the early history, culture, and geography of the United States, North America, and the world. Emphasis is placed upon developing the students' awareness of American Cultures and how those relationships continue to change and mold the United States today, both at home and abroad.
Required Materials:
- Textbook: America:Pathways to the Present: Prentice Hall (These texts will be kept in the classroom as a set). Students will be able to take these books home if needed.
- Notebook (MANDATORY)
- Pencil or Pen.
- Complete assignments when due.
Classroom Procedures/ Expectations:
- Each student is expected to come to class everyday and with all materials required for that day. Failure to do so will result in detentions according to the THS policy.
- Each student is expected to act to the code of conduct (found in the front of the THS Handbook). Failure to do so will result in discipline from the adinistrative staff.
- Each student will be held responsible for Mr. Tenney's personal classroom rules. For example: "The Three Strikes and You Are Writing Policy."
- Students are responsible for turning in material on time. Only excused absences allow for make-up work assignments or tests as per the THS Handbook.
- Students will be held responsible for damage to textbooks and items in the classroom. Replacing the damaged item(s) will be required.
Class Participation:
Each student will receive 50 points per quarter to be used or misused for class participation. This is in an initiative to get students to become more responsible and efficient. USE THESE POINTS WISELY!
GAINING POINTS |
DEDUCTING POINTS |
- Volunteering to read aloud.
- Volunteering to be first
- Helping other students or a teacher after class or school.
- Referring to a current event that pertains to class.
- Etc.
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- Use of pass = -5
- Restroom (after the 3rd time in a quarter)
- Locker
- Drink
- Other - non-emergency
- Non prepared for class = -5
- Book
- Pencil/pen (I have some available!)
- Notebook
- Journal
- Homework
- Disturbing Class = amount removed according to severity.
- Refusing to Participate = amount removed at teacher's discretion.
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Grading Policy: Each student will EARN their grade based upon the following: Homework, participation, quizzes, tests, projects, and map work. This course will adhere to the grading scale below:
| 100% - 90% |
A |
Excellent |
| 89% - 80% |
B |
Above Average |
| 79% - 70% |
C |
Average |
| 69% - 60% |
D |
Below Average |
| 59% - 0 |
E |
Failing |
Grading Breakdown: Determing your grade is easy. All you need to do is add all the points you have earned and divide it by the total possible points. For example, Joe Shmoe earned 50 out of 50 points on a test, 10 out of 30 on a geography quiz, and 15 out of 20 on a homework assignment. So, Joe has 75 points out of the 100 points possible. Using the Grading Policy above, it is determined that Joe currently has a "C."
Communication & Contact Information:
- If you have any questions or concerns, please e-mail me at stenney@gorockets.org. E-mail is definitely the best way to get a hold of me. I will respond as soon as possible.
- You may also call me at (814) 827-2715 Ext. 1212 and leave a voicemail message. I am in the building some mornings as early as 7:00 A.M. and stay to 4:00 P.M. Again, I will respond to it as soon as possible.
- I will often contact parents/guardians for various reasons throughout the school year.
- For example, I have a "Student of the Week" program where once a week a student is elected by his/her peers for demonstrating excellent leadership in the classroom
Mr. Tenney reserves the right to modify and amend the syllabus as necessary.
