Welcome to Ms. Howard's World History!

US History
Spring 2014

Instructor: Lara Howard
Classroom: Room 20
Office Hours: 1:22-2:45 pm daily and by appointment
Phone: (919) 718-7259
Email: larahoward.lec@lee.k12.nc.us

Lee County Transfer Goals:

Lee County Students...

1.  Can demonstrate effective and creative written and oral communication in various formats appropriate for purpose and audience.

2.  Can, without significant scaffolding, comprehend and evaluate complex texts across a range of types and disciplines, and then construct arguments and convey intricate or multifaceted information.  Likewise, students are able independently to discern a speaker’s key points, request clarification, and ask relevant questions.

3.  Can solve real-world problems by applying various strategies.

4.  Are self-directed learners who can self-evaluate using different perspectives.

5.  Are responsible/respectful leaders/citizens who can empathize in various situations.

Big Ideas in US History:

Structure: Structures have interrelated parts.

Patterns: Patterns allow for prediction.

Power: Power is the ability to influence.

Course Policies and Procedures

Classroom Rules:

1. Be respectful

2. Follow SLANT (Sit up, Listen, Ask/Answer questions, Nod your head, Track the speaker)

3. Follow the cell phone policy

4. No food

5. No drinks without caps

6. No bookbags on desks

7. No packing up without permission

 Consequences:

1^st offense: Warning

2^nd offense: Mandatory 5 minutes refocusing and filling out the Refocus Slip

Multiple offenses: Parent contact, referral to guidance/administration

 Entering the Classroom:

When you enter the classroom, you are indicating that you are prepared to work.  Upon entering, immediately find your assigned seat, sit down and complete the following:

1. Take out any homework from last night

2. Take out any reading materials from last night

3. Take out paper and a writing utensil

4. Take out and turn on your laptop (plug it in if it needs charging)

5. Put your cellphone in your bookbag and put your bookbag on the floor

6. Do the starter

 Cell phone usage:

Cell phones and technology are an absolute delight, but only when used appropriately.  My goal is to provide all students with media literacy skills to make them responsible, technologically-savvy citizens.  As such, you will earn the right to use cell phones in my class by demonstrating that you can do the following:

1. Only use cell phones during the appropriate allotted time

2. Avoid using social media during class time

3. Avoid texting

4. Avoid inappropriate websites

Acceptable uses of cell phones during class time include, but are not limited to:

1. Listening to music while working on writing assignments

2. Taking pictures of information posted in the room

3. Working on tech-based projects that require audio, photo or video editing

4. Reading digital rather than print versions of texts

 Grading Scale:

A	93-100
B	85-92
C	77-84
D	70-76
F	60-70

Incomplete Policy:

Students who owe any missing work will be required to stay for after school detention at the teacher’s discretion until all missing work is submitted.  Students who do not stay for detention will receive a referral.  Please refer to the Lee Early College handbook for more information about the Incomplete Policy.

Revision Policy:  

Every single essay can be resubmitted for a higher grade (up to 100).  In order to receive the higher grade, students must schedule a 5-minute conference with the teacher and resubmit the work by the assigned deadline.  Please refer to the Lee Early College handbook for more information about the Revision Policy.  

Attendance:

If you are absent from class, it is your responsibility to email me in order to obtain the work you missed.  I will not initiate contact with you to tell you what work you need to make up.   

Laptop usage:

Many of the course materials will be placed on our course website.

If a student does not have Internet access at home, that student will be responsible for downloading all materials before leaving school.  A lack of Internet access will never be an acceptable excuse for not being prepared for class.  All LEC students are to abide by the Laptop Usage Contract found on www.leeearlycollege.com.  

Plagiarism:

Plagiarism is defined as copying the language, phrasing, structure, or specific ideas of others and presenting any of these as one’s own, original work; it includes buying papers, having someone else write your papers, and improper citation and use of sources.  When you present the words or ideas of another (either published or unpublished) in your writing, you must fully acknowledge your sources.  Plagiarism is considered a violation of academic integrity whenever it occurs in written work, including drafts and homework, as well as for formal and final papers.  Any student who commits an act of plagiarism will receive a referral and an Incomplete, which must be resubmitted in order for the student to receive credit for Honors US History.